A Golden Country

Deserts. That’s what I thought I’d see in Brunei Darussalam. I don’t know where that idea came from. The country is located in Borneo, duh! I guess the fact that it is rich in oil might have given me an image of the Middle East.

It’s not a surprise then how wealthy the country is. In turn, the standard and quality of living is quite high. Basic services are provided for free – education, health, even housing. And they don’t pay taxes! How cool is that?!

Bruneians put the Sultan in high esteem. Who wouldn’t, with such kindness evident in the prosperous lives of the people. He even opens up his home, his palace, once a year and welcomes everyone, even foreigners, for a feast and celebration.

Driving around Brunei is quite convenient and cheap, I would say, since fuel is cheaper than water. The roads are wide and are structurally similar to those in England, a trace of the British influence which once colonized Brunei.

After all these years, you could still see houses on stilts in the Water Village or the Kampong Ayer. In the past, the main job of Bruneians is fishing which makes it practical for them to live right in the water. Later on, they decided to settle on land although some chose to stay in these water villages.

Food in Brunei is very similar to Pinoy food. During meals, rice is served with a viand of meat or fi sh and vegetables. Offered food should never be turned down. Unless you’ve already eaten in which case you say so and briefly touch the pots or bowls of food to show respect.

“It’s so quiet and peaceful here,” I remarked. It’s like a province-city. Maybe because you don’t see the usual sights and sounds – the bright lights at night, the blazing music from bars or clubs, and those sorts of things. Well, they obviously wouldn’t have that in a country where Islam is the official religion.

What do they do for fun here? They hang-out in coffee shops, bowling alleys, and billiard places. One night, we played pool and had chocolate shake for a drink. Seemed like an odd combination because usually they would be serving beer in these places. But for a non-drinker like me, I didn’t mind this at all.

Brunei didn’t feel all too foreign to me, with the laid back lifestyle, the flavorful food, the close-knit extended families. Felt like right at home. And yeah, didn’t see any deserts anywhere.

A ‘Fine’ Country

An homage for Singapore’s 50th birthday. 

“What?” I was just nodding, feeling stupid because I couldn’t quite catch what she was saying.

“Yes, yes… right,” I said. And she stopped talking and looked at me expectantly. Did she just ask a question?

That was one of the things I had to get used to the first time I was in Singapore. They speak English, yes. But they have their own accent which these American or British immersed ears found totally foreign. I think it’s a mix between British and Chinese languages resulting to that unique Singlish.

When I worked as an English teacher, I always told my students that listening to English is very easy and they would look at me as if they would just throw the chair right to my face. But really, it’s just a matter of getting used to. And true enough, I sort of got used to that Singlish twang, even adopting it; dropping my r’s and adding “lah” at the end of sentences. “Lah” doesn’t mean anything. It’s a sort of verbal filler which probably is for emphasis.

Now the whole world knows that Singapore is a “fine” country. Fine as in super clean and organized. If I am to pick two words to best describe the place, it would be those two. And of course it’s not a fine city for nothing. You get fined for everything – littering, eating in the subway train, smoking, chewing gum. Well, chewing gum is okay but it’s illegal to sell it. I learned from Rockwell, our host dad, that the gum ban came from an incident when the subway malfunctioned because of gum stuck on the railway.

Speaking of transportation, let’s talk about the cars. All the cars in Singapore look new. I’m not exaggerating but I wasn’t able to see one that actually emitted smoke. Owning a car here is one fascinating story. The permit is auctioned, you pay for the car, and you are to use it only for ten years. It’s their way of regulating the number of vehicles considering that it’s a country the size of a city.

They have it all figured. The traffic, the way things are done like efficiently checking one’s order in a menu list if in a restaurant, softening the concrete jungle by planting trees everywhere – so organized as I said. It’s a Singaporean thing.

