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Diary entries of Peter Burchell view profile
     
Wednesday 28th of March 2007 - 05:17:19 PM
Take nothing for granted
Some of the basic necessities we take for granted in life are unreachable luxuries for many people in the Philippines.
Before the help of Rotary, most of the students at one particular school had never even seen a toothbrush.
Medical supplies, including much-needed vaccinations, and dental care are among the services not normally afforded to these young ones.
At another school emerges a story of utter disbelief. Before Rotary stepped in to help, this particular institution only had one toilet for 1200 students.
Yet another group of children would not receive a nutritious meal while at school – or perhaps at all – if not for the efforts of the service club.
From city-to-city, street-to-street a similar story is revealed. Clean water, healthy food and basic sanitation is not guaranteed for many residents in this country.
A common answer to the question, “if you could change one thing what would it be?” is to say “I would create world peace”.
But it is something unattainable – the world will never be perfect. Yet the realisation is that often the small changes can make a huge difference.
Providing basic health services, creating additional toilets and giving children healthy meals will not make the world a perfect place – but it is a huge step in the right direction. It can create flow-on effects and give people a reason to believe there is a future. Positive thinking creates positive actions.
A trip to the Philippines for a Westerner can be heartbreaking - but it can also be heartwarming.
Despite the poverty and hardship the Filipinos find a reason to smile and make the most of what they have, however small.
The problems we Westerners think we have are often made laughable when considering the plight of less-fortunate people.
That does not mean we should make ourselves feel better by considering how worse off others are. But instead it should make us realise that by toughening our resilience there is a solution to our so-called “problems”.
Friday 23rd of March 2007 - 01:08:40 AM
Back on track
Well after a couple of days of being grounded with a "stomach bug" I am back on my feet in Dagupan.
My low pain threshold - a condition I refer to as LPT- has not come in handy. I swear I have felt more sick than not during this trip, but then again I am "soft".
But that does not extend to trying some of the more exotic foods while here in the Philippines.
Among them is the famous Balut - a duck embryo - crickets, pigs ears and other exotic dishes.
As my other team members may have already written, the emphasis on food in this country cannot be talked about enough.
We have eaten so much that diarrhoea has been a welcome relief to keep extra weight at bay!!!
Seriously the amount of food Filipinos consume on a regular basis is crazy.
Lets start with breakfast - a big serve - followed by what we Australians refer to as morning tea - also big. This is followed by lunch...big, afternoon tea, big, and then dinner - which as you can imagine is not on the small side. If you are not rolling around on the ground half dead after that, there is the option of more food just before bed.
Now most of us have not being eating THAT much - it is just not part of our culture but we have embraced the food.
We can't argue with the hospitality and I have found the food - not always as exotic as previously mentioned - to be very tasty.
But I was not alone when I was "hanging out" for some Western-style food as we entered San Fernando, La Union only days ago. The sight of Maccas was more than welcome.
But in a twist of irony my stomach bug became worse after that and I couldn't even touch the pizza which I had been craving for three weeks!!
Please note: McDonald's was NOT responsible for my stomach bug - it was already on its way. Please do not sue me.
Anyway, all is good now.
And it is almost time to move on to our last stop, Angeles City to end what has been an incredible experience.
The journey to the Philippines has been something I will never forget for so many reasons.
But more about that later...
Tuesday 20th of March 2007 - 06:49:40 PM
Putting things in perspective
Sometimes a wake-up call can be found in odd places. This experience touched me deeply.
Eric practises his golf swing at an exclusive country club in the Philippines but it is the closest he will come to playing the sport.
As a caddy he can't spare the time to have a round but must instead walk the course with a paying player to ensure his family will be fed.
Eric is married with four children and as a caddy earns roughly 1200 pesos, about AU$30 per week.
That is his main income, but he also slaughters pigs occasionally to help lift the financial burden.
Sometimes it is enough, yet Eric admits that often he is forced to skip meals - there is little alternative. "The kids come first," he says.
His wife sells bins at a market, earning a measly, but vital wage, and also has to look after the couple's children.
But as the wet season approaches, the quietly-spoken Filipino reveals things will be worse.
With constant, driving rain the course will be near empty and as he says, "no golfers, no income".
When asked what he will do to survive, Eric simply says he will find something else.
With a live-for-today attitude, Eric's focus is on the now. He turns his attention to the task at hand and pulls a nine iron from the golf bag and hands it to the player.
The player feels guilty as he accepts the club - guilty that he has been mindlessly worrying about landing a stupid little ball on a damn green.
But Eric is grateful - after all, "no golfers, no income".


