Sholing Philippines Project 2010 – 2016

Evening/Afternoon everyone. Hope you are all well and not missing us too much yet! Some of the lighter sleepers started today off with a Mr Poon’s breakfast with Bezza and Freeza, while the rest of us chose to have a bit of a lay in to beat the jetlag nice and early. We headed into the mall around mid-day for a bit of shopping and lunch. I managed to pick up some ‘super cool’ sunglasses for the pricey sum of 100 pesos, about £1.40 sterling. The luxury and commercialism of the mall was in stark juxtaposition to 100 or so meters down the road, where you saw people living in very poor conditions and begging on the street. Bezza informed me that the mall (which has strict, gun carrying security guards) stop people who they deem undesirable from even entering the massive shopping centre.

Following our mid day trek to town, we were given our first ‘proper’ taste of the Philippines, climbing into the back of 3 jeepneys for a tour of the city. These are the main way of getting about, and certainly a different experience to buses or the underground. Ezra, our guide to Manila, took us to Fort Santiago, the former prison of Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. Having never heard of Rizal before today, Ezra told me that he was a famous peaceful protester against Spanish rule in the Philippines, who wrote many books and papers calling for Filipino independence. His last footsteps are commemorated with metal footsteps that the students were able to walk along.

We then headed out to St Augustines church, where we gatecrashed a Filipino wedding which also included a film crew, Pachelbel’s Canon in D as the wedding march, and a husky dog wearing a bowtie and tux. Back into the Jeepneys for a quick trip up to the city walls (which Olivia and Holly referred to as ‘Filipino Bargate’) and a look out over the massive golf course, which Joe, Jacob and Mick gave great consideration on ‘how they would play it’.

After making it back to the Shalom centre, we went along the road for what for many of us was our first Mr Poon’s. They brought out all sorts of exciting and wonderful dishes, chosen earlier by Matt, Harry and Tom, which were soon wolfed down, leaving nothing but empty plates and used napkins. Daisy, who was celebrating her 16th Birthday, had a massive cake brought out with some balloons, which we all then had a slice of for pudding. Yum! Looking forward to going to the PCF school tomorrow and getting started on the work, we have plenty of painting and some stage building to be doing! Catch ya tomorrow.

Mr D

After we got of the plane we were all greeted by a very warm atmosphere. Manila seemed to look nice but was very busy and crowded. The hotel was nice and cool with alright rooms.

On the second day we went to the mall to look around, get lunch and other daily supplies, before going of in jeepnees and visiting various places in manila, such as a museum for there national hero and watching a wedding.

After we returned back to the hotel we had about an hour and a half before going down to diner at Mr Poons. The food was nice and made pretty much all of us full.

Now were just chilling out in the corridors chatting and interneting…

We are here after breakfast Sunday morning 10-30 girls just surfacing most of the boys up at about 4-30 and had a good breakfast at Mr Poons. A long tiring but thankfully uneventful journey yesterday. Pupils all behaved impeccably on the journey still all got smiles on their faces although looking a bit tired. Brilliant blue sky and about 32 degrees (sorry about that but had to mention it). We will be off to the shopping mall soon and then a tour of the old part of the city this afternoon. Tomorrow we will be going to the school and the dump site for the first time and I suspect this will be the real start of the adventure for our students. I will let you know how we get on tomorrow evening.

Howdie folks!

After 14 months of anticipation (for me at least, for others, much longer), 15 hours of flights, 3 hours sat in Dubai airport, and about 4 zillion ringpulls and raffle tickets, we are finally here in Manila. As we have been travelling for over 24 hours, we’ve spent this evening just settling in and relaxing. Having never been to this part of the world before, I have been like an excited child all day, trying to take in all the sights and sounds. We made it to our humble abode for the fortnight, the Shalom Centre, in one piece and with all the bags in tow, before taking a wander off to the mall and filling ourselves with various fast food staples, passing several street sellers offing such treats on DVD as ‘The Walking Dedz’ and ‘Break in Bad’ on our way back. Off to bed now to recover from the jet lag and prepare for the week ahead. Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine we left behind for you!

Mr D

Hi all,

We’re all happy & healthy sitting in Dubai airport. First flight went very smoothly, fed, watered, and entertained!

Due to get on the next plane in a couple of hours and arrive in Manila for 8am UK time.

CNN have posted the first of two reports about life on Manila’s Pier 18 dumpsite. This report focuses on Pagpag – food made from scrap food that has been collected from the bins of fast food restaurants in Manila, that is eaten by many.