It was my second time in Singapore as this was a port of call for SSEAYP (Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme). I’m glad that my homestay family gave me a fresh perspective of the Lion City. We went to the usual tourist spots and heard stories and history of these places which was nice. It was also a thrill to try out the many different kinds of food as we explored these food courts which they call hawker centers. It’s where you can get a smorgasbord of Chinese, Malay, and Indian food. Ah, food heaven!

Overall, the port of call in Singapore was a lovely experience and I hope to be back again someday to have that third time charm.

Amazing Thailand

No, I didn’t try out Thailand’s exotic food of crickets and scorpion. But I did taste their famous Pad Thai (Thai-style stirred fry noodles) and Tom Yum (hot and sour) soup. I wasn’t able to ride elephants. But I was able to ride their version of Philippine’s tricycle – the tuk tuk, an auto rickshaw. I didn’t get any Thai massage but I had the chance to have a combat martial art, Muay Thai workout. These are but a few of the things you can do and experience in Thailand. Add to that the magnificent temples you could visit like the Royal Grand Palace Temple and the Wat Arun Rajwararam (The Temple of Dawn).

Wat Arun Rajwararam (The Temple of Dawn)

Touchdown Bangkok. A city buzzing with noise, activities, and life. A classic example of fast paced progress and development co-existing with the cultural and traditional lifestyle. Of tall modern buildings popping up with still standing old age temples. Of business people and tourists, here and about, alongside Buddhist monks in their orange robes which symbolizes their vow of selflessness and simplicity.

Tuk Tuk

Pad Thai

What more to experience the Thai culture than to stay in an actual Muay Thai camp and meet the famous owners, Mr. and Mrs. Sangsuwan. I mean they must be really famous because they showed us this magazine with an article and pictures of them on it.

There were nine of us who were taken in by the family and were treated to a tour, local delicacies, and Muay Thai training. Each of us had a moment with the coach as he directed us to kick and punch. I was told that I was actually good so I thought this could possibly be a career option in the future!

With us during that training were these young boys and girls who apparently have regular sessions. Plus there’s a lady boy. There was an argument as to his or her gender. A lady? A boy? Turned out, a lady boy which is not uncommon in Thailand.

What I knew about Thailand was limited to its really good horror films such as “Shutter” and its popularity for cheap cosmetic surgery. But now I’m impressed as to how they are overtaking the Philippines in terms of development.

I believe the way they’re liberal towards reproductive health reducing population is one factor. They also seem to put premium on education as they employ Filipino English teachers. A lot of my friends who decided to become English teachers in Thailand feel right at home. My Thai buddies also told me that they had Filipino teachers, good ones at that, which makes me feel even prouder to be a Filipino.

Me, living and working in Thailand? That could definitely be a possibility. I could follow the trails of my fellow Filipinos and be an English teacher. Or be a Muay Thai boxer!

Muay Thai Camp

Sail On

Writing 101 Day 15: Your Voice Will Find You
Today’s Prompt: Think about an event you’ve attended and loved. Your hometown’s annual fair. That life-changing music festival. A conference that shifted your worldview. Imagine you’re told it will be cancelled forever or taken over by an evil corporate force.
How does that make you feel?
Today’s twist: While writing this post, focus again on your own voice. Pay attention to your word choice, tone, and rhythm. Read each sentence aloud multiple times, making edits as you read through. Before you hit “Publish,” read your entire piece out loud to ensure it sounds like you.

Do you want to travel? Experience different cultures? Meet new people and friends. Represent your country and be a youth ambassador? Well, I was able to do all that with SSEAYP.

SSEAYP stands for Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program, a Japan sponsored exchange program that’s been running for 42 years now since its inception in 1974. Basically, what happens is that youth ambassadors from ASEAN countries and Japan convene onboard a ship, Fuji Maru for our batch (Nippon Maru for the others), and share their lives together for 53 days.

For 39th SSEAYP, we traveled from Japan to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam. It was one heck of a journey that words or pictures wouldn’t suffice to fully explain and describe the stories, the behind-the-scenes, the emotions.

Now it would be a shame if this program is cancelled forever. Too bad for the youth who won’t be able to be a part of this life-changing experience.

