Sholing Philippines Project 2010 – 2016

Another good day we should finish the playground tomorrow as we just have to concrete in the last 4 posts and clean up relaying the turf. We had a growing audience as we get closer and closer to completion. At the start of the day we went down to a community just outside Daanbantayan Bantique where the spring board charity are doing their shanty rebuilding programme. This is an amazing area with many families needing help with rebuilding their homes. We are planning to finish the playground and spend 2 days building 2 shanties for some very deserving families. We are continuing to have the best of times feeling very appreciated for the contribution we are making.

We have had 2 more days building the playground and today, Sunday a day off. The playground is now really taking shape we have completed the area for the young children with the wooden wigwam the totem poles and the mushrooms. We have put in the elephant and the mushrooms and rocker and 5 spinners. Each day the number of children watching desperate to have a go grows. The mayor and his team are determined to keep them out until the grand opening next Saturday. I’m not sure of his chances but since we put in a lot of the tall poles to support the monkey bars and the climbing trail in yesterday we are hoping that they kept them off last night in order for the concrete to dry.

Matt Tom and Gavin (and of course Mick) have been digging most of the holes and mixing most of the concrete with some help from the rest of us. While we have been fixing the equipment cleaning it down and making good the turf. It has been in the order of 38 degrees with little shade every day except today when it has clouded over a little and even rained for about an hour, however it is still 30 +.The boys have the blisters to prove their hard work but they refuse to use Mick’s recommended cure.

During Lunch on Saturday the major put on a buffet lunch at a lovely little seaside Beach resort next to a fishing village on the edge of Daanbantayan. All the children were in the sea swimming and we just could not resist jumping in, the mayor I think has concluded that we are all mad. I explained that we just could not miss out such an opportunity being British we just do not get such water and such sun at home.

For our day off we took a ride on 2 motor cycle side car combo’s, all 8 of us, one struggled to make a hill so Terry had to get out and push. We went to Mayo the local port and caught a ferry across to Malapascu a beautiful palm tree sandy beach clad paradise. It has to be the best bit of R&R we have ever had on any of these ventures including a sea beach bar with Red Horse (Bezza’s favourite beer).

We had about 6 hours relaxation before a ferry back. Our transportation to the hotel this time consisted of 4 small motor bikes with two of us on each pillion again this mode of transport which often has whole Filipino families is not designed for large westerners but it was a great laugh.

We are back to work tomorrow and expect to complete the playground by Wed/Thursday. The mayor is planning a grand opening with around 300 children, music food and bunting on Saturday. It should be quite an affair. Yesterday he told Mick that this was the best thing that had ever happened to their village, true or not it certainly made us feel good and is an illustration of the real genuine appreciation the people show towards our effort.

We are at the end of day 2 building the playground. Daanbantayan is a lovely seaside community which was very badly hit by the typhoon. It hit the village for just 6 hours and left most of the buildings without a roof and many people with a loved one lost. It is very different here compared to manila the scenery is beautiful very few of the people speak English but it is a very friendly place indeed. We are building the playground outside the Majors office in the town plaza which was very badly damaged in the typhoon. The Gymnasium at the heart of the community had the roof blown off. Many people are still living without roofs in shanties. The air is clear the view out to sea of the beach is amazing and we are staying in a most beautiful but basic beach hotel.

We have made good progress on the playground under Micks amazing leadership and Matt, Tom Gavin and Terry are keeping up with him really well. The ‘oldies’ are doing our bit but it is so hot about 38 for most of the day. The children in the village are getting excited about the playground and really keen to get on it. Tonight we had a guard with a stick over night to keep them off it so the concrete will set. We expect to complete the playground by next Wednesday with a day off on Sunday to go on a boat trip out to one of the Islands. The Philippino people continue to be as friendly and accommodating as ever. The food accommodation and drink is so cheap out here far cheaper even than in manila. it is proving to be yet again an amazing experience which is much appreciated by our lovely hosts. Tonight we are discussing the next projects it is just so difficult to say no.

Speak soon the photos are proving very difficult to upload as the internet is so weak.

We are all sitting about 30 m from the beach in Skips beach resort in Daanbantayan just had dinner lovely food very cheap. The tide comes in for 6 in the morning and we are all planning to go for a swim maybe by the morning we will get to our senses. It is quite beautiful here with miles of golden sand palm trees and small beach side shacks. It is a far cry from the dumpsite in manila, the air is clean and everything is really green and fertile.

