Fish and live eel being sold at the local market.

Birds being sold at the local market in Manila

One of the not-so-nice areas in Manila (nice river, though!)

The traffic in Manila - this is just insane!

Flying high over the Himalayas on my way to Hong Kong

My first few days in the Philippines!

Dear friends,

I am writing this update en route from Manila to Lanuza Bay – what a great trip this has been so far! I’ve learned so much already in such a short time. It seems incredible that I have been in the Philippines for only slightly more than a week!

My past week in Manila has been bustling with activity, just like the city itself. I arrived with a group of 4 other volunteers from the UK and Canada, and we have spent our time running back and forth from the courtesy visit to the British embassy (which will hopefully assist us when we need their help) to the national volunteer organization (where we were officially welcomed to the Philippines), from the streets of Manila (where I learned that sometimes heatstroke is just a few steps away) to the Harbor View Restaurant (where I enjoyed fantastic local seafood during the Manila sunset).

To be blunt: the poverty in the slums of Manila is staggering. Some people here literally don’t know where the next meal will come from. Their houses are rat-infested, filled with all kinds of nasty bacteria and illnesses, and there is really very little hope to ever escape. Minimum wage per day in metro Manila is 300 Peso – which equals slightly more than 4 Euro. Even with the smallest portions and the strongest will, food alone for one day is seldom less than 100 Peso – leaving 200 for the rest of the family plus health plus all other expenses etc – assuming, of course, that one would receive minimum wage, which, unfortunately, is almost always not the case. It’s hard to see hope here. I expect to see a different kind of poverty in the provinces (where I am headed now), where living conditions are no doubt better, but life is still hard. I have been told that only few of the fishers, for example, own their own boat, and are forced to hand over all their catch for clearly less than minimum wage. At least people there may have more of a chance in life and maybe I can assist them just a little.

Speaking of my role: this week I also met a representative from my employer, the alliance of mayors along Lanuza Bay. Anul Arreza, Program Manager of the Lanuza Bay Development Alliance, came to Manila to officially welcome me to the Philippines. Based upon the short discussions we had about my future work there, I am hopeful that I can support the alliance and really help where help is needed.

I must say that I am most impressed by the people here. I’ve never met people this friendly and open! Although as a nation they have gone through so much (being a colony for two different nations (Spain and USA), being ruled by a dictator, experiencing terrorist attacks and the struggles of a developing country), they have an incredibly positive outlook to life. The people here, from what I can tell after this short time, really do live in the present – very few have any kind of insurance for old age, and if they do, they will often borrow money upon it to buy entertainment of gifts for friends.

So, in summary:

Personal lowlights:

• The feeling of helplessness in Manila’s slums.
• Air pollution in Manila: if the light is right, you can actually see it in the street lights, the light cutting through the gray smoke.
• Getting a nasty cold right after arrival and sniffling through 36 degree Celsius nights without being able to sleep.

Personal highlights:

• The local market in Manila, where I saw animals and plants I’ve never seen before (including live eel and strange birds for sale).
• Feeling tall among the locals – most people here are my height or shorter!
• The friendliness of the people. Everyone is always smiling, offering to help and having a positive outlook on life.

That's about it for now. In my next few postings I will upload some pictures I have taken.

Take care, and please keep in touch with me!

Martin