We are back in Makati for our vocational day with our hosts RC Makati Bonifacio - for the rest of the team this starts with a visit to the City Government of Makati and a meeting with the Mayor, who by their reports, is a dynamic and insightful leader.
My visit was with KMPG San Augustin & Company, and as this is their busiest time of year, could only be fitted in this morning. I very much appreciate PP Adore Mejia taking time out of his busy day as an audit partner to tell me about the business and show me around the office. Perhaps the most notable difference as the noise, or lack thereof, the staff were all busy and focused on their work, with none of those water cooler conversations and jokes that are more common in our offices.
On to lunch at Italiannos, and as the rest of the team were delayed, a very pleasant half hour with Adore and PP Jorge Caparas.
After another excellent meal we went our separate ways for the afternoon - which unfortunately for Jo, included finding a doctor to deal with my Western stomach which has not been coping to well with the busy schedule and rich food.
The visit to the doctor was a memorable experience for an Australian, we arrived and the entire crew (our hosts, Jo, & I) were ushered into his office. My instructions are to maintain my fluids and eat little, but unlike Australia, no medication is provided, I assume because it is simply a matter of retraining a Western stomach. The doctor is a character and we hear about his divorce in Canada, return to Manila, the assistance of his Rotary classmates in reestablishing his clinic, and his past Australian girlfriend
Naturally, with me looking at my best, the consultation was followed by photos. Two more Australian girlfriends for Dr Antonia Pobre.
Unfortunately I was unable to attend my event for the evening, the charter anniversary of RC Forbes Park, which had an exciting program and was from the reports of our hosts and Jo, an enjoyable evening.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
23rd Feb - Intramuros
Intramuros is a key historical site for the Filipino people, an original part it of the Spanish colonial city, once the pride of the Spanish empire, but with only a small part remaining due to bombing during WWII.
We meet up with RC Paranaque Central at Starbucks - which is great as the free WiFi allows us to contact our families on Dane's iPad. We also meet our new host briefly as we swap cars and luggage.
If you don't hear from us for a while we have simply hopped into some random car and Filipino hospitality being what it is the unsuspecting family has probably taken us home and looked after us.
Once at Intramuros we meet with the Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Co-ordination, & Resource Generation - it seems tourism faces many similar issues in the Philippines as it does in Australia, infrastructure, competition, and maintaining appropriate standards to meet the expectation of visitors.
Once we leave the office we are taken on the Jose Rizal tour. Jose Rizal is the hero of the Filipino people, an intellectual and writer, who was eventually executed by the Spanish for his treason against the colonisers.
As part of the tour we are transported around the site by Kalesa, a small horse drawn carriage, with an even smaller horse, probably only 12 hands high at best (a pony) and very skinny. The carriages, and the poor horse, are not designed for 5 Australians and the tour guide....
We went on to tour Casa Manila, a reproduction of a typical home during colonisation, which included some antique furniture, the features of which were pointed out by our dynamic guide by laying his hands on it and at one point even a boot!
We were treated to lunch at Barbara's restaurant, complete with a chandelier in the bathroom and a three man band that serenaded us with their interpretation Waltzing Matilda.
We then loaded up in our respect vehicles, with my Rotary host, Gerry Morales, negotiating the Manila traffic driving a manual vehicle and juggling two mobile phones as he attempted to manage a shipment from Shanghi. We are rapidly coming to the conclusion that Manila drivers are the best in the world.
We arrive a the Mall of Asia for some quick shopping, or in Jo and Frank's case, ice skating, before attending the End Polio lighting of the globe in front of the mall.
Jo wins Anim today, as the ice skating rink was cleared to enable a machine to come on and do some maintenance, but Jo didn't hear the announcement and kept skating until she noticed the staff getting a bit excited and the machine following her!
The lighting the globe was big event with Rotary with all districts represented by club members in uniforms and complete with war chants.
More photos, with some people it seems taking photos simple because others were.
