20 youth, 2 projects, 1 summer (and no Darryl Braithwaite) adds up to chaotic fun and non-stop culture shock. Catch it all here, as I sporadically update.

 
Countdown to reality.

So, I sit here, back in funsville Manila, lost somewhere in their super-duper ginormous megamall thing, wondering if the last two months is a dream. The only thing that stops me is the fact that I still find the sound of traffic somewhat odd, and that I have many **coughseventeencough** rolls of film already developed.

We arrived back in Manila on Tuesday afternoon. We actually left the community on Friday morning of last week. Between that, and an absolutely beautiful goodbye celebration they threw for us, we were all pretty shattered when we left Apni. We had a few days at the beach in La Union, which is pretty much an hour and a half jeepney ride straight down the mountain. It was a well needed break because we were all pretty much physically and emotionally exhausted by the time we got there. Most of us slept through our time there.

We finally caught up with the other group who worked for Bahay Tuluyen on Tuesday. It was an odd moment. They were down three members for many reasons (one medical, one for uni and one for a family event), and have had an entirely different experience to us. In some ways we feel like the grandparents not understanding the "kids" with all of their injokes. That has come from their group spending pretty much all of their time together, whereas most of us had a lot of singular and small group experiences with the community. They are also still saying their goodbyes to people, so are in an entirely different headspace to us "oldies".

I'm a bit scattered at the moment, so I don't really have much to report. I finished my program the week before last with a workshop for the health workers on creative community education methods and then did some fun teaching things in the local school. Much of last week was spent finishing a community map with the local "Fonz" and basically hanging with "da boyz" of Apni. In the last few weeks they really took us under their wing and we spent many a day literally moving houses, searching for cave bee honey, fishing and drinking gin. They love their gin here.

So this will pretty much be the last email from here. I'll be back in Brisbane next week. I can't really believe that. It's already jarring enough to just see other Westerners. Heh. Dodgy Westerners. Sorry, we have a thing about Westerners. They all EVIL ;-)!

It's been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I have learnt so much. I've seen and read a lot of stuff about poverty and experiences of indigenous people in the past, but it didn't really hit me until I've experienced it first hand. We take so much of our lives for granted, fresh water, showers, not having to "squat", beds, a variety of food, and spices ... ok maybe the last two are just for me.

But that's just the simple stuff. Many people will work all days in their fields for 100-200 pesos, which is about $2.50 - $5 Australian. They will get up will before sunrise to make the long journey to the local city of Baguio to sell their wares, sometimes never making a single sale all day. Their fields may be a good hours hike up a mountain, and for some these farmlands can be basically dry, eroding patches of dirt covered with weeds.

Teachers receive little support here either, and fight to keep their staff numbers at reasonable levels. Children can walk over an hour up and down a mountain each way to get to school. Also, there isn't any luxury of HECS for tertiary students. If they can afford to work their way their college, they will then have to face high levels of unemployment. Many parents feel that tertiary education isn't worth it for that reason, as, for example, I met qualified engineers, teachers, optometrists and electricians in San Pascual who have given up hope of ever finding work. At least most own their land, but there are some who are forced to rent and deal with middlemen selling their wares and landowners taking their share.

These are but a few of the issues that discovered facing the rural indigenous people of the Cordillera. There are also issues of loss of culture and land. In a nearby region, indigenous communities are forcibly removed from their land to make way for hydroelectric plants based in dams, which might have a life of 30 years at the most. That's 30 years of electricity that isn't actually needed, as the Philippines already produces more energy than it uses.

Despite all this though, they are such friendly people who would give you their right arm and are always laughing and joking. We were very lucky to be welcomed so warmly into their lives for the past few months and I doubt that any of will soon forget the experience.

Today we also had quite a different experience; one with urban poverty. We visited the barangay of Payatus, near to where we are staying currently in Quezon city. Basically Payatus is the rubbish dump for Quezon, and those living nearby, pay for permits to scavenge on the dump. They work in co-ops who will scavenge for certain types of rubbish - some for tyres, others for metals, some for cans, other groups for plastics. Life in Payatus teems around this dump, and schools, stores and community centres look out over the "mountain". A few years earlier, a similar "mountain" collapsed killing many families and workers. In three years time, all families in the area will be asked to leave due to expansion of the dump. It was a pretty intense experience to say the least.

Made all the more jarring by our visit to the residence of the Australian Ambassador in Makati later. There couldn't be two more different worlds. I can't even begin to discribe it, except that, walking there in the little walled city of the rich, it felt like we were walking down a street in an exclusive area of north Melbourne. You couldn't even hear the sounds of the streets.

