General Comment RE: Blog

Hello everyone! I just wanted to first, thank all of you that are following and all of your comments are appreciated and I enjoy reading them (and commenting back)! It has come to my attention that some people at NSCAPF (Philippines) have been reading my blog! Which is great news, I am glad that you happened to stumble upon it and I hope you are enjoying. On that note, I wanted to let you know that if any of my comments offend you, I sincerely apologize. I wish to not offend you, so if there is something that you would like me to remove, please feel free to text me or contact me in person. Again, I, by no means, look to offend anyone and I am enjoying every minute I have been here so far (except for yesterday… a bit of the Travellers Sickness… which has continued on to today)! I look forward to sharing more experiences with everyone and please keep up with the posts! Hope all is well with everyone.
Sincerely,
Jon

January 30, 2009-I’m starting to get upset…

… at myself.  I have been here a week and I have only really had two productive days of work.  I don’t count the first day because I was so tire, even thought I did learn a lot.  But today was another day filled of trying to get well… and typing… if you couldn’t tell.  I am again, looking forward to tomorrow and feeling better.  I did learn a bit more about the procedures today and took my first steps to making some progress on one of my projects (interest rate and cost analysis… my favorite thing to do… and I’m not even joking).

Other than that, as you may have guessed, not much going on, I had a hamburger for breakfast because that was the only thing that I thought I could keep down (I did!).  And I had some soup for lunch… we will see about dinner, but I will probably have a sandwich or something.  Anywho, I am now plotting how I am going to get to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday (it is on at 7 in the morning here and I am not sure if it will be on cable or not)… we shall see how that pans out.  I am going to guess that I will miss it and get a random text from Dupree that either confirms or denies that the Cardinals won.  Hope all is well!

January 29, 2009-What I Like to Call “Man vs. Toilet”… Bear Grylls Style

If your stomach is a bit uneasy, you may not want to read this passage (just kidding, I will keep it clean). Yeah, I had my first bout with Travellers, I will call it, Sickness. This typically occurs to travelers within the first two weeks of travelling due to the new food and, sometimes, different aspects regarding the country. Well, I fought and fought and fought, and I think I finally won… It started at 7 this morning and it is almost seven right now… uh oh, hold on a sec… … … … … Well, at least I thought I won.
Just kidding, I am almost over it. When the doctor at the “Travel Center” in the U.S. asks you how many anti-diarrhea pills you would like, always answer, “as many as you can legally give me… and 10 more.” Problem is, I have the antibiotics, but I am afraid to use them because I only have 10 pills… I am one that likes to be on the safe side, so I tried to gut-it-out (pun intended) for the day. I finally gave in and took one. I feel approximately 100x better, give or take a couple times. So, that was my day, pretty uneventful. I haven’t eaten anything all day and am looking forward to tomorrow already. I got zero work done today, which is frustrating. I did, however read six chapters in the book “Banking for the Poor” that I had mentioned earlier. The book, is more detailed than “The Price of a Dream” and goes through every in and out that Muhammad Yunus went through when starting the Grameen Bank… all in all very good so far.
I forgot to mention a few things in the prior posts (and since this post is unseasonably short for me, I will take this opportunity to inform you).
• On the way back from the center meetings yesterday we travelled past the Catarman Dump… it reminded me of home. In case you didn’t know, my parents’ house is located fairly close to the Deffenbaugh Dump in Kansas City, Kansas. I wonder if they have fireworks coming from the Catarman Dump in celebration of their Independence Day?
• I looked in the mirror yesterday… not a pretty sight… there are no mirrors anywhere… which is probably a good thing…
• In order to travel from place to place, and I mean anywhere, even if it is a block away, people take pedicabs. Which are just a “push” bike (bicycle) with a side car (Wichmann’s dream). I will take a picture and try to post it within the next week or so.
• Music is the heart and soul of the Philippines. Everyone is always singing the latest pop song and memorizing it for their next Videoke night. Which brings me to my next point; I think the ratio of good singers in the Philippines is about 1:1, whereas the United States it is probably 1:1,000, if not more. I am guessing it is because they all grew up singing, but then again, I have only visited one Karaoke bar and it was not as pretty as a 1:1 ratio.
• David Cook is huge here (Lacey). When I went to my center meetings yesterday morning, there were two girls sitting outside playing one of his songs over and over again… and memorizing it. I guess that goes for any pop singer, but I have heard quite a bit of David Cook while I have been here.
Hopefully tomorrow goes a lot more smoothly than today. I am on the upswing with my health right now… but we shall see. I still have no appetite, but we all know that that will not last long… MAN’S GOTTA EAT! Anywho, hope all is well with everyone. I shall post more tomorrow… It’s Friday, so who knows what that will have in store for me!

January 28, 2009-The Real Deal

Well, I have learned a lot about methodology and different aspects of micro-financing, but nothing can really prepare you for what you are actually going to be doing (in my case observing).  I had the privilege of accompanying Albert (one of the Loan Officers out of the Hina Branch, where I am staying) to two of his center meetings.  The first meeting was approximately 15 km away and I wasn’t sure we were going to make it (Albert is an aggressive motor-biker to say the least)… but I am still here to type this, so that is a good sign.  When we arrived, we entered the “Center Building” which was located just off of the road.  The Center Building is where the weekly local meetings occur (different than the Branch Office, which is located in the city).  During these meetings, payments are collected and various items are discussed with the clients (in most cases, these are women, in this case, all women).  We entered the center and all of the ladies were very nice and spoke English to me and I enjoyed their company. 

It didn’t really hit me until later that these were the poorest people in Northern Samar.  They were so nice and so happy, that I didn’t even think about the 5000 peso loan that they were struggling to pay off (about $100).  I didn’t know what to expect, but they pleasantly surprised me and I think they were pleasantly pleased with my company as well.  I only say this because they would say something in the local dialect or to another client or under their breath and then they would all laugh (as they looked at me) and Albert would laugh, but would not privy me to the information… probably better that way.   I did understand one joke however, cause it was in English.  One of the older clients picked up a child and carried her to me and forced her hand out for a handshake to me and said, “Meet your new Daddy.”  Everyone chuckled and the child walked back to the door and turned around, looked at me, pointed and said, “Daddy?”  The crowd roared.