Let me tell you a bit more of what exactly happens in SSEAYP. The day starts onboard the ship with a morning call.

You could hear familiar voices coming out from the speakers saying good morning in different languages. Some would be singing. Others giving reminders. And there would be those who just couldn’t contain themselves and would be practically shouting. They sure are serious about their task of waking everyone from their slumber.

And so you drag your unwilling feet to the sports deck while you try to wipe off the sleep from your face. The sports deck is where we do the morning exercise or the flag hoisting depending on the schedule. Morning exercises are usually fun. That is if you’re into sporty, physical stuff. And this is supposed to help ease one’s seasickness.

Morning exercise.

The flag hoisting on the other hand can be stressful, putting most people on edge. You may think raising the flag of a certain country is that simple but it demands sensitivity and respect. A flag is a country’s national symbol and thus should be handled with utmost care and should be hoisted the right way.

The speakers start to crackle and you hear this kindergarten-ish melody signaling that it’s time for breakfast! We go to the dining hall and would be greeted by the crew who are mostly Filipinos. The buffet of food can be overwhelming. You would want to try everything. You put a lot on your plate and decide you’re too full to finish it. That’s what most people did.

So came this food waste campaign from Discussion Group (DG) 3: Environment chanting, “Take what you can eat and eat what you take.” The food waste was reduced. I don’t know if it’s because of the advocacy, or we got tired of the food, or we just couldn’t fit in our clothes anymore that we needed to diet.

“This is an announcement from the administration. To all PYs (Participating Youth), National Leaders, and Facilitators, please assemble at the Pacific Hall at 9:00 AM. If you cannot join the morning assembly due to seasickness or other forms of illness, please call extension 23…” That’s the morning assembly where we are reminded of everything, from the schedule, to activities, to dress codes. We do have codes for the outfit, literally. A1 for formal, B for national costume, C for casual, and so on.

The whole day would be filled with an array of activities – team building, discussion, games, cultural presentations, film showing, you name it. We even had our version of The Oscars where short films were made and screened, with awards night and all!

SSEAYP felt like United Nations when we’re all garbed in our colorful national costumes. It felt like a diplomatic mission during formal occasions of flag hoisting, courtesy calls, and speeches from dignitaries. It’s like a party with all the social activities, and dancing, and people having loads of fun. It would seem like high school if you have your own nominees in mind of the friendliest, most active, most popular, etc. The best thing of all, SSEAYP is family. We have this unconditional love and acceptance of everyone. We may not know each other that well but there’s this bond that goes beyond race and culture.

I hope and pray that SSEAYP continues to sail on. And keep on promoting cultural understanding, building friendships, and touching lives.

Vietnam… Ho Chi Minh…

Fuji Maru approached the s-shaped island and docked on Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. I’m a musical fanatic so I kept on asking people if they’re familiar with Ms. Saigon, the Musical. The story’s backdrop is Vietnam but even the Vietnamese don’t really know it.

“Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh…” the song went on in repetitive, catchy mantra. Vietnam looks similar to the Philippines as most Southeast Asian countries are. And aside from rice being the staple food, the warmth, hospitality, and friendliness of the people are but a few of our commonalities.

Drinking coffee in Vietnam is special. There are coffee shops everywhere. But not the Starbucks type. Heck, Starbucks can nowhere be found even. But you would see stools and tables on sidewalks with the happy locals sipping their iced coffee. It sure is refreshing and relaxing to just hang-out on the sidewalk watching
people and motorbikes alike rush by.

Motorbikes and scooters are the main form of transport around here. So the roads would be swarming with them. Do as the locals do so like a real Vietnamese, we got to go around the city on motorbikes.

Back home in the Philippines, I got hit by a motorcycle. No broken bones, just scratches and two lost teeth. I survived but I sort of developed a phobia simply from the sound of the motorbikes. I got over it eventually but destiny sure has a twisted way of confronting you with your fears. So as I held on for dear life, my host mom driving fast, which I believe is normal to them, I just prayed that nothing tragic would happen. I wasn’t prepared to lose another tooth.

