Back into the Mix

I've made it safely back and am now getting back into the fast paced rhythm of the SF Bay Area.
Thanks everyone for your cheers this summer.


Jason

Laguna and back

For the last part of my trip I went to visit my family in Laguna Province. It's was difficult. They were helpful in many way, in some other ways not so much. One of my relatives and her husband were intensely interested in trying to shame me for not being married at my age, then using deep Tagalog words to highlight my lack of understanding, then following that up with a declaration that it was such a shame that I was trying to learn Tagalog, but that I would never really be able to grasp it like a native speaker. It was one of those things that is so petty and irritating that you don't figure out how many things are messed up about the situation till after it's over. I replied to her that by that reasoning there was really no point in learning anything new and people just shouldn't bother trying. I didn't say much to her afterwards and eventually she left. I figured it was just a matter of privilage being reversed, and now having the upper hand over the privileged American she just couldn't contain her desire to put me in my place. This woman is a teacher also. It's pretty obvious how effective she is or at least the system she represents. That's not to say that it's worst than it is here in the US. More so I'm saying that it was messed up and I'm happy to wish them a good life from afar for all time.

The rest of my family helped me with trying to get to the cemetery and the grave of my great grandmother and other family members. My grandfather here in the US probably won't be able to visit his mother's grave before he leaves this world and I wanted to visit symbolically for him.

My other cousin during this time told me that the water was fine and commanded that I drink it. Her family that visits from far away never had any problems so she concluded that the deep well water was fine. I asked her if she was sure and she was. I made a huge mistake and trusted here. Really I should have taken the extra effort to defy her and buy my own water.

The next day the fever and aches began. I went to bed early and mostly didn't sleep all night. I didn't know what was going on, till I realized that my body was reacting to a systemic infection. I thought maybe it was Malaria, I thought a lot of things in my delirium. Then next day I told them I had a fever and my Aunt just tapped my forehead with her palm and said I didn't. My cousin who told me to drink the water told me I was just upset. I found that funny. I know what happens when I get upset and it looks a little different. It's true that I was very uncomfortable there. I lacked an appreciation for the food and I was far outside of what was normally used to. True, I had gotten the hang of using the tabo instead of toilet paper, but there was just something about the place my grandfather came from that sours me in my bones. I don't really know, but maybe it's just the amoeba. They gave me a couple pills, one for headache and 2 for upset stomach and I got on the jeepney and the bus. I bought some water. The bus ride was long, but the kung fu movie they showed made my day. Then the bus broke down. We waited for another. Then I was stuck sitting in the isle for another hour till I got to Manila. I took a taxi and got back to Ipat's house. They took one look at me a took my to the hospital. I had a 104 fever and some loose bowels. 3 hours later, one IV of dextrose, 2 blood tests and another sample later I had my 4 meds and was on my way back to Ipat's and recovery. I had one day to rest before the 22 hour journey back to the US. I sent my family in Laguna the news that I was recovering and suddenly they were worried about me. My cousin expressed concern and also blame at the same time. I just wasn't use to the water. Yes, I think that was a given.

People in positions of relative power not being accountable for their actions was a common experience in the Philippines for me this summer. I bet if the Catholic Church and the colonial powers had been able to say- hey, I'm wrong, sorry, my bad... then I think some people here might have an easier time being accountable to others. There is a legacy of a lack of accountability here, however I do have faith in the power of a positive example. As long as it starts somewhere, eventually it will grow.

Jason

Pashal tayo

Pashal Tayo,








let's go around!

Pumunta sa Lipa tapos bumisita Arayat, Pampanga. Nakita kay Ricky and ng magulang ni Ipat.
Bumisita din kay mga risirtsr sa mantika sa Mapua Institute of Technology. Ginagamit ng mantika para tumakbo mga sasakyan sa pulis sa Makati.





I went to Lipa after Arayat, Pampanga. I visited with Ricky and Ipat's parents. I also visited with researchers from Mapua Institute of Technology. The are using vegetable oil to run police cars in Makati.

Sa Pampanga!

Pahinga ako para dalawang araw dito sa bahay nila Alon, Ipat, at Howie sa Maynila. Mabuti para nakita sila!

May bagyo Julian, pero hindi masahdong makas. Ok lang ang mga daan para sa biahe sa Pampanga at ng bahay ni Tita Lina ko. Aalis mamaya.


I've rested here for 2 days at the house of Alon, Ipat and Howie in Manila. Good to see them!

There's a typhoon, Julian, but it's not very strong. The roads to Pampanga to see my Aunt Lina should be fine. I'm leaving soon.


Visiting with Edward from Manila Playback Theater. I put on a workshop with him and their crew here back in 2004.
Jason

Tapos na ako ng AFAP!!!!!!

Kauusapan ako sa mga direktor ng AFAP para exit interview.
Pagod na ako. May trabeho sa book pa, pero malapit na sa wakas sa programa. Mayroon kaming graduation bukas. ....

Ngayon pupunta kami sa palenke para bumili ng mga malong para pasalubong at baka mga tsinelas.

I just spoke with the directors of AFAP for my exit interview. I'm tired. There's still work to do with the book, but the end of the program in close. We have graduation tomorrow.

Now we are going to the market to buy malongs for gifts for folks back home and maybe some sandals.

Ingat!!!!

Take Care!!

jason

Bike news from the US

Mayor Says BFC Program "Critically Important"

As the Bicycle Friendly Community program develops and grows, feedback is pouring in from designated communities that have seen benefits far beyond bicycling. Mayor Richard Howorth of Oxford, Miss. recently wrote this to the League: “I can not overstate how critically important the designation has been to us in Oxford, Miss. The rigorous application process provided a structure that required our Pathway Commission and the Board of Aldermen to intensify our planning efforts—greatly enhancing our knowledge of countless aspects of making our city a better, safer place for bicycling and strengthening our ability to execute those plans. I must add that having been turned down for designation in a previous application only made us work harder! Receiving the designation validated our work, and has inspired us to expand our efforts. It also has been a tremendous public relations tool that, among our citizens, has built awareness and confidence. Finally, it is a source of pride to a community that prides itself in many ways, and this is something that is exciting and fresh. Thank you so very much for what you are doing to help America’s communities be better places for all citizens, and, again, for what you have done for us.”

Source: League of American Bicyclists

Video: Bike Commuting makes CBS National News

The CBS Sunday morning news aired a great story about more Americans choosing the bicycle as a practical and economical form of transportation. San Francisco is named as one of the better biking cities and they visit our neighbor, Portland, and include great coverage of Portland's green bike boxes along with their inspiring Mayor-elect, Sam Adams. See the coverage at www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/27/sunday/main4297624.shtml

Source; SF Bike Coalition

Bakit ang mahal ng Biodiesel?

A great article! I just read today and am posting here.