I can report that someone you all know may have ... done ... something there. **coughhadhisphototakenontheambassadorsbedcough**

So I guess that's about it. I hope you've enjoyed reading a few of my stories of the last ten weeks and I hope that it's increased your interest in the Philippines, a country still missed by many people when they visit Asia. I have yet to visit the other islands, but Luzon itself is an island of great beauty, filled with many diverse landscapes and such friendly people from many walks of life. The gap between the haves and have nots though can be quite jarring. Also, despite the colonial influences of America, Japan and Spain, it retains a distinct, quirky culture of its own.

So what am I trying to say? Visit. Maybe volunteer for an NGO or two ;-) If you can get away from the tourist traps, you will have an amazing time. And if you have the opportunity, I can highly recommend trying something like what I've done this summer/winter. By working with an NGO, we have had the opportunity to become completely immersed in a culture very different from our own and we have all gained so much from the experience. I only wish we could give back some of what we've gained.

If I have got you curious, take a quick gander at the AVI website - http://www.australianvolunteers.org/ They will be able to direct you onto other such organisations.

Anyway, better get going. Looking forward to catching up with you all soon. Take care.

PS - For interests sake, here's another group email about what everyone has been doing here.

Group Update #3

NEWSLETTER #3: AVI PHILIPPINES YOUTH PROJECT DECEMBER 2003

Dear all

We are now just under 8 weeks into the youth project, with the Bahay Tuluyan team based on Bohol Island and the Shontoug team based in San Pascual, a rural community in the mountains outside Baguio City. The various projects have been well and truly underway, and will wind up shortly. Then there will be an evaluation during the last week in Manila, where the participants will give feedback about their 10-week
experience.

Time seems to have flown by, and people have been busy with their projects.....

Bahay Tuluyan Participants Unfortunately, there have been technical difficulties with receiving the latest witten report from the Bahay Tuluyan team, which means there is less news about them. However, I have been in contact with Catherine, the Team Leader, who has been filling me in with activities. The team have been working very hard in Bohol with the organisation, PETA, which does drama and theatre activities to help raise awareness about social issues. The participants, with some street children from Bahay Tuluyan in Manila and some street children from Bohol, have been working with staff from this organisation in developing drama and plays to raise awareness about children's issues and rights. The launch of the performance happened on Australia Day where a number of Government and Community representatives were invited. Another 13 performances are planned as the group will conduct a tour around various schools in Bohol.

The participants and the Manila street children will be returning to Manila on the 5th February. Then they will go to conduct the performance to the children at the three Bahay Tuluyan Children's Centres (Tiaong, Kibo and lastly Santa Mesa on the 9th Feb). After this, their 'work' will have finished, and they will have time to visit their homestay families (the families with whom they stayed at the beginning of their trip), meet up with the Shontoug team participants in Manila, evaluate their projects and do a bit of sightseeing before the final day of the project on the 14th February.

Shontoug Participants

The Shontoug team have also been working hard on their projects. The participants have designated themselves to project activities as follows:

Adam Health
Nat, Laura, Stuart Educational Support
Sian, Bernie Day Care Program
Catherine, Lisa, Anna Cultural Documentation
Laura Video/Film making
Stuart, Lisa Out of School Youth

They wrap up with their activities next week, and on the 6th February, they will be farewelling the community members of Apni to return to Baguio City. There they will conduct an evaluation with staff at Shontoug and then there will be a farewell party after this. The day after, the participants will go to the beach to enjoy a hard earned rest before returning to Manila on the 10th February to meet up with the other team.

The report below probably gives the best description about how the participants have been faring and what they have been up to! It was sent to me by Laura, but Laura has stated that she is not the author.....


Now well into the New Year we have alll settled nicely into community life in San Pascual and we are all busy with our individual projects.

A few of us have been sharing Australian and Filipino recepies with some of the locals such as the famous Mrs Coile. While we have learned how to cook rice the Filipino way, aswell as pancitm, kutsinta and sticky rice, our lessions in making rumballs have inspired Mrs C to start her own small business, 2 pesos per rumball.

Our only night of heavy rain forced our outside cooking adventures nextdoor into the kitchen of local primary school teachers Edgar and Rose. After this intimate dinner for seven it was revealed that Edgar is a talent on the dancefloor and he was co-erced into organising a regular Sunday evening ballromm dancing class, which has become a popular community event, once we managed to drag the boys onto the dancefloor/basketball court. Ilokano (ie the local dialect) lessons have also proved amusing, with us learning important phrases such as 'Can I court you?' and 'Would you like to dance with me?' and the important response 'madam dama' (maybe later).