People would drive so close to each other that you could practically feel the air coming out from their nostrils. I observed that those riding with them make it look effortless even crossing their legs, as if they’re just sitting in a lounge chair. Some would be carrying babies and what-not. Other riders would strike a conversation with another.

“Oh I’m riding my motorbike but hey, let’s chat and while we’re at it, let me just call someone on my mobile phone…” Crazy! But honestly, I actually had fun. And we arrived in our destinations in one piece.

The Vietnam experience wouldn’t be complete without trying their famous noodles, pho (you should pronounce it with an upward inflection). It’s really tasty. And Vietnamese food is so healthy. They eat a lot of vegetables. No wonder a lot of Vietnamese, specially the girls, have Coca-Cola shape – the bottle, not the can.

In Vietnam, you could be a millionaire. That’s because the Vietnamese dong, the country’s currency can be in hundreds and even thousands. The value is not that big but you can actually buy a lot. I bought so many boxes of coffee since most of my friends are coffeeholic and with that I could let them have a little taste of Vietnam.

Extra Baggage from Indonesia

This story is dedicated to my host dad in Indonesia, Papa Pamo, who passed away today. Condolence to Mommy Sonya, Mila, and the rest of the family.

Traffic jam is a generic problem of big cities particularly capitals like Manila and Jakarta. I suppose that made me conclude that Indonesia would be very closely similar to the Philippines. But interestingly, both countries can even be more the opposite with the Philippines being a pre-dominantly Roman Catholic nation and Islam as a dominant religion in Indonesia.

And in a pleasant twist of fate, I was introduced to my host parents – Sonya, a Catholic Pinay from Leyte and Pamo, a Muslim Indonesian. Talk about love that knows no boundaries. Cross-cultural marriage is always a challenge. Add to that a difference in religion. But they made it work. Sonya said that at the onset, they decided that their religion would not get in the way. And it didn’t. She didn’t have to convert. She, in fact, as a devout Catholic told us of her planned pilgrimage trip to Europe in the Easter. It’s refreshing to be in the midst of people living in peace and harmony despite the obvious differences in race, culture, faith, and belief. Though this is also a sad reminder of Christians belonging to different religious sects clashing. And Christians and Muslims with their prejudices and stereotypes of each other.

Anyway, we were able to go to some elegant and spacious malls in Jakarta. Not so crowded like in the Philippines and definitely quieter. We also toured Taman Mini Indonesia which features a literal miniature version of the country so we got to see how structures were built in certain regions.

We had lunch with our bare hands in a restaurant where you don’t have to place your order. You don’t even need to look at the menu because they bring all the food out and you choose a plate you fancy. At the end of the meal, they count the empty plates and that’s what you pay for. What if you just tasted a dish and lied about touching it? Well it just doesn’t happen that way.

After lunch, we went batik shopping at Thamrin City. I bought so many and spent around $55. At that moment, I got worried about baggage weight limit upon our return back home. In the evening, we celebrated Mommy Sonya’s birthday. And surprise-surprise! She served Filipino food. I was so happy.

Leaving Indonesia, I brought with me loads of “extra baggage” – pictures of places, memories of culture, batik souvenirs, and lessons about religious tolerance and love.

The Land of the Rising Sun

The chilly wind blew against my skinny frame. I was just wearing a thin long-sleeved shirt with a scarf wrapped around my neck but I welcomed the cold. This is really not new to me. After all, my hometown, Baguio, is also cold.

I took a deep breath. The smell reminded me of England. My eyes became busy trying to take in all the details of my surroundings – the color, the structure, how things are arranged; my senses on a hyperactive mode as I want to re-create the image in my mind when I’m not in the place anymore.

Autumn in Japan is how I have visualized it. Trees changing its color, leaves gently falling like feathers, people rushing by in their gray and glum coats in consonance to the season.