Tuesday 20th of March 2007 - 06:41:18 PM
Spending time
Thank God you are not behind bars in the Philippines...
If the overwhelming stench of human waste does not shock visitors when they enter Olongopo City District Jail then the view at the end of the corridor will.
Crowded into tiny, dark, concrete cells sit hundreds of prisoners whose eyes are immediately drawn to the sight of someone on the outside.
Between 500-550 men are crammed into a space about the size of about two tennis courts.
With a look of anguish the prisoners stare as one. Sitting cross-legged and shoulder-to-shoulder it is difficult not to be overcome by pity, despite what crimes they may have committed.
Of more pain is the realisation that some of these inmates may be innocent. According to a warden, many of the prisoners are forced to await trial in these disgusting conditions for up to six years.
Due to a slow judicial process their court case may not be heard for this agonisingly long period of time and being told this news adds to the heartache.
The mind instantly arrives at the thought that even if these men are found to be not guilty they have to live with this humiliating experience for the rest of their lives.
Yet before the Metro Olongapo Rotary Club stepped in to help, the conditions for prisoners were even worse.
The service club has made the prison one of its many projects and ensured there is running water for inmates who are confined to their cells for more than 20 hours a day.
This means sanitary conditions – which were appalling – are now much better and while they are still far from ideal the improvement is a necessary addition.
This combines with other support which includes education and food programs.
Many of the prisoners have worked with Rotary to improve conditions and this appears to provide some hope for those behind bars.
They know someone cares and is trying to make a difference. Without that hope many have little else to get them through.
Tuesday 20th of March 2007 - 05:57:51 PM
I'm here at last
Well the journalist of the group, the one who really should have written the most by now is finally making a blog entry!!!
First of all, apologies for not making an entry earlier.
I have been submitting stories for The Recorder newspaper in Port Pirie and that has been my priority.
My email access has also been limited and I have reserved some time for my beautiful girlfriend Karleigh who I love very much.
But enough of that now, I'm here.
Well what can I say about this country? A hell of a lot actually.
And I'm going to start with some stories I have submitted for The Recorder because to the best of my knowledge the feedback from readers has been positive.
But from there I hope to be able to share with you an experience which is proving to be a journey like no other before.
Here goes...
A woman with a small child holds her hand out begging for money while nearby a homeowner instructs his maid to clean the swimming pool.
Welcome to the Philippines - a country where the division between classes is almost beyond belief to Western civilisation.
And it is the striking feature of San Fernando, Pampanga a bustling city about an hour north of the capital Manila.
Evidence of such diverse economic fortunes is available in the masses and mirrored throughout much of the country.
Brand new SUVs share the chaotic roads with three-wheeler pushbikes and motorcycles. Likewise a run-down food stall is dwarfed by a two-storey mansion no more than 50 metres away.
For every structure that makes the jaw drop for its size and quality there is another which makes the heart sink.
Despite water being an expensive resource in the Philippines, much like Australia, there are stories of homeowners emptying and filling up swimming pools after every use - simply because they can afford to.
The rich live like kings and the poor live just to survive and it is just the way it works.
But while the residents' economic fortunes might be in stark contrast their personalities are not. The locals are warm, friendly people who almost always greet you with a glowing smile and kind words.
Their willingness to accommodate guests and make them feel welcome is evident on a constant basis.
And the rich and poor also unite for one of the nation's favorite sports - cockfighting.
One regular punter said the pastime draws people from all walks of life who wage bets in the hope their bird will be the one that survives at the very end.
The venues which play host to this sport become a hive of activity as spectators - almost all men - wave their arms and yell to ensure their wager is placed.
But when the action begins the noise drops to a murmur and even when the result is known the winners do not cheer.
And according to one source, the fighting is not restricted to the arena in some instances. He said there are stories of people betting with money they do not have, desperately hoping their selection does not lose.
Yet when they can't pay up that famous Filipino smile is erased from the faces of all.
Away from economics and fighting and beyond the haze and humidity, the Philippines is a beautiful country with a constant buzz.
It masses of people share some breathtaking views - and those pictures are free for all who can afford the time to sit back and enjoy them.

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