in other news....

Earlier this week, I was pleased to accept an offer to return to my former place of employ, beginning March 16, 2015.  The work I will do has been modified to formally account for the training function I have performed for years in the Phoenix location.  Other conditions remain essentially the same as they did when I left.  I couldn't be happier!
TYG

That was interesting!

A wet wet wet weekend.  The tropical storm essentially passed right overhead with strong winds and plenty of rain.  Sporadic flooding throughout the barangays, but we heard no word of landslides, so that was good.    The Emergency Management office was opened all weekend with folks going in and out...   The office itself served as a gathering spot for the men and women who might be needed for search/ rescue and/or evacuation activities.  Information was very difficult to gather because electricity to the region was halted due to safety concerns.  Cell phones were the only means of communication.  No generator, no internet, no AM radio - we were basically in the dark through the worst of it.  Then the water supply was cut.

I did manage to visit the radio station for a song, traveling the 10 or so miles in the rain by jeepney and padjack... NO topical storm was going to stop that from happening!   I wouldn't miss those gathering for the world!

The sun is shining today though and there is nary a cloud in the sky!

One story.... on Friday at around lunchtime, before the rain started, I was sitting in the Mayors office surfing the net.  Someone approached me and asked if I wanted to go with them to a party!  Sureeee, why not, right?!  I walked outside and about 8 people were sitting in a truck so I hop in and off we go!  Turns out we were headed right back to the east coastal barangay that I visited on Thursday!  When we arrive, I was ushered through the tiny village to someones home.  There is a feast awaiting!!!  So much food!  So delicious!

So, my workmates and I are eating, and I get to wondering... why are we here?  What is the reason?  Are we celebrating something?  Well, yes, as it turns out I am told that we are celebrating an anniversary!!  Well, that makes perfect sense, right?

So we all eat our fill.. by now its probably around 12:30 and we leave the home and walk a bit further into the village.  We join a group men and women who are gathered around a videoke machine at the head of a beach. There are chairs arranged in essentially two circles... there's the men's circle.. and then, the women's circle.  What comes next?  The cases of ginebra, of course... and more food appears... and then the cases of brandy appear.... I really don't know who was drinking more, the men or the women, but before long everyone was having a really good time, I will tell you.

We stayed for another hour or so, and then piled back into the truck for the ride back to work!
So fun!

Later, I found out a little more about the party...  they indeed were celebrating an anniversary.... not a wedding anniversary.. but the anniversary of someone's death.  It was a remembrance party, for the death of a loved one that I had just attended!   

it's sort of like the Super Bowl... but bigger

So, in case you weren't aware, the Pope is visiting the Philippines this week.  It is impossible to express just what a HUGE thing this is for the country.  Preparations have been underway for well over a year and the time has finally arrived.  Coverage on the TV is constant.  Signs on the street announce "Thank you Pope Francis for visiting the Philippines!"  You can even buy a Pope Francis t-shirt if you want (I "heart" Pope Francis!).  Pope Francis figurines... Pope Francis bumper stickers...

Manila is filled to the absolute gills with masses of people waiting to get a glimpse of the man.  People everywhere are talking about the Pope's visit.  Get the picture?  This is a huge flippin' event!

And although it might be considered heresy to some, I will state that in my opinion.... the Pope's visit is even a bigger event than the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Maryweather boxing event being planned for later this year  (if you don't live in the Philippines, you probably don't get that joke!)

Yeah, this visit... its a pretty big deal here!

"When I was a kid..."

We've all heard the joke that goes something like "When I was a kid we had to walk uphill to school in the rain.... both ways!"  Well, check this out    - ->

Today, I traveled out of Lagonoy proper to attend a meeting at one of the barangay's located on the eastern coast.  I was happy to go, as I was offered a chance to speak to local authorities on evacuation issues.  Also, with this tropical storm approaching (doesn't look like it will make typhoon status after all, thank goodness) the weekend looks to be extremely wet.. Anyway, thats the background.

The real story is what I witnessed WAITING for the meeting to start!  So, first understand that all children attending school in Lagonoy (Im sure pretty sure all of the Philippines is like this) wear formal school uniforms.  Having said that.. here is a picture of two girls who passed me while I was waiting:

As you can see... formal uniforms... Notice the long skirts.  Ok, so as Im sitting there waiting... about 50 children go walking past me and I got to thinking... where are they going?  After all, I had been down that beach already and there was nothing there.  Well, as it turns out, they were heading for school!   Here is where they went:

That's right... their path to school has them walking thru the surf!  The girls wear shorts under their skirts... then they remove their skirts and shoes, place them in their backpacks, place the backpacks on their heads, and then they cross the surf... a little more than knee deep at this tide.  The boys are wearing shorts under their long pants... same thing....  I suppose they have towels in there too, although I couldn't see what happened when they got over there... nor do I know how far down the beach the school actually was.  I can only assume this just happened to be high tide, and of course, the exact depth and time of high tide is always changing.. so maybe this is the worst it gets... or maybe not.

In any case, that's quite an interesting way to get to school, huh?  I thought so anyway!

Visitors!

As I've oft mentioned, I tend to create quite the sensation walking down the street  as I travel to and return from work.  Little children rush to me to "Hi-5" the americano...  mothers authentically smile, men offer greetings... it's typically the most rewarding part of my day.

