Thursday 5^th April – to Guimaras

A not so early start for the long journey to Iloilo ferry terminal where we were met by RC of Guimaras President Lawrence and Rtn Connie.  The 15 minute ferry journey was in a small craft with bamboo ‘stabilizers’ on each side known as a pump boat and the vessel had been chartered solely for us.  We were accommodated at the Neptune Pitman Resort set in a tropical garden. 

The accommodation is very different to European hotels but seem well suited for the climate and country.  The furnishings are very well maintained, inside and out and PP Neptune and the Rotarians have been very kind and considerate hosts.

Roxas

Roxas – Seafood capital of the Pilippines

On Tuesday, 3^rd April, we said farewell to our hosts in Kalibo and set off on the road to Roxas.  On the way, we stopped to view a very large statue of Christ, built Rio style and looking towards Roxas. 

Once in Roxas, we went to the San Antonio resort, where we met up with our new hosts and Raymond, Joanne and Michael, members of the GSE team that District 3850 sent to Wales in the last Rotary year.  After settling in to our new accommodation, we were off on individual vocational visits.  We met up again at the San Antonio resort later that afternoon for snacks and drinks before joining our hosts for the evening.

 

The following day, we went to Olotayan Island, a low-lying island in the Panay River delta, where we saw a number of matching grant projects.  The journey was made by what was little more than a motorized canoe. 

The most significant project viewed was a series of fresh water points with a pipeline laid on the river bed to provide fresh water from the mainland.  Water borne diseases have been prevalent amongst the very young on the island and these water points provide an expectation that these can be greatly reduced. 

The Roxas clubs have also been involved in projects with the school on the island where they have provided a library and are receiving books from partner clubs in the USA.  The islanders provided a splendid lunch that included crabs, shrimps and lobsters.

Whilst on this journey, we stopped at a church in Pan-Ay with the largest bell in Asia (third largest in the world). It is 7ft in diameter, 5ft high and weighs 10,400 Kg.  

That evening we attended a joint meeting of the Roxas clubs and give our introductory presentation.

Onwards to Kalibo

Onwards to Kalibo

After 3 days in Boracay, it was time to leave the lovely beach and head to Kalibo.  A short sea crossing in a small pump boat to Caticlan and where we were met by President Bing, her husband, Rtn Vic and their daughter and taken on the one and a half hour road journey to Kalibo, capital of Aklan province.  We had a dinner with the host club that evening.

Next day, we were up early again for a half hour radio chat show.  This was followed by a visit to Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades: a school that provides vocational training for youngsters to fit them for work locally.  Only a limited number could afford the fees to move up to university from there and the school was very dependent on matching grants from Rotary clubs around the world. We met Hannah, President of the school's Interact Club, who showed us around the campus and escorted us later in the day when we viewed the plantation project.  

After a briefing on planning and tourism from senior staff in the Regional Governor's Office, where we had lunch, we witnessed the daily Rotary feeding programme for around 30 youngsters in the Barangay (political ward).  This programme lasts for 3 months at a time and the children are given a nutritional meal, vitamins and powdered milk 6 days a week. 

 Rotarian doctors also provide free medical attention and the children are monitored for TB and other ailments.  Another very worthwhile matching grants project

There followed a visit to a workshop that used fibre from pineapple and other plants to weave, cloth and make baskets.  A walk was then taken through a mangrove plantation where the sea has been driven back 200 metres in less than a decade.

The day ended with a club meeting in RC Kalibo's clubhouse where the team gave an introductory talk to the members.

Boracay Beckons...

Thursday 29th March started with a morning of fun playing with the girls at the 'Let's Care' home: volleyball, badminton and skipping was top of the agenda! After saying our goodbyes, we then had a lovely scenic trip with glorious ocean and mountain views all the way to the port to catch the boat over to Boracay... our island paradise for the next three days; being our rest & recreation stop. During our time on the island we took several walks along the beautiful beaches (they've been voted in the top ten beaches in the world!)

One of the beautiful beaches of Boracay

Us enjoying the sun!

We also took the opportunity to visit some of the shops that the island had to offer. The nightlife on the island was pretty hectic, although we were too tired to stay out too late!

One of the many lovely sand sculptures built on the beach at night time

Mango smoothies... Yum!

We stayed on the island until lunch time on Sunday 1st April, when we caught the boat back to the island of Panay. We were met by President Bing Santamaria and her family, and were kindly taken on a 1.5 hour journey to the town of Kalibo. We received yet another great welcome in the form of a dinner, before spending the night with our new host families.