My mates and I took a stroll around Tokyo. Where are the people? So empty. Deserted. Then I realized it’s around 8:00 AM. It’s Wednesday. People obviously are in their offices and their workplaces. We took pictures of anything and everything. Like a typical tourist would do. Pictures of trees, rocks, people, places, of each other. Serious pose, model-esque, wacky or free style. The locals would stare, maybe wondering why, in the world, are we taking pictures of signage, buildings, stores, etc. But for someone new in a place, everything is fascinating.

Lunch time came. People started emerging from their nooks and began to line up in restaurants. They are so… behaved, not impatient at all. No complaints about the long queue. And they eat their food in peace, without so much chatter, which is the complete opposite of what most Filipinos do.

We managed to order our food. Thanks to the universality of gestures and body language. We would point to the menu. The waitress would speak to us in Japanese. We would nod in agreement thinking, hoping, we understood.

“Itadakimasu!” I love saying that all the time. It’s the Japanese way of showing appreciation for the food. Trying out the cuisine of other countries is exciting. For me, the first bite can be a surprise, a pleasant one or otherwise.

“Oh, that’s a familiar taste. Similar to what we have back in the Philippines.”

“I can have this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!”

“Er, I think I’ll eat something else, thank you very much…”

Japanese food is very simplistic. A reflection of how the people are like. The Japanese, in fact, are minimalist. Their flag as a big statement of that, and I really appreciate that about them. I’m also amazed at how they do things, like everything’s all planned out, no room for mistakes, so efficient… so Japanese. And talking about being precise, being late would be unacceptable. It’s not even about being right on time. You have to be there 15 minutes before an appointment or else you would be considered late.

I have observed the way they work. Now I know why most concepts on quality in the workplace which we study in my Management Class originate from Japan. For a result-oriented person like me, the Japanese work ethic is ideal which I wish to see in companies and organizations I would want to be a part of in the future.

***

The five-hour Shinkansen trip from Tokyo to Nagano Prefecture wasn’t as eventful as I hoped it to be. Nagano is this quiet, peaceful place where I met my new family. Yes, we’ll be having homestay here, a chance to get to experience the real culture of Japan! The Yazawa family welcomed me, together with an Obama look-alike Indonesian lad, Jusak. We stayed with the family for the two nights and two days.

At first, I was concerned about the language barrier. The only Japanese I knew, aside from itadakimasu were ohayo (good morning), konichiwa (good afternoon/hello), konbanwa (good evening), ogenki desu ka (how are you), and arigato (thank you). So how in the world would I be able to communicate to them?

Surprisingly, I was able to connect well with the Yazawas – the grandparents, Boss and Baba; our homestay mom and dad, Shinya-san and Yumi-san; and the kids, Tatsuki, the quiet one, Hana, the bundle of energy young girl, and Keita, the curious little boy.

Baba would speak to me in Japanese, I would answer back in English and for some reason, we would understand each other. I showed pictures and talked about the Philippines. They did the same thing sharing their culture and I could feel their genuine interest in getting to know me more.

We discussed and compared how things are culturally done. Whoever gave us the idea that people from another country would be any different? I mean, yes there are little nuances here and there but that’s all there is to it. Big differences if you wish to see it that way but for me, I see it simply as diversity.

We walked around the neighborhood, had soba for lunch (noisy slurping required), went to a monkey park, had a feast for dinner and ended the day with conversations, music, and laughter. I hated to think that we’ll be saying good-bye the following morning.

And so the day came. The inevitable. We had to bid farewell to strangers turned family, whom we have met for such a short time but felt like we’ve known each other longer. I hugged everyone and when it came to my oka-san (mother), she started crying and then tears began falling from my eyes, too.

“Don’t cry…” I said, which was funny because I was also crying. People call me cold-hearted because I don’t usually show my emotion specially when saying good-bye. But I don’t know what happened that day. Maybe they were tears of gratitude for the warm Yazawa family, for sharing their home, their lives to me, even for a brief moment.

Home is where the heart is. I certainly left a piece of mine back in Nagano.