Another item to note, everyone in the center looks after one another.  It is kind of like a club that only certain people in the community can join.  When a child would be crying, one of the members would walk out and console the child…  And near as I could tell, the child was probably not theirs.  Also, the women at the centers are very generous.  Bembooy had told me in a previous conversation that “In the Filipino culture, we are honored to have tourists as our guests.  So we treat them as honored guests” (This is in-line with everything that I have experienced so far, everyone is more than nice).  For example, at the second center meeting, where the average loan payment made in a week is 115 pesos ($2.25), the clients offered Albert and I a soft drink (30 pesos total).  A nominal amount for you or I, but that is more than 20% of one of their loan payments…  I was definitely moved.  Albert did joke, however, that that may be considered a bribe (he was joking with the clients) and they will not show the same generosity when I am not there next week (again, he was saying this to the clients)… they all laughed.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful.  I just read the ASA Manual (Procedures) and caught up on some sleep that I didn’t get the night before because of Richard (the Rooster).  I also went to the gym I had written about earlier.  It was nice to break a sweat for a bit (Note: I have been sweating the entire time I have been here).  But I went to the gym and sweat my brains out for 30 minutes (yeah, then I started seeing spots in my vision and I figured that was enough)… So I went home and took a really cold shower for 20 minutes.  One thing, I don’t have an option to take a warm shower… nor would I want one cause it is typically 90 degrees and 70% humidity while I am here. 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot!  There was the first extended “Brown Out” today.  The power for the entire city was off for about 8 hours from around 11 to 7.  It was quite entertaining (now that the power is back on I can say that).  I have a head lamp, so I was not completely in the dark, but wasn’t sure if I was going to step on Charlie (the cockroach) or Larry (the lizard…  I forgot to mention that Leo died the other day… NOOOOO!!!! SNICKERSSS!!!!!! WHY??!!!... if you would like to know more regarding the “Snickers” story, please contact Haley Atchity at 816.555.5555).  Anywho, the lights came back on around 8 and the whole town erupted in cheers and applause… I have to admit, I even whistled.

Good luck and good night.

Some of the Picture Highlights

A restaurant we at at during training... very good.
Bembooy at the end of the runway
The view outside of my office/home (Hina Branch)

A store in Rizal Park (Manila)... not a typical store however.

January 27, 2009-The Nitty Gritty, and other exciting news

Hello everyone, I am going to break this post into two sections, the first one has to do with my day on a more personal level and the other has to do with work.  So I will let you read what you want, but I would love for you to read both posts.  First off, we had our second day of training/planning today (described a bit in the “work” section of this post).  Secondly, it was only the second day that I worked with Juneth Miranda (Professor at UEP and the President of the NSCAP).  She was actually getting ready to leave for a conference the next day, so she wanted me and Bembooy to come over and “drink some wine” with her and her husband (who happened to be facilitating the planning meetings… he is currently a micro-finance contractor in Afganistan).  So, I happily abliged and brought a bottle of wine (200 pesos or $4).  Well, it turns out “drinking some wine” entails one glass of wine and four glasses of Brandy… yesss.  You could say we had a great time chatting about various things… including, yes, politics.  Everyone at the table had stayed up all night to watch the inauguration.

After we discussed various topics for a bit, Mme Juneth told me that the Governer had contacted her earlier that day.  He told her that he “heard they had a visitor in town.”  You guessed it!  That visitor is yours truly.  I am not sure it is a good sign that I made an impression on the general public, but he wants me to come over to his house for dinner at some point in the next week.  You could say I got socially connected on the fast-track (turns out, I am not that special, he invites all foreigners with NSCAP to come and dine at his house.  He is very well connected with the program and a huge supporter).  Anywho, Mme Juneth and her husband, Dr. June, were very nice and invited me to their daughter’s birthday party on February 8^th.  Two things regarding this:  1.  I will have to celebrate my brother’s birthday that day (his is the 12^th… in case any family members forgot!)  and 2.  I assume that when an 8 (I think that is how old she is turning) year old has a birthday it is much like the U.S.  The parents through the party for the kids and all havoc breaks loose, but the parents are drinking some beers and wine so nobody really cares how much cake gets eaten…  I shall let you know.

After Mme Juneth’s, Bembooy and I went to a local bar and right when we walked in the cover band was playing “Hotel California” and they were dead on!  Even the singer sounded like ____________ (whoever the lead singer is for the Eagles… Andy don’t kill me).  So we had a few beers each and the bill was 180 pesos… I may move here (in case you didn’t do the math in your head, that is about $0.75 a beer!).  Bembooy told me a bit about why he was working with NSCAP (he is very sharp) and how personal it is for him to be involved with the organization.  He is very dedicated and when he speaks at training everyone listens to him intently (even though they are all the same level, he seems to hold a higher stature).  He told me his dream was for NSCAP Northern Samar to live well past his days.  It was very moving and I shall remember this conversation for the rest of my life.  I just hope I can help while I am here.

On a side note, Mme Juneth and Bembooy decided that it would be a good idea for me to work on three things (here comes the work part):

1.     I will be looking at the interest rate that they charge customers and seeing if this can be changed to help improve on delinquent payments (this includes their savings interest rate, charged by the bank.  Without getting into too many details, they are afraid they are giving out more money in savings interest than the bank is actually making, therefore losing money in this regard).

2.     I will be conducting a training for either Branch Managers or Quality Managers (Quality Managers oversea 4 Branch Managers) or both.  On what, I do not know, but I will come up with some topics that I feel I have some knowledge on and propose them to Mme Juneth.

3.     I will be going from Branch to Branch (10) over the coming weeks to understand each Branches operations and see if there is any way to improve on them.  This is really exciting because the Branches cover different remote islands and I have to go by boat to see them.  I shall take lots of pictures (on that note, I have some pictures, but I am not sure when I will get around to posting them as they take a substantially longer time to post than text.  I will post a few of the better ones.)

All in all, today was a great success, I still have a lot to learn however.  I received the “ASA Handbook” from Mme Juneth tonight and am going to read over it tomorrow.  It is basically a summary of their procedures and the methodology behind these procedures.  I also have to review some of my notes from training and see if I can get any ideas from there.  Currently, I have a list of about 20 things that I think I can work on in addition to the items listed above. 

Business As Usual:

A few items to note about Filiponos and working:

·      The workers in Grameen complain about the same thing as Americans, such as salary/benefits/incentives (although, I will have to say, the majority of Americans are overcompensated).  Also, Grameen workers do a lot of work.  Since they don’t have computers, they actually work for 8-10 hours a day, sorry any previous employer that is reading this, but I was not quite as efficient.

·      They are a lot more relaxed than in the U.S.  It is much more appealing to go to work, because they act like they are a bunch of friends and family.  I feel like I am the uptight one!  Anyone who has worked with me knows that I am far from uptight, but that is how relaxed and fun they are!

·      Authority is seen as more of an equal and communication between the two is less formal, causing, what I think, better communication.

·      Work is work however, and workers don’t always like their jobs, even at Grameen.  I will say I haven’t heard near the complaints about it as much as in the U.S.  I am the same way, however, I want more salary, but to work less… makes sense, right?

·      When the bill comes for lunch, there is always arguing on who is going to “run it through” (to all of you KPMGers, this should sound familiar).  Only difference is, our bill in the Philippines was only 350 pesos (or $7.00)… for six people.

·      All in all, rapport and morale are great and a there is a great environment of people.  I shall enjoy working with them over the coming weeks.  

