the two ways to define poverty (VOA tour to Perez)

Over the long weekend (Thanks to Chinese New Year! Kung Hei Fat Choi!), VOA (Volunteers of ACCESS) had its first organized short tour to Perez, Alabat Island, Quezon. It's in this trip that Kuya Onin's camera has shown its getting old so pictures are from my fellow VOA members, Aya and Wakana. ;)

What we did in Perez were...

Play with children.

Interview with coco farmer

Interview with fisherman

Participants also did home stay, with one person each home stay family. In this trip, it was second time that I heard the view that the objective of home stay is not clear and uncertain if it would help participants understand poverty. However, in my case, when I did home stay in rice farming village in Batangas and with a fisherman's home at Perez, I felt isolated from my comfort zone at sleeping time. Thus, the feeling of being lonesome and hopeful to change the place where you're in at the moment spurred. Probably, for Japanese students, the experience would be more compelling and surely "you'll never know it unless you try"

Roamed around town proper.

Play with children, for these little people possess in themselves a universal language.

Ate delicious food made by our fellow volunteer, Masa.

And lastly, play with Macho. <3

In the morning of our last day in Perez, we had a little reflection and discussion of whether "Perez is poor or not." Though it was limited time, it was nice to hear opinions of same-aged people and see the similarities and differences of our points of view. Most said Perez is poor but not as poor as other places like Africa. More so, poverty's sense of meaning is different if you look into other people's mind. Some would say it is when people have "less freedom" or "lack of choice" while some would say, it is when people "don't have electricity in their houses, could not eat thrice a day nor could send their children to school". More over, some would say, poverty is when sadness has struck your life chronically and that happiness beyond the limitation of material abundance is wealth.

So how do we define poverty then? This is where the two ways to define poverty enters.

One is, relative poverty (the subjective one).
Keyword: "in relation"

which measures poverty through the feelings of happiness or contentment of a person in his or her life. For example, a person may be materially unable than another one, but he or she might think his/her life is better since their family is together, their traditional values preserved. On another note, a middle class student may feel he is poorer than his/her classmates since s/he doesn't own the things others own.

Relative poverty is commonly used in surveys wherein opinions of people whether they feel their life is getting better or worse is checked. It's one way for government to know if development is felt by its constituents.

Another one is, absolute poverty (the objective one).
Keyword: absolute equals zero or poverty line

In the realm of social welfare and development studies, a concise and measurable tool to define poverty was invented to know who and where the poor are. In contrast with relative poverty, absolute poverty marks the demarcation between who is poorest of the poor, poor, middle class and upper class. A clear example is explaining that a family earns only 2 dollars a day, thus is considered poor.

During the study tour to Perez, I realized these concepts are nothing if you study it inside the four corners of the classroom. Understanding is abstract and vague if you haven't seen what is outside and real. At the last day, I realized these 2 ways to define poverty are nothing but concepts and what's more important is how to solve the inequality between the land-owner and coco farmer as well as the boat owner and the small fisherman.

Studying isn't practical at all, if we don't use knowledge as way to improve and enhance or invent social technologies to alleviate poverty. Knowledge would be mere concepts, floating in the air and gradually die out, such as the field of philosophy.

So much for thinking, it's time to go say goodbye to Perez.

And these three sure had great time on the boat to home.

Goodbye and see you again Perez!

to think globally but act locally

I seem to remember posting this before, right on the day that I learned what it really means. Yet, today, I was reminded by Kuya Fishy, the Japanese student who went to Mindanao from his homeland Japan, to help the Sendong victims. To read the news about him, click here.

To think globally means to see things or problems not only in the boundaries of geographical demarcations wherein you are situated, but to see things at a bird's eye view. To understand poverty means seeing povety as well as wealth of other neighbor nations and the world as a whole. If there is push and pull between rural and urban poverty in the Philippines, there is also a presence of the push and pull between the developing and developed First World countries.

However, to think this way it too abstract that you can't even understand anything. Today, Zenta told "to see things in a general view is seeing nothing at all." (I'm sorry if it wasn't verbatim for his words were more creative than mine.) I learned it through ACCESS.