Stu had discovered the trials and tribulations of attempting to light fire with wet wood and consequently sending smopke signals to his girlfriend in Melbourne. On the positive side - his coconut bowl collection is coming along nicely. His first basketball game this Sunday was a real slam dunk! But there was panic earlier in the day when the only basketball in the community was nowhere to be found! After one hour of play we all learnt the finer details of Filipino basketball but realised we still had another half of the game to go. It was great to see so many people come and support what we hope will be a regular Sunday event. Well done Stu!

Bernie (AKA Tonia Toddman) and Sian (Noni Hazelhurst) have discovered the pleasures of sewing. Or at least Sian has, Edgar informed us that in the Philipines this is a sign of preparing for childbirth. Suppost from all the mothers ar the two daycare centres has been wonderful bit seems to have evolved into a seing class for the two girls and an opportunity for the age old 'chika-chika' (gossip).

For local sitio workshops with the Health Care workers on reproductive health and sanitation, Adam has successfully memorised the female and male reproductive systems but has discivered that a deoderant bottle is probably not the ideal model for demonstrating how to put on a condom. Adam also put on a show with Nat at the local Karaoke bar, with their numbers 'You're the one that I want', 'Not a girl, not yet a woman' and 'Sisters are doing it for themselves', plus Nat's claim to fame a score of 100 for 'Dancing Queen'. Appropriate really since she is known by the locals as 'dancing girl' after her form and stamina at the New Year Celebration and for 'shaking that ass' at ballroom dancing. However, Adams talent has failed to translate into the kitchen, as Father German has discovered when his kettle would no longer boil.

Nat has enjoyed her homestays with some of the local primary school families but has still failed to get her hands dirty and do some farming. Her storybook making with Grades 3 and 4 is progressing well.

Therese (team leader) is continually nesting and making home improvements and has discovered 101 ways to utilise a plank of wood. But the cooking team were far from impressed when she was caught trying to cut through a wooden block with our only sharp knife.

The new kid on the block Peter...PetePNG is learning the implicit rules of camp life, the check-ins, meal times cooking, and when it is appropriate to open 'fresh milk' (UHT) and eat precious fruit such as mangoes.

Catherine, Lisa and Anna's cultural documentation is proving to be a valuable insight into the community and they have experienced the generous Filipino nature. However, are still yet to confirm which of their 5 alternatives is the correct reason behind how San Pascual got its name.

Catherine continues to receive endless packages from home. Thankyou Mrs Loy for the chocolate...plum pudding...tea. They've been a small reminder to us all of luxuries back home.

Lisa has changed sleeping spots continuously, but has discovered that the stench from whatever died in out ceiling is inescapable and ants will bite her wherever she goes.

Anna continues to serendade us with her newly found singer-songwriter 'talent.' Hovever, we feel for our neighbours who unlike uis probably don't have access to disposable ear-plugs.

Laura has rediscovered the solar-system with her primary school science project and is relieved that her film is now in post production because the threat of dropping the borrowed camera into the river has now passed.

For everyopne, after learning more about local superstitions, we are no longer drinking liquids after 6 pm due to our fear of encountering the white lady or dwarfs in the mango tree on our way to the 'comfort room', ie 4 acres.

Greetings to everyone back home, Lots of love from Team Shontoug.

I am Leaving for the Philippines on Monday to join up with the participants, and hear all their stories. I will be in contact on my return (soon after the 19th February) with the last newsletter for the project. So stay tuned!

With best wishes

Joanna (Jose)



posted by Ads at 12:16 PM

 
WARNING: The post you are about to read was writen under severe sleep deprivation. The author takes no responsibility for his mental state in any way shape or form. Read at your own risk.

All you need is love ... and an adequately sized deoderant bottle.

Roll up, roll up! Come one, come all to join Dr Love for the Triple S Express. The last ride leaves soon!

The name is Love.

Dr Love. Licenced to cause mad giggling where ever I go.

You may scoff, but I've found a new tactic in my battle with Da 'Pines and it's that word, say clear now, L. O. V. E. LOVE.

Fueled on a strict diet of chicken head (which can only be over one hour in front of a large group of locals who think it's the most amusing thing ever), pig snout and eel I have fought back. My battles a beginning to take a turn and I can see myself starting to win, one Philippino at a time, as I leave them laughing their arses off at the Triple S Express (the Inter-Sitio, Sanitary Sex Express).