We had a good journey apart from the flight delay of 1.5 hours. We arrived in Cebu and had a 2.5 hour drive through wonderful country with a maniac driver exceeding the limit and overtaking everything in site. The area is green and fertile but there is still a lot of damage from the Typhoon. Many people are still living without a proper roof over their heads. We met the mayor and discussed the site for the playground and we are all set for tomorrow to start construction. I think he is a bit uncertain about what he has let himself in for allowing us to make a playground in his town centre but we are confident that we will do a good job. All the equipment is here sand and cement at the ready for an 8-30 start. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Little did I know when we said an emotional farewell to the staff at the Shalom centre seemingly for the last time just a few months ago that within weeks I would be back. And the welcome is as warm as ever nothing’s changed about the hotel but it seems so strange without Sholing students hanging around all over the place. There is no throng of surfers outside my room, no briefings, no cheery Banta.

There is Bezza and Mick and Terry (a new addition from playdale) and Tom and Matt and Mrs Freeza (and a puppet more about that later). So what brought us back? Well its all about the curious tale of a vanishing playground. How a geography teacher (allegedly) of many years experience managed to lose a 200 foot playground in just 2 streets. Anyway the long and the short of it is that at the end of the February trip we had a shed load of playground equipment left over. We offered it to another charity who were delighted with it and we loaded it on a lorry down to the island of Cebu and said a fond farewell to it.

We then departed manila for the last time (definitely no more trips). Until we had an email along the lines of ‘delighted with the playground equipment but can you come and help us put it up’. So here we are. We visited the Tondo school today and the lost playground and climbed Smokey mountain. No Children or staff in the school it is the summer holidays, it seems very much smaller than I remember it without the pupils. Painting and all our work still looks good.

Tomorrow we set of for Cebu and island some 500 miles south of manila where the hurricane did most of its devastation to a town called Daanbantayan where we plan to build this playground for the local community. We have a plan which we hope will fall into place in the next few days I will keep you posted.

Now about that puppet. Mrs Freeza had this idea! Now even after 30+ years of marriage I am not sure if she is a genius or quite mad. Her idea was to bring a puppet along for the trip to photograph as a record of our journey this record can then be used as a resource in schools to help with the fund raising for the next trip in 2016 (yes we are coming back again its official). So today we have photographed the puppet all over the place and it has gone down well with all the locals and especially Mick and Bezza who cannot stop playing with it.

And when I get instructions form Wilko on how to load pictures to this website I will have them for you all to see.

Again I’m not sure whether she’s mad or not but it beats sharing a room with Bezza.

Well off for a Mr Poon now will blog more later but only on the understanding that you read it and make comments.

Speak soon.

Hey gang! So we have now been back well over a month, the Ageas bowl event done and dusted, and the 2014 project officially brought to a close. It has been a fantastic experience, and one which I know all involved will cherish for many years to come. A number of people have asked me to put up the poem that I read out at the Ageas bowl, so I’ve posted it below. Don’t forget to keep checking back here to see how Bezza, Freeza and Mick are getting on when they go back to Cebu later in the month! For the final time, Bahlaam!

I would like
to tell you a story,
Of a fantastic little team,
Who in February 2014,
Flew off to the Philippines

Charity
walks and Christmas draws
And many mugs being sold
Teambuilding training at Woodmill
And sleeping outside in the cold

All prepared
and monies raised,
We set out on our way,
Photos for the Echo first,
Then flying for a whole day.

Matt,
George, Harry, Will and Ryan
Jenson, Jacob and Joe
Kiea, George, Connor, Tom and Mick,
Frezza, Bezza, me and Wilko

Shakila, Amy, and Millie returned
Liv and Daisy, always came as a pair
Helena, Fran, Portia, Danielle
Miss Kennard, better known as K squared

Holly and
Amber, Chloe and Caitlin
Michiela and Michelle,
Georgia, Helena, Mrs Rumsey
Not forgetting Miss Wallace as well.

Birthday cakes and Mr Poons
Visiting Robinsons mall
Getting all your washing done for a quid,
Getting back shorts that were far too small.

Teacher training, painting walls,
The famous donut party
Building playgrounds, gater aid,
Mrs Rumsey being all arty

Meeting on
the stairs each evening
Staining the playground using rags
Shifting boxes upto the fourth floor
Bezza confirming “That’s a school in a bag!”

Taking every
child on a fieldtrip
An emotional rollercoaster
Science museums and planetariums
“Did that kid just throw a toaster?”