Diner in a Japanese restaurant and then on to our new host families. Once again we are made welcome and feel completely at home with our new Filipino families.
We meet up with RC Paranaque Central at Starbucks - which is great as the free WiFi allows us to contact our families on Dane's iPad. We also meet our new host briefly as we swap cars and luggage.
If you don't hear from us for a while we have simply hopped into some random car and Filipino hospitality being what it is the unsuspecting family has probably taken us home and looked after us.
Once at Intramuros we meet with the Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Co-ordination, & Resource Generation - it seems tourism faces many similar issues in the Philippines as it does in Australia, infrastructure, competition, and maintaining appropriate standards to meet the expectation of visitors.
Once we leave the office we are taken on the Jose Rizal tour. Jose Rizal is the hero of the Filipino people, an intellectual and writer, who was eventually executed by the Spanish for his treason against the colonisers.
As part of the tour we are transported around the site by Kalesa, a small horse drawn carriage, with an even smaller horse, probably only 12 hands high at best (a pony) and very skinny. The carriages, and the poor horse, are not designed for 5 Australians and the tour guide....
We went on to tour Casa Manila, a reproduction of a typical home during colonisation, which included some antique furniture, the features of which were pointed out by our dynamic guide by laying his hands on it and at one point even a boot!
We were treated to lunch at Barbara's restaurant, complete with a chandelier in the bathroom and a three man band that serenaded us with their interpretation Waltzing Matilda.
We then loaded up in our respect vehicles, with my Rotary host, Gerry Morales, negotiating the Manila traffic driving a manual vehicle and juggling two mobile phones as he attempted to manage a shipment from Shanghi. We are rapidly coming to the conclusion that Manila drivers are the best in the world.
We arrive a the Mall of Asia for some quick shopping, or in Jo and Frank's case, ice skating, before attending the End Polio lighting of the globe in front of the mall.
Jo wins Anim today, as the ice skating rink was cleared to enable a machine to come on and do some maintenance, but Jo didn't hear the announcement and kept skating until she noticed the staff getting a bit excited and the machine following her!
The lighting the globe was big event with Rotary with all districts represented by club members in uniforms and complete with war chants.
More photos, with some people it seems taking photos simple because others were.
Diner in a Japanese restaurant and then on to our new host families. Once again we are made welcome and feel completely at home with our new Filipino families.
22nd Feb - Payates
This morning sees us at Payates with our host club of Makati Rockwell.
Payates is an area built up around a massive rubbish dump. In fact the livelihood of the people in the area is from the sorting, reuse, and sale of rubbish. Without seeing the rubbish, literally an entire valley, you cant fathom how much is generated by a city of over 10 million (in the metropolitan area alone).
The area is relatively well know locally, as a few years ago the rubbish collapsed in on itself and killed over 1000 people. I cant imagine what types of pollutants the people are living with or that are leaching out into the soils and eventually Lake Laguna.
The focus of our Payates visit was a school and community library. Unfortunately the library lost many books due to water damage and is currently under threat due to the proposal of a new access road - which can on end at the library due the location of a church and the school if it is extended any further.
The newly appointed principle at that school is doing a magnificent job on limited resources, attempting to engage not only the children, but also gaining the commitment of their families to the education of the children.
The children attend school in two shifts, the first one from 6am to lunchtime, and the second from lunchtime to 6pm, with almost no breaks. My children will certainly get me up on my soapbox if they ever complain about 9am to 3pm again!
While there we saw the school percussion band preparing a number for a special celebration at the end of the week where they will crown the prince and princess of the school. What a terrific performance - the drum squad at Yanco Agricultural High School, where my children are boarders, have some serious competition.
On leaving we toured the campus of the Philippines University, its open space and large trees were a relief from the traffic and must make learning a pleasure.
We later visited the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the oldest university in Manila, celebrating this year its 400th anniversary.
The buildings on the campus were very grand, and the open spaces well planned and well utilised. We were all surprised by the fact the student wore a uniform, with the colours denoting the faculty in which they were enrolled, and the style the degree they are working towards.