That is why.. we must "act locally". Action should take place from the level of the person, of the group, of the organization, of the barangay, of the local government to the national level. Of course, each problem should be sorted and defined in its own specific term, and to be analyzed historically, before a solution maybe applied. (OMG, that's made my mind bleed a little). I just remembered, as I was letting time pass at Papemelrotti this afternoon, I read "When you see a hungry child, feed one. When you see a homeless family, shelter one. Hope begins with one."

Anyway, I'll try to make an example.

Perez, Alabat Island, Quezon

At Perez, Alabat Island, Quezon, fishing is one of the main sources of income of families below the poverty line. Yet, their problem not only involves lessening small fishes due to practice of dynamite fishing but more so, is the presence of large fishing boats from Taiwan, China and Japan. Because of these high-tech and large ships from other countries, abundance of fish to be caught by the small fisherman from Perez, is affected. Thus, the problem is not just because of the situation at the fisherman village but of international relations. This is to "think globally".

Small boat locally called as "bangka" used by small fisherman.

This was taken after Typhoon Santy struck the island.

Then, "to act locally" would mean getting each fisherman to know the situation. Well, actually, they already know but they are scared to take action individually, thus the role of community organizing enters. The action should come from the fisherman themselves first, although a move from the United Nations or lawmakers of Philippines is also important.

It was difficult for me to understand "think globally, act locally" when I was a sophomore student of BS Social Work. Yet, I learned it through experience. I wanted to explain it to others who have difficulty understanding it too. I tried. ;)

I also try to live this thinking "to think globally but act locally" by being a VOA member. By the way, we had meeting today and it was about short study tour to Perez, on January 21st to 23rd. I hope the weather would be fine because I don't want to be stranded at Atimonan Port again and reminiscing memories of Perez from the port. VOA thinks globally by having people of different nationalities think about poverty while, to act locally is to show these people poverty at the micro level of a fishing village at Perez, Alabat Island, Quezon.

Would you think they are poor because of the condition of their house?

Or would you think they are rich because of their smiles?

giving is like digging a well

It was unusual that I woke up early on a Sunday, but I did today, as requested by our concurrent Chief in Operations Division. We were instructed to go to Tzu Chi Foundation, to assist in the rice distribution for the 17th Anniversary of Tzu Chi.

4 years ago, I went to Tzu Chi Foundation to ask assistance for my client who is a 13-year old boy for his eyes. It was explained to me by a friend that Tzu Chi gives free eye check-ups as well as glasses. However, as soon as I went there, I also saw the long line of people who wanted to ask help for their own health conditions and so I decided to withdraw from asking assistance that day and wrote personally to a Redemptorist priest for my client.

Yet, today was different.

I went to their temple near Banawe Avenue and saw the long line of people again. But, as soon as I saw my co-worker, I told him we should get inside immediately by introducing ourselves as staff of DSWD. From that moment that I said I was DSWD staff, it's as if the world changed. 

Prytzch and I were introduced to the daughter if the CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines. She toured us inside the Still Thoughts Hall, explained briefly about Buddhism and planted enthusiasm regarding Tzu Chi in our hearts. Yet, I was half-listening to her because I became engrossed with the words written on the walls, the words from the foundation's founder, Master Chen Yeng.

Some of which I still remember are...  (though not verbatim)

"Giving is like digging a well. As more land is dug, more water comes out."
"There is no life with a life who just lets the days pass, but there is creation of life from which every moment is spent for a purpose."

I became proud being a DSWD employee today when the CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines welcomed us with a metaphorically very huge embrace. The 20 kilograms of rice to be distributed to each of the 1,200 families was from Taiwan. Through negotiation with Honorable Secretary Dinky Soliman, Tzu Chi was able to send the rice from Taiwan to Philippines tax-free. More so, Tzu Chi was allowed to stock the sacks of rice in NROC (the warehouse of DSWD at NAIA Avenue). Tzu Chi was very proud to say that there was not even 1 sack subtracted from the 25,000 sacks of rice stocked at NROC. They were very grateful and proud to say that DSWD genuinely "serves the people".

"People always thought that when donations are lodged to the government, there is always corruption. But, we have proven it wrong with DSWD." Mr. Alfredo Li (CEO, Tzu Chi Philippines)

But that isn't the only learning I get. The rice to be distributed, a material thing, could be lost from the beneficiaries after a few days of consumption. But, what Tzu Chi wanted to impart more important than rice is the greatest teaching of Master Chen Yeng.