Well, yesterday, all this happened and then I got to my gate, passed through my outdoor living space and entered my room.  About 30 minutes later I hear, "Oh Sir Daniel??  Sir Daniel?!  Are you there?"  Turns out, Steffi (12) and her sister (7) had come to visit.. Steffi was carrying my little Hot Wheels toting buddy (2ish) as well!  They were excited to visit and soon I was showing them pictures I had taken in the village, and during my travels here in the Philippines.  Of course, they were also interested in my family back home, and life in America.  They were also quite impressed (I might add) by my two handsome sons!!!  They stayed and we chatted for probably 45 minutes until I told them that I needed to cook dinner so as to take advantage of the evening light.

Before leaving, they wanted to make sure they had my last name so they could "friend me" on Facebook.  Now, I see Steffi has sent a friend request to Rafe and Eric as well... How great is that?

It's a PARTY!

Had a meeting this morning with the Attorney I work with to map out my last project activities.  Since it's the new year, money is back in the budget and the barangay's are eager to begin projects they've been planning since last year.  There are roads and bridges to be built, evacuation centers to create, emergency boats to purchase, communication equipment to buy.  For my part, Im trying to persuade folks to plan for one more meeting.   A workshop/ training session with three main objectives:  A review of the major regional disaster events of 2014, training on best practices in running an evacuation center, and a discussion on implementation of 2015 disaster preparedness and mitigation projects.  Hopefully, this will happen....

In other news, the past week was full of parties!  The fun started Thursday night, when we celebrated Choy's birthday.   Now, for some reason, Choy has no idea what year he was born, but he seems fairly convinced that it was on Jan 6th.  Who am I to question?!

As I think mentioned in a previous blog, Choy lives a bit aways, in the San Ramon barangay.  It’s a long pajak ride out there costing 20ps rather than the standard 5.  I felt pretty sure where I was going, so once I got to San Ramon proper I paid for my transportation and started walking down a dirt road into the rice fields where I knew he lived.   It wasn't long before I was completely lost.  Everyone I stopped said that of course, they knew Choy and where he lived. This was great, except each person I asked pointed me in a different direction!  I finally got to talking to one family trying to communicate that a) Choy has no front teeth b) Choy is a younger guy, about such and so tall c) that Choy works for the Mayor…. none of this was hitting the spot.. then I mentioned that Choy was great at giving massages!  All this in sign language mind you!   Well, this information was the key!  My new friends immediately made the connection, we all laughed and soon I was on the proper path!!!

Anyway I finally found Choy’s hut - or as he refers to it, his “condo unit”.  It had been significantly damaged by the typhoon, but a few boards here a couple of palm fronds there, some bamboo up there.. and the condo unit was as solid as it ever was or would be.  There were already a bunch of guys gathered for the party and the drinking had commenced.  I was really quite surprised to see just how much food was coming out of the little kitchen!  Lots and lots of food…  adobo, blood soup, wild chicken, entrails, peanuts, raman, it was a true Philippine feast!!  And Choy was working hard, alongside his wife and attending to every detail.  If someone new arrived, Choy would make a chair, or bench or table appear.  If a bowl got low on food, Choy would run to get some more.  His wife was constantly about, cleaning this, sweeping the ground, cleaning this dish or that, cooking.  They were such a great team.  About halfway into the night who should appear but the Mayors son, JB!!!  I couldn't believe it!  Out here in the middle of a rice field… JB appears to honor Choy!!!!   What a moment!  

JB and I got to talking and I even spoke to his wife on the phone.  It turns out they are going to be in LA later this summer and we just might try and connect in the US!  How cool would that be?!!!

I never did get a pic of JB and I.  Maybe Ill have another chance!  Here is a picture of Choy and his lovely wife.  And a few more of the barkada.

On Saturday, I did the radio show (Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton) and then jumped on over to another party in town with the guys.  Of course, there was more videoke in store there.. and plenty of good food.  Here's a pic of me singing and then another of my radio crew:

So that was fun.... and if that weren't enough... on Sunday, I got a text from my bud Tony who wondered if I might like to spend the afternoon at his home.  Well, what a wonderful invitation!  So, we ate chicken and drank ginebra and talked.  I shared with him a lot of the stories I have been gathering over the past few months.  Very nice!!

Waiting?

I promised I would write a post to capture the amount of time that I spent actually waiting for something to happen on this trip.

Before I show that log, I want to say this...  waiting isn't really that much of a problem when Im traveling for pleasure.  I have learned that all you need to do is keep you eyes open and the world will unfold in front of you, as it was meant to happen all along.  Ultimately, for me the joy is truly in the ride and not the destination.

Ok... here's my log - remember this is only wait time... not travel time.  You could call it my "Waiting to Travel Log"

Arrive early to Manila airport for departure to Puerto Princesa - 7 hr wait
Wait for bus to Port Barton - 4 hr
Waiting to learn if the boat tour was on or off - 3 hr
Wait for bus to leave el Nido for Puerto - 3 hr
Wait for plane to Manila - 6 hr
Wait to get new ticket following cancellation - 2.5 hr
Wait for new plane to get to Manila - 3 hour
Wait for bus to take me from Manila to Naga - 7 hrs
Wait for van to take me to Lagonoy - 1 hr

Some would call that 36.5 hours of pure wait time...  I prefer:  "opportunity to observe and interact time".

You learn all about the thrill of this when you agree to have a Peace Corps experience!

Love Life!  Live Life!  Be Free!