Whilst there we toured a exhibition of books and maps from giving us an insight into the history and development of Filipino writing and how degrees were awarded historically.
The evening was with the RC of Makati Rockwell - a club much more like my own sponsor club, Lake Cargelligo, friendly, relaxed, and if you aren't there you may just get elected to a position! This club asked many relevant and insightful questions after our presentation, which we enjoyed answering.
On our return to Ed & Amore's home the driver of our host for the day, PP Eph Despabiladeras, his driver got lost in the unfamiliar area (many of our hosts have drivers and people movers due to the traffic and time it takes to get anywhere, allowing them to catch up on calls and business).
Dane, with the help of his iPad, managed to direct us right to Ed's front door, although I think Eph's driver had his doubts.
This would just about have to make GSE history, a member of the incoming team directing a local driver in the maze of streets that make up Manila.
I also tried to offer Dane immunity from the vote for who should carry Anim next day, but as Dane seems to be unable to make a mistake, the rest of our members overrode me, just in case the next day happened to be the day he made a mistake.
Anim is our team mascot, a kangaroo, which is awarded to the person who makes the silliest mistake for the day - for today it was Graeme, as he managed to lose the rest of us while touring UST. All of us, with the exception of Dane, have had a turn.
This was our last night with Ed & Amore, and they had organised a party and huge steaks for our midnight snack - more singing, just one more photo, a few beers, and excellent night, and finally to bed at 2am.
Payates is an area built up around a massive rubbish dump. In fact the livelihood of the people in the area is from the sorting, reuse, and sale of rubbish. Without seeing the rubbish, literally an entire valley, you cant fathom how much is generated by a city of over 10 million (in the metropolitan area alone).
The area is relatively well know locally, as a few years ago the rubbish collapsed in on itself and killed over 1000 people. I cant imagine what types of pollutants the people are living with or that are leaching out into the soils and eventually Lake Laguna.
The focus of our Payates visit was a school and community library. Unfortunately the library lost many books due to water damage and is currently under threat due to the proposal of a new access road - which can on end at the library due the location of a church and the school if it is extended any further.
The newly appointed principle at that school is doing a magnificent job on limited resources, attempting to engage not only the children, but also gaining the commitment of their families to the education of the children.
The children attend school in two shifts, the first one from 6am to lunchtime, and the second from lunchtime to 6pm, with almost no breaks. My children will certainly get me up on my soapbox if they ever complain about 9am to 3pm again!
While there we saw the school percussion band preparing a number for a special celebration at the end of the week where they will crown the prince and princess of the school. What a terrific performance - the drum squad at Yanco Agricultural High School, where my children are boarders, have some serious competition.
On leaving we toured the campus of the Philippines University, its open space and large trees were a relief from the traffic and must make learning a pleasure.
We later visited the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the oldest university in Manila, celebrating this year its 400th anniversary.
The buildings on the campus were very grand, and the open spaces well planned and well utilised. We were all surprised by the fact the student wore a uniform, with the colours denoting the faculty in which they were enrolled, and the style the degree they are working towards.
Whilst there we toured a exhibition of books and maps from giving us an insight into the history and development of Filipino writing and how degrees were awarded historically.
The evening was with the RC of Makati Rockwell - a club much more like my own sponsor club, Lake Cargelligo, friendly, relaxed, and if you aren't there you may just get elected to a position! This club asked many relevant and insightful questions after our presentation, which we enjoyed answering.
On our return to Ed & Amore's home the driver of our host for the day, PP Eph Despabiladeras, his driver got lost in the unfamiliar area (many of our hosts have drivers and people movers due to the traffic and time it takes to get anywhere, allowing them to catch up on calls and business).
Dane, with the help of his iPad, managed to direct us right to Ed's front door, although I think Eph's driver had his doubts.