See the video by following the link below:

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/30/world/asia/philippines-pagpag-slums/index.html

So we have been away from the philippines for almost a month.I still remember everyday like it was yesterday. I think a month has been enough time to reflect on the trip.

I keep getting asked how was the trip? What was it like?In all honesty you can not awnser these questions-well I cant anyway.We went through so many emotions as a group had many up’s and a few downs.For me my biggest up was at the school working with the children, who are from such horrific places. The lovely thing about it was the fact they were all really happy and smiling, they all share, they dont fight and argue and they are all so grateful. Being with the kids everyday with them smiling you forget where they are actually from. The kids and teachers are just great , they are all so polite even in Makate(which is in manlia as i found out at the embassy:/.) Every where its like “hi” “how are you” “Your beautiful”, coming back to england you realise how rude people really are, over in the philippines everyone is so cheery despite the odd’s. I must admitt I do miss being called beautiful and barbie . That and rice …and of course everything else.

The most emotional day for me was when we visited the dumpsite and novotas, and the last day…

When we visited the dumpsite and novotas it was a total eye opener, it is so difficult to explain what its like , you have to be there to understand. Seeing little kids you worked with the day before out of their school uniform in their rags, all of them calling and smiling and generally being really happy, it just chockes you up,it really does make you realise you have everything you possibly want in life.Novotas was the same, seeing all these kids paddling in the water that is pretty much full of rubbish is just sickening.Seeing them walk on rubbish bare foot, and seeing them with cuts on them and bites, and still smiling.Really in a way warms your heart that they can be so happy.

Leaving, again was one of the hardest things ever. Its much harder than taking Jeffers seriously.The kids gave us these little performances and lets face it singing “thanks to you” with their accents-which by the way are the cutest ever, its incredibly hard not to get teary.Especially when you are close to the kids that sang.After their little performance assembly we had time to say goodbye, erugh it was awful saying goodbye when the your little Filippino friends come up to you crying and hugging you its worse.I will never forget these kids, they are my insperation, without a doubt.

Some off my most favourite memories,is another question i get asked.I dont have a favourite memory all my memories are special,I honestly can not choose just one to explain.Its just too hard.

Being on the philippines project I have learnt alot and gotten to know alot of people , everyone was so supportive with out them I would off been a mess.All the teachers were so incredible out there,(even jeffers!!)and I would just like to say thank you to everyone for creating these memories and really just making this experience truly amazing.My life has changed for ever.I will never forget this ever!!

Mumsey(Mrs Rumsey)- thank you for being there to tuck me into bed and give me big hugs when i needed them …

Mick – well playdale man should I say. Thanks for singing to us in the traffic jam and making the coach journeys more fun..

Freeza- Thanks for knocking our doors at like 7 most days , i really do NOT miss that at all and thanks for the nightly meetings.

Wilko(smells)- Thanks for being wilko and being cool-i couldn’t think of anything to say…

Prensa- well thanks for being cool, and just lovely

Jeffers- well thanks for umm …..holding my hand on the plane , and for being a little(litrally) joker

Bezza- Thanks for arranging the whole trip i had the bestest time ever.

And thanks to everyone else your all truley amazing , shakila is just well …summin else!

Kiele’s thoughts of the whole trip.:) xxxxxx

The Daily Echo have covered the project in todays paper – you can see the article online at:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9572189.Mission_of_mercy_to_Manila/

You might like to take a look at the blog that the British Ambassador to the Philippines, Stephen Lillie has written on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website about our project. The Ambassador praises the group saying “Our Southampton delegation shows British young people at their very best…”.

The blog can be found at:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20131001192746/http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/stephenlillie/2012/02/15/best-of-british-youth-in-the-philippines/

Well deserved praise for a great team – well done!

What I must say is what a two week experience it has been we’ve had our ups and downs but we have got through it. In addition to this the staff have organized lots of things for us and behind the scenes to get us to do all the wonderful things we have done in the last two weeks. Furthermore as a group we have got on very well which is very important for the trip. But most importantly the kids at the school were simply fantastic, at times they made you feel like a multi-millionaire celebrity which was great. What I love about PCF and Im sure the majority of schools in the Philippines is that when the teachers talk its in Tagalog and English which is an effective way and the majority of the children our age could talk to us with no problems whatsoever. Finally I just like to thank all the people at home with the great support especially on this blog. Would I do it again? For what I have learned and experienced first hand is incredible and it would be a joy to represent TSTC if they do the trip again!!!!

Liam

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