social entrepreneurship (like Uniquease) never felt and tasted this good.

 

 

Saturday gave me back into nostalgia as I walked around Makati again and I couldn't help but take a picture of this humble hotel in Makati which serves as our home for 12 days during study tours.

Last Saturday was a free day for there was no VOA meeting but.. I still chose to go out, went to Makati and meet with a dear friend, Amechan. She was to coordinate our fair trade program with Uniquease, a social entrepreneur / restaurant in Makati and I tagged along. A pleasant surprise in learning was up ahead that I didn't know about.
 

(Humble signed board welcoming its customers.)

 

The restaurant serves organic food and hires as its staff youth from impoverished communities such as Payatas and who are then, beneficiaries of NGO (such as SALT and ICAN). I was warmly welcomed by the 19 year old staff of Uniquease and by talking with him, I could see his happiness in his work, his pride of being able to prove something out of himself and comfortable with the loving embrace that a person from the NGO world, Ms. Yachiyo Nakamura, has given them through the opportunity of self-reliance and personal development.

 

I told him.."when I first stepped in,I thought all of you were graduates of HRIM, for your quality of service is good." I was wrong. The youth have undergone trainings as staff. They also have other activities such as workshops on making pots to increase their livelihood capabilities. The staff also live in a quarters managed by themselves. "The objective of Ms. Nakamura for hiring us as staff, is for us to become empowered, to stand on our own", he humbly explained.

 

(People Tree: A picture of the activities of youth shown inside the Uniquease restaurant)

 

At the front of the restaurant, you'll be welcomed by Uniquease's fair trade corner. This corner cater the want and need of Japanese students and visitors from Japan to shop for souvenirs to be given to their friends when they come back home. The products in Uniquease's fair trade corner are from livelihood projects of different NGOs, such as ACCESS, ICAN, SALT, etc. Even, the pots made by staff / youth of Uniquease are sold here. 

 

(Mapayapa products sold in Uniquease's fair trade corner)

 

(Accesories made from pili by kids. Pili is a native food from my hometown, Bicol.)

Today I learned that business can be done with the multitude of opportunities for helping other people. I hope every busines could be practiced like this - without oppression of work hours and wage of employees and not hindering their personal development and self-reliance. Unique ideas for putting-up a restaurant and an enterprise, is what keep Uniquease close to our hearts. 

 
 

Uniquease made us very happy that day, that we decided to sing a song for them. And yeah, we'll perform it once Amechan, Hanachan and Makichan plays the guitar, which would be very soon!
 

(I'm happy that more and more people I know are getting interested with playing guitar.) 
 

Visit their website --> http://uniquease.org/

or follow their twitter account --> http://twitter.com/#!/UNIQUEASE

or add them in Facebook --> http://www.facebook.com/UNIQUEASE.Restaurant

ACCES VOA Blog has a new blog post about Perez:

--> http://ameblo.jp/acce-philippines/ 

scavenging is one of the worst forms of child labor

In preparation for the Short Study Tour of ACCESS, I've been reading about Child Labor, starting from the perspective of international laws.

One thing I learned is that there is a difference between working children and child labor. Working children as told by UNICEF, is positive, as it provides venues an opportunities for children to develop and prepare themselves to become productive members of the society. For example, a child who enrolls himself in program of McDonals to be kiddie crew, or a child who is in charge of washing the dishes at lunch time this summer, can not be considered child labor. On the other hand, child labor is a "work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity ad that is harmful to physical and mental development." (ILO). Examples of these are the saddening situation of children not going to school because they are sugarcane (Luzon) or pineapple (indanao) plantation workers, children forced to make firecrackers and fireworks (Bulacan), children pimped, trafficked and forced to prostitution and so on and so fort... The list really goes on, especially in a Third World Country, like the Philippines.

The second thing I learned... I was surprised upon reading about the worst forms of child labor. As stated in Article 3 of the ILO Convention 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labor ratified in 1999, the worst forms of child labor are:

a. all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery
b. use, procure or offering of child for prostitution and pornography production
c. use, procure or offering of children for illicit activities (ex. drug-trafficking)
d. work that harms health, safety or morals of children

 

[Getting ahead of the game means being in the garbage truck first! Photo by FIT.]

I've read the fourth one a couple of times and tried to analyze scavenging. Scavenging harms health because the children and youth are working in an unhealthy environment - a mountain of garbage. This works makes them more prone to bronchial diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, etc. Scavenging also harms safety of the children and youth for everyday, they are in risk of falling debris by riding the garbage trucks in order to get ahead of others for recyclable garbage. An often accident in Smoky Mountain is that people got hit by toilet bowls at their back, got wounded by broken tiles or aluminum wires poking out or by syringes. Scavenging harms morals because of the situation of "getting ahead" of others, wherein quarrels arises just for the sake of getting that aluminum which would could be sold for P5.

 

[Child carrying a sack of garbage. Photo by ACCESS-Philippines]

[Children playing around truck. Photo by ACCESS-Philippines.]

