In Motion

2.2.09

As anticipated, the new year has brought new projects and work is finally moving. Our first major project is to help our community create Coastal Environmental Profiles – reports that outline the socioeconomic and habitat condition in coastal villages. To do this, we are training community leaders in how to hold community meetings that include resource mapping, community walks, and other tools. We’re also training fisherfolk and our work counterparts in how to conduct participatory habitat assessments for mangrove forests, sea grass beds, coral reefs, and fish surveys.

[our work team at our first education event]

We gave our first presentation on climate change here (the basics of what it is and what we can do) to over 120 village council members. Although the Philippines is one of the countries most acutely affected by climate change impacts, people here, even those well-educated, know very little about the causes. For many nations, climate change can perhaps be ignored because the threats don’t seem so immediate. But here in the Philippines, more devastating typhoons and rising sea level are daily realities.

It has been difficult for us to develop education strategies, particularly about behavior shifts, because much of the burden of climate change has originated in more developed nations – how do you explain to a family whose house has one light bulb and who ride pedicabs everywhere that too much fossil fuel use is threatening their livelihood as fisherfolk? Is it fair to ask these people to cut back on using the little resources they have access to when people elsewhere show no restraint? And so, how do we empower people to be part of a solution?

We have found some answers and are exploring others, but for now we’re focusing on preventing logging, supporting reforestation, and proper waste management as ways locals can be involved in their daily lives. We are emphasizing proactive coastal resource management strategies as well (like healthy mangroves) to defend against climate change impacts. After all, many impacts are already in motion, and people living in coastal communities should be educated and prepared.

[we had 120 attendees for our first 'Orientation on Coastal Resource Management for Barangay Leaders']

On the work front, our next few months will consist of conducting these community trainings, hopefully visiting the islands in our municipality because rainy season is coming to an end, and attending the last of our major Peace Corps trainings in Manila.

We had our first visitors at site last month - our nearest volunteer neighbors, a couple who live an hour and a half away. We explored Calicoan Island, the big potential tourist area in our community, with our workmates as tour guides. We had a great day exploring the Pacific side of the peninsula and hiked up to a ‘yoga camp’ on the ridge overlooking the island.

[on the Pacific at 'Officer's Country' - the site of a US naval base during WWII; now a mostly pristine stretch of coast]

[at the yoga camp with Eric, our sitemate]

[view of Calicoan from the top of the yoga camp]

[our coworkers during the picnic; this tricycle held 7 people + the driver and also served as our table]

[on the way to the yoga camp; the climb took us through the 'jungles of the visayas' and up some treacherous stairs along cave formations]


On the cultural side of things, we’ve done some new things like:
- Eating ice cream on white bread – when there’s no spoon, this Filipino method can be effective

[flavors include: cheese, peanut, and cookies and cream ice cream + sweet white bread]

- Attended some major “circle of life” events, including a wedding, a first birthday party, and several funerals. Wedding receptions are very similar to the US, including the awkward garter/bouquet throwing (although those who catch these then have to pretend to get married, stuff each other’s faces with cake, and kiss). Family and friends mourn the loss of a loved one with a nine-day wake, with the body in the home. After the funeral mass, attendees walk behind the hearse to the cemetery in a solemn procession.

[attending a first birthday party at the home of our original host family in Tanauan, Leyte - our first trip back and they welcomed us like members of the family]

- Started to love babies! We are godparents (ninang/ninong) to a wonderful little lady named Dana, who’s about 4 months old now and lives in our home. We’re looking forward to her baptism in April.