1. To love and serve your parents.
2. To love and serve other people.

To know more about the foundation, here's their website.
http://www.tzuchizam.org/tzuchi/

Do what you love, the rest will follow.

This changes nothing but I'd like to say to my friends that I love my job even though it makes me very busy and unable to see them for a while. On weekdays, I'd go straight to bed after a tiring day unlike before when I could hang-out and meet some friends in Cubao for dinner or a cup of coffee. So, recently I learned to love weekends not only because it gives me time to rest but it balances my life, and make me ready for the adventure I'll be having for the next week.

So, what have I been busy about? As an answer to a friend...

   The work of a social worker in the streets, is a risky yet adventurous job.   

Last Sunday, we had rescue operations of street children and street families in Guadalupe. After giving them breakfast, we interviewed them of how we could be of help to them. As expected, their needs are the basic ones - food, livelihood, shelter. For me, the street children and street families are the concrete products of an unequal society. For the last 2 years, I thought that the children who are not given chance to go to school in the rural areas are the most deprived ones. I learned recently that there are children in worse situation than them, and they are the children living, playing, sleeping, scavenging, selling sampaguita, etc. on the streets.

"It's a blurry present and not just future, for these children." 

Last Wednesday, we also did profiling of the street families staying in NAIA Avenue. To my surprise, there are families living under the Catcat Bridge near the International Airport. I was fighting my tears to fall, when I saw these pictures forwarded by the barangay officers.   

Homeless street families under Catcat Bridge.

Through interviews, I found out that these families have been residing under the bridge for almost 20 years already. The only way to contribute to them in starting their life anew is to give them opportunity for resettlement, before they face threats of demolition. As a friend told, "It'll be your legacy, if you're able to change their situation, for... since I was a child, they are already there."

Me talking to a street child, with my fellow social worker.

Sometimes, I feel so small that I could do minimal things for social change. I am just a social worker and decisions are sometimes under the judgment of people of higher ranks than me. I may recommend these families for resettlement, but the reality of that happening is still under the hands of an entity bigger than me, which is the one to provide an area for resettlement as well as budget for the houses of these families.

But, I still believe that my words in written and oral has a lot to say. I love what I do, and I do my best, and I hope the rest will follow.

Time has the answer.

A little earlier this month, I was suprised with my thought that "Oh, there's a 31st in August!". Had I become so insensitive and naive or had the sad feelings and cloudy thoughts erased the memory?, I do not know. August had given me a wave of emotions, until it has given me happiness in its last day. Anyway, this is another side of my life. I'm just happy that the empty space inside, has been filled again by an old puzzle piece, coming back home.

In that short period of time that I have been not updating you my dear journal, so may things happened. I felt that I shook the world more than China when I suddenly bid goodbye to being full-time staff of ACCESS, to be a Project Development Officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Believe me, it was a heartbreaking choice to do too. It was saying goodbye to your home for two years, from family and from the comfort zone. It felt same as I was entering the unversity, taking a big leap.

DSWD's program aims for 0 street children in 10 priority areas of Metro Manila. This aim and program has been "hot" and "controversial" as with the doubts that it could be achieved. The program includes 6 projects, namely:

1. Sampaguita planting project
2. Resettlement for homeless street families
3. Liberating Indigenous People from Indignity (LIPI) for empowering Bajaus
4. Activity Centers
5. Day and Night child-minding centers
6. Camping Project

I am currently assigned to facilitate technical assistance and resource augmentation to the cities of Pasay and Makati. However, this is easier said than done. I am a neophyte still in working under a government office, and everyday is still a hard learning process with regards to how the administrative, finance and operating systems work. After a month of wokring with DSWD, I got the hang of it, nevertheless, there are so many rooms for improvement for myself in order to do the job well.

Our busy, Special project Unit Office gets way of people clatter by lunch time. ^^

My co-staffs busy in their profiles of street children.