Upon seeing youth members of SSDN (Samahan sa Sitio Damayan ng Nananambakan - the people's organization which our NGO, [ACCESS] works with) in the barge, in their soiled clothes and boots filled with mud - I can really attest that scavenging of the children and youth in Smoky Mountain is one of the worst forms of child labor. I couldn't help pushing myself not to be in tears when I saw them, but they youth were very happy to see us at the premises of the barge and talking to them while they're at work. I felt helpless, that I couldn't do anything at that time but just to observe. What shall I do, as a social worker?

 

["They don't care about Us" danced by SSDN-Youth. Photo by Tito-san.
and Yes! We should ask "Does the government care?"]
 

So far, our program for the youth is helping them in building their organization (SSDN-Youth) through workshop and trainings for leadership and internationalism. This is in view, that people from NGO are not the ones who should pull the people out of poverty, but they themselves, through their empowerment. Another part of our program is cultural training and providing venues (study tours, ACCESS anniversary event) for the youth to show their talents in singing, dancing, theater and arts as their tool for telling more people about their situation. Their songs are about their life in Smoky Mountain, their drama and plays are about "how a beautiful Barrio Mandaragat became the present dumpsite, infamously known as Smoky Mountain". I believe there is much to be done, to fight against child labor. But one step I, FIT and ACCESS could make is showing more of this harsh reality through our short study tour on May 2 - 7, 2011. With fingers crossed, I hope it goes well.

 

[Study tour of VOA last June. Photo by Eri Asada.]

[Brothers. Photo by Nino Bayan]

Last thoughts... As younger brothers and sisters, would you let child labor or scavenging of youth and children in Smoky Mountain continue until future? Please think about it too.

Blogs related to this post, please visit --->

ACCESS Tokyo Team SHARE:
http://ameblo.jp/acceshare/ 

ACCESS Japan blog (New Post Up!):
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/access_japan

ACCESS FIT (Support team to Smoky Mountain):
http://ameblo.jp/fit-news/
 

Soba, Senbei and Shibuya: A Book Review

Title: Soba, Senbei and Shibuya
Author: F. Sionil Jose
Year Published: 2000
Publisher: Solidaridad Publishing House (531 Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila, Philippines)

Ricaredo Demeretillo was right when he said that F. Sionil Jose "has spoken the awful truths and grappled with the fearful realities that centrally confront us" because while I was reading this book, I was amused with the fearless words written, about his views of Philippines and Japan, and the relationship of the two nations. This book has spoken of the good and bad Japan just as it developed in me admiration with the strength of the "Land of the Rising Sun" as well as developed critical consciousness of its movements in economy, politics and more specifically in 'foreign aid' (ODA).

For the development of Philippines

From this book, I learned that "modernization is not only defined by one country's industrialization but by the change in the social structure as well as the change in thinking of each individual living in that nation or society". An overhaul of the social systems would be a waste if the people who would be the building blocks of that system would continue to have the values of the past system such as individualism, colonial mentality, pessimism, social irresponsibility, and lack of consideration of the good of the majority.

First and foremost, modernization would start with agrarian reform, (just as what happened in Japan at the time when McArthur was there). Truly, "ang lupa, ang lupa, ang lupa ang dahilan!".

"Modernization in the Philippines and in many Asian Southeast Asian countries is obstructed by corrupt power structures, by educational systems that do not emphasize technology, by the absence of a national language that should be the language of science, of culture and the same time the language of the people."

About International Relations

In just half a century, Japan successfully became the nation with world's 2nd largets economy, which in turn one of the world's greatest power. However, this success wouldn't be achieved without its relation with her Asian neighbors. This books has told me the reality that Japan couldn't last a year if it does not put efforts in its aggressiveness in trade Really she is, as the proliferation of Toyota and Honda cars & Sony appliances abounds in Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and other Southeast Asian nations. "Japan, a nation whose land area is far smaller than that of California, she must trade or die." Probably, this is the reason behind foreign aids and continual relationship-building with other countries. As a people, we should be critical of the foreign aid - if it does really benefit us or would it bring back more benefit from the foreign country giving the aid?

However, I see the changing personalities of the Japanese exposed to realities of Philippines through the same-aged Japanese students I meet in ACCESS study tour. With their growing criticism of their own country, and our own criticism in the social structures of our country and the world, I believe this generation would be the prime movers of social change with regards to international relations. Surely, "global education" has a long way to go but as Kuya Tito often say "it is the already and not yet" - we can see the fruits and we'll be seeing more if we work harder. 

Japan is getting closer and closer to me.

 

Today, I was glad to meet new VOA members - Peter and Reika. They will be helping us with VOA's "Library Project" and planning sales of rosaries, as well as suggestions for livelihood program in Smoky Mountain 2. The meeting was short but busy, as everyone had a homework to search for at least 3 organizations that does "collecting books" or "donating books" as their activity. After the meeting, we had some bonding activity at Kentucky.

 

A little stroll around Cubao, put me into deeper reflections today. While I was developing anxiety over mushrooming Japanese companies in Philippines, Alimall was reminiscing its memories of the glorious days of Ali, the reason behind the name "Alimall".

[A mall-wide Art Exhibit was prepared by Alimall to honor the great boxer "Ali".]