January 26, 2009-NSCAP Training/Grameen Bank

Well, it turns our I came at a pretty good time for NSCAP/Grameen.  Note:  I may refer to NSCAP and Grameen interchangeably.  It is because they are one in the same in the Philippines.  Grameen “merged” with NSCAP about a year and a half ago in order to better improve on NSCAP.  One thing to note however, due to the merge, there are various differences between NSCAP and the original Grameen idealogy.  I will do a brief overview of the differences as I learn more about both. 

Anywho, I came the same week as their yearly planning meeting.  In the U.S. this typically happens the year before the year you are planning for, but, as this is a relatively new organization with new management, this was the week they determined was best.  All in all, it makes no difference to me and I am actually very glad I was a part of it.  At the training/planning meeting, all 10 branches were represented, plus the head office representatives (representatives are the Quality Managers and Branch Managers).  It was very good that I was a part of it because I am learning about everything that the Bank has to offer.  Our analysis for the new year has included a SWOT analysis among other things (this is where I get into a bit of the details of what I will be doing, so enjoy seeing what this trip is actually about… I will obviously be including tidbits about culture and other items, but enjoy nonetheless).  All of the information has given me a great deal of items I may be able to help the office with in the near future.  One of which, which may take more than two months (don’t worry Haley, I can do it at home), is creating an Excel database that requires only one input and has multiple outputs (including Financial Statements).

Currently, this process is completely manual, up until the daily collections and disbursements is summarized.  The problem is, they require reporting for various items, such as by Loan Officer, by client, by branch, by day, etc.  This is recorded and tabulated multiple times, which drains pretty much the entire afternoon for the Loan Officers.  I am sure any of you that really know me can appreciate that I will pretty much be in heaven if this is what they want me to work on while I am here… I love spreadsheets… as you may know… and if you didn’t, now you do.  I have been planning and scheming over the past few days (including over the weekend) on how to create this excel database.  The Loan Officer will only have to input the data into the spreadsheet once and the rest will be automatic for the day.  Two problems however:  They do not have any computers in the offices (they are planning on remedying that) and I am not sure how interactive my spreadsheet can be (such as if new loans are added or services provided), but I will do my best. 

The idea though (in case you wanted the bigger picture) is to free up the staff’s time in the afternoon to go from house to house and gain new clients and try to determine the reasoning for delinquent payments.  First, most clients are obtained through word of mouth (friend of a friend), so having Loan Officers actually selling the product will create more clients and therefore helping those in need.  Second, delinquent payments are the only reason any bank really fails and can only cause grief for the borrower.  Currently, Loan Officers spend half of their day recording.  If they have an afternoon to research delinquent payments, then they can assist the borrower in remedying a potential problem and therefore getting them back on their feet.  Also, if there are too many delinquent payments (currently a problem in this area… hence, why I am here) then the bank in this region will not be supported any longer, because after all, it is a business.

Other than that, I have been brainstorming of other areas for improvement or areas in which I can help, but still have a lot to learn and a lot more work to do.  I do have a meeting with the Branch President (a University of Eastern Philippines, or UEP professor) in regards to what I plan on doing while I am here.  The meeting is tomorrow night and I hope she will shed some light on my trip and what she hopes for me to accomplish… very exciting.  I think she has a lot on her plate and anywhere I can help I would love to… after all, that is why I am here!

Other items to note for the day included my first authentic Filipino dining experience.  I have eaten only Filipino food since I arrived in Manila (aside from KFC once… and Jollibee, which has a “fast food” version of Filipino food), but Bembooy told everyone in the branch that I liked to eat with my hands, so we washed up and went at it!  I was quickly corrected in my eating style (which is the way Filipinos used to eat) when the girl next to me, who was properly using a spoon, told me that I needed to use my entire hand, not just my fore finger and thumb.  I don’t know if she was patronizing me, but I abliged anyways.  I don’t know if you knew this about me, but I hate eating messy food, one of my biggest pet peeves… this was all put to rest when I had pig “internal organ” juice running down my forearm… I wish I could say I have a picture, but the girls sitting next to me took a couple and I am not sure how to get it off of their phones… nonetheless, it is documented!

For dinner I want to the local coffee shop and updated my blog posts, if you didn’t notice… also, if you didn’t notice, I have had some spare time on my hands to write.  I am sure this will subside as time progresses and I become more busy with work, but for now, it is a great way to record my recounts of the culture and my experiences.  Also, if you have happened to read my father’s famous journals, I am going for the “Most Words in a Day Award”… I think I just passed it… beat that Pops!  At the coffee shop, I talked to the owner’s cousin (also an accountant) for a bit who works there in the evenings.  Her true dream is to open a cinema store however.  I told her my favorite movie was Shawshank Redemption and she called me a dramatic… Filipinos are not short on their humor.

Anywho, the owner of the coffee shop (www.coffeehub.com47.com) also runs a wightroom next door.  He was extremely nice (Paul, I believe I have spoken of him before) and showed me the gym.  It was complete with a few machines and free weights, as well as a badminton court.  The gym was all open-air and had 10-15 clientelle at the time I was there.  It reminded me of my high school gym, a real man’s gym, not like 24-Hour, but a true man’s gym (Zack… you are not allowed).  Paul introduced me to a few of the clients and the were all very nice and asked me if I lifted weights.  I replied that I had limited experience, but would probably frequent the gym while I am here.  Paul then said, “Some go drink beer, we come in here.”  My response was, “I come in here so I can drink beer.”  They also asked if I liked American Whiskey (also known as burban, whisky is only made in Ireland, but if you premise whisky with “American” it is not improper.  Scotch is essentially whiskey, but it is distilled in Scotland… just so you know)… I happily said, yes, I loved whiskey… it’s true… I do (any kind, I don’t discriminate).  They proceeded to tell me they usually got together on Saturdays, brought their own bottle of whiskey, and drank it.  I need to see how big these bottles are before I commit to anything.  I decided to call it quits after the Coffee Hub and I went back and awaited my 4:30 a.m. wakeup call from Richard (the rooster).

Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines

Catarman has about 70,000 people based on the literature that I have read.  It has a population of 70% below the poverty line and, of the remaining 30%, not many are well above that line.

There is one flight in and one flight out every weekday.

It is a very religious town with two mass services everyday (Catholocism).

It rains… a lot.

The people here are extremely nice.

It is also really hot here, like in Manila.

You can only cross the runway (airport) before 7 a.m. and after 5 p.m.... yes, I said you can cross the runway.

Salumad (Thank You)

Jon

Grameen Bank (The Basics)

I know that this may seem a bit simplistic, but I will do my best to give the different intricacies of the Bank for your viewing pleasure.  Also note that I will be comparing the two operations (Grameen and NSCAP-Northern Coalition Against Poverty) in a different post.