Trying to
get some internet signal
Each evening to post a blog
Learning a bit of Tagalo
‘Malachi Balaka’ means Giant Frog

Diving competitions and coach sing alongs
Climbing up the Taal Volcano
How did this get here, we all wondered
Lucky we had Wilko to explain-o

The final
day was very hard
Students crying because we were leaving
Singing songs in the music room
“Sir, Can you play Don’t stop believing?”

Final assembly, hugs galore
Fond farewells and goodbyes
Looking around, it was hard to find
A single tearless eye.

These excellent ambassadors,
We could not have asked for more
Getting up at silly O Clock,
And working, even though they were sore

What these
young people have each achieved
Should make you immensely proud
They were tough and resilient, supportive and strong
If at times a little bit loud

They were cheerful, reliable, caring and kind
But most of all they were a team
It was a pleasure to spend a fortnight with them
Out in the Philippines.

I expect, now that the trip is over this blog may not be read. But I wanted to write about the two weeks, that can only be described as life changing, I have spent with some of the kindest and most caring people I know. There are not words that I can think of that will even begin to give this trip justice.
Over the past 18 months my brother and I worked hard to raise £2000 between us. At the start I thought we would never do it. But with the help of my ever supportive family and friends we did it. I wish that I could have taken these people that donated money or bought raffle tickets with me to show that they could not have spent those pounds in a better way. I will not deny the fact that those 18 months hard, but the work I done to raise the money was easily forgotten when I saw the beautiful smiles upon the children in the PCF School.
Before going to the Philippines I thought that I was prepared for what I would see after the photos I have seen and the people I have spoken to. But I have never been more wrong about anything as nothing could of prepared me for what I saw, smelt and felt. When I stepped foot onto the dump site I was hit by a wave of mixed emotions. I was angry, annoyed and ashamed that I have so much whilst they have so little. Whilst feeling that I was happy because they made me happy. Every single child I saw on the dump site was smiling. These children that live in the worst possible conditions were smiling, laughing and playing. We were strangers to them but we were greeted like old friends, with there smiles and waves. I did not see one child with a frown on their face. When we returned home and I went to school on Monday it saddened me when I saw people and some my own friends woth frowns on their faces because these children I had met on the dump site had so much less yet they were smiling.
When we stepped foot into the PCF School each morning I always felt welcome. We were greeted like heros. But we were not. We are 27 students who signed up for a life changing trip to work hard and make somebodies life better.
The two weeks were not easy. It would be a lie to say that I enjoyed painting a wall all day, carrying boxes up stairs and shifting furniture all it the heat. But it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. What got me throught the day was the children of the school. There beautiful smiling faces, Big hugs and funny comments spured you on, and gave you more and more passion to carry on. Another thought that kept me going was that these are children that have had one of the worst imaginable starts to life and they are still going strong and smiling through it.
Now I come to the day that will forever remain in my heart. On Friday, the day we were due to leave we woke up later than usual woth our bags packed. With bags weighed and put onto the coach we left the Shalom Centre for the PCF school for the last time. When we walked we were greeted by the usual smiles and cheers of the children. But this was not an ordinary day at the school. We were not painting or moving things, we were here to watch the farewell assembly. When I arrived I met Joana, one of the girls I grew closest to. She ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug immaginable and took the wind right out of me. Whilst giving her a hug she broke down in tears in my arms telling me she will miss me and doesn’t want me to leave. I managed to hold myself together and made her promise not to cry as it is not good bye but see you soon.
After lunch we all sat down ready for the assembly. It began with the choir singing “keep holding on”. At this point I totally lost all the control I had and broke down. Just as I began to recover a grade one boy came out of his line gave me a hug and a tissue before returning. I do not know why but this is one of my favorite memories. The choir was then follwed by ballet, speeches, thank yous and a bery brave girl singing a solo. By the end of the assembly there were very few dry eyes. As the assembly ended we were then surrounded by crying children hugging amd thanking us. It was truly some of the hardest good byes. Even the hardest of the lot were in tears I found that especially moving.
After the final assembly we put on our big smiles and handed out shoe boxes to the children. It was lovely to see the excitement on their faces as they opened them up.
After handing out it was time for the final good byes and some of the hardest good byes. I would like to think I could keep the promise of seeing them soon.
All of the months of hard work leading up to and the blood, sweat and tears whildt there and the long journeys were all a small price to pay to see the smiles upon those childrens faces.
I talk about their smiles a lot. Thats because they are some of the most biggest smiles that are around. If you are ever feeling down you only had to look at their smiles to feel 100 times better.
Before I finish as I have probably bored you there are some people that need thanking. The children of PCF for welcoming us into their school. The teachers who came with us for looking after us. The other 26 students who supported everyone helped everyone when someone was down and your wonderful singing. Mick for your singing to. Freeza for your support and help. And finally last but no means least Mr Berrt for organising this amazing trip. Thank you for letting me have the opportunity of being part of something extremely special.
These two weeks were life changing and will forever live long in my memories.
Thank you,
Helena M. X