This would just about have to make GSE history, a member of the incoming team directing a local driver in the maze of streets that make up Manila.
I also tried to offer Dane immunity from the vote for who should carry Anim next day, but as Dane seems to be unable to make a mistake, the rest of our members overrode me, just in case the next day happened to be the day he made a mistake.
Anim is our team mascot, a kangaroo, which is awarded to the person who makes the silliest mistake for the day - for today it was Graeme, as he managed to lose the rest of us while touring UST. All of us, with the exception of Dane, have had a turn.
This was our last night with Ed & Amore, and they had organised a party and huge steaks for our midnight snack - more singing, just one more photo, a few beers, and excellent night, and finally to bed at 2am.
21 Feb - Laguna Lake Development Authority
Our first official visit this morning was to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), an organisation which resembles most closely our Catchment Management Authorities and/or the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
The LLDA has broader powers than its Australian counterparts, including the ability to block developments, remove squatters that are blocking flood mitigation channels, and to charge a levy on polluters. However in reality the power of the sheer number of votes from squatters, or the cash flow generated by developers, generally mean the will is not present to address the problems.
Lake Laguna is facing huge environmental issues - a combination of deforrestation, causing landslips and extreme water shedding, pollution from mines sites, and over population and pollution from industry in the metropolitan areas. A further challenge is the amount of groundwater being taken for industry that is generating subsidence.
The issues is Lake Laguna are terrifying for the food security of the people and the viability of the ecosystem.
We where then driven up the mountain side for a view over Lake Laguna - with lunch poolside at the Thunderbird Resort and Casino. We were also joined by the most of the host management committee and enjoyed a pleasant chat over coffee.
The afternoon saw us in the Angono arts district and a tour of a local artists gallery, workshop, and soon to be opened cafe.
Many of the paintings have a naive quality about them, often representations of important Filipinos or religious scenes - a style of art that seems to have developed largely from the Spanish and US colonial background, and suggested to me later as perhaps reflecting the type of propaganda that may have been popular during colonisation.
Wooden sculptures & carvings are perhaps more representative of a more native or indigenous art.
The artist's gallery also featured a two story concrete sculpture of a mermaid, which was explained as being representative of the local people's connection to Lake Laguna.
The evening was our first formal club meeting with RC Parnaque East. This was a bit of an eye opener for the Australians. This club ran their meeting very formally, with each member introduced and their achievements announced before moving on to the next, and formal motions to introduce or do away with club business and meeting procedures. Somewhat different to an Australian informal "hi, how ya going".
Another hour and a half of Manila traffic and back to Ed & Amore's excellent hospitality for us all, but to Frank & Jo's disappointment, no Karaoke.
The LLDA has broader powers than its Australian counterparts, including the ability to block developments, remove squatters that are blocking flood mitigation channels, and to charge a levy on polluters. However in reality the power of the sheer number of votes from squatters, or the cash flow generated by developers, generally mean the will is not present to address the problems.
Lake Laguna is facing huge environmental issues - a combination of deforrestation, causing landslips and extreme water shedding, pollution from mines sites, and over population and pollution from industry in the metropolitan areas. A further challenge is the amount of groundwater being taken for industry that is generating subsidence.
The issues is Lake Laguna are terrifying for the food security of the people and the viability of the ecosystem.
We where then driven up the mountain side for a view over Lake Laguna - with lunch poolside at the Thunderbird Resort and Casino. We were also joined by the most of the host management committee and enjoyed a pleasant chat over coffee.
The afternoon saw us in the Angono arts district and a tour of a local artists gallery, workshop, and soon to be opened cafe.
Many of the paintings have a naive quality about them, often representations of important Filipinos or religious scenes - a style of art that seems to have developed largely from the Spanish and US colonial background, and suggested to me later as perhaps reflecting the type of propaganda that may have been popular during colonisation.
Wooden sculptures & carvings are perhaps more representative of a more native or indigenous art.