Ok, maybe that word should be S. M. U. T. SMUT ...

Teamed with the local Midwife and her band of Merry Health Worker's, we have left locals giggling like school girls as we talk about various topics, mine being the Human Reproductive System (as a lead on to the workshop on Family Planning) and Environmental Sanitation. The Triple S Express has done a whirlwind tour all over the local barangay (district), leaving not a dry eye in the house.

Hey, even if it's not your plan, sometimes you need to just go with it.

I have learnt an important lesson too, that I want you all to take with you from my email. Deoderant bottles aren't really the best object to use when you're demonstrating how to put on a condom ... My emails are always as informative as they are entertaining!

Oh well, I got them back, by making some people mime a good assortment of bodily functions. With props. Mu HAHAHA.

The Dr Love nickname will probably catch on in a few days too. I'm sure that Lalaki Lateg (Penis Man) will run its course some time soon. Eventually. Maybe ...

I guess it's better than Saddam (the way the all pronounce Adam rhymes with Saddam) ...

Anyway, I have to say now that my acceptance of other cultures is pretty broad, but I'm going to become the new force of globalisation to stop 4am jeepney rides to Baguio.

Must. Keep. Typing.

Hmm. I wonder what's actually happening in the world. I have absolutely no idea. I don't even have the slightest idea of the important details like who won World Idol.

If anyone emails me the details, they will be dealt with. Swiftly and sharply. I have the resources of a rising young dictator and his band of rebels at my hands.

It's probably better if you don't ask. I'm sorry, Trace, but Kassidy pales in comparrison to this guy.

Anyway, my mind's scattered, and there will be an International Incident if I don't make "Return of the King" today, so I'll finish with some random notes from the past three ... four ... something weeks. I have no concept of time. Well, not that I ever did, but hey, gotta love living in a country where the "Philippino Time" is only a little faster than your own.

Random Notes.

Just because kids can rocket madly down hills, skipping lightly over rocks and roots as they go, doesn't mean you can.

A waterfall is a good method of finally getting yourself completely clean. An hour walk uphill through mud and midday heat from said waterfall is not.

Bidding randomly, when you don't understand the rules of the auction, is probably not the best idea.

Cheese is addictive and withdrawing from it for ... almost 2 months causes major cravings. Mmm, cheese.

Not even kamikaze bats, rapid dogs and an army of screaming babies are enough to some people's minds out of the gutter.

Just because you can climb up a tree, doesn't mean you can climb down.

Not all fireworks work. Damn you shoddy manufacturers!

Mmm, Bocachini ... Sorry, where was I?

Apparently the pingping ti oke and the tongshil are naimas ...

A recent survey has found that 100% of Philippinos agree that "Advance Australian Fair" is really boring.

You can only sing Waltzing Matilda so many times before you begin to wonder if maybe, just maybe, you should have learnt a few more local songs before coming to the land of Videoke.

Have a guess how I reacted when, in the middle of a workshop, Mrs Caoile, a 60 year old lady (and my attempted rapist from a previous post) piped up with "Ad-DAMN, do you like susu? Does daddy like mama's milk?"

All shy grade three teachers hold within themselves the power to bring a community together. The power of ballroom dancing. You may scoff, but one day you will all become believers. Michael Flately got not-ting on my home boy, Edgar V.

Mmm, Cambert and olives ... and ... umm ... the Triple S Express needs to depart for its next mission vital to the world security **coughandtofindmorefireworkscough** Happy new year all. Hope 2004 is going well for you all so far! Seeya!



posted by Ads at 10:24 AM

 
Just for random information, here's a copy of an email which talks a little bit about what both of the groups of been doing here in the Philippines that was sent in the first few days of the New Year. Enjoy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

AVI PHILIPPINES YOUTH PROJECT DEC. 2003

AVI hopes that you all enjoyed a festive season and 2004 is treating you well. Please read below for the latest news on the young Australians in the Philippines undertaking the December 2003 to February 2004 youth program.

Two important updates:

We welcome our third Team Leader, Peter Westoby, to the Philippines Youth Program. He arrived in the Philippines on the 3rd January, spent some time with the Bahay Tuluyan team and then joined the Shontoug team in Baguio.

We also bid a fond farewell to Megan Harvey, one of the Shontoug youth participants, who had to return to Australia just after Christmas. Megan, we’re glad to hear that you are home safely and feeling better!