The True Cost of Sustainable Biodiesel
by Benjamin P. Jordan, P.E.‚ Jul. 28‚ 2008

Editor's Note: San Francisco is perhaps the largest city in America to implement the use of the alternative fuel, biodiesel. The City's entire diesel fleet, MUNI, Airport Shuttles just to name a few, all use a blend of this more environmentally sound fuel source. The SF Bioufuels Cooperative now numbers over 200 members and alongside the SF Department of the Environment, helped the City to reach it's goal of converting it's entire diesel fleet to the use of biodiesel, ahead of it's December 2007 date. Yet the Bay Area has seen the price of biodiesel rise from it's $3.25 per gallon for B100, or "pure biodiesel" in 2006, to as high as $5.80 today. Why? Benjamin Jordan of the Peoples Fuel Cooperative, is also one of the biodiesel community's leading advocates and co-founder of the Biofuel Recycling Cooperative, one of the architects of the successful "SF Greasecycle", a program run by the BRC & SF Public Utilities Commission, by which restaurant grease is collected around San Francisco and turned into biodiesel. Jordan was kind enough to shed some light on the rising costs of this much needed alternative to our dependance on foreign oil and the important issue of sustainability.

What controls the price per gallon of biodiesel? It seems as though every time the price of diesel goes up so does biodiesel. Why is this when the two industries are so very different? When can I expect the price to go down? All good questions that attempt to decipher the complex road fuel industry that has traditionally been ignored due to the low prices for so long.

Biodiesel will become cheaper than petroleum diesel but it won't be because the price of biodiesel goes down. This change will occur because the price of petroleum will continue to rise. A good place to start to understand some of the factors that affect the price per gallon of biodiesel is to ask where does your fuel come from? Was it locally produced or did it travel across the country or around the world by train, truck, or ship? What is your fuel made from: virgin soy bean, corn, canola, tropical palm oil, rendered animal tallow or waste vegetable oil and inedible kitchen grease?

The base cost of each gallon of biodiesel is the sum of raw materials costs (vegetable or animal oil feedstock, methanol, catalyst, heat), market influences of supply and demand, and taxes. Additional items that affect the final cost are transportation, distribution, permits, state regulation, and consistent quality assurance of the fuel.

Raw Materials

It's all about the oil! Restaurants have typically been paying $40 to $60 for oil collection services. With the new demand for feedstock, biofuel producers are offering to collect for free. Some producers are even starting to pay restaurants for their grease. Waste oils, usually referred to as yellow grease and brown grease are traded in the commodities market. Market price is listed on indexes such as The Jacobson and can fluctuate significantly as we have seen recently with increases of 40% in a few weeks. Other feedstock prices such as soy beans have risen as much as 94% in the past year. The world is now facing the most severe food price inflation in history as corn, grain and soybean prices climb to all-time highs. One key factor in these increases is the record cost of crude oil which recently reached a high of over $129/barrel. As the world's main source of energy, the cost of petroleum has significant repercussions on many other resources. The importance of having a local sustainable source for fuel has never been more important. As energy costs rise, so will the cost of alternatives. The less energy involved in producing these alternatives, the better able we will be to control these cost increases.

Supply and Demand

Biodiesel is a superior alternative to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel producers are unlikely to sell a superior product cheaper than petroleum diesel. There are an estimated 10 million gallons of waste vegetable oil in the Bay Area. Those who have managed to secure a recycled feedstock have separated themselves from skyrocketing soybean prices. A few local producers have successfully managed the cost hurdles of initial investment, feedstock acquisition, permitting and overhead cost of doing business in CA. At the moment the realities are still the same, a locally produced sustainably sourced fuel costs more to produce compared to conventional biodiesel production sources and the petroleum fuel supply chain.

Taxes

Currently in California there is approximately $0.75 of tax on every gallon of biodiesel sold. While states like Texas enjoy paying no state tax, Californians pay a state fuel excise tax as well as significant sales tax. The state of California also regulates all distributors of biodiesel through a state wide alternative fuel variance program. Although biodiesel has become widely accepted and is extensively used around the country, the state of California still considers it an "experimental fuel". This program requires distributors to keep records on everyone they sell biodiesel to and compile and submit quarterly reports. This includes the purchasers name, the make, model and year of their vehicles, their estimated usage, and information regarding the performance of the fuel.

The following taxes apply in California:

Federal Excise - $0.244 California Excise - $0.18 *Sales Tax at point of sale - varies by city and county, 8.5% in San Francisco Total (approx) - $0.75

Quality

Not all biodiesel is created equal. Special care must be taken to analyze and certify all fuel is of the highest quality and meets ASTM standards. We feel it is also important to evaluate fuel on a sustainability standard as well. When sourcing sustainable fuel, verifying quality is absolutely critical. Fluctuating feedstock quality, developing producers, new processes, and small batches are some of the factors affecting fuel quality. Constant vigilance from People's Fuel assures that the fuel you use meets the highest quality standards.

Operating Costs

There are many costs involved in running any business. For a fuel distributor vehicles must be maintained, permitted, and insured. Commercially licensed drivers must be paid. State and local regulating agencies require ongoing reporting. People's Fuel is a not for profit worker cooperative. Most of the labor to run the company has been and is still unpaid.

Commitment to sustainability

At People's Fuel we are committed to supplying fuel from local sources and will not support the influx of imported palm oil biodiesel or virgin soy, canola or animal byproduct biodiesel shipped across the country using petroleum based fuels. We are deeply committed to increasing access through retail stations so more of this fuel can be sold to you. In an industry of volumes, an important cost element will be that the more people who buy sustainable biofuel, the cheaper it will become.

Hopefully this helps to demystify some of the speculations regarding fuel costs. Biodiesel is an industry in its infancy. Start up costs are significant and supply is limited. Biodiesel has struggled to establish itself as a better alternative to petroleum against artificially low costs for petroleum fuel. Many have attempted to make it in the biodiesel industry but have not succeeded. The few who have survived are struggling to make a difference in our world. With over 5 years of experience in the industry there has been no time more exciting than now. The mention of biodiesel is no longer met with the reply of “What” but "Oh, really"... and "where can I buy it?” Municipalities and even entire states have begun to implement biodiesel as a legitimate petroleum free alternative. The dedicated individuals who have shared this vision and made a commitment to sustainable biofuel do so out of the belief in locally produced energy, fuel security, green collar jobs, and a cleaner healthier future for us all.

Rethinking Energy

What are the true costs and scale of our overall energy consumption? The age of cheap fossil fuels is now behind us. Paying $10.00/g for fuel may happen sooner than we think. It is important that we be conscious of our energy consumption. To help reduce the price of biodiesel and energy in general, when possible drive less, walk more. Telecommute, use public transit, bicycle, carpool, and car share. Through our daily choices we can reduce our resource consumption. Together we can find a petroleum free option and create a solution to this energy crisis.

Quick Facts

* With 5% of the world’s population, the United States consumes a third of the world’s resources.

* It is estimated that 53% of US dollars spent on crude oil leave our country. Nationally, more than 60 percent of the oil our country uses comes from foreign sources.

* Californians use more than 16.5 billion gallons of gasoline a year. That's enough fuel to drive a car at 30 mpg, three round trips to the sun and back. * Half of all the energy used by Californians is in the transportation sector. * Eighty-two percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and power our vehicles.

Sustainability in San Francisco and the Bay Area

Currently PFC is only suppling the most sustainable fuel available; inedible kitchen grease methyl esters (IKGME) that is as local and ecological as possible in regards to feedstock, production, distribution and quality. In San Francisco this means that restaurant oil is collected through private industries and the SFPUC through the SFGreasecycle Program (www.sfgreasecycle.org). This cooking oil is then sold to local producers for biodiesel (IKGME) production. The short list is Bently Biofuels, BioEasi, Blue Sky Biofuels and Yokayo Biofuels with other sources arriving from Southern California and Las Vegas Nevada.