A realization I have while staying on the streets is that... the problem of street children, street families and indigenous people is not a separated matter with the problem of the urban poor, of rural-urban migration, of poor economic management leading to lack in job opportunities. Therefore, I feel that there are so many things to be done before 0% incidence in whole Metro Manila could be achieved. Not unless, centers and institutions would be upgraded to accomodate all of the street children and street families. It is a great challenege! It is known to all that the proliferation of children in the streets should be acted upon, yet we should also ask ourselves to take a look at it with a bird's eye view to understand how it relates to the other problems proliferating in our society.

Next.... From August, I've restarted being a volunteer of ACCESS again for the simple reason that I miss the debates, the hard-working volunteers and my passion for Japanese culture and language. Now, I feel more free to do what I want, with limited pressure. I could say to myself that I am very happy to where I am now in my life.

With Yuri and Macha, on a train ride to Ayala, after the VOA meeting. :)
Just enjoying the ride. たのしいかた。^^

After months of mourning for a love that I thought was lost, and after weeks of tiredness, confusion and unhappiness in the current job that I'm doing, I've finally passed upon it. And realized, what Kuya Archie said was true "only time has the answer".

P.S.
私はあなたが私の人生に戻ってくれてうれしい。

Out of greatest rejection, comes our greatest direction

That was a quote from a friend from Palawan named Arl Marie. It was random for her to send this text message but it meant a lot to me, because it's actually my learning for today.

This morning I couldn't help myself from crying bitterly while eating my snack on a fast food restaurant. I didn't want to cry but the emotions are just too much that tears kept falling. I was in a public place, but the tears didn't care. It was too much frustration and anger to the self - for taking too long time to decide. Indecision is the next thing that I should conquer within myself. What serves as a cup of comfort for me today was a line from B.O.B.'s Airplanes that goes...

"So Airplane, airplane, sorry I'm late.
I'm on my way, so don't close that gate.
If I don't make that, then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be back right at it, by the end of the night."

Earlier this morning, I went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development - NCR. A friend from UP informed me of a job opening, 3 weeks earlier from today. After too long indecision, I finally decided to give it a try, after reading that it involves community organizing and with focus on street children in Manila. After 24 hours, I learned that my application was too late for the DSWD Central Office. And after taking a trip to Old Manila and lurking its streets, I learned that the only opening on the NCR Field Office was for Administrative Assistant.

On the way to the NCR office, I decided to take a pedicab from Legarda St. corner Recto Avenue only to find out that the office was just a few blocks away from the pedicab terminal and which I could do with 2-3 minutes walk. I hated the pedicab driver who took advantage, and didn't just advise me to walk. However, I kept patient in front of him, considering the difficulty of him getting passengers day in and day out.

 "Sometimes, we become close minded which also closes the opportunities that are just close. [kringchan via Twitter]" If I hadn't been too focused on "I should get a pedicab to go to DSWD after walking from Sergio Loyola St. to Legarda St.", I could have seen the DSWD office which was obviously only a few walks more. More so, if I hadn't been closing my mind and limiting myself from the opportunities that the world is giving, I would be standing still, with no growth. Years ago, I always told myself not to work under a government office because it would just take away my passion upon seeing the reality of corruption. Today, I learned that DSWD (despite the fact that it is the LEAST corrupt government office of the Philippines), is still the best institution for us social workers to apply our knowledge and skills. On one hand, government fund is bigger and more stable than that of non-government organizations, all the more requiring genuine gatekeepers. On the other hand, social workers were trained for "standards" and the "standards" are applied and are required to be safeguarded by DSWD.

Before I went out of the fast food, I read my resume again from top to bottom. I remembered an advice I read somewhere (sorry, if I can't put reference to you my dear article) that goes "if you feel too far from your dreams, take a moment to pause and look back on how far you have reached, savor that moment of you still having the gap between the reality and your dreams, and refresh yourself of your motivations for fighting". That's exactly what I did. I've been an intern and volunteer for five NGOs already. I've worked with ACCE for 2 years. From here, I want to study Masters in Psychology, to work for DSWD sooner or later (if God permits) and still looking forward to that day where I would enter my class and ask my students "so... what brings you here?". 

 

My present work (Child-organizing and organizing guardians for BCPC)
Taken during field work in Perez, Alabat Island, project site of ACCESS.
Just finished a week of tutorial class and meeting with guardians.

Truly, "there is no perfection, there is only.. life." 