Bahay Tuluyan Youth Project

Below is information gleaned from reports by Ivan Varughese (youth participant), Catherine Scerri (Team Leader) and Peter Westoby (Team Leader)

So far, positive reports abound from members of the Bahay Tuluyan Team. The team was divided into two groups to stay at each of the Children’s Centres: Kibo and Tiaong. Although travel between the two centres has caused a few headaches in project implementation, the groups are feeling positive and well on their way to achieving their goals. The focus has mainly been on environmental education and the development of livelihood projects that the children can continue with after the young people’s departure.

At the Children’s Centres, both groups have been living and working with the children staying at these centres. In collaboration with the children, the young people have been busy painting murals, making beanbags, baking cakes, setting up recycling facilities, facilitating sewing and cooking classes and sewing/building greenhouses. Some have also been involved in visiting children in prisons and will be writing a report to support a campaign to stop child detention with adults.

The young people participated in the Christmas festivities with the children, with a big party at the Children’s Centre at Kibo. They have also had opportunities for camping and some recreation activities, and are now having a hard earned rest by the beach before commencing the next stage of their work on the island of Bohol. A lot of time has been spent getting to know the children, and friendships have been made with all of the children.

Lastly, Ivan Varughese has provided us with some insights into his fellow Kibo team members and himself:
Holly – enthusiasm for eating the local fried fish (a popular Filippino dish)
Laura – embracing Filippino culture
Nerita – ‘Dedicated Team nurse’
Phoebe – renowned for her “save the world and all things green” motto
Ivan- enthusiasm for tree climbing and Jollibee hotdogs (Jollibee is the Filippino equivalent to MacDonalds)

Shontoug Youth project

Below is a report written by Catherine Loy (youth participant)

The Shontoug team arrived in San Pascual to a warm welcome from the community members at a special church service held to bless the new chapel. It became immediately apparent to all of us that we would find the generosity of the mountain people overwhelming - the food was amazingly abundant, we were seated with the Bishop and pressed with a multitude of dishes!

Later in the day we travelled from Tarong (the village that had welcomed us) to Apni, the village in which we would be living. An empty schoolroom with a concrete floor may not look particularly comfortable at first sight, but the ingenuity of the Apni people knows no bounds - within a day we were furnished with curtains, a workbench, a gas stove, and, most incredible of all, a pergola under which we now do all of our cooking, eating and relaxing.

Our first period in Apni lasted approximately ten days, days which were spent attending community activities (in particular the numerous San Pascual Christmas "programs", at which we were expected to perform along with everyone else), playing with the children, getting to know the various members of the community and doing a homestay, an experience which was eye-opening for all. We left Apni on the 23rd of December to spend Christmas at Sagada.

Leaving Apni turned out to be an adventure in itself! We finally made it to Baguio, in typical Philippino style! One gets used to the way things operate here and the pace of life which goes with the attitude.

Christmas day was spent eating (a lot), playing cricket and, in true Australian backyard cricket style, losing the ball. Everyone had a great day and managed to talk to people at home, which was a real treat!

Upon our return to Apni on the 30th of December we will all begin work on our various projects. At the moment (subject to change) Sian and Bernie will be working with the daycare at Lumes as well as doing some English teaching in the schools of the area. Adam and Nat will be assisting the local healthcare worker, Stu will be spending time with the out of school youth in the region, Anna and Catherine will be researching the social and cultural aspects of the local tribe and their findings will be translated by Lisa. Laura will be making a film with the children of the community and doing some science teaching in the local schools. Mother Therese will be making sure that all goes smoothly, as she has done for the past three and a half weeks!

We're all very excited about beginning work on these projects and anticipate that a great deal of cultural exchange will occur as a result.

We hope that everyone in Australia is enjoying the holiday period and missing us a lot!!


posted by Ads at 10:22 AM

 
Master and Spelunker: The Far Side of Sagada.

Like I said in the earlier post, for many reasons we had to change a lot of stuff around, including our major break. So, we're all decided to heads off to Sagada and Banaue for Xmas, which are famous for the rice terraces (dubbed the 8th wonder of the world. Ancient or Modern, I have no idea).

Nothing much to report really, except for beautiful scenary, great caving (otherwise known as spelunking apparently), another pants dropping experience (the girls need to start using their power for good and not evil!), and me thinking that jumping into an ice cold cave pool with my glasses on is a smart idea. Hmm, maybe it's not so weird that the Philippines is kicking my arse ;-)

Sagada especially is absolutely beautiful, and I could have spent ages wondering between the little houses and following random paths that lead no where. Place, it was my first coldish Xmas, which was a nice change to the "warm" 40+ degree heat with 90% humidity of Brisbane. Fireplaces rock. And the food. To. Die. For. But maybe that had something to do with constant rice and bean stews.