Travel Bug Philippines (Part 1)

I’ve been wanting, craving, to travel overseas. But all throughout 2014, I’ve been having local trips which is not a bad thing.

“Huwag maging turista sa sariling bansa,” was once a tagline of the Department of Tourism. So staying true to that, I traveled and explored the many wonderful islands of the Philippines.

Naga, Bicol

Early last year, my friends from an international exchange program and I went for a trip to Naga. It’s not just the food with gata or coconut milk that made the trip memorable. We were able to hike our way under the rain to the Mt. Isarog falls, took a dip in the Panicuason Hot Spring, and tried wakeboarding (well, my friends did), and had a great time at the Caramoan Island.

Caramoan has been a filming sight for my favorite reality TV show “Survivor” so I was psyched to be there. We got to stay at Gota Village in these beautifully made rustic cabin houses.

There was a typhoon that time so the boat ride going to the island was wavy and a bit scary as we felt like the vessel would tip over or capsize. We would have been real life castaways!

It took us three days to do all these so the next time you have a long weekend, Bicol would be a worth it destination.

Visayas

Normally, if you think of backpacking, Europe and Southeast Asia would come to mind. Who would have thought backpacking across Visayas would be possible. I’m glad my travel buddy, Brian planned for the trip and dragged me along.

The adventure started with a two-hour bus ride from Manila to Batangas then an overnight ferry trip to Caticlan. After paying all kinds of fees and going through boat transfers, I finally set foot on this island which gets a lot of publicity from foreign and local tourists alike. Thanks to its fine white sand, a choice of different activities (island hopping, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc.) and its lively party scene, especially at night.

We were hosted by a couch surfer. Wikipedia defines couch surfing as a hospitality exchange and social networking website. The website provides a platform for members to “surf” on couches by staying as a guest at a host’s home, host travelers, or join an event. A cool way to have free accommodation!

Most of our time in Boracay, we just spent at the beach and swam in its crystal clear waters. And we sadly wonder how the displaced Atis, the island’s indigenous people, ended up begging in a land that used to be their own.

From Boracay, we traveled to the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” – Capiz, Roxas. We did try their seafood but sadly our stomachs weren’t ready for their “kinilaw na shrimp.” And nope, no aswangs in Capiz. I was curious as to what got the place this kind of reputation and found out from the article of Estrella Torres, “The ‘Real Capiz’ Unveiled,” that the Catholic Church wanted to discredit the Babaylans or female healers in Capiz and demonized them as witches and called them aswang.

Our wandering feet brought us next to the “City of Love,” Iloilo. We were fortunate to have an Ilonggo friend who toured us around the city and the churches while giving historical remarks of these places. It was such a delight to visit the Miagao Church, have a night walk at the Esplanade, and constantly hear the unique accent of the Ilonggos. Don’t ask me why, but I just find the way they speak amusing. They sound so gentle. Now, my favorite dish is sinigang and I have to say Iloilo’s version with batwan fruit gave me just the right kick of kilig-to-the bones sourness.

Iloilo also became our gateway to Guimaras, the place which claims to have the sweetest mango in the world. And I think I would have to agree! Apparently, they got the 1995 Guinness Book of World Record for “The World’s Sweetest Fruit.”

A RORO (roll-on/roll-off) ship led us next to Bacolod where we were hosted by another couch surfer, Julius. He opened his house to total strangers and I just couldn’t believe his hospitality and trust. There are still kind people in the world.

We visited The Ruins (of a mansion), went to the Mambukal Hot Spring, and enjoyed Bacolod’s famous chicken inasal.

Hip Dumaguete was our next destination where we got a taste of their puto and hot cocoa breakfast. That was a treat! From here, we briefly traveled to Siquijor. Spanish colonizers called it “Isla de Fuego” or “Island of Fire” because of fireflies at night. Like Capiz, Siquijor is also famous for stories of the paranormal. I’m not really superstitious but the place gave that weird, eerie feel. Mystic aside though, I enjoyed the fish spa experience under giant balete trees.