The artist's gallery also featured a two story concrete sculpture of a mermaid, which was explained as being representative of the local people's connection to Lake Laguna.
The evening was our first formal club meeting with RC Parnaque East. This was a bit of an eye opener for the Australians. This club ran their meeting very formally, with each member introduced and their achievements announced before moving on to the next, and formal motions to introduce or do away with club business and meeting procedures. Somewhat different to an Australian informal "hi, how ya going".
Another hour and a half of Manila traffic and back to Ed & Amore's excellent hospitality for us all, but to Frank & Jo's disappointment, no Karaoke.
20th Feb - Taytay
Some free time in the morning, so a team meeting over breakfast and a quick walk up to Greenbelt shopping mall - shopping is a national past time - overwhelming choice, but the prices were only slightly better than home, largely as this mall is in the Makati financial centre of Manila.
A meeting with our host families for the next few weeks, more food, more photos, and we were off to our first host, PP Ed Manda of Rotary Club Makati Central.
Ed's home is in Taytay, while Taytay is not very far from Makati where we had been staying the trip took some time due to the Manila traffic - the Sunday afternoon traffic, which we were to learn was very light compared to weekdays, but still bumper to bumper for most of the trip.
30km in Manila takes well over an hour, yet almost no-one walks, all choosing to drive, take a jeepnee, a tricycle, or a peddle car.
As we drove to Eds home I must admit I wondered where we were going, with small shanties built right up to the road and narrow streets, and then we turned into a narrow lane where a street party was being carried on and we had arrived.
We were greeted by Amore, Ed's wife and other members of the family, and yet again the famous Filipino hospitality was demonstrated. It didnt take us long to start referring to Ed's house as home when we were travelling and discussing our itineraries.
Ed then took us up to his study where we talked for some time. Amore brought up some more food, which Jo & I both assumed was dinner, only to be told that "no, this is a light snack" and dinner would follow later.
All this time the street party continued downstairs.
Dinner followed, and as we relaxed Jo and Frank joined the street party for Karaoke. Eventually we all followed and night proceeded with more signing and dancing.
There is evidence everywhere of our exploits - we have learnt one Filipino phase - "one more", which may be interpretted as "one more photo". But, please note, this is not a holiday.
By the way, I think I may be the first person in Philippines history to have the microphone actually taken away from them during Karaoke.
A meeting with our host families for the next few weeks, more food, more photos, and we were off to our first host, PP Ed Manda of Rotary Club Makati Central.
Ed's home is in Taytay, while Taytay is not very far from Makati where we had been staying the trip took some time due to the Manila traffic - the Sunday afternoon traffic, which we were to learn was very light compared to weekdays, but still bumper to bumper for most of the trip.
30km in Manila takes well over an hour, yet almost no-one walks, all choosing to drive, take a jeepnee, a tricycle, or a peddle car.
As we drove to Eds home I must admit I wondered where we were going, with small shanties built right up to the road and narrow streets, and then we turned into a narrow lane where a street party was being carried on and we had arrived.
We were greeted by Amore, Ed's wife and other members of the family, and yet again the famous Filipino hospitality was demonstrated. It didnt take us long to start referring to Ed's house as home when we were travelling and discussing our itineraries.
Ed then took us up to his study where we talked for some time. Amore brought up some more food, which Jo & I both assumed was dinner, only to be told that "no, this is a light snack" and dinner would follow later.
All this time the street party continued downstairs.
Dinner followed, and as we relaxed Jo and Frank joined the street party for Karaoke. Eventually we all followed and night proceeded with more signing and dancing.
There is evidence everywhere of our exploits - we have learnt one Filipino phase - "one more", which may be interpretted as "one more photo". But, please note, this is not a holiday.
By the way, I think I may be the first person in Philippines history to have the microphone actually taken away from them during Karaoke.