Xmas itself was really relaxed, and but it was still a bit weird not being with the fam. At least I got to speak to them quickly though, which was nice.

Other than that, Sian (our all important blonde commodity ;-) ) and I decided to get lost in the rice terraces. Luckily we were picked up by a little girl who led us up, down, around and through, slick barely seen paths, snuck us through backyards and pig pens and "tight rope walked" us along thin concrete barriers. She also helped me pick up a new skill in "Water Buffalo Distracting 101". This is a quite skillful endevour which involves jumping up and down, singing opera and, all importantly, doing the "otso otso".

Sadly, our time away involved the quickest goodbye in history. Megan, a police officer from Perth, who we met in Manila, as she'd been travelling in Cambodia and Vietnam, had been sick for most of the project. Unfortunately, she couldn't shake it and decided to go home. The organisation was changed at the last minute, and we all ended up throwing food supplies at her tricyle as she sped away into the sunset ...

Anywho, time to run, Apni calls. Hope all are well.




posted by Ads at 1:24 PM

 
To every decision, turn, turn, turn ...

Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight, we bring you a special broadcast, live from the middle of ... somewhere far away from you all. We finally have news of the event you have all been following with antici ....

...

...

... pation. We have managed to track down that young upstart, Ads (what kind of name is Ads anyway), who is currently tending his wounds following the first round of epic battles with the defending champion "The Philippines".

We'll take you now, live, to his bunker where he'll give you an update on the progress of what many are calling the Greatest Walkover since ... umm ... things walked over ... stuff ... along with the progressive points talley.

Kumusta kayo? (How are you all?)

Walk over? What the?

Ok, I'll admit that I may have been a little unprepared for this fight, but I wouldn't call it a walk over. Maybe a knock over, but definitely not a walk over ...

I have learnt some very important lessons along the way, which I'll be able to use in my next battle.

1. It tastes better if you don't know what it is (Philippines 1 Ads 0), which relates closely to #2

2. It's not dog, if you don't know what the dish is (P 2 A -5).

3. Pink booths on the side of the road, that smell funny, are not, surprisingly phone booths ... yep, they're urinals (P 3 A -5)

4. We're staying in an area that speaks Ilocano. Tagalog and Ilocano are very different dialects (P 8 A -6).

5. Following overgrown paths, bush bashing and then falling down a hill and starting a mini landslide is probably a good indication that you're going the wrong way (P 15 A -26).

6. Due to all the walking through the mountains, the people of Apni have what they call Million Dollar Legs. Mine probably have a market value of 20 cents. (P 20 A -30). This relates to #7.

7. Having ladies older than 60 and kids younger than 10) run circles around you carrying stones and farming is surprising good for the pride ...

Destroying it utterly that is. (P 25 A -50). See #8.

8. So far I've battled giant insects, killed and gutted chickens, struggled through ... strained kareoke and had days of tough labour, but nothing prepared me for a 60+ year old lady with a dirrrrty mind.

I'm sorry, but when she joked about raping me, I wanted a teddy bear. (P 30 A -100)

9. Whilst driving in the Philippines is a competitive Olympic level sport, getting onto a bus is pure bloodsport. (P 32 A -110).

10. Whilst being the tallest man in the Philippines (yes!) has it's advantages, it does mean that it may be a tad difficult sleeping in a bed that probably wouldn't fit one of the seven dwarves (P 35 A - 120).

11. Philippino men seem to love dropping their pants for the girls ... and blonde hair is better currency than the peso ... (P 40 A -120) Well, that hasn't helped me specifically!

Ok, so, I may have a little catching up to do ... Bring on round 2!

__________________________

It's been quite an amazing trip so far. Like I said in my last email, nothing has gone to plan. The funding didn't go through for the construction projects we were supposed to be working on, so everything had to be moved around, including our long break which we just had.

It's probably worked out for the best, because we'll all be working in areas closely related to our skills, alongside community members. It seems like I will be working with the town's midwife in the area of health promotion. It's been a major stress for our team leader "Mother" Terese though (who leads our posse of lurve), and she's gotten quite sick with worry working it all out, but it seems like it's all coming together. Other youth will be working with Youth Empowerment, Child Development and Cultural documentation.