Grameen Bank (known as Grameen from now on) was founded by Mahammud Yunus of Chittagong University in the town of Jobra, Bangladesh.  It was started as a University project to help combat extreme poverty in Jobra.  In the abbreviated version, Yunus found that the only thing holding poor people back in Jobra was credit.  A simple concept really, a person in Jobra couldn’t afford to purchase their own sewing machine, so they would have to lease the machine for (example purposes) 10 takas (Bangledeshi currency) a week, but the person could only make 15 takas per week, yielding 5 takas as profit to the worker.  Yunus’ vision was this:  What if we gave the worker a 450 taka loan to purchase the machine initially and we could charge the same 10 taka per week charge as a loan payment (about an 18% interest).  The only difference is, the worker will own the sewing machine at the end of the year and the second year, the 15 takas they will make per week will be all theirs.

One obstacle that must be overcome with this model is how to determine who you are going to give money to?  This involved a process for Grameen. 

First, you must determine if the person applying for the loan has a viable business and would benefit from the loan.  Would this person invest (buy a sewing machine) the money or would they consume the loan (purchase rice for eating)? 

Second, how would you determine credit?  Credit is determined through the vouching of people in a group of five that validate that this worker should receive this loan.  People will want to be in a group because it gives them access to a loan in the future, depending upon if the initial borrower successfully paid the loan.  This also covers Grameen on one end, because people in the group will be willing to “cover” for one member for a week will they are ill because their future loan depends on it.

Third, how do expect people to keep paying the loans?  Through years of research and failures, Yunus determined that people will see the effects these loans have on the livelihood of their neighbors and they will want to join.  Yunus repeatedly refers to Grameen as a lending organization and not a charity.  Charity is giving out items for free with no accountability for follow-through.  Grameen is giving something to someone and trusting them to grow with it and become better businesspeople with it and, in turn, improve their lives.  If repayment didn’t occur, then Grameen will not lend to that group of people, making it hard for the persons to not repay the loans.

Through the years, the Grameen Bank has transformed into a lending organization that primarily lends to women.  This is to properly serve the caregivers of the most vulnerable and needy, children.  Yunus had also found that men were more apt to “consuming” the loans and not investing them properly.  Grameen lends to males, but it is limited.

Bringing the Bank to the Customer-  One notion Yunus had to shake was that a Bank was a place of great structure, centralliztion and intimidation.  This thought was something that could make it hard for persons to consistently come into a central office and pay loans and apply for loans.  Yunus thought he could bring the bank to the people and, in turn, people would be able to visit the bank weekly and never lose sight of what they were doing.  For this reason, there are Branch Offices (11 in Northern Samar alone, probably the size of Kansas City proper) and then there are Group Meeting sites (determined by the individual groups), which hold the weekly group meetings.  At the group meetings, various items are reviewed, such as Grameen’s 16 decisions and other rules and regulation and Grameen’s Mission statement (both of which will be on a post to follow).  The group meetings also allow the borrowers to pay their loans at a convenient location.

There is a book that I am going to read on my trip that states that the Grameen Bank is “Banking for the Poor” whereas I think of it more as “Banking with the Poor”.  Yunus has great vision and his University project has grown exponentially, I invite you to learn more with the posts to follow and the links I have provided!

January 25, 2009-Holy Day

Well, today was a day that was much needed, much like yesterday.  I got a lot of personal things done and explored the city some more.  I went to the park again to try to find the basketball court, but to no avail.  I will have Bembooy show me tomorrow morning.  I also got to work on some personal stuff that I wanted to do while I was gone, so that was nice (still all works in progress, but I will try to complete them before I return…  we all have stories).

Anywho, enough with the general stuff, a couple of items to note for the day: 

1.     I ran into some of the people I met at the coffee shop today.  It was nice to run into someone that knew my name.  We chit-chatted for a minute, but they were in a hurry (seemed like, maybe it was me) and I was ready to eat!

2.     I got a sheet for my bed, major accomplishment.  I was going to rough it, but when I got to the store and a sheet cost 100 pesos ($2), I decided to go for it.

3.     I finished the book “The Price of a Dream”.  A very good read, highly recommended.  I am deciding which book to read next, but I will add the next one to my links.

4.     I went to the local Catholic Church and went to mass.  More below.

Well, I wouldn’t say I stick out like a sore thumb here, but I stick out like a partially swollen thumb that is covered by neon band-aids.  It is very different being the minority in a city.  Not only am I the minority, I am the ONLY, it is quite and experience.  Everyone is very friendly however, and I have met various shopkeepers and children on the streets, and they all ask me where I am from… of course, none of them have heard of Kansas City, but they have heard of Kansas (I would only assume from “The Wizard of Oz”)…  The only time I will ever claim to be from Kansas, by the way… ease of communication.

Anywho, I found the sermon (or Homily for all of you Catholics) to be right up my alley currently (it was in English, the only English Mass for the day).  He told a story of a man in his early days praying for the strength to change the world.  Time passes and the man is middle-aged and he realizes he has not changed anything.  He changes his prayer to God, asking for strength to change the people around him, including his family, friends and loved ones.  Time passes and still nothing.  Upon his ending days, the man asks for the Lord to change him and in turn his loved ones will be changed. 

You could say this was similar to my current circumstance.  He went on to say something along the lines of pushing your own limits in order to change yourself.  We should all strive to change everyday of our lives and push our limits.  It is exciting to learn new things and have new experiences.  I’m not saying we should all drop what we are doing and go to Catarman, Philippines, although it has been quite an experience thus far, but learning a new thing at work or taking on a new challenge at work or as a hobby, that is how we grow, right?  I also equate it to a piece of advice my sister gave me before I embarked on this adventure.  Se said (not verbatim), “The problem with people when they travel and the reason they get so stressed out is that they try to control everything.  You just have to go with the flow and change with the experience.”  She’s pretty smart, and she is well more travelled than I am, so I shall take her advice.

Enough with my own preaching, the mass was like any Catholic Mass that I had been to (although the priest translated the sermon into Filipino).  The church (I will take a picture at a later date) is massive.  It looks like it could hold the entire town of Catarman (70K people)… not really, but I bet it would hold 10,000 people if it had to.  It was gorgeous and reminded me a bit of a more simplistic version of a Spanish-style structure.  It is open-air but has a roof and speakers galore (note the size).  It was a great break from reading and walking the village and I will probably attend multiple times prior to my departure (there are daily masses, in Filipino).

January 24, 2009-No Training Wheels

Today is my first official day in Catarman alone.  I woke up at 4:30, but “snoozed” until 7 or so.  I went to the Jollibee for breakfast and took my first pedicab.  I had Lonaggassa for breakfast, which is essentially a spiced sausage and an egg with garlic rice.  I had the option to get a full lunch however, with 2 pieces of fried chicken, a serving of spaghetti and red sauce and French Fries… I couldn’t bring myself to it at 8 in the morning though… maybe tomorrow.