The SF biodiesel community then has access through the not for profit cooperative distribution infrastructure, the PFC. The PFC purchases biodiesel from all of these manufactures and makes it available for delivery and at the pump through mobile fueling at Rainbow Grocery. As the PFC is a cooperative distribution network, our costs are transparent, established and do not fluctuate. The higher prices and reduced availability is the result when the PFC and the membership in San Francisco are not able to purchase fuel consistently and if we can, it is at a higher price. This means that increases in fuel price and decreases in availability are a result of the industry in general and the community's buying power.

The communities buying power, or a joining of people creating a fueling network through the fueling cooperatives, will help keep oversight and prices appropriate for the fuel. Currently for petroleum, the US Congress takes care of the policing and oversight of the industry. They could do better for sure. Here locally, community awareness/involvement will be the only way to keep the biodiesel sustainable, available and equitable. Unfortunately there are many more steps for the biodiesel cooperatives of the Bay Area and the rest of California to work more closely to keep the fuel available and as cheap as possible. This is where we as consumers must play our roll and use our cooperatives to establish a supply of consistent high quality fuel from local industries.


Benjamin P. Jordan, P.E., is a Technical Consultant and provides civil engineering expertise for sustainable ecological design projects including water conservation, biodiesel production and permaculture education. He is also the co-founder of the SF Biofuels, Biofuel Recycling and Peoples Fuel Cooperatives, as well as Healthy Fuels, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable and environmentally sound biofuels. He can be reached at http://www.biofuelrecycling.org

Para po sa dagdagan ng Carbon Dioxide!

Para po sa dagdagan ng Carbon Dioxide!

Driver sir, please stop increasing Carbon Dioxide!



Malapit kami sa wakas ng AFAP. May maraming pagsasanay iton linggo! Tapos na ako kanina hapon sa presentasyon ng Bicol Risirts.

We are close to the end of AFAP. There are many assignments this week! I finished my presentation of Bicol research today.

Here is my paper. I presented a powerpoint version in Tagalog today. I want to keep developing it. I welcome your comments toward it's improvement.

Jason

AFAP 2008 Bikol Research
Jason Agar
Paksa/Topic:
Government/Pamahalaan:
Influencing Factors in Implementing Climate Adaptation Policy in Bikol Region, Philippines

Introduksyon:
Global Climate Change (Climate Change) is a result of Global Warming trends tied to many factor of human activity. The destruction of forests and natural areas, the production of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases from human activities, especially transportation, energy production and manufacturing are negatively affecting the entire world.
The Philippines experiences the most extreme consequences of Climate Change. These consequences are hardest felt in the “Typhoon Belt” of the Bikol region. This paper compares two exemplary governments in the “Typhoon Belt” with regard to their current level of action toward addressing Climate Change and suggests what factors may be responsible for this.

Suliranin ng Pag-aaral:
Statement of the Problem:
Across the globe, impacts of climate change on human lives and ecosystems are already being experienced, and new studies suggest that unchecked climate change will have disastrous economic impacts especially in developing countries. The recent groundbreaking study by former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern in the UK warns of a major global economic catastrophe which will be far worse than the two world wars and the great depression combined. That is, unless governments take bold steps to stop climate change by slashing the world’s carbon emissions.(1) ”The impacts of climate change will be most catastrophic to countries who are the least able to cope,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy campaigner Abigail Jabines. “The Philippines will lose billions of pesos to climate change. As it is, this is money that we can ill afford to spare.” (1) Added to this, Philippine production of carbon dioxide (a main Greenhouse Gas contributing to Global Warming) has doubled in the years between 1999 and 2006.(6)

Across the globe, impacts of climate change on human lives and ecosystems are already being experienced, and new studies suggest that unchecked climate change will have disastrous economic impacts especially in developing countries….That is, unless governments take bold steps to stop climate change by slashing the world’s carbon emissions.

These necessary bold steps to stop climate change represent the greatest challenge facing national and local governments to date. Never before in human history has a single issue affected so many people with such potentially adverse consequences.

The current global economic system has not valued long-term resource preservation or providing for future generations. It has relied upon scarcity mechanism in the economic system to initiate a conservation trend. At the same time it has been more convenient and profitable to ignore “externalities.” In a world where necessary resources such as clean air were unlimited and abundant this dishonest exclusion of the real costs of specific human activities would not be a problem. However, writes Sir Nicolas Stern in the 2006 Stern Report “Climate change is a result of the externality associated with greenhouse-gas emissions – it entails costs that are not paid for by those who create the emissions.”(7) “When people do not pay for the consequences of their actions we have market failure. This is the greatest market failure the world has seen. It is an externality that goes beyond those of ordinary congestion or pollution, although many of the same economic principles apply for its analysis.” (8) “This externality is different in 4 key ways that shape the whole policy story of a rational response. It is: global; long term; involves risks and uncertainties; and potentially involves major and irreversible change.” (8)

Global Climate Change, is affecting communities world wide, however it’s effects are first and hardest felt in the Philippines. “Extreme weather occurrence such as floods, droughts, forest fires, and an increase in tropical cyclones. These extreme weather events associated with climate change, and the disasters these have wrought, have caused losses amounting to billions of pesos. From 1975 to 2002, tropical cyclones have resulted to losses of 4.578 billion pesos due to damage to property, including damage to agriculture worth 3.047 billion pesos. Drought in Southern Mindanao in 1998, the 2nd hottest year on record, incurred crop losses amounting to 828 million pesos. And damages due to four successive tropical cyclones towards the end of 2004 cost the nation an estimated 7,615.98 million pesos.” (1)

Global and National Agreements
The Philippines has been internationally engaged with this issue for some time already.
Significant Milestones on the Philippine’s response to climate change (6)
 Created the Inter-Agency Committee on Climate Change (IACCC) in May 1991
 Signed the UNFCCC in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.The Philippine Senate ratified on August 2, 1994.
 Signed the Kyoto Protocol on April 15, 1998

The Philippines has a number of international agreements already in place and listed above as well as national guidelines relating to sustainable development and climate change however until last year there was not a national forum to address the issue. On October 22nd-24th 2007 the first National Conference on Climate Change and Adaptation was held in Albay. From this conference the Albay Declaration was created and later approved by both houses of the legislature. It sets a national guideline for implementing Climate Adaptation on a local level.
It specifically calls for “…the mainstreaming of global warming concerns into the national and local planning, accounting and budgeting systems and to support local government, private and civil society initiatives for climate change adaptation.” (9)

Bikol
The Bikol region is especially affected by typhoons and experiences the brunt of the average 18-21 typhoons that pass through the Philippines each year (2). Local governments in this largely agricultural and economically depressed region must therefore manage maintaining and rebuilding it’s infrastructure on a regular basis as well as other tasks normally associated with running a city or region. Preparing for Climate Change is normal part of life for the residents of Bikol. When asked about the effect on the local economy of needing to rebuild so frequently after storms, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robledo answered,”We’re just used to it.”

The next level of tackling the problem of climate change involves examining the root causes and working to reverse them. This is knows as Climate Adaptation. It is one aspect of Sustainable Development, which seeks to preserve humanity and limited planetary resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

This paper asks and attempts to answer the question, “Why is there a difference in the implementation of Climate Adaptation programs between 2 local governments in the same region with similar general priorities (healthcare, education, and disaster preparation) who are affected by Climate Change in similar ways? From these results I will attempt to answer the question of: “What factors contribute to a government’s willingness to engage in activism relating to Climate Adaptation?”