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/
 

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/

 

social workers are paper makers - bloody yet, fun.

The accomplishment report of ACCESS has been keeping me busy for a while now. Somehow, I wanted to get out of that mud-pit and I want to finish it as soon as I can. However, it has given me an interesting feeling for it makes me look back to memories and reminisce what happened inside and out of ACCESS-Philippines for the whole year. It made me remember persons (who joined study tours, who facilitated trainings, who attended activities) and walk through places again (Perez, Pampanga, Smoky Mountain) through fragments of memories stored in the back-up file of my brain.

It is also my first time to write such kind of report, and almost everyday, worry throbs inside me on how the DSWD would find my report. Would it be amusing? Would it be informative? Would it be a report qualified for their standards? But, at those moments, I brush the anxieties away with "there are so many NGOs that they need to worry about and ours, is just one of the thousands in the Philippines".
 

[The picture in the cover page of the Accomplishment Report.

Yes. I am teasing you to read it.]

Today until tomorrow, I'll be working on the section about Secretariat and it is the most difficult. Because, to paint what the Secretariat does in everyday business in ACCESS is a hard thing to do. The Secretariat is the heart and the mind of the institution (and I'm proud to be part of it), but I'm at a loss of words when trying to describe how Secretariat staff supports beneficiaries and the staff from project sites. Probably, it is difficult to lift one's own chair. www 

 

And here I am, talking about work after a day's work. "Everyone really likes to talk about work", Ame-chan said last Tuesday. 

[When I get too tired, or brain is not working anymore, I look at photographs and get energy from them. I took this while I was walking in Mariposa St., going to office from Redemptorist seminary.]

In my 4th year in the university, I stumbled upon a social worker who said "I am social worker, not a paper-maker." through the internt. The person was agonizing with the pains of writing reports. I realized that reporting and documentation is part of the everyday life of a social worker. One might hate it at first, but if one does it creatively and regularly, it's a piece of cake which one would enjoy biting amidst everyday hard-work. So, from now, I promise to write more about experiences and keep my journal-writing. www

 

On other news, Noriel (the SSDN-youth leader) has been staying in office for a special piano lessons and music class with our intern staff. It's so nice to hear Noriel practicing the piano everyday. It made me want to get back to practicing the guitar again and trying-out playing the piano. But from tomorrow, he'll be back to his work of organizing fellow youth members. 

 

[Noriel writing for the newsletter of SSDN-youth. He asked me to edit it, and I was pushed in tears. He wrote about the youth being the hope not just of the future but of the present. But, how can the youth be the hope of the present, if they are nourished with their needs for development, at their present youth. ノリエル、おつかれさまでした！]

Today, アクセス日本 (ACCESS-Japan) opened it's blog for public reading. Please visit:

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/access_japan

Also, here's the link for アクセス日本 (ACCESS-Japan)'s effort to help disaster victims in Japan. 
http://www.page.sannet.ne.jp/acce/earthquake.html

New post up in ACCESS-Philippines VOA's blog. Click!
http://ameblo.jp/acce-philippines/
 

future is blurry but I'd like to make it clear

 [Bloomfields performing at "Wednesday Habit" at Eastwood City.]

Life is blurry, just like this picture at Eastwood City yesterday evening. I went there with Filipino and Japanese volunteers to watch the Bloomfields and to see Yuri, Bebe and Haruna, for the last time. But, I learned that I would be seeing them again on Sunday and Monday, before they take Tuesday's flight. I listened, I drunk, I ate, I chatted and I watched Peter and Kuya Archie being scared but having fun jumping at the trampoline. I went home at midnight then, couldn't sleep. When eyes finally closed, the body didn't want to rise up until it was lunch time. Back to the accomplishment report of ACCESS at work, roamed around Cubao after work and now, reflecting.

Back to reflections... With life, we don't know what'll happen tomorrow. Though you roughly know how it would turn about, you don't know what sudden things may happen. 

While I was at Eastwood, I felt comfortable and happy but at the same time, felt that the world is not mine and that this world brings me sadness, which is ironic. I realized that I was a person who had traversed the two sides of life - the world of the rich and the world of the poor. I enjoy the music, art, food and comfort in material things that the rich has, as what I had a bite while I was at Eastwood. However, along with this comfort, is the sinking feeling that most people I met in the communities couldn't feel and experience this life which I had a glimpse of living.