After I ate I decided to walk around Catarman and get a feel for the city/town (see detail on Catarman in additional posts).  The city is nice an, as stated before, the majority of the people working there have their own businesses.  These businesses range from pedicabs to small boutiques (which include soft drinks and phone cards and snacks) to various food vendors.  All of the people are very nice and, unlike Manila, they do not approach you to try to by something, but greet you with a smile when you approach their stall.  Lucky for me, their English is good enough for me to complete a trasaction (hand guestures help as well). 

I walked around and looked at some shops and smiled at the passersby.  Many of the children are engrossed with what they are doing (which I am not sure what it is)… I wish I could elaborate, but they are focused on something, I just don’t know what… it’s like they are standing there looking and talking with their friends, but there are no cards or balls or anything… maybe I will ask one day.  Anyways, the children will be talking in Filipino and then all of a sudden see me and say, “hi” and some ask me my name.  I keep walking, but will probably find the courage to talk to a 5 year-old some time in the near future.  I don’t know why, but I am typically awkward and I am not sure how to approach this subject.  I am sure they just want to ask me some questions… we shall see.

I went back to my abode and decided to try to catch some shuteye.  It turns out, I was so tired that Richard the Rooster didn’t even bother me.  After a couple of hours of sleep, I was ready to go back at it (after typing some of this).  So, I decided to go the other way out of the branch office and tour the other side of town.  Much of the same.  I did go to the park and see if I could find the basketball court… I couldn’t, but that is something that is huge here, basketball.  Everyone has a team that they root for and everyone loves it.  When talking with Shan (my contact in Grameen Australia, who set me up with this Branch), he said that that would be the best way for me to socialize with locals… through sport.  Anywho, I went to the park, which was covered in puddles (it rained all day) but could not find a court.  I will ask Bembooy to show me on Monday so I can school some local Catarmanians… who am I kidding, I am horrible at basketball.  I was thirsty after my walk, so I travelled to a local boutique.

One thing to note:  When you purchase a soda from a vendor, you usually finish the soda at their store and give them the bottle back, as there is a 10 peso deposit for the bottles.  One lady, very nice, sold me a Coca-cola (don’t say Coke, they don’t really know what that is) and asked me if I wanted to drink it there or pay for the bottle (I didn’t know the rule yet), so I said I would pay for the bottle.  I could tell she would rather me drink it there, so she offered “plastic” for it, so I could drink it and walk.  Se was very nice and went to the back to grab “plastic”.  Turns out, the plastic was not a plastic cup, as I thought, it was a plastic bag (like a sandwich bag).  She poured the coke into the bag and I proceeded to have a Coke (in a bag) and a Smile… that was a first… but I may adopt it back home… a new business idea!

On my way back to the residence, I stopped by the local coffee shop (Coffee Hub) and wanted to see about the internet connection they had.  I had heard that this is where to go if you have your own computer.  I ordered a sandwich and started talking to the manager to see if I could use it.  The manager’s name was Paul and the first thing out of his mouth was, “for you… it’s free!”  Paul was a very nice man (do I need to stop saying that… cause it is a given?) and the second thing out of his mouth was, “Are you American?  (I nodded) You have a new President!”  Paul became very excited.  He handed me Barack’s book “Dreams of my Father” and asked me if I had read it.  Seemingly flabbergasted that I had not read my own President’s biography, he insisted that I read it.  “You can borrow it while you are here!  When I first purchased this, a year ago, it was 450 pesos, but now it is worth double!” Paul said jokingly.  Paul was very nice and the other people in the shop wanted to know more about me and why I was here.  I told them I was a guest of Grameen and they commented on the previous people that had come and frequented the Coffee Hub while they were there.  I will be going there quite often while I am here.

I went back to the branch and read a little.  I went to the same place as I had been the night before for dinner and had the Sizzling Seafood Mix for dinner.  It was extremely good.  It was a mixture of seafood… no, seriously, it had shrimp and squid with carrots, peppers, tomatoes and mini-corn (like the ones from “Big”).  It was cooked in a red sauce that reminded me of sweet and sour sauce, but less sweet and more spicy.  I also had a Pepsi with dinner (only place I have been that has had Pepsi).  I did have a Virgin Cola in the Manila airport and was rather impressed.  If you didn’t know, Coca-Cola has somewhere around 70% of the market share worldwide for soda sales (that is a rough number) and the closest competitor is Pepsi at 20%.  Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Airlines, thought that it was ridiculous that Pepsi could not tap into some of the market share of Coca-Cola, so he started Virgin Cola, and this was the first time that I had seen one, so I got an Orange Virgin Cola.  I digress.

After dinner I read a bit more of the Grameen Bank book “The Price of a Dream” (link posted to the right).  It is a fascinating book and I have learned a multitude of things about microfinance and some of the obstacles to overcome.  The book is very well written and gives a great picture of the work and views of the Grameen Bank (both for and against).  Many of my references in the “Grameen Information” posts will come from this book as well as other books that I received as gifts from Haley and family members for Christmas (Thanks!).

I was supposed to go to the cock fight today, but it was pouring rain for the majority of the day.  Maybe I will go to the beach tomorrow.  I am still a bit tired, so I am looking forward to anything that involves relaxing, including being in my house.

January 23, 2009-What I Like to Call “Another Long Day” (Manila to Catarman)

Well, the morning started off rough… my wakeup call was at 3:00 a.m.  I got absolutely no sleep due to my “air-con” dripping with condensation and wheezing at me all night (I told my air-con this, “look I know it’s tough… but sometimes life can be tough!”  It wheezes only louder).  Also, the guys across the hall must have had a 2:00 a.m. departure because they were not short on noise this morning.  On the other hand, the place I stayed at was very nice, with a KFC in the lobby.  I had a fried chicken sandwich for dinner last night for 120 pesos ($2.25).  One thing that Filipinos are great at in their servings is moderation.  I got fries and a drink with the meal and there were approximately 20 fries and the drink was 12 ounces, probably something us Americans could use a little of… moderation.

Anywho, I had a good flight to Catarman.  The guy sitting next to me was from the Philippines and had gone to University in San Francisco and Hawaii.  He was a foot doctor (what is the deal with people and feet on this trip!?).  He was on a week long a medical mission with three other doctors to a town next to Catarman.  I talked quite a bit with him and he (without asking for it, just as I would expect from a Filipino) gave me his business card and said, “If you are ever in Guam and need a place to stay, don’t hesitate to call.”  Once again, harping on the “Nicest People on Earth.”  The plane ride was gorgeous.  I could see many of the islands and the sky was rather clear over the main island (where Manila is).  You could see groves and groves of palm trees and it was green everywhere… absolutely spectacular.  I took pictures, but they do not do it justice.

Upon landing in Catarman, there were approximately 100 people waiting to pick up the various passengers and, once again, palm trees and greenery everywhere (more on precipitation later).  After I de-planed, the first thing I saw was a sign that said “Beware of Foot Baths… Keep our Town Clean”.  I would assume they mean puddles… more feet references… I love it.