Saklaw ng Pag-aaral
Scope and delimitation of study:
Two provincial governments in the same geographic area of Bikol, Philippines are compared in terms of general governing priorities and also programs to address Climate Change or Climate Adaptation. This paper uses the assumption that the elected officials are speaking truthfully. This paper assumes that Global Climate Change is a reality. This paper is relying on a small sample of qualitative information to make behavioral projections about the motivation to address climate change or not. It is also making projections from this small source of data as to what might be limiting factors in the public implementation of Climate Adaption policies and programs. Given the time constraints on this project I do not have access to more in-depth statistical survey information that could be gathered first hand.

Metodolohiya:
Description of Methodology: Qualitative research and in-person interviews done over 5 days in Bikol.
Government priorities are similar, effects of Climate Change are similar. In addition to internet research. I have been provided with a powerpoint presentation on the specifics of Climate Adaptation by Nong Rangasa from CLIMA in Legaspi City.
I conducted seven interviews over the course of 5 days in 3 cities.
Two interviews with Jesse Robledo, Mayor of Naga City;
Two interviews with Nong Rangasa from CLIMA in Legaspi City;
One interview with Joey Salceda, Governor of Albay Province;
One interview with Noel Rosal, Mayor of Legaspi City;
One interview with Jaime Villanueva, Mayor of Tiwi.
Each interviewee was asked 2 main questions:
1. What distinguishes your local government from others in the region?
2. How is your government addressing Global Climate Change?

Kinalabasan ng Pag-aaral
Findings:
Although Naga City and Albay Province share many similarities their implementation of common Varied implementation between 2 neighboring, but different regions. Albay Province: Naga City: awareness is seen as a class issue and not a city priority by the Mayor. Climate change is seen as a middle or upper class issue, not one that affects everyday people who too busy working and trying to survive. In response to my question of “What programs do we have in regard to Climate Change?” He answered with,’ We have a program to monitor the air and water quality quarterly.” Naga City will be having its first conference as this paper is being persented – July 29th, 2008. “Perhaps that will raise awareness about the issue” said Robredo. It is clear that Naga City is heavily affected by Climate Change because of it’s location in the “Typhoon Belt” of Bikol. It is clear that the Mayor is a highly effective public official and if the issue were clear, then it’s likely that they would be acting on it already.

Both governments compared in this paper are exemplary in their own ways. Both prioritize healthcare, education and their ability to respond to natural disasters. Both governments place Non-Governmental Organizations on decision making committees to better coordinate NGO services to its’ citizens. “When governance works it, means being able to deliver the services…the outcomes, engaging with the citizens, making them achieve the best that they can be.” Jesse Robledo (4)

Naga City is a leader in “Transparent” government and inspiring the trust of it’s citizens. Over his 6 terms as and 16 years as Mayor of Naga City, Jesse Robledo has received over 150 awards. His is the most awarded government in the Philippines. Naga City is geographically a part of Albay province, but as an independent city has it’s own jurisdiction, and makes it’s own local laws. It funds it’s own police force and provides additional services to it’s citizen by agumenting federal incomes with additional local taxes. Naga city has it’s own Localized Typhoon Warning System.

The Governor of Albay Province, Joey Salceda is in his second year as Governor. According to Salceda, “Governance can structured”. If important government services are easy for people to use and access, then the job of governing is easier as well. In only his second year in the role of governor, Salceda is applying that idea to healthcare, education, and economic development. He has made it easier to access the national PhilHealth program in hospitals. A strong believer in
Liberal Arts Education (receiving his from Ateneo de Maynila), he has provided enough support
and incentives to provide “universal access” to a college education for Albay residents. He has also supported Local Action to implement Global Agreements to address Global Climate Change. One result of Global Warming is an increased severity of typhoons). Like Naga City, Albay Province is vulnerable to typhoon, tsunami, and in addition, volcanic eruption from Mt. Mayon. This makes investment in “climate proof” infrastructure (roads and buildings) very important, however not lasting. The Governor recognizes this in the long term and promotes “human capital development.” In other words, because roads and buildings will be washed away with natural disasters, the most valuable place to invest resources is into the people of Albay themselves. Salceda believes that prioritizing the flow of resources to local people will provide them with a “passport out of risk.” It will benefit those who remain here and must adapt the harshness of the climate as well as support those who choose to leave the area (a reality of the current Philippine Economy). This is a novel approach to governance that I interpret as an aspect of his “structural” approach to government. Salceda has a strong background and understanding of economics and is one of the main advisors to the administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He also briefs the US State Department on the state of the Philippines Economy on a quarterly basis. Being that Climate Change is a result of the failure of complex global economic systems, I believe his understanding of these complex systems is a key factor in the activism found in Albay and not in Naga City.

There are 2 government sponsored offices deal with Climate Change in Albay.(10) The Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO ) exists to provide disaster risk reduction direct services to the region. Housed in the same building is the Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CLIMA). CLIMA, works to develop “Climate Proof Development.” “The main objective of CLIMA is to enhance the ability to cope of Albay residents in particular and Filipinos in general to climate risks brought about by a changing climate.” (11) CIRCA is the Philippine national model program for Climate Adaptation.

Climate Change is expected to severely affect communities and diminish attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDG’s) and HDI (Human Development Index). Climate Change would affect the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equity and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating major diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing global partnerships. Because of this CIRCA Executive Director Nong Rangasa and staff are working to implement Govenor Salceda’s vision of Climate Proof Development and to ensure that Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (CRR/DRR) are embedded into the central economic strategy; not as an afterthought or as contingency.

The decision to address the issue of climate change and to what extent communities are addressing it seems to be related to the proximity of the issue, education, in-depth understanding of causes and solutions, influence, and the will or motivation to achieve those goals. There is a reason that Albay Province is leading the Philippines in Climate Adaptation. It is an issue that is regularly faced by it’s citizens and government via typhoons or potential Tsunamis. This is the same for Naga City and Robledo. However, with Salceda there is a clear economic understanding of the impact and cost of Climate Change to the area and to all of the Philippines. There is leadership from officials (Salceda) to implement national and international objectives on a local level, and there are capable people working on a local level to implement programs in a comprehensive manner. Salceda is also a member of the dominant political party and very close to the President of the Philippines. With both Robledo and Salceda there is a philosophy of governance that values addressing the issue from a moral perspective. The Mayor of Naga City, Jesse Robledo goes above and beyond the minimums of government as an example for all of the Philippines in terms of transparent government. The Albay region is going beyond the minimum requirements of a status quo in terms of Climate Adaptation. Both Robledo and Salceda spoke of being motivated by what they believed was the right course of action.