Apni, the town we're based in, is absolutely gorgeous. It's nestled in the middle of a small jungle on the top of a mountain. Every morning I'm blown away by the views and every evening I spend some time lying on the basketball court looking at the stars (so bright and so many). It's another world, full of shy, but incredibly warm and generous people (every day, more and more food is dropped by for us) despite the harshness of their lives. You should see the kitchen they constructed for us at our base, where the girls sleep! Stu (the other guy in the group) and I have some nice warm pews in the local church. On a related note, you'd be happy, Mum, I've been to more masses here than the last 3 years of my life!

I have to say though, the kids are the highlight, always smiling and staring at us, whispering the chica chica (gossip). It's pretty funny though, they're endlessly fascinated by my arm hair! They never cease to crack me up though, be it, madly humping a large stone whilst singing the "otso otso" or hiding around corners, trying to determine when we're not looking so that they can drop off cards for us. Mum, just a quick warning, I am taking some home with me, so make some room in the house!

Anyway, that's enough for now. We've put a group email together for the real bulk of our adventures, so I'll add that to the site when it comes out. Hope you all had a great Xmas and an awesome New Years. We have a wedding to go to on the 31st, followed by a few quite beverages ...

And some **coughfireworkscough**.

Hehehe. Look out world.



posted by Ads at 12:14 PM

 
Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas).

Just a quick note to say that I'm back in Baguio from the first part of the my most surreal adventure yet (and I've had a few bizarre ones)!

It's been an amazing, out there, intense and challenging 10 or so days full of hyperactive kids, mad grandmas and drunk ube farmers and we've barely gotten into it. Can't wait to see what awaits.

Anyway, gotta run. An early start tomorrow, as we're off to see the "8th wonder of the world" - Sagada and it's rice terraces for our Xmas break. Wishing you all the best for the festive season. Hope it's not too hot/cold where you are.
posted by Ads at 10:05 PM

 
Magundung gabe! (good evening)

Well, it's a quite a temperate evening in the mountain town of Baguio, and I'm pretty damn exhausted. Tomorrow, we finally hit the community that we'll be living and working with for the majority of our project. Honestly I can't wait. At the very least, I have only one more night in a bed that's about a foot too short for me!

Last Thursday night was the last night that both groups were to be together, so it turned into a bit of an orgy of San Miguel beer and impromptu singalongs on our little "Secret Life of Manila" terrace overlooking the city. Let's just say it was a bit of a late one.

Friday was spent at one of the Bahay Tuluyen offices in Santa Mesa. BT works with street children all around the Philippines and the other group will be working with BT for the duration of their project. We spent the day playing with the kids at the centre, and they all kicked our arses at every one that they taught us. They also acted as our shepherds when they took us to one of the local market places. They all seemed so happy and they were great to chat with, so I guess that's a sign that BT is doing good work. You could see the signs of their time on the street though, as many were quite thin, and looked quite young for their age.

That afternoon, we said goobye to the BT group who were off to stay with local families for the weekend, before they officially began their project. It now seems very weird to be in such a "small" group of 11 after being together for so long. It will be great to hear their stories though when we meet up again in early January.

Wow. Apparently they caught Saddam. Weird.

Anyway, Saturday was spent negotiating the Manila streets and public transport system (basically impossible), before missing a bus, and then catching another up to Baguio city. Baguio is a univerisity/holiday town in the mountains north of Manila. It's a lot cooler, and more modern than Manila. I don't think it has Manila's life though, but it's still pretty cool.

Today, has been a bit of a test. Our timetable has been moved forward, so we've had to shop for all of our food/provisions up until Xmas. I mean test by the fact that there's 10 people pulling in different directions, and one team leader trying to keep it all together. I guess you get that with so many people doing this for different reasons, and with different personalities and ways of dealing with things. I swear though, if I have to go through another debate about the pros and cons of oyster sauce ...

People seem to have very different ideas about interactions with the communities too. They're quite poor, and we're going to be going in their with a hell of a lot of food and equipment. I'm worried that that's going to create something of a barrier between us and the community members if they see that wealth and how differently we're going to be going about own own daily life eg meals sleeping arrangements etc. I guess I was hoping to intergrate more with their lifestyles ...

Anyway, we'll see how it all comes together. I'm sure it won't be too bad, as long as we're somewhat subtle with our "wealth". I'm sure we'll have a better idea about what to bring in for our next stint after Xmas. We also got to met the Shontoug Foundation staff who we'll be working with. Shontoug focus on the Indigenous communities in the Provinces around Baguio and have been working in the area for about 30 years.