The next part of my adventure was about to begin… who was going to pick me up?  I will say that it is a good thing that I was the only white person on the plane because I would have never been able to spot Bembooy (that is his name).  Not because of anything in particular, but I was just saying that I was easy to spot out of a crowd (On average, I a probably 6 inches taller than everyone here, I am a few shades lighter and my hair is probably blinding to their eyes… other than that, I fit right in with the crowd… they could definitely tell I “wasn’t from around here”).  The next part of my trek came with no warning.  Bembooy picked me up on a scooter… built for two (although I have seen as many as 5 Filipinos on one… quite impressive).  Second lucky part of the trip (actually probably more like 100^th lucky part), I only brought backpacks with me (Haley!), cause this would have never worked with a proper suitcase.  I would have been walking for sure… and I would still be walking right now.  The ride to the Grameen Branch office was just as the plane ride, absolutely gorgeous.  Another lucky part was that I have a motorcycle at home and have ridden on a scooter before, if I had not, this would have a very scary ride for me.

We left the airport and proceeded on, as near as I could tell, the main highway of Catarman.  Once again, I could not tell which side we were supposed to be on, but I lived to type this blog nonetheless (note that the “driving” rules apply to Catarman as well).  We passed many small homes and huts and fields of rice patties along the road.  These, I would assume are potential/current clients of Grameen.  The huts were no bigger than 6 x 10 feet and many were on stilts to stay out of the water.  They were mainly made of wood, but some were lucky to have metal siding.  In order to traverse between the road and some huts, there were suspended beams between the road and the residence.  I will assume I will have to traverse these at some point and will probably fail miserably and end up in a rice patty… we shall see!

One of my former colleagues (Jerry Elkins) had told me that he had visited the Philippines a while back and noted their enduring spirit.  I have noticed, in only my few days here, that they have a love for life that cannot be matched.  They (or the majority) don’t have a single worldly possession, but always have a smile on their face.

We arrived at the Hina Branch office, which is the office I will be working out of for the majority of my stay (with other branch visits from time to time).  There are a total of 11 branch offices in Northern Samar and the Hina Branch is the main branch.  More on the Grameen operations in separate postings.  Little did I know that this is where I will be residing as well.  I may move to a hotel at some point, but it is very nice of them to offer up the guest room for me to stay in for the first part of my trip.  The room is nice, but I am a bit worried about staying here during the week, as I will not have any privacy from day to day operations and will feel the need to stay here all day.  Let’s be honest, the real reason I may move is because of the rooster that is right outside my window that promptly wakes me up at 4:30 every morning and continues to crow every 15 minutes (the snooze alarm from hell) until around 4:30 p.m.,  I will probably get used to it though and may end up staying here for the majority of my trip, it’s free!

One thing I wish I had been better prepared for was the clothing.  The people in my office only where jeans and polo shirts to work and I only brought business casual work attire… which is fine, but I don’t particularly want to stick out any more than I have to, not that I was going for the “discreet” look anyways, but comfort (as it is 90 degrees here) would have been a preferred option over style.  I will make do however.  I did bring two pairs of khakis and one pair of jeans and three polos, so I should be okay with dress code… I am not here to make a fashion statement, I am here to learn (“…not to make out with you”-Billy Madison… I had to do it, I can’t quote movies with anyone here… maybe my original humor will blossom like the coconut trees of Northern Samar… then again… maybe not).

I forgot to mention what time it was, at this point in my trip it is still only 7:45 in the morning.  Bembooy took me to Jollibee for breakfast and we had a Jolly-good time, but I am not sure I will consistently eat it while I am here.  It is not very authentic, although, with my American stomach, it is probably the safest food here.  Jollibee is essentially a McDonald’s with hot dogs… can you imagine!!!  I couldn’t, but now I can!!!  It’s like Andy’s dream (less queso-dip).  By the way, Andy would die of starvation here.

The rest of my day consisted of learning a bit about the Branch operations (see Grameen details in separate posts) and meeting everyone in the branch.  There are five people that work in each branch with persons that oversee a few branches and persons overseeing all of Northern Samar and then all of Asia and then… you get the point.  In each branch, as the Grameen way, there are five people:  the Branch Manager (Grace-27 yrs old) and four Loan Officers (field workers) whose name are Albert (24), Donna (23), Panchito (23) and Dianna (24).  Bembooy is not considered part of the Branch because he is the quality control manager for multiple branches.

Sidenote:  I forgot to mention that Filippinos love American/English names.  The Second Luitenant on our plane flight was Al Pacino… yesss.

All of the Branch workers are very nice and Albert offered to take me to the beach on Sunday and a cock fight on Saturday (turns out, both were rained out… for me at least).  All of them are very young and have been working in the Branch for anywhere from 6 months to 15 months (since its inception).  Bembooy has been working with the company that preceeded Grameen (NSCAP-Northern Samar Coalition Against Poverty).  I believe Grace also started with NSCAP, but am not positive.  All of them have their own scooters and take them everywhere.  For lunch, we went to a place that was 50 yards away… we rode on the scooters.

In the afternoon, I spent some time with the different workers and learned a bit more about the operations.  I got some materials from Bembooy regarding the “screening process” for potential loans and various other items.  I will review those this weekend so I have a better sense of the goings on next week.

Needless to say, as I am writing this, I am a bit worn out.  I have had four pretty full days and am looking forward to the weekend to relax a bit (a little cock fight… a little beach… no big deal).  It is about 4 o’clock right now and I am ready to go to bed.  The office typically closes at 5 and work begins at 9.  So I only have one more hour to go and then I can pass out.

(3 hours later)

Well, Albert was nice enough to stick around the office and hang out with me on my first day here.  I told him that I was fine and he could go home, but he insisted on staying until dinner.  So, we went to dinner and on the way (again, only about 100 yards… and we travelled by scooter) Bembooy texted me to see if I wanted to join him for “two beer”.  I think “two beer” means, what we say in America, a drink.  When we know we aren’t only going to have one, but 3 or four.  So, Bembooy picked me up and we went to a local bar for two beer.  The bar was very nice and I am sure that I will frequent it for two reasons:  1.  They have karaoke (also known as videoke) and live music on the weekends, and 2.  They have very good food.

We were finishing up our third beer and a man walked in who was, as Bembooy described, the “Father of NSCAP (now known as Grameen in Samar)”… or what I alternately phrased “The Godfather”.  He was a very nice man (I believe his name is spelled Ven, pronounced “vain”) and he and Bembooy insisted on paying for my drinks (we had a few more with Ven and the Band) and a light snack…  My drinks totaled about 7 beers (not sure how much the cost was), well over the standard two beer (and Brettz wasn’t even involved!).

I had a great day, and am officially exhausted.  I went to bed around 11:30 and (if you do the math, got approximately 5 hours of sleep, totaling 20 hours for the last 5 days… I’m on a roll!