Climate Change is the result of a failure of our market based economic system. Examining the cumulative affect of “externalities” has been avoided by those benefiting most from the current un-equitable system. Externalities such as clean air and water are really necessary inputs into the economic system that would make the current course of economic development deemed unprofitable if honestly accounted for. Global Climate Change is a testament to this.
Recognizing it as an issue to be prioritized is a first step resulting from additional education. The decision to act on the issue is an additional step. Understanding how to act on the issue is a further step hopefully followed by a change in action or behavior. To really address Climate Change and implement it locally takes an in-depth understanding of larger economic systems as well as the ability to implement those solutions on local level. Said Salceda, the way to address climate change is through “Global Agreements” and “local, grounded action.” It takes a “structural” understanding and vision to address the structural nature of Climate Change. After mapping the necessary steps involved and it takes the political will or motivation to follow those steps on a daily basis. “Do it right and do what is right”, said Salceda.
Rekomendasyon:
Recommendations:
Continue to develop the Albay CIRCA National Climate Proof Development program that other communities can replicate and call upon for technical expertise and guidance.
I strongly support their efforts to “mainstream” Climate Adaptation education in all grade levels, as well the rest of their development program. Promote Climate Proof Development ideals embedded into central economic strategies, not as an afterthought or as a contingency. Including Continued education on Climate Change and Adaptation as it relates to citizens at every level of society. Look for innovative way to encourage green business while addressing Climate Adaptation. For example, running Jeepenys and other transportation vehicles off of waste vegetable oil collected from local food vendors. Waste oil collectors profit from expanded markets, less air pollution from a cleaner carbon neutral fuel, waste oil is kept out of waterways and not resold for human consumption, and the streets smell better.

These kinds of actions will demonstrate the success and ignite curiosity and creativity toward the very practical goal of preparing the real challenges that we face in this world. I’m confident that if the program is made clear for others worldwide, more cities in the region, nation and beyond will be following along and building upon this exemplary program.





Bibliography:
1. Manila, 4 November 2006, Philippines Today
http://www.philippinestoday.net/index.php?module=article&view=79

2. Geography of the Philippines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Philippines

3. Good Governence Definintion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_governance
Global Climate Change: Definintion

4. Interview 1: Mixing politics and good governance, Jesse Robledo
http://pcij.org/blog/?p=1642

5. Klima, Climate Change Center
http://www.klima.ph/science.html

6. ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE CDM: THE PHILIPPINE INITIATIVES,
Ma. Gerarda Asuncion D. Merilo
www.ap-net.org/docs/miyazaki/21%20Philippines-rev.pdf

7. Stern Review on the economics of climate change, 2006, Chapter 2 Economics, Ethics and Climate Change
http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/media/5/7/Chapter_2_Economics_Ethics_and_Climate_Change.pdf

8. The New Economist Blog, 10/30/ 2006, Climate change:
"the greatest market failure the world has seen"
http://neweconomist.blogs.com/new_economist/2006/10/stern_review_2.html

9. Albay Declaration. PS Resolution no. 191. Adopted 11/6/07 by the Fourteenth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, First Regular Session.

10. Powerpoint: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION ACTION,
GOVERNOR JOEY SARTE SALCEDA, ASEAN+6 CITY FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE,
The Greening of ASEAN Cities, 26-27 June 2008, Bangkok, Thailand

11. CIRCA Brochure, July 2008

Sunday Streets in San Franscisco!

I'll be running the Freedom From Training Wheels section in this exciting new event in SF!
Sunday Streets!

August 31st and September 14th!

Jason

Isang Linggo sa Bikol

One week in Bikol
Bikol Journal- rough copy










Day 1 Sunday 7/13/08
Arrive at 5:30AM
Sleep till Breakfast at 7AM
Church at 8AM with Monsignor
Board Bus and being tour



Trouble on Mayon Volcano

Bus breakdown for 4 hours in New People’s Army territory where taxes are often demanded of those from outside to fund NPA military campaigns. Can be dangerous I hear.
We rode a Jeepney back to Polangui with some folks riding on the roof.























Day 2 Monday 7/14/08
Board Bus to meet NGO contacts at Social Action Centre – SAC – Kuya Nick























Afterwards we travel to visit Mayor Jesse Robledo of Naga City
Afterwards we read our introduction poems at Ateneo University – Naga and there was great pancit at the after poetry performance dinner.






















Day 3 Tuesday 7/15/08
Board Bus to Legaspi and SAC
Scheduled meeting with Governor Joey Salceda postponed
Jensine, Mike and I meet with Public Planning and Development Officer for the Province of Albay Marcario Pavia.




Afterwards we go to meet Nong Rangasa at CIRCA. Mike and Jensine get coffee. I have a great meeting with Noong.







Day 4 Weds 7/16/08
Confusion about bus departure time- we board and end up being 30- minutes late to meeting with Governor of Albay – Joey Salceda. His staff drive us up to meet him at the Govenors House above Albay.

He is gruff at first and then warms up. Brilliant conversations.

Jensine and I get a ride from Governors staff to the Van Terminal and take a van to Naga City. We say goodbye to Kuya Nick and adventure on our own. We hand write receipts that van drivers/ticket collectors sign so we can be reimbursed. We eventually make it to Naga, 30 minutes late to meet with the Mayor, but we text message ahead to inform them. Good conversation and his staff gives us a ride to Ateneo Univesity de Naga where we pick up 4 copies of the local paper. It has an article about Tita Ruth and AFAP.













Day 5 Thursday 7/17/08
Return to Legaspi
No pressure or early appointments
Lunch at a restaurant where we run into the Mayors Aid, ordering food for an upcoming meeting.
Afterwards I go to visit with Nong Rangasa again and get more information. At 4pm we have a closing ceremony with the SAC workers and give them gifts.

Back in Polangui, after dinner we have a group meeting about the NGO experience. The administrators call me out on making a mistake in taking the bus and being late to meet the Governor. I own the my actions and model being accountable. There is further debriefing with other group members and a tone of blame and dissapointment. I speak up about needing to make mistakes as part of the learning process for students and staff and encourage people to be accountable, but also create an environment where we can try and fail, but still learn. It shifts the dynamic of the conversation and I think the rest of our visit.




The Pajack (bicycle sidecar) originated here in Tiwi.





















Day 5 Friday 7/18/08
A day of touring around and sightseeing with Monsignor. We see 2 different Barangays where approximately 800 people in each one were buried alive by landslides from hurricane REMI in 2006. A welcome arch stands before a field of dark lava earth. There are buried houses, ½ buried houses and people living their lives. RR track and a trestle for the one train route was destroyed during the storm and has not been rebuilt. There is no train from Manila anymore.

We visit Tiwi and the Mayor – Jaime Villanueva- buys us Halo Halo drinks. They are delicious. I ask him about his climate change mitigation plan and he tells me about their inclusion of the content in teachers curriculum. We also stopped by a local textiles and handcrafts manufacturer. Such beautiful things all made from Abaca. Before the invention of Nylon and it’s use for rope, Abaca was one of the most valuable exports from this region to the US and elsewhere.

Afterwards we returned to Polunghi and were treated to an incredible lunch served up by the Sisters at the church. There was real spaghetti and it was delicious. Not kechup and hot dogs with red food coloring, sugar and salt over thin noodles. That’s the norm and as you can tell, I’m not into it. We had an incredible feast and then Allan asked to play the drumset. Edwin brought out Charity’s guitar and then the church staff brought out more instruments. I went outside to try and get my teacher Ate Peth to try and learn to ride a bike. She refused. We played Sipa with the young boys at the church before rejoining the others and leaving back to our bus. We drove to Legaspi to visit the downtown marketplace, which was rather meager. Allan and I hung out and bought pasalubong gifts.

Outside there were BMX freestylers and skateboarders in the town square.*
Walking back to the bus we ran into my new favorite person, Nong Rangasa. I remain so very impressed with the depth of his program and also overjoyed to know world class climate change implemenation work is happening here.


