Typhoon Damage to Schools

5/25/10
We have been working to rehabilitate schools that are still in need of repairs since the typhoon last fall. School will open in a few weeks and still there are many school that will open their door with unsafe conditions and significant damages. The pictures are of one such school we are working on. We supply the money for materials and volunteers do the work. There are so many schools in such disrepair that we can only scratch the surface. Our thinking is that it is better to help some then none at all. I have to control myself when I go into these schools, I get very angry that children are subjected to such conditions, in the USA these schools would be torn down. I have come to expect a "free and appropriate education" for all children, but I have to stop myself and remember I am in a third world country.

Carabao's and Wheelchairs

5/19/10

We were very excited to go to the Carabao Festival and Parade. I have included two pictures, one of the parade route and another of a carabao pulling a cart before the parade. We got there early and stationed ourselves by the church where the carabao decorated with flowers are trained to kneel for the priest to give them a blessing. Unfortunately it was not to be, while we were waiting in 105 degree temperature Dennis starting to have symptoms of a heat stroke, with headache, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness. I was able to guide him to a courtyard in the church where he drank water and rested until he was able to go to the car and air conditioning. It was very scary for us because it came on so fast with no warning. Now we are being very careful with the sun and keep hydrated.

This week we are concentrating on wheelchairs. Our goal this year is to provide 2,000 for people who would not be able to afford wheelchairs. That is not as easy because you just can't plunk a person in any old chair. They need to be fitted, or it will not be as useful. About 50% of our children in need of chairs have cerebral palsy, and they need a specialized chair. I'll also include some wheelchair pictures. One is a 12 year old CP boy who we are measuring for a chair. He is really skinny but still big for his Mom to lug around all day. It makes me happy to be able to provide for these families, and they are so grateful. It is probably not so cheap in the US but here you can get a decent chair for just a little over $100, a really fancy one with all the braces and attachments to support a non mobile severely handicapped person is less than $300. Still these poor people will carry and struggle with their loved ones because $100 is way beyond their reach. It is so satisfying when you know you are helping individuals.

Election Day in the Philippines

5/7/10
Elections happen every six years in the Philippines. It is an exciting time with both local and national candidates all campaigning at the same time. The Filipino people like the personal touch so there are not as many T.V. adds as in the states, but instead huge rallies and parades more on the local level. The poor people have the same vote as the rich so candidates are down in the barangays courting constituents shaking hands and making promises. For once the poor get a lot of attention. It seems the most popular method of getting your message out is piling as many people as possible in a flat bed truck decorated with campaign banners and flags then having a long procession of cars similarly decorated, also accompanied by motorcycles, bicycles. From this procession catchy campaign songs are blasted from loud speakers. Travel in the Philippines is difficult at best, but every six years it is even crazier. The Philippine people are the nicest, friendliest, kindest people you would ever want to meet, but they take their elections very seriously. It can turn nasty. We are told an average of 120 people are killed each election time. We have been instructed to stay home on election day, and our travel has been curtailed the week before and after.
I can add Avocado to my list of weird ice cream flavors. I had a cone the other day that was three kinds of ice cream, mango, avocado and cheese. I felt like I needed a tortilla chip. Cheese ice cream actually has chunks of processed American cheese in it. It is bright orange/yellow the color of Cheddar cheese. There is a bright purple ice cream called Uve, it is made from a root vegetable. There are so many fruits and vegetables here that I have never seen or heard of, not to mention strange meat and fish.