I confess that Eastwood is for rich people. Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and other nationalities would often the place. Eastwood City is a beautiful place in the Philippines, build not for Filipinos, I thought as we were walking around Eastwood. And, at one moment, I remembered Aokichi who asked me "what do you like about the Philippines?"

-> I like Philippines because I could eat Japanese, French, Italian, American food whenever I want, and I could feel like I'm in a different country at some times, if I would want to be. I like experiencing other culture, this is what I like about Phil. But, it's also a problem.

At last, I thought again if I could turn back from my decision to walk with the poor. I could always turn back, apply in a call center and earn more money. However, I figured that the life of that wouldn't bring the equal happiness that my life as an NGO worker give. I don't want to exchange the smiles of children, the hugs from women, the tears of mothers looking for comfort and the people whom I work with who live simply but intelligently. I don't want to exchange all of this with more money.

[So many things to do for the Philippines and the World, so little time.
This is the busy street of Arayat, Cubao, I pass by everyday, coming to office.]

I have an image of myself in the future. But, I don't know how I'll reach that image, and sometimes, I worry that I might not. The future is blurry but I'd like to make it clear by polishing my feelings and thoughts about the life I chose.

concentrate on the goals, not on interpersonal conflicts.

Last weekend, I learned from Kuya Tito that "People, because of being together acquire interpersonal conflicts, it is natural. Our work is to bring them out the interpersonal conflict by making them look back to their vision and goals, and from there debate on how they could reach their goals." 

Last Saturday until Sunday, we had our Fiscal Year Assessment and Planning at ACCESS Philippines. For 2 days, we sat with each other, debated and thought of our next activities for our programs in the coming year. It was held in our field office in San Jose, Mitla Pampanga. 

 [Our Humble Field Office in Pampanga]

Each staff in program areas - (1) Perez, Alabat Island, Quezon, (2) Smoky Mountain, Tondo and (3) Mitla, Porac, Pampanga, presented their assessment points for this year. It took us the whole Saturday for sharing assessment points. 

[ACCESS-Philippines Staff discussing assessment points of programs in Pampanga]

Fortunately, it was also the feast of San Jose last Saturday (March 19, 2011). We were invited to the house of the baragay captain for lunch. I learned that Pampanga people try their best to prepare many and delicious food every feast day which is good for the visitors. However, it is bad for them since they enter into debts just to reach these hidden expectations from visitors. On our side, we enjoyed the food (and for once, ti's not true that "there's no free lunch"). On the other side of things, they spent too much.

 

[Kuya Archie getting food from the buffet table.]

We visited one house of our beneficiary after lunch, and found this:

[This is a stove made out of hollowblock.
Creativity of impoverished people come from their everyday difficulty in living.]

After lunch, we walked around the barangay and visited the Mitla Elementary School which ACCESS' helped in building. 

[Kuya Archie and Ate Lisa in roaming around. Kuya Archie was checking the grass and told us, the fruit from that grass can be eaten.]

 

 
[While walking around the experimental farm of Pampanga, I met him.]

The next morning (Sunday), we continued with planning programs for FY 2011-12. Each program area team of staff sat together to clarify objectives, activities, persons in charge and time frame. The whole morning, and until 3:00 in the afternoon was alloted to sharing the plans so that staff from other areas could give their opinions and ideas on improvements of each program. This is a wonderful learning venue for each program area staff, even for us, the members of Secretariat.

[Kuya Tito and Jane working on plan for programs in Smoky Mountain]

[Kuya Archie and me, working on plans for programs in Perez.]

At 4:00 (Sunday), we finished. And before packing for Manila and after 2 hard thinking days, a little souvenir from Pampanga:

[All staff of ACCESS-Philippines

Top: Kuya Tito, Irene, Kuya Maks, Jane, Sarah, Lisa, Jenette

Bottom: Kuya Lando, Kuya Archie, Hana, Maki, Me (Kring) and Ate Yeng]

 

Thank you for your hard work everyone! みなさん、おつかれさまでした！ 

 

Note: Pictures' dates are wrong because of wrong camera settings. >,<