Saturday 7/19/08

We had another day of sightseeing with the Monsignor. We went to a black sand beach resort with warm warm water and some sharp rocks and played around. What a fun day! There was my attempt to climb a coconut tree very briefly as well as some break dancing and cartwheels. While there we were treated to fresh buko- coconut. Here is shot of Allan and I drinking up. YUM!!!!


I was inspired to try a full upper body mud mask and then make some faces at a camera. The mud made me itchy afterwards and I’m glad for the amount that I sweat here. It seems to have cleared everything out of my pores just fine.
After dinner we boarded our bus and departed back to Dasmarinas. There’s been trouble with the bus or at least some uncertainty about it running during the whole trip. We got a dirty batch of fuel at the start of the trip and it’s been a crash course for our drivers on diesel filter cleaning and fuel system priming. About 10 minutes from our destination after an all night 7 hour drive the fuel filter was too clogged to drive. After numerous breakdowns and lots of practice our drivers have the process down to an art and had us back on the road in 20 minutes to complete our journey safely.



* Skateboards are expensive and wear out pretty quickly. In a country where the average daily wage is $4-7.00, the youth riding skateboards or specialty bikes are probably the middle class kids. Bikes are common here, but not the main mode of transportation. I see adults riding small bikes here. They have wide 3 speed style upright handlebars and also a support on the top tube to make it easier for children or family members to ride. There are also many bikes with banana seats. I think that bikes here are used by the whole family. With handlebars than can accommodate a wide range of hand positions and also banana seats that can fit a smaller, larger or double riders, the bikes here are set up for everyone to use.

Mayon Volcano and the Bus

Yesterday we arrived in Poulanghi, Bikol at 5:30AM. We went to sleep for an hour and then got up for breakfast. I took my first trip to church and sitting in the front row I fought falling asleep while the sermon continued. It was all about choosing God on a daily basis as the key to salvation. The only key. The same justification used for the initial colonization of ungodly people across the globe, now continues to be used to the day. More about this later. I understood the sermon because it was in English. There were bats in the church. I was the only one in my row that didn't go up for communion. One of our advisors asked me my religion and I told him I was Halo Halo, he asked if I was the comedian of the group. The conversation stopped there and I was relived. I don't want to be converted here.

Afterwards we visited the Mayon volcano and the Bus broke down for 4 hours in NPA territory. I'm glad that we made it out before dark.


Jason

B from High School and Sky walks

I've been thinking about a couple of different things lately. I have always struggled with my academic discipline and preparation, time management and all that. Procrastination, distraction and other variations are where I've spent a lot of my potential study time in the past. Fixing doorknobs, cleaning, fixing my bike or my car, shopping for stuff, and more have been favored alternatives to getting my assignments done. I've learned to use this trait to clean house, make improvements and also get my stuff done - eventually. For a great deal of my time in school, things were somewhat easy to grasp. Or at least, with some effort I could usually figure out what was going on. Studying Filipino or Spanish as an adult has been different. It's been one class a week at night over time. Studying here and there...
I remember a girl from High School Chemistry class. She was a nice person and active in government got good grades generally and I remember her struggling with the concept of balancing equations in class. It just wasn't coming to her, long past the time that I had spent with it not coming to me. She kept working though. She struggled and kept going, and she kept working at understanding it. For the test on that section I think that she got a B. I think I got an B also, but mostly because I was working out authority issues at the teacher and not doing my work, or not able to do it. We both understood the concept and I remember thinking that it seemed tough that she didn't understand for such a long time, but it also seemed kind of cool the way she applied herself. That in and of itself would be more significant than the grade. That memory has stayed with me and now I get to live out the struggle of something challenging and take joy in my own efforts to understand a body of information, regardless of the grade. That reminds me I definately need to sign up for the pass/fail grading option for these Filipino academic credits.

And the thing about Sky.... Sky is the small boy that was babysat at our host families place. In the month that we were then he went to walking on his own. It was beautiful to watch as I went through the first month of this program. I often say that if toddlers where as tough on themselves and self conscious as adults when it came to learning new things, they'd never learn to walk. Well, I had the chance to learn new things and take baby steps. Baby steps are hard footsteps to follow in, and I'm glad to celebrate some for both of us.

jason

Tapos na apat na linggo

Tapos na kami apat na linggo. Wow.
Totoo nagaaral ako conte conte, lang. Itong araw sinabi kami "Palaam na" sa host family nating. Pumunta para tanghalian sa restaurante ng mga Bahay Kubo. Masarap at "treat" nating.

Ngayon, nakatira sa campus dorms. May maraming batas dito. Hwag lumakad doon kasi nasa mga dorm na babae. Dapat kaming tahimik kasi sa taas ng mga Sisters na babae. Dapat dumating sa alas nuebe ng gabi kasi may kurfew.

Intindihan na ako kasi aking nobia, Helen gumawa AFAP sa 1999. Sa "jail" sinabi siya. Mabuting pagkakataon para mag-aral- tama!

We've finished 4 weeks already. Wow. Today we said goodbye to our host family. We went to lunch at a restaurant with many "Bahay Kubos" or nipa huts. The food was delicious. It was our treat.

Now, we are staying in the campus dorms. There are many rules here. Don't walk there because it is near the women's dorm. You all must be quiet because you are upstairs from nuns. You must arrive here by 9pm because there is a curfew.

I understood this already because my girlfriend Helen did AFAP in 1999. She said it was like "jail". A good opportunity to study- Right!

Jason

Tula Ko

Bakit gusto mong mag-aral Filipino?
Para makipagusap sa aking Lolo, diba?
Ah, totoo ba, Filipino ka ba?
Opo nga! Pero hindi Filipino lang,
Filipino, Lebanese, and Amerikano din.
Halo, halo ang lahi ko!
Nakitira ako sa San Francisco!

Humito,
Muna kayo, hinto sa pagkat narito.
Ako guro na nais tumulong na pagpapabuti
Na klima and ng kalasugan ng tao.

Dito sa Filipinas nais kong
iparating na maaring gamiting ang mantika,
sa halip na diesel.
Para patakbuhin ang mga sasakyan.

Mabaho ang usok ng sasakyan,
ginamitan and diesel,
Samantalong

Mabango naman ang usok mula sa sasakyan,
Na ginamitan ng mantika
2nd hand lang, 2nd hand lang, 2nd hand lang

Magiging maganda ang ating kinabukasan
Kung papalitan ang pamamaraan!

AFAP Article in Manila Times 7/6/08

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/06/yehey/weekend/mainweek.html

"Gissing Sining " National TV show - 7/6/08

Our TV appearance on ‘Gising Sining” on NBN Channel 4 did not work out well. It would have been much better to have stayed home and studied instead. We waited for 3 hours and then went on during the last 10 minutes. Our coordinators asked us to write a poem in Filipino introducing ourselves. With some help I finished mine on the bumpy back and forth bus ride to Manila. That was challenging and I’m glad I didn’t suka because of it. We went on and according to alphabetical order I went first. The host urged me to speak and I started to do my poem in Tagalog. I did about half of it and looked up to breathe and saw several camera people giving me the “cut it” signal. I paused, took a breath and stopped with at “Walang panahon, ah…Salamat Po”. I then passed the mic to the next person in our group and so it went. Everyone else got to say their names and where they were from and that was it. That was the culmination of getting the last minute poem assignment the day before and all of our preparation for our spot on national television. I was the single poet from our group. They closed the show with a wildly talented singing group that we had fun listening to in the dressing room.