And for the final leg, we traveled to Cebu, to Ormoc, and then to Tacloban. It is saddening to see how the typhoon Yolanda ravaged the place. With that, the 39^th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme Philippine Contingent (Bugkos Lahi), a group I belong to, decided to do an outreach here. We donated monoblock chairs and computer tables for a school, conducted hygiene session with kids, and participated in a magic show in Child Friendly Space areas. Way to end such an amazing trip!

My GX Volunteering Journey

“Get ready for the most challenging six months of your life,” read the ad on volunteering. The most challenging six months of my life? Bring it on!

Global Xchange (GX) is a youth volunteering program of the Voluntary Service Overseas that allows young people to initiate positive change by helping organizations and communities both in the Philippines and the United Kingdom. I feel a sense of fulfillment by volunteering, knowing that I can do something good for others without cost in our dog-eat-dog world. I decided that the corporate world was not my place, resigned from my job, and took the challenge of the GX.

After all the rigors of application, assessment, training, and clearances (I had to gain weight before I was medically cleared), we were off for the first phase of the program. Our destination – Bradford, West Yorkshire, located in the northern part of England. It is a small, friendly city with diverse people and culture, very similar to my home city, Baguio, in terms of size, weather, and the general feel of the place.

Our group comprised of 10 British and 10 Filipinos. Each one had a counterpart with whom we lived and worked with in a cross-cultural environment.

I had to get used to the language and the food. Bradford had its own British accent where “funny” is “foony” and “sunny” is “soony”. Rice-eating Filipinos learned to eat bread or cereals for breakfast and sandwich with fruits or crisps (that’s how the Brits call their chips) for lunch.

My first volunteer placement was at Seen and Heard, a program of Barnardo’s, a national charity organization that takes care of young people. My British counterpart and I interviewed some of the organization’s independent visitors and produced a promotional video from it.

My second volunteer work was at Abigail’s Project, an organization that provides accommodation for destitute asylum seekers, people who fled their countries due to political or religious persecution but became impoverished in the places where they sought protection. We helped set up the house where they would be staying and assisted establishing the office of the organization.

The Community Action Days (CADs) afforded the whole team to work on various community projects and activities from cleaning up and gardening to advocacy projects such as the peace display and presentations in an arms museum. We showcased Filipino games and dances, songs and poetry during our Filipino Fun Day and Night. We got a bit serious and discussed global issues like poverty, peace and development during Global Citizenship Days.

We tried to make sense of what we did. We needed to validate that our volunteer work was actually making a difference. For instance, we asked how gardening could be significant. We may not understand now neither see the results of what we did but I’m sure that the effects of volunteering are exponential, if not for others then for the inner self.

After more than 7,200 collective hours of volunteering in Bradford, we traveled to Mindanao for the second phase of the program.

Mindanao is an impression of danger and war, but the conflict in this Land of Promise is complex and historical. It is conflict over the rich natural resources of the region where greed and ignorance fuel all the negativity associated to the place.

My volunteer work in Iligan City was totally different from what we had in Bradford. We helped the Lanao Educational Arts for Development, Inc., a non-government organization that uses music and the arts for peace advocacy, organize a music festival for peace that promotes Iligan City and Mindanao as Zones of Peace.

During our CADs here, we had a sports fest at the School for the Deaf, tree planting with students and community locals, a fundraising gig, and play time with children in a disability rehabilitation center and kindergarten.

Because Iligan is such a small city, boredom set into me until the city was placed on yellow alert. We became anxious but had to be vigilant as the supposed ambush of the Philippine Marines by the Abu Sayyaf brewed war in Basilan. At that time I was reading Gracia Burnham’s “In the Presence of My Enemies,” an account of her kidnapping experience in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf. We felt relieved when the situation sort of improved.

All in all my GX volunteering journey has been challenging, frustrating, rewarding, and fun. I think I gained more than what I offered. Volunteers would usually think they could change the world but in the end, they wouldn’t have quite changed others. Others change them instead.

This journey is a prelude to simply be the change I wish to see in the world.