Antique adventures

Wednesday 28 March 2012
Busy day today...!
Our first stop was the Let's Care Girls Home, where we were lucky enough to meet the girls that live at the home. The home was established in June last year for girls aged 5-18 who have been neglected / abused. It runs an 18 month programme in which the girls are able to socialise with the other girls and regain their confidence. There is then an 18 month aftercare programme to ensure the girls are content following leaving the home.The home currently has 14 girls and they were such sweet, polite and friendly children, it was a joy and an inspiration to be around them.

We are unable to show specific photos of the girls to ensure their safety within the promgramme.

We then made a visit to the Association of disabled people where we were able to meet some mothers who bring their children to the centre for therapy. We then went onto St Joseph's orphanage, where the many of the young girls have disabilities such as blindness. The children gave us such a warm welcome and sang some beautiful songs to us, we were truly touched by the bravery of the children.

St Joseph's Orphanage

Bolo making

In the afternoon we saw how to make Bolos (knives) and how the local people use gemstones found in the river to make ornamental trees. We then went for a carabou ride (a carabou towing a cart) which was different! We then had an hours rest before presenting at the rotary club of Antique in the evening, we all thoroughly enjoyed today, and will sleep well tonight!!

Carabou ride

Antique!

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Fellowship!

Another early start today, up at 6am to catch the 8am ferry to Iloilo, the journey was a fairly bumpy 1 hr ride across the water to the new island of Panay. We were met by a member of the Antique rotary club for the 2 hr drive to Antique, we stopped at a few sights along the way, including a beautiful church. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by the other rotary members and we then had a few precious free hours with our host families. We were then scheduled to watch the sunset from the beach, but unfortunately the weather continued to be stormy and the sun was hiding! This didn't spoil our evening, we spoke to lots of the local people and rotary members and had an evening of what the Philippines call 'fellowship'....usually meaning singing and dancing! This time it was karaoke, and once we got hold of the mic, there was no stopping us! We started off conservatively but wrapped up the evening with a bit of Blue, 'All Rise' and 'Pump up the Jam'!!! With Sarah being our rap specialist we can truly call ourselves a band now!

Beautiful church on way to Antique

Antique at sunset..!

Touring Bacolod city

Monday 26th March

Today began with a visit to Negros Showrooms, a tourist gift shop owned by a group of Rotarians who collect goods from across the Philippines, not wanting to go home empty-handed but already struggling with our luggage weight we only bought a few small momentos, but the store was great!

From here we went on to visit the Governor of the Negros Occidental region, who is the next in line of politics above the Mayor's of each city.  We were once again thrown into the spotlight, taking part in his weekly press conference.  The majority of the questions we were asked included what the similarities and differences are between our two countries and what our first impressions were of the Pilipino people.  Overall, we believe that the Philippinos are friendly and very postive people, truly the land of smiles, similar to the Welsh in their love of song and sharing culture around the dinner table.

with the Governor during lunch

After a sumptuous lunch at a nice hotel, hosted by the Governor we had pushed to fit in a visit to the local Catholic home for Girls, a project which many of the Bacolod Rotarians support.  We were astounded as soon as we got there, the girls having prepared a song to 'welcome us with love' to their home.  They did a dance and then showed us around the orphanage, they have a very strict schedule, waking at 5am and bed at 9pm. 

enjoying our time with the young girls at the orphanage

We were moved with the attention and closeness we shared in just a short space of time, the grils being provided with all of life's necessities but craving the love and attention which is in short supply, although they do have a hard working house mother who take care of the 30 girls.  Hopefully during our visit we were able to do some good and hope to help further in the future.

It was a busy evening with a collective meeting of the 10 Rotary Clubs in the Bacolod region, over 100 people were there to hear our presentation on Welsh culture, it seemed to go down well and the evening ended with at least 20 minutes of photos... we sure feel like celebs here now!!

Sunday 25th March

We couldn't quite believe we had only been in the country one week and had hit our first day off, we have seen and expereinced so many wonderful things and met many wonderful people.  Give the hard work it was time to relax by the pool at Sarah's host Ben's brothers house. 

Gemma, Helen and Sarah, with Sarah and her mother Ching

After a lazy morning (we have worked hard we promise!) it was time for lunch with Ben's wife, Ching and daughter, Sarah before a trip to the mall... still soaking up local culture as we have been told many people visit the mall to take advantage of the free air-con and wander around.



Snack time! Gemma and Helen enjoying a local desert, Halo Halo.