That was the same day 7/6/08 that AFAP had the big story in the Manila Times.

The reporter didn’t know what to do with my vegetable oil story, although I told her about it at length. So she just left it out. Too bad I guess, but I’m learning that getting press coverage is a lot about perseverance and not relying much on the press to get your message out. I think the exposure was good for the program though.

After the TV show we went out to dinner and performed our poems for each other. That was very satisfying. I believe that the world can always send challenges, but what matters more is how I respond to those situations. “It’s not about them, it’s about us and what we do now.” I keep saying. Or another version is “ it’s not about what they do to us, it’s about how we respond to it.” After all, my reaction is the only thing I truly have control over. So, we had a poetry jam for ourselves and that was beautiful.
I did learn new words- like pamamaraan- future.

The next day we had a very long midterm that I was inadequately prepared for- usually the case given the challenge and the amount of time available to study.

There’s a uniquely Filipino way of doing things that I’m learning about. It’s about many different supervisors telling you different things and then changing their minds randomly. Hard to predict or plan with this dynamic. You’re not supposed to directly say no or confront people- especially supervisors or elders, so instead you say ok and maybe and then do something different later. It’s something I’m trying to understand, although it feels dishonest to say to people. My US bias is coming into direct conflict with the cultural norm here.

Jeepneys

My field of interest and work in the US is transportation. The idea of how people move ourselves and our things around has a huge impact on our daily lives, our sense of and the shape of our communities, our impact in society and as well, the world. It’s the filter or lens though which I see many things.
My regular commute to De La Salle University in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines takes about 35 minutes. 5 Minutes by motorized tricycle (usually a 125 cc motorcycle with sidecar attached- 20 pesos or $.44 each way), 15 minutes by Jeepney ( 6.5 pesos or $.14 each way) and 15 minutes walking though the beautiful campus (“priceless”).

Reflection….7/7/08
I remember my first ride in a Jeepeny. I was 13 years old and visiting my Stepfather’s family in Quezon City. We took a ride in one with my Mom, sister (3 years old then) and Stepfather. The main thing that I remember are my toes curling up inside my shoes as the Jeep sped along 6 inches from another Jeepney. Quiet chaos inside my head as I battled the urge to freak out. That could sum up a lot of that trip, really. I’ve been thinking back to that trip a great deal since then. More about that later….

For now…I have an idea…
You can tell a lot about a driver by the inside of their Jeepney. Is it clean,? Can you see through the floor to the ground below? Do the seats sway when it goes over a bump. Does the driver swear as he drives? It’s been a novel experience for me to ride in them on this trip. Depending on the driver and the time of day it can be smooth experience or much the opposite. It’s a complex matrix no doubt, but in short, when I see a clean inside with a trash can for passengers, and a smooth driver who’s not out for the checkered flag in morning traffic- it’s a good day.

Two weeks back our Jeepney was rear-ended by another Jeep. It happened in slow motion with tires squeeling from the vehicle behind, as it attempted to stop. The collision was at about 3 or 4 MPH when it bumped into the back of ours. Really it was kind of exciting. Matt and I got out and walked the rest of the way to our NGO assignment that day.

Most of the time here we are travelling with others in our student group. Yesterday however, I was feeling a sore throat coming on. I think I’m one of the last ones in the group to catch it. I went home early and before the spontaneous meeting called by our director and before the birthday party of another director that we were asked to pay for. I just left and went home to rest, eat raw garlic, drink lots of water and try to get better sooner. I rode by myself and I knew it was going to be problematic. I stand out here like a German in a Speedo at the beach (in the US). The drivers regularly “forget” to give me the correct change for my student fare. This one was doing the same thing. I made it easy for him by giving him at 50 peso bill, when my fare was only 6.5 pesos. It’s just easier to give them exact change. I had a politely encourage him to give me the rest of my change, but he just gave me 50 centavos less. Already sick and with a headache, I surveyed the situation. I took a deep breath and decided that I would stop trying to get my change. It ended up being one penny that I didn’t get. Oh well. Still though I didn’t like the principle of it. Then it started to rain very hard. The rest of the passengers got off and it was just the 2 of us. Not long after that, in the pouring rain, the driver grunted something to me and pulled over on the very narrow street. I reminded him of my stop politely and he just ignored me. I got out of the jeep and walked the rest of the 2 blocks in the rain where I got a ride the rest of the way on a tricycle. At home the neighbors (same family) let me into our host stay and I collapsed onto the bed.

I haven’t seen any women drivers here yet. I saw one woman driving what looked like her family in a tricycle last week, but that’s the only one so far. I don’t know if I’ll come up with a system to assess the relative safety or ease of a Jeepney trip from looking at the insides of the Jeep. We usually jump into the first available one. I think that being here, I’m just going to do what my other group member does and what probably more people than I can tell are doing… that’s pray.

Surrounded

Immersion.
It's the best way to learn, everyone says.
It's true, and to make the most of learning, I have to continually remind myself to breathe and relax. Otherwise, I'm in a state of allergic reaction and overload and I just want to retreat. Immersion is overwhelming at times. I think about this when I am bitten by mosquitoes at the table, at my desk, while I'm sleeping, on the bus.... I'm not used to that.
Yes, I'm taking my malaria pills- thanks to my superstar girlfriend Helen who sent them in the mail. I did leave home without them.
I think about this when everything inside me is close to boiling over. This morning I was happy to eat fried fish with breakfast, but not wanting to deal with the bones. Yesterday on the bus to Manila I didn't want to see continual trash or the color green. All of these are warning signs that I'm about overwhelmed. I imagine walking down the street and someone trying to steal my camera and me assaulting them and enjoying the workout...or at least wondering if I could keep a cool head if I was in that situation.

And probably the reason for some of this is that I'm about to take a midterm exam- and we had to go to Manila yesterday for a disaster of a TV program and it burned about 10 hours of our study time. Yes, though I am learning, I truly am.

I'll close with a highlight from this morning. A mellow Jeepeny driver, getting off early to do my 15 minute walk through the campus and getting great shots of Jeepneys spewing out exhaust. I've been looking to capture this photo since I've been here and I finally got it today!
Off now for my daily academic "jumping in."
:)
Jason

What if?

Rent or Own
I’ve had the thought many times. Should I try and get into home ownership where I live or not. It’s pricey here in the SF Bay Area. Do I try and buy now or just rent until industrial collapse? Every day I see headlines and signs that things are not looking up. Or, at least to say the present course of economic policy, and economy based on power and death is about played out. I do think that things are ripe for a change. Instead of more of the inequity that we have now, what if we could build an economy that was honest about the real cost of things involved.
What if we changed priorities to things that could build and sustain life?
What enough of us started asking the question: What do you want for yourself, your family, your community, your world and all things in the next week, month, year, 5 years and so on? ...
and started shifting our priorities to reflect that and an economic system that was honest?

What if?
And why not?
Why not now?

The headlines are telling me that....

The world is waiting.

Tatlong linggo

Tatlong linggo pagkatapos nang kami! May 60% score ko sa examen itong linggo. Noon linggo, may 33% lang. Conte conte lang! Pagod na ngayon. Mayamang gabi nanaood kami ang cine sa Will Smith. Umpisa kami ang weekend! Pahinga tayo sa Sabado.

