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?

how to walk the talk by organizing study tour to Japan.

So I have this crazy idea I wanted to share with VOA members yesterday yet I didn't just because I think it was crazy. It was on the first few minutes after waking up, on a Wednesday morning, that it dawned on me an idea to sponsor study tour to Japan for ACCESS's full time staff.

This was my very first visit / study tour to Perez with the first VOA members.

That first time I was asked by Kuya Goto "why do you think Perez is poor?"

I started to work in ACCESS in 2009 and I met more or less 135 Japanese in a span of three years. They all have met Filipino staff of ACCESS and I know at the back of their minds, they still have that memory of 12 days in Philippines, learning about poverty in a Third World country and finding the treasure of Filipino smiles. "Why can't we gather all the people that we love in one place?", asked Snoopy so then I asked myself that early morning if it was possible to make them meet again. I feel luckier that I could still talk with Japanese friends and acquaintances through the internet, but how about my fellow Filipinos who's unlike me spending the waking and close to sleeping hour of their day at the internet. The day they meet again, is a day filled with inspiration and reigniting the fire that was once lightened in Manila, Smoky Mountain, Perez or Pinatubo.

Memory from the first long study tour of ACCESS that I joined.

I fell in love with the concept of "study tour" at that time. 

It was August 2009.

I talk about "walking the talk" because for almost 3 years, I have been an advocate of equality between the Japanese and the Filipino. It is very "ideal" and for some, might be "unrealistic" and "unreachable". Yet, one step is to practice a principle on it's own home. Isn't it a little unfair that only the Japanese students learn from the Filipinos and the Philippines? In an ideal and equal world (that I want to live in), there are "no boundaries" and that any one can go to another country freely. However, the only problem and the only difference is money. Of course, Filipino staff can't go to Japan because they might as well use their money for the basic needs of their family such as food, shelter, health and education (Yes, clothing is a bit luxury).

I became very good friends with Tachi during that August 2009 long tour.

I learned that Japanese people are fun to be with, 
and that there is nothing to be scared with.

They are different people from the Japanese during the WWII.

Of course, fellow ACCESS Filipino staff have their best Japanese friends too.

Like Tomomi, Tinton and Shohei.

There might be negative differences of culture, but what's nice is to learn from each other. I've always heard from Japanese participants of study tour that they are surprised and touched with the smiles from children and every Filipino they meet in my home country, amidst the difficult life they face each day. Most of them also admire the Filipino's "close family ties" wherein, a parent's greatest happiness is making his/her son/daughter finish school.

And they learn it through first hand conversations with Filipino families, 
in the form of an interview.

This was our interview with a family who relies in coco farming for their living.

Like all other Filipino staff, I haven't been to Japan. Probably, if I go there I'd admire the big buildings, neon lights yet carefully preserved traditions of the Japanese. I would have to admire their discipline and "grace under pressure". I'd love to see sakura and yuki. Probably, every Filipino staff would have these things kept in mind before going to Japan. Yet, I want to know what I don't know yet.

Japan is something so close yet so far, for all of us.

What is there in Japan that kept the nation successful? What makes the Japanese the most disciplined people in the world? What made them value hard work and putting their hearts in what they do every time? How have they kept their Japanese traditions for so many years and continue to be loving their own? And more of list of questions...

When Japanese friends go back to Japan, it feels like it is something inevitable.

What's left are just memories and the hope that someday, 
they'll come back, just to nurture the friendship.

While on a jeepney ride, I was wondering whether Filipino students from UP, Ateneo or La Salle would be interested to join a study tour to Japan. In that case, I'd like to be a leader. Lol. But then, I need to be a participant too, first. And then... another thought came to my being of saving the money VOA gets from profit of organized 1 day short tours to Smoky Mountain and Perez and use it as fund for Study Tour of ACCESS Filipino Staff to Japan later. But then, only saving for fare would take more than 10 years, I guess. Lol. どしょうかな？Orz

"Why can't we gather all the people that we love in one place,

I know I could but there would always be some one who'll leave.

I know what I need. I don't need goobyes, I nee more hellos." - Snoopy

I told you. It was a crazy idea. ;)

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/
 

turning your back from a friend is a hard thing to do

Really, it was a hard thing to do. I was forcing myself to do it, as I said goodbye to Haruna, Bebe and Yuri tonight, and walked to the jeepney terminal to get home. It's been a year since I first met them and it has been a fruitful one. Within one year, we laughed with corny jokes, pondered hard on how to deal with planning of one-day-study tour, cried over lost money of fair trade goods and shared tired moments after a hard day's volunteer work.

Here are some of memorable moments I shared with them: 「それはなつかしいです」。It brings me nostalgia.

[VOA Meeting, sometime in August (?), Farewell Party for Shino maybe.
Every VOA meeting is a memorable experience - full of laughters and sincerity, at the same time.]

[with GET members Yuko, Uzu and Yuho. Bebechan was interpreter.
We interviewed two students from Ateneo about their views on poverty and Smoky Mountain.]

[at Manila Ocean Park. Happy times ♪♪♪]

[Summer Camp with SSDN-Youth and FIT members. w/ Bebechan]

[Tribute to Youth (Dec. 4, 2010) was product of everyone's hardwork. Photo by Nino Bayan]



[at Banaue with native Ifugaos, December 2011. 

In Banaue, we walked for ~2 hours just to get to the Spring. Happy memories. ♪♪♪
Photo by Nino Bayan]

[First ever VOA Meeting. June 2010] 

Probably, the sadness comes from saying goodbye to people of my age. It was easy to talk to them since our interests mesh. It was easy to feel comfortable and it was easy to be friends. That's why, it's so hard to let go. But then again, maybe the sadness comes from the fear that I may never see them again. But I keep reminding myself that it's not true. We all have the same goal and that is "to help build a better world and to help impoverished people". I believe that because of this goal, we WILL see each other again.

As volunteers, I learned many things from them. Being with them made me regret that I didn't maximize my college life to get to know more about NGOs. Through them, I learned that people don't need to have a degree on Social Work nor Community Development to help other people. What's important is the passion and commitment to "do something" as well as the interest to study more about what's happening with the world. Probably, there are only a few people in the world who naturally has these characteristics that's why I'm glad I was able to meet 3 of these kind of people in my life. They are my inspirations, and they are my idols and I'll keep working with ACCESS to meet more people like them. 

[Last picture near Cubao Office, before saying goodbye.]

 

べべちゃん、ゆりちゃん、はるなちゃん、

日本で、いつもきをつけて。げんきだね。

また会う日まで。ークリン