Here are some of the works from various artists:

It was a new learning for me. I didn't know that this mall was named after a boxer. And so I wondered why the Filipinos back then have the sentiment for "Ali" who is not a Filipino? If they have known that there would be a Manny Pacquiao in the future, could they have named it after him? 

 

Anyway, I just went to Alimall today because of the sign and that I wanted to see the art exhibit. Little do I know that I would stumble upon this Japanese shop, "Saizen". In its window, it says "the official retailer of Daiso Japan in the Philippines". Amidst gladness of Japan becoming closer to me, I worry about the fact of this company being here in the Philippines. The Filipinos' colonial mentality more so, being very very addicted to things from Japan is enough anxiety for the local industry (if ever we have some). And the fact that, Japanese companies are proliferating in Philippines, in Cubao, in Makati, in Malate, is a signage that our country's economy and consumers is taken over by foreign industries and companies. On the other hand, our industry goes down the drainage.

 

 

At one point in time (specifically during the study tour), I was asked whether Philippines make their own cars or "Is there a Philippine company for cars?" I had known that there is a Filipino company making motorcycles but of cars, probably there isn't. They were wondering why... It is rather impossible for Philippines to have a company, more so for this Filipino company to compete with the large car-industry companies of Japan such as Honda, Toyota, or of America's Ford, or of Germany's Audi. More so, we have been for so long time, (probably since 1940s) only a part of the global assembly line. It is here where they get their raw materials, but it is not here in the Philippines that the construction of the whole vehicle itself takes place. In this light, would these companies spare raw materials to the starting neophyte Filipino company?
 

I am not at all totally in disagreement with trade. In fact, I like cultural exchange, exchange of ideas and growth through learning from the people on the other side of the wall. I'm just rather concerned with how the process of trade is taking place - if it is equal and just. And I just hope, the Filipinos would before getting too accepting with the products made in Japan and USA, take a look at the products of their fellows and be proud of it. I hope everyone stops to dream of being born from another country, or to dream of working on another country and leaving Philippines for money. I just hope we learn to practice 'nationalism", as what Japanese do.
 

 

"fair trade, rather than free trade" for me

FAIR TRADE is "an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards. It focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate, flowers and gold." (Wikipedia.org)

Fair trade is for me, an advocacy, an ideology and a practice.

ADVOCACY
It advocates for equality between the maker and consumer by giving a venue to where the maker could dialogue with the consumer about the price. The essence of price in fair trade is "what would be fair for the makers". It is contrary to the present system of rice farmers, coconut farmers and fisher folks who harvest and sell (equal to being maker) but are not the ones pricing their product, BUT the consumer. Imagine yourself going to the mall, looking for something you want to buy and telling the cashier "I'll buy this for P5.00 only". It's impossible and maybe a not so good joke for April Fool's Day but, what a horrible situation for our fellow agricultural fellows.
Fair trade lets the maker get out of this horrible situation, by explaining to the consumer the maker's background. It is advocacy for justice and equality in economic systems and policies.

Another thing that fair trade advocates for is "going green" or "going organic". Contrary to commercial agriculture, fair trade puts importance in environmental sustainability by doing it "the natural way."

IDEOLOGY
Fair trade in itself is an ideology. "Fair trade" is a debate and a proposal to the economic policy of "free trade" implemented in our societies presently. Free trade speaks of equality beautifully in paper such as "Philippines and Japan can fish on each other seas freely" but in reality, "How can a Filipino fisherman fish with his small banca in the seas of Japan?".

PRACTICE
It puts ideology into practice by implementing democracy and justice between the maker and consumer in their relationship. It might be seen as little, as in a micro view but if all consumers and makers have this kind of relationship, capitalism would be in the brink of perishing.

and today I learned that... I have to read more about economics, free trade and fair trade.
because it directly affects the lives of people in poverty.

Recently, I got more interested with fair trade, and probably, would start efforts for fair trade in the nearby future. There are plans to connect with makers of handicrafts for my hometown and selling it in Japan. The internet would be the first step. From then, let's see what happens. For now, I'm helping with the fair trade program of ACCESS.

 

[Earrings and necklace pendant made from coconut.]

 

Fair Trade Product: Handicrafts made from buri and handicraft
Fair trade Group: Mapayapa (7 mothers) from Perez, Alabat Island Quezon
Market: Japan and Manila (bazaars, schools, bookstores, fair trade shops)

Today, I met with my friend, Teresa and she bought Mapayapa products. <3 Maraming salamat!

 

["It's difficult to decide". They are all so cute. <3]

[Ter also promised me... that she'll be the model of Mapayapa goods in their office. :D

It is not only the cuteness and uniqueness that we'll be introducing to consumers,

it's the "cause" of the fair trade project.]

I hope I can do more for fair trade in the coming years!

Teresa's blog:

http://terinamadworld.livejournal.com/

 

Nayukichi's blog (Japanese participant of ACCESS Spring Tour) pioneering "See-saw" Fair Trade Circle:

http://ameblo.jp/napipipi-27

 

The pioneer of fair trade fashion:

http://www.peopletree.co.uk/