19th Feb - Alabang
Up before 6am to travel to the Alabang Country Club, golf for the men and 'decorating' (as Graeme puts it) the pool for the women. We picked up by RC Las Pinas North, by President Vinni and Jake. Due to Manila's tight rules around which cars can enter the city on any given day, and that I don't think they were expecting Jo & I to come along, we only had 5 seats in the car - not to worry, Australians and Filipino's always make the most of thing and we all piled in.
Frank, Dane, Graeme, and Jo in the back, with Vinni & I sharing the front seat. It was our first adventure in Manila traffic, and being a Saturday and early the traffic was, as we would come to learn, very light.
And although the rules are very strict about which cars may enter the city on a given day, determined by the last number on the number plate (a bit like odds & evens watering during water restrictions in Australia), there doesn't appear to be too much concern for any other road rules.
We were met by PP Lito Colona of Makati Legaspi at the magnificent Alabang Country Club.
While Jo & I made the most of the pool side lounge chairs (i don't think we snored - too much), the men were treated to golf, including their own caddies.
Lito then took us to another country club for a Japanese lunch - I will have to stop using superlatives to describe how good the food is, or even mention the meals - the entire blog would be made up of our conquests at the dining table, as we have learned there are five meals a day and a midnight snack!
Back to the hotel and a briefing on our jam packed itinerary, a meeting with the charming District 3830 team, a group of bubbly and beautiful Filipinos that will be a hit in Australia, followed by a welcome dinner- including Karaoke and dancing.
The host club Makati McKinley must have some how found out how badly we all (with the exception of Graeme) dance, and had dance instructions on hand to provide tuition - although I am not sure how their toes have recovered from the experience...
Frank, Dane, Graeme, and Jo in the back, with Vinni & I sharing the front seat. It was our first adventure in Manila traffic, and being a Saturday and early the traffic was, as we would come to learn, very light.
And although the rules are very strict about which cars may enter the city on a given day, determined by the last number on the number plate (a bit like odds & evens watering during water restrictions in Australia), there doesn't appear to be too much concern for any other road rules.
We were met by PP Lito Colona of Makati Legaspi at the magnificent Alabang Country Club.
While Jo & I made the most of the pool side lounge chairs (i don't think we snored - too much), the men were treated to golf, including their own caddies.
Lito then took us to another country club for a Japanese lunch - I will have to stop using superlatives to describe how good the food is, or even mention the meals - the entire blog would be made up of our conquests at the dining table, as we have learned there are five meals a day and a midnight snack!
Back to the hotel and a briefing on our jam packed itinerary, a meeting with the charming District 3830 team, a group of bubbly and beautiful Filipinos that will be a hit in Australia, followed by a welcome dinner- including Karaoke and dancing.
The host club Makati McKinley must have some how found out how badly we all (with the exception of Graeme) dance, and had dance instructions on hand to provide tuition - although I am not sure how their toes have recovered from the experience...
18th Feb - arrival
we have had a whirlwind of activity since our last post.
The trip started with a delayed flight, and we arrived in Manila some 4hrs late. The host committee and Rotary Club of Las Pina Camino Real made sure we navigated out of the airport in record time - with a few photos to commemorate our arrival.
We then walked through to the airport entry to find other Rotary members waiting for us, complete with welcome signs and a blinding flash of light bulbs.
On arriving at our hotel we were greeted by other Rotarians who had been waiting on our late arrival to have dinner. Formal introductions, and excellent meal, and more photographs followed.
We finally made it to bed a little before midnight (Philippines time, or after 3am Australian).
The trip started with a delayed flight, and we arrived in Manila some 4hrs late. The host committee and Rotary Club of Las Pina Camino Real made sure we navigated out of the airport in record time - with a few photos to commemorate our arrival.
We then walked through to the airport entry to find other Rotary members waiting for us, complete with welcome signs and a blinding flash of light bulbs.
On arriving at our hotel we were greeted by other Rotarians who had been waiting on our late arrival to have dinner. Formal introductions, and excellent meal, and more photographs followed.
We finally made it to bed a little before midnight (Philippines time, or after 3am Australian).
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