I alpologise for this being nearly a week after our return , I don’t even know if people are still reading these but I’m going to blog anyway:)

“You Can’t Change The World , But You Can Change Sombodys World” – Freazer

This quote has stayed in my mind for the last week and has helped put the trip into perspective for me. Being honest raising all the money to go out wasn’t a easy task and took a long time and a lot of generosity from Freinds and family but wow am I happy I did it all now. The two weeks I spent in the Philippines at PCF school and with the children has changed my life for ever. The relationships that I built with the children mean so much to me because I able to make them smile and to them that means so much. Children such as jaybee, Chris and James I became close with and when we got to the school in the morning there was nothing i wanted to do more than go find them and say hello and get a high five.

The last day for me was emotional and very humbling , what to you would have seemed like a mundain two weeks of work was hailed like a miricle. A load of painting , playground fixing and general helping out was welcomed with such grace and happeness you would have thought we were a sports team retuning after a big win ? We were far from that just a group of school children who had been working there for 2 weeks. I have never been overcome with emotion more than being sat there when all the children flooded down from the floors clapping and jumping on us and hugging us. That moment is the single most emotional thing in my life and no words can describe how I felt.

Seeing my Freind from the 2 weeks jaybee, a happy child who was always making jokes and smiling at me and never with a frown on his face in that moment , come running towards me was so incredible. However I then witnessed him brake down into tears infornt of me , I didn’t know how to deal with this ? I just picked him up tears in both our eyes and hugged him. He was crying because he didn’t want me to go , and I was crying because I didn’t want to leave 😦 that moment will never leave me because it’s one in which just sums up the whole trip for me 😦 I don’t think ever in my life will I get to meet such Awsome , happy and incredible children. If you ever find yourself in a tough spot or having problems look to the children of PFC School Manila because they are smiling in the face of the worst situations.

I’d love to tell more story’s but I’m sure your all bored by now and tbh I think the other peoples blogs help to sum up the trip. However I’d love to breifly mention the team because they have helped to make this such a enjoyable project. I have become close with them all and the teachers were Awsome as we’ll. I am so thankful I got to experience this trip with them and can’t help but think they all helped make the trip. So I’d love to say a massive thank you to everybody and special mentions to people such as mick , tom , mike who I’d never met before and Bezza and Freazer who organised it all , I can never thank you enough.

I can honestly say This trip changed my life and has made me a different person. So thank you to everybody that made it possible

Jacob “Lips” Ainsle 🙂

So this is my blog, sorry it’s late and sorry I didn’t blog while I was in the Philippines. But 18 months ago we all applied to go to the Philippines and applied for a life changing experience and boy was it!. The first thing we did to fundraise was a 50k walk but just before this walk I broke my heel! So had to do it on crutches!. Fundraising was very hard but it was worth while.

No one will actually understand what it’s like out there until you have been because pictures really do not show it, a little bit of paint on the walls and the kids faces just lit up with smiles and it just made their day. It is so different out there you can say hi to anyone and they would just say hi back but here it’s nothing like that but I loved how friendly they were out there!

One of the things Jane said was that one hug from us was maybe there only hug they would get for that day and that really got to me knowing there parents were working so hard to feed their children that they just don’t have time to give their child a hug, so after that I just wanted to keep hold of them and never let go! When we went to the dump site it was a terrible experience but a life changing one the kids would have nothing on their feet whilst walking on anything, glass to needles and probably a load of other horrible things but it didn’t bother them one bit, they would run up to you say hi and hug you and then just would want to stay with you for that whole time you were there they just didn’t want to let go! Whilst we were at the dump site we had to hold it together and not show the kids we were upset but as soon as we got back to the school I couldn’t hold it in for much longer and I cried and cried and I couldn’t stop thinking about them poor children knowing we just drove away and left them like that but then I thought to myself the reason why we are here is to change their lives and that’s what we did! just by painting the walls, building a stage and giving them some musical instruments! But that was when I realised what I was actually there for to make them happy and change their lives!.