Jason

We finished our third week! I got a 60% score on this weeks test. Last week it was 33%. Little by little! I'm tired now. Later tonight we're going to see a Will Smith movie. The weekend has begun! Rest this Saturday for all!

Intention

Intention
7/2 and 7/3 2008

I was interviewed today for an article on AFAP in the Manila Times Newspaper. Due out on 7/4/2008.
The reporter asked why I wanted to learn Tagalog or Filipino. I answered the best I could but I would have loved to be able to elaborate. By all measures, I shouldn’t be speaking Tagalog or Filipino at all. The use of other languages is actively discouraged in the US. It’s not that people don’t persist and keep their language, they do despite it all, but the main message is consistently speak “English” now, you’re in “America”. My Dad who was thrown into an unfriendly world here at 7 years old had to do it. Now he understands some, but bursts out into laughter whenever he tries to speak. That’s another story. But, suffice to say that my culture actively discourages speaking other languages in generals and especially in schools. That’s another story.

Back to intention. I think that we all start out with some tools and information from our families of origin and their collective experience over time. Some things we do and we don’t know why we do them. Many times it’s a product of what worked in the past for either ourselves or our family members. We learn habits. We also are in an society that values profit over people and seeks to maintain that idea with a logic of it’s own. Does anyone really say outright that they want other peoples lives to be more difficult? Not usually, but so many of us in the US want our retirement plans to mature, develop, and support us in our old age. We have money invested with companies and have given them permission to make money at all costs. That’s our agreement and even if that means mistreating people that get in the way of that goal here or overseas, that’s the goal. If you lost your job because the factory moved overseas or you had money stolen from you from a company’s policies, or if you loved one died in a hospital where they were short staffed of care, although making record profits,…. It’s all connected in the idea of profit over people. I hear a lot of people angry at our President and frustrated by the suffering he has help create, exacerbate and promote worldwide for US economic interests. And that’s valid beyond measure. What I don’t hear people talking or thinking more about is the system that he is serving and that we all participate in on a daily basis. If we can prioritize different things, like people, like our futures, like the beauty in our lives, and especially in the US, the idea of “how much is really enough to have a satisfied life” then I think that will lead to better world for everyone.

Yes, I will have to change my behavior. Move closer to work, create work closer to home…. And many more things. Not flying, not driving as much or at all, but don’t you think that we’ll have to do that anyway eventually.

Working for positive change in your own life is preparation for a realistic future. Like training for a race or studying for a test, would you want to be prepared for a challenge ahead and potentially help to shape the future or unprepared when the time comes to deal with reality (or at least your illusion bursting).

So, I shouldn’t be speaking Filipino, but I want that for myself. For many reasons, again another story, but with using my intention I have the opportunity to reshape my habits, my skills, even my brain (see brain plasticity article last month). And if I can reshape myself, which I am, I can reshape the way I move through the world and my interactions with others, the way we spend our time, and what we focus on and prioritize. And that shapes the world.

Aking Karawan, My Birthday

Humihinga Pa! Umpisa ang tatlong linggo sa itong AFAP programa ngayon. Conte conte ang buhay dito ay conte mabilis. Tuwing Lunes mayroon ang pagsusuli. Noon lingo ay machadong mahirap. Kanina umaga ang pagsusuli ay conte mabalis.

I'm still breathing. I began my third week of this AFAP program today. Little by little life here is slightly easier. Each Monday there is a test. This morning it was slightly easier.

Here are some photos from my birthday.

There was dinner, videoke, a trip to Manila for a massage and manicure/pedicure (my first manicure)... a fish market where we bought fish and took it to a restaurant where they cooked it for us. Thanks to my classmates for buying the massage for me.
Afterwards we visted the Mall of Asia before going home. The Jeepney terminal is pictured above.

more later.

jason

Utak na prito (fried brain)

Today... my brain was fried from trying to understand a movie about the parallels of Philippines Literature and History in it's different forms from precolonial till present time. Napaka malalim and I didn't understand a word of it during the 35 minutes we watched. At least I could see the pictures, but the rest was beyond me. A difficult lesson and one that I felt more despair over that usual. Before that we had our weekly test and 1/2 of it was far beyond me. People keep telling me to let the Tagalog flow out, but it's not in there in the first place. My brain is fried.

I'm sad, I'm frustrated, I need to do my regular crying thing... overwhelmed temporarily, I'm so happy to just rest and write in English- it's my revenge for the challenges of the day. I'm not sure it's helpful to think of it that way, but I'm just done for a while. Rest time for now. I'm just glad to be back in my room, done with dinner conversation, done for while with everything. There were no other students on campus, just us. The storm (Hurricane Frank)blew down a great deal of debris from trees and covered all the walkways. The many workers there worked hard all day and it was looking very clean at the end of the day. After class and lunch we switched to a different NGO. This one is the juvenile hall unit for elementary and middle school street children. We sang songs and played basketball with the younger ones. There was no hoop there, so Charity, who is leading most all of the activities there bought one and Ed, also part of our group, just holds it up during the game. The kids have scabies and other skin ailments. We disinfect with hand sanitizer after any contact with them, but I wonder if that is enough. Afterward, we sang songs and did some journal writing with the older youth. Tough tough lives.

After that we decided to join staff from the community NGO to help distribute government food rations to people affected by the big storm. We passes out about 200 rations, but of course ran short. I just got bit by an mosquitoes on my feet while typing. Eventually we made it back to the classrooms and our teacher gave us an impromptu head start on tomorrows lecture, which seemed like another lecture in and of itself. My headache was in affect by then. I get them usually from being out in the sun without my sunglasses, which I was today. They last about 4 hours. I still have it.
We have journals that we write in and I wrote about the challenges. My teacher is sympathizing with me, but also clearly showing where she can't handle my frustration or struggle.

I got a text message earlier in the day that the news team will not have the beauty queen host, but the writer, cameraman...and instead of coming tomorrow, they are coming instead on Weds at 12:30pm to interview me about the use of waste vegetable oil in diesel motors. It's the project that I initiated here, mentioned earlier in the blog. I had to give their names to our program staff so they can be allowed on campus to interview me.
Writing is such good decompression.
After a Jeepney and Tricycle ride, I am back with my host family, done with another great dinner and now in my room. My host Mom said that I was looking handsome, part of that was about me gaining weight and looking healthy. I'm definitely well fed here.
Now, just tired and itchy on my ankles, now covered in socks.
Some people in our group are going to Tagaytay tonight to drink (coffee they said, but I think more will be involved) and do videoke. Everyone else has so much more Tagalog in their backgrounds, minds and systems. I'm going to rest some and study some and then sleep. Also, I need every brain cell. I can't afford to be killing them with alcohol.

Yesterday I covered almost the first 60 pages of my grammar book, review and new stuff.

It's a challenge to keep defining success by my own measures when I'm being evaluated by theirs. I'm already getting a great deal out of the experience and I'm speaking with more and more confidence each day. I made it this far and it's not like they are going to send me home for not being at the same level as everyone else. I did have that fear the first day. This is a good chance to repattern my study habits and fully apply myself at learning and resting and going after my dream of Filipino fluency. It the chance to keep reaching for a bigger mind. All of the concepts from Brain Plasticity and thoughts around rewarding effort vs. success come to mine. See earlier blog from 2 months back.

J