Oh well, better leave it there. Hope this sees you all well, and that you have an awesome Xmas if I don't write before then. Uni gang, have an awesome time on Tuesday, I expect heaps of stories and pics (Maria and Fletch, you guys rule for sitting through it all).

Lots of love and all that mushy stuff.
posted by Ads at 8:15 PM

 
Magandung hapon sa kayo!

That's good afternoon to you all (I think) in Tagalog. I could quite possibly be wrong, because my brain's a bit fried from a day of language classes in metro Manila.

We've been here for just over two days now, and I'm still a bit spun out by it all. Despite all the stories that my friend Mary-Anne told me (hey Maz!), Manila is nothing like I expected. It's a definite city of contrasts, with it's rich quarters, and very poor areas.

We're currently staying in a hostel in Quezon City in north Manila, which has a definite ... character. It's a bit of a cliche, but the area breathes with life. There are people and animals everywhere, and whenever we're out and about we're greeted with cries of "Hey Joe!" and "What's Up!", because all white people are assumed to be Americans. It's taking a while to get used to all the stares though, because I don't think that people in our area generally see many foreignors. We've hardly seen any Westerners since we've gotten here, which is great. It's interesting to see what it's like to visibly be in the minority for once.

The kids have been the highlight so far though. Whenever we go wondering in our area, they follow us around, completely fascinated by us. We've managed to get their trust, and now they stand outside our hostel yelling for us to come out and play. Their joy is totally infectious - I could spend hours with them. This culminated last night when I managed to strike up a conversation with a local lady while we were having dinner at Manila Bay, and consequently, her kids took me under her win and taught me about 5 Pilipino games, including the national dance craze that is the "Ocho Ocho". I'm bringing that one back to Oz.

Other than the language classes, most of our time has been spent taking in the city, travelling everywhere in the Pilipino icon that is the jeepney (converted jeeps, which are kind of like taxis and are brightly and uniquely decorated), getting used to the food (rice, rice and more rice), singing up a storm (at videoke bars and with sing alongs to a guitar someone brought off a guy wondering past) and visiting the local embassy (it brings you great faith when some of your local representatives don't seem to have gone past the luxury of their offices and homes). Apart from hearing the reassuring saying of "Be alert, not alarmed" about 50 times, we didn't get much from the visit to the embassy. I couldn't get over the contrast of the comforts of the office compared to much of the rest of the city. Apparently they want to exploit our visit to promote Australia at the end of our trip. Yay!

It hasn't been all rosey though. We had a talk yesterday from a prominant worker with NGOs (non-government organisations) in the Philippines, who told us about the realities of life here. Children and women barely have any of the rights that we take for granted, and we spent much of the time being shocked at the statistics presented to us. And last night, after a fairly carefree day, we received word that one of the youth that we were going to be working with was shot and killed for climbing the wrong wall at the wrong time. It brought us all back to the reality of why we're here.

Anyway, more classes call. Not sure when I'll next be able to write. On Saturday we get the bus up to Baguio, and early next week we'll be in the rural indigenous communities where we will spend much of our time on project. From the sounds of it, we're going to have an amazing, but super busy 9 weeks ahead of us.

I hope this sees you all well. Looking forward to hearing your news. Take care.
posted by Ads at 3:23 PM

 
Greetings from Singapore Airport!

Nothing much to report yet. We've had a week of pretty intensive training in team building, aid, development, health, security etc etc etc. It seems like we've got a great team too, but I guess we'll have to wait and see how everyone deals with all the fun of stress and culture shock.

There are 10 of us and a team leader heading to Baguio, and another 10 with a team leader heading south to San Pascul and the Island of Bohol. We meet up about half way through at the beach, so it will be pretty interesting to get the goss on the other team (especially the important stuff like hook ups and who hates each other).

A group of 9 and two team leaders just left us here at the airport on their way to India. Unfortunately, they've just been told that the police isn't letting anyone into the tribal areas that they were supposed to be working in. They're still going, but they have no idea what they're going to be doing over there. I feel their pain!

Anyway, my stomach's dragging me away. Next stop, Manila.
posted by Ads at 8:08 AM

 
Heading off tomorrow for Melbourne for pre-departure briefing and I have a little left to do (pack, research etc), so I'll keep this short.

Our mailing address O/S is:

Shontoug Foundation
Good Shepherd Convent
15 Gibraltar Road
Baguio City
2600 Philippines

Would love (food) letters (food) etc (food).

Anyway, stay safe everyone, and have a kick arse summer/winter.
posted by Ads at 7:27 PM