General Thoughts: Driving in the Philippines

First off, this should not be done by the untrained man or woman (come to think of it, no offense, but I have not seen one woman Jeepney, Pedestrian, Pedicab or Taxi driver since I have been here.  Then again, I don’t see too may woman Taxi Cab drivers in the state either).

Driving in the Philippines, like anywhere in the world, is up to you if you want to risk your life in a taxi/pedicab/jeepney… either way, you are going to have to do it.  If you would rather not, cancel your ticket to the Philippines and go to someplace where it is safer… like anywhere (my parents would disagree, they would say it can’t be worse than India).  Road lines are mere suggestions, they should not be taken seriously.  This was made apparent to me on my initial ride from the airport to my hostel.  It seemed the taxi was using the road lines to center his car, not as a divider.  Also related to road lines, the yellow line in the center of the road, used to divide traffic, should not be taken seriously either, as I am still not sure which side of the road persons in the Philippines are supposed to drive on.  Doors are locked, so peddlers on the street can’t hassle, or even take, passengers in a taxi.  Taxis need to turn on their meter when you get in or they might con you into paying more for your taxi ride than it should be; as I am sure they could get me pretty easily.  A fifteen minute cab ride in the U.S. can cost anywhere between $20 and $40.  In Manila, the cost is anywhere from 150 to 250 pesos ($3.50 to $4.75).

Side note:  My currency conversions are not exact, but more used as a frame of reference (Andy)… so back off all of you accountants (Cale)!

January 22, 2009 (Afternoon)-A Stroke of Luck! (I seem to be getting that a lot)

Well, the visa was a success, thank goodness.  I was not sure how that was going to pan out, but glad that it did.  Anywho, one of the guys from the hostel was meandering around the Robinson Mall (largest mall I have ever seen… 6 stories with a store every 20 feet, simply remarkable) and I just so happen to run into him in passing (by the way, he is probably the only guy I could stand to be around for more than an hour).  We chatted for a brief moment and proceeded to see what the other was up to in the afternoon.  Neither of us had plans (obviously), so we decided to hang out the rest of the afternoon, which was great, because I don’t typically like travelling around a new city by my lonesome.

After I purchased a phone (3,000 pesos or $60), we decided to go to the National Museum of the Philippines.  The cab ride conversation went something like this (note the name of the museum or this won’t be funny):

Me:  Can you take us to the Museum that is close to the immigration office?

Cab:  There is no museum next to immigration, I don’t know what you are talking about, do you have a name?

Me:  Oh, well, the museum is on the way to Immigration Office (the museum is about 1 mile from the Office and is a huge yellow building that says “National Museum” on the top)

Cab:  So you want to go to immigration?

Me:  Well, yeah, there is a museum over there, we will see it.

Cab:  I have not heard of a museum over there.

Me:  (I noticed)

 

Anyways, the Museum was full of tidbits regarding the Philippines culture.  It shed some light on the way Filipinos see the outside world and how they see themselves throughout history.  It seems to be the Filipinos are bitter at the Spanish (but not Americans surprisingly) for their colonization of, what came to be known as, the Philippines, I will have to look up more regarding this at a later time (more on colonization below).  I gathered this based on some of the artwork descriptions and some of the narratives generally posted around the museum.  If I could equate it to a part in American History, I would probably say (you may guess), that it is the equivalent of the English Colonizing “The New World”, even though it wasn’t new… someone was already there… I’m just saying.

Some other items to note regarding the Museum:

·      The museum used to be an old Post Office and is probably the size of Union Station in Kansas City (or even Grand Central in New York).

·      There was a sculpture that was of a Borock (spelling?) which is half man and half horse (check that).  Which I thought was ironic, because our new president is named Barack (oh oh).

·      There was the largest mobile painting I have ever seen by an artist by the name Hidalgo.  It seemed to be a painting of a gladiator match that was finishing (POST LINK).

·      Very religious culture and, I would say, half of the paintings were of religious figures or religious scenes (Jesus and so forth)

·      The modern art room was just as disturbing and ridiculous as American modern art (just my opinion, but really… a bed that someone spray painted with different colors is not artwork… it’s just a waste of perfectly good spray paint, not to mention the sheets).

After the Museum we proceeded to walk to the largest park in Manila (Rizal Park).  It was the Central Park of Manila, less about 2 million people.  The park is a long strip of land that I would say is around a half-mile long and a couple hundred yards across.  Down the middle of the park are man-made ponds that are rectangular.  In each pond (about ten of them, one after another) there were a series of water-jets.  So, in order for you to get a picture of it in your mind, think of it as the Reflection Pool (in Washington D.C. between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument) meets the Bellagio water show (famous for the ending scene in the Pitt/Clooney version of Ocean’s Eleven).  Kids had just been let out of school and they were playing in the park.  Various venders were every 200 feet and all sold the same thing (not sure what the thought process is, but it seems that every vender in the Philippines sells the exact same thing, with a few exceptions… I don’t get it, but is it what it is (I hate it when people say that, sorry).  It was quite fun and me and my mate (he’s Aussie) got a history lesson from a local man (without asking for it).  Henceforth we shall call this man Perry (side note:  I was going to call him Bijoux (Bonya), but I couldn’t remember Bijoux’s name when I was originally writing this.  If anyone would like to learn about Bijoux, please contact Ben Olsen.  Ben, you will know why as this story progresses).  

Perry approached me and Lucas in a frenzy.  We were just walking around and we accidentally made eye contact with him.  In the Philippines, if you make eye contact with someone, it is essentially (to them) saying, “I will buy whatever you are selling.”  So, needless to say, I blame myself, Perry came and talked to us about various parts of the Park.  He told us about their Philippine hero, Jose Rizal (hence, Rizal Park).  Rizal was the original Philippine hero for leading a nation into independence.  The problem was, he was not around to see his country as a sovereign nation, he was shot for treason and for some reason, six priests were shot with him (not sure why).  I am pretty sure, if there is a hell, that the persons who were involved with the shooting of the priests are there, just a guess.  The assassination of Rizal caused, what I like to call, a William Wallace effect.  Needless to say, with the uprising of Filipinos and too many islands to count, Spain relinquished it’s stranglehold (and gave up thousands of miles of gorgeous beaches) on the Philippines finally became an independent nation.  Perry was full of information.

After he was done telling all of this, it was on to business for Perry.  He proceeded to ask Lucas and me what we were doing that night (he wasn’t much into transitions).  Perry, the Pimp, offered to find Lucas and I a couple of “nice girls” to “hang out” with that night… without running, Lucas and I ran away, but we got some good pictures of the park on the way out.

Our last tourist stop for the day was the H20 (water) Hotel.  This was by far the most touristy thing that I had seen in Manila.  It was like, again, a too-scale version of Circus Circus in Vegas meets a Riverboat Casino (I prefer Ameristar).  It was quite possible the extreme opposite of anything I had seen yet.  It was clean, very clean and there was a little bit of order involved.  Now, I don’t know what the thought process was behind the building (or really any economic decision in the Philippines thus far), but it is just a big block on top of the ocean, supported by stilts in the water. 

