After spending two weeks building houses with Habitat for Humanity in a country of over 7,100 islands, we have finally made it to the beach. It was easy to forget during our time in Quezon City that we were, in fact, on an island. We almost never saw the water. Except when it rained. We’ve … Continue reading
The last days at a Global Village work site are always the toughest, for two reasons. Muscles you didn’t even know you had ache from doing work you didn’t know you could do. If you’re really enjoying yourself then you’re probably also tired from the pace of the schedule and a growing desire to spend … Continue reading
For those of you waiting, you noticed, there was no post yesterday. We were all too entirely wiped out to think of anything but a shower, food and sleep Monday evening. The heat was intense and the pace of our work picked up. Even with mandatory morning and afternoon breaks and lunch, it was a … Continue reading
“The story of the Filipino is not written on paper, but in music and dance.” – Ed Lapiz, Founder Kaloob Dance. The vision of the dance troupe Kaloob is to keep the story of the Filipino people alive through the “studious research, documentation, preservation, appreciation, promotion and creative reuse of fast-vanishing Philippine indigenous music, dance … Continue reading
One interesting aspect of our weekend adventure was stopping at the fruit stands and buying some new things to try. Probably the most bizarre is the durian, beloved by many in Southeast Asia. It is a large fruit with a hard and spiky outer shell. It has a strong smell that makes it hard to … Continue reading
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. We all have clever ways of putting this slogan into action. But here in Bistekville, necessity has proven itself once again to be the mother of invention. Check out just a few of the many ways things get reinvented. Construction on the second floor continued again today. One new job was added: … Continue reading
Sweating standing still. This is what we are doing in the extreme humidity that is the Philippines. Despite…great work day today and only one short rain interruption. Luck or answered prayer. Cement mixing, bucket throwing, brick hoisting continues. We also started putting up walls on the second floor of our two-story apartment building which includes … Continue reading
Exhilarating drive to the worksite. Check. Safety orientation and morning stretching. Check. Cueing up for brick passing and cement hauling. Check. Having to stop work for the rain. Three times. Check. The rainy season gets underway in the Philippines in May. The worst rains come in August and September as typhoon season is in full … Continue reading
Everyone on the team has safely arrived half way around the world and settled in to our new digs in Quezon City, Manila. Everyone has showed remarkable flexibility considering just two weeks and two days ago we expected to be in Thailand and not the Philippines. What a wonderful group of volunteers. Our hats go … Continue reading