My time in the Philippines went so quickly and I made some really good friends, it was the last day and the kids had put the cutest assembly on ever! But this one boy Jamie I got really close to he was seven I was with him all day hugging him and just kept saying bye and crying but when I actually needed to say bye to him I didn’t get too I went to where they get picked up and I saw him driving away and I didn’t get to say bye to him or too give him one last hug and that was it I cried for about an hour and an half I just couldn’t stop thinking about him and how I didn’t get to say bye:( but I know he will always remember me and I will always remember him!

The first thing I did when I got home was to sponsor a child, I wanted to sponsor Jamie but I couldn’t pick but I still got to sponsor one and I’ve changed another girls life called Redilyn! She’s one cutie but overall I know this trip has completely changed my life and I would do it again anyday!!!

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible, the team, Teachers and a big shout out to Mick and Mrs Rumsey thanks for being there for me when I got upset and wasn’t feeling great.

Danielle Barnes xxx

I know I didn’t blog during the time we were in the Philippines and we have been back home for just over 4 days but all I have done since being home is reflect on our trip and miss the children at PCF dearly, so I though that I would write up a few memories of the trip and just look back at everything that we achieved while being in manila.

The first day at the PCF school was so exciting, no one bar the year 12’s knew what to expect when taking our first steps in to PCF. The atmosphere was so loud and cheerful! We were greeted by huge smiles which was so lovely to see. we were soon given a tour around the school but even after that it was a bit confusing walking around wondering if you were on the right level because at this point every level looked the same due to the no offence boring orange colour on the walls. Not long after having the long but interesting tour around the school we took our first trip to the dumpsite! I don’t think words can even begin to explain what we experienced at the dumpsite but I can say it was a real eye opener and it changed every single one of us to say the least. All we can do is show you pictures and try to explain what it was like but even then you wouldn’t be able to get a real idea of what it’s actually like there. Getting off the jeepnee and stepping foot on to the dumpsite was such a weird feeling because we all got stared at, we just had to realise that they never get visitors from out of the Philippines so they were just interested in who we were and probably a little excited. At first I was quite confused because they all seemed so happy and I couldn’t understand why knowing that they are living like this, it still confuses me but most of them don’t know living life any different.

Another memorable day was the first day of bonding with the kids, they were so happy to see us and to be able to spend time with us. It was hard returning to the school after our trip to the dumpsite knowing that’s how the children are living but as soon as we got to have a proper conversation with them we managed to forget about it for a while, that way we got to see their real personalities. I felt like a celebrity after that day because after telling about 10 kids my name, it seemed as if the whole school knew who I was! It felt as if when one person would say my name everyone would come to say hello which was so nice to think they all liked me, that was a big relief after being a little nervous to meet them. After a couple of days one of the boys at PCF nervously came up to me a handed me a flower then quickly rushed away, its a moment I will never forget because me and that boy became quite good friends during the trip and I miss him loads now being home.

The trips were amazing and the children really enjoyed themselves and probably wont stop talking about them for months to come, I know for sure its something they will never forget. I think its something I will never forget either knowing how much they enjoyed it and for some it was their first time out of the dumpsite or school. the trips were very tiring due to the excitement of the kids and how hyper most of them were all day! some of them were so exhausted they didn’t make it into school the next day. I made some lovely friends due to the trips and I will never forget them, I already miss them tons and will hopefully be able to stay in contact with them and maybe visit them in the future.

I think we can all agree the hardest day had to be the last when we had to leave the children. They definitely had every single TSTC student in tears with their Thanksgiving assembly, I even think some of the staff shed a tear. The final assembly was so heart warming, The children are so talented. The school choir sang us ‘keep holding on’, ‘don’t stop believing’ and a very special song they had written about Sholing. That was followed by some lovely dancing and then some readings by the students to thank us all for our hard work. I’m so proud of our team we achieved so much while being in the Philippines and since being back I’ve had so many messages from the children asking us to come back and them telling me they miss us all! I hope one day I can return to the Philippines and visit PCF again. Sorry its such a late blog but I had to share my experience after giving it time to settle in my mind what we have experienced. Thank you to everyone who was on the trip, I think we can all agree we were the best team yet! I want to also thank Bezza for organising a trip of a life time and the teachers, freeza, mick and mike for looking after us while being half way around the world and making our trip fun as well as emotional. Thank you everyone!
Georgia smith