It wasn’t really complete when Lucas and I meandered in, but we got the idea.  There were enough shops open to see what was in store for this “idea”.  The inside was very modern looking and all of the stores had various “H20” paraphernalia.  I wasn’t quite sure who came up with the idea to build this where it was, but there is no beach to relax on, the water off the ocean smells like the Great Salt Lake (bad, in other words), and the only redeeming value, as to proximity, is that it is close to the Immigration Office.  Don’t get me wrong, I hope it does well, but I am not sure the mastermind behind it.  There was one item that Lucas and I had to try however… Dr. Fish!  A couple of things (you can see the pictures):

1.     Lucas wore sandals that day (don’t ask, and don’t ever do it) and his feet were filthy.  If we were to go back a couple days later we may have seen a few belly-up fish.

2.     The fish eat the dead skin off of your feet.

3.     It costs 120 pesos for 20 minutes (approximately $2.75)

4.     The fish eat the dead skin off of your feet.

5.     Lucas made a good point, “If it is supposed to be cleansing to have them eat your dead skin, I don’t feel comfortable putting my feet in the same “bath” as everyone else (I didn’t have it in my heart to tell him I thought his feet were gross, ironically).”  This was said after we had already put our shoes back on…

6.     The fish eat the dead skin off of your feet… nuff said.

All in all a very good day.  I would say I have had my fill of Manila for now.  It seems to me that it is like visiting Dublin in Ireland.  Not really the place you want to be, but the place you have to go in order to get anywhere else.  Dublin is nice and all, but the true country is shown in the smaller towns (like Fort Scott), I shall see if this holds true for the Philippines when I get to Catarman.

One more item on the day, Lucas looks like Mike (Steinhaus) and we were talking and he said he had a dropped lung…  fortunately he didn’t leave it on the golf course… but I think he left with Dr. Fish.

January 22, 2009 - Visa Extension and other Items to Note (Morning)

Well, I had my first taste of the language barrier frustrations (Day 1 in Manila) today when I went to the “old Spanish Style” part of Manila, next to the Immigration Offices.  I was looking for a SIM Card to put in my phone for local use and these SIM cards are “available at any 7-Eleven”.  Problem is, there is no signage for any store…  So I would ask where a 7-Eleven was and (very nicely) people would not know what I was talking about.  Luckily, I found one when I was at my last straw (after looking for 2 hours).  I looked up and, voila!  A 7-Eleven!  I got lucky and was standing underneath one as an unplanned parade (looked like) passed me by on the street of about 2,000 people.  So I was on my merry way.

Now, as to not have a complete culture shock on my first day in Manila, I went to a Starbucks and tried to get my newly purchased SIM card to work, it didn’t, obviously.  So now, onto my next adventure… the mall!  Again, trying to not get too much of a culture shock on my first day.  This trip (to the mall) is more out of necessity than anything, as a text from my phone to a local phone costs around $3.  Also, I have read that Manila is known for being “One Big Shopping Mall”, so I have to see what that is all about (see more on “Robinson’s Mall”).

General Comment:  The people in Manila are extremely nice to me.  Everyone is always smiling and (hoping that I will take them up on it) offering up various goodies.  These goodies include, but are not mutually exclusive, kabobs (Haley), soft drinks, unmentionables and even small children (on a serious note, Manila is extremely poor and there are beggars and peddlers everywhere you go.  The streets are covered in “trash juice” and many people are well under developed (short and small… I don’t mean 5 feet tall, more like 3 feet tall), I would assume this is due to malnutrition.  All of this is overshadowed by how nice the people are.)  There is a reason Filipinos are known as “The Nicest People on Earth”.

By the way, it is really hot here.

While at Starbuck’s, I was talking to two very different sets of people.  One guy, who, I was sure was here to find a wife (real grease-ball and acted really tough… from Miami) was telling me all of these places to go.  I smiled and nodded and acted like I was interested in what he was talking about, cause that is what he wanted…  I could tell not too many people paid attention to him.  His time with me was short-lived, as a “random” guy came in and said, “I can process your visa for you for 6,000 pesos.”  The American became infuriated and told him that he could do it himself for 3,000 pesos (as he stated he paid last time he was here, see “wife” comment above)… He even had the receipt!  This guy was a real card to say the least.  Anywho, he left with the “random” and I was freed.  I am not sure what news station this guy is going to be end up on, but keep your eyes peeled.

The second set of people were the extreme opposite.  They looked to be college students at the local University.  Actually, they looked to be high school students, but since it is the middle of the day and one of them works at Starbuck’s, I can only assume they go to the University.  That is another thing, people here, as in most parts of Asia, look very young, I would say 5-10 years younger than they are.  I don’t know if it’s that Americans and Europeans just don’t take care of themselves or it is just the nature of the beast, but for the most part, it makes Filipinos a lot less intimidating, this helps with the acclamation into the culture… and their smiles.

Anywho, these two students were very friendly and talkative.  The man, who was bubbly, to say the least, wanted to talk about Obama and the inauguration (he also wanted to talk about “Gossip Girl”, which I am happy to say, I could provide no input).  He said he stayed up all night watching the ceremonies and Obama’s speech.  He was very excited (which seems to be the norm around here for Obama’s election).  Every cab I have been in so far (which has only been two) has had some story on Obama and some sound bites from his speech, quite astounding that they would care that much.  It is funny to talk to foreigners about politics.  In the US, for the most part, people have their sides (Republican or Democrat), but the people I have talked to here just assume that I was on the side for Obama.  Granted, I don’t care if he generalized, bit I think he thinks that Obama received 100% of the votes.  I wonder if the person elected into office in the Philippines receives 100% of the votes (or 70% or something)?  I shall have to research this.  I vaguely remember reading that most elected Prime Ministers of the Philippines get overthrown by military coups, so maybe that is what Hillary has in store for Obama… that was a joke.

Old Spanish Style Village (Intramuros)

This place was recommended to me by the person that came before me to Catarman.  It was a great suggestion.  The town is bustling, to say the least, with people and energy.  My favorite part was the old architecture and the people were extremely nice.  I stopped in for a Coca-Cola and a smile to a local eatery and the owner and her brother chatted my ear off, asking me about politics and America.  There was a parade through the streets and thousands of people everywhere (based on what I could tell, there didn’t need to be a parade for there to be people everywhere as the parade seemed to come as a surprise to everyone, including me).

There was a church (San Agustin Cathedral) that was very nice and founded by Catholocism (obviously).  I have read that the main Filipino religion is Christianity by a whopping 90% of the population, closely followed by Muslims (5%).  I did not get any pictures of these places, but I can assure you that these are definitely places to see while you are in Manila.  You get a very good sense of the people and how the culture really is in the area.  It is also a great way to pass time as you are waiting for your visa-extension request.