Beautiful Butig: Nine Months After Typhoon Haiyan

Last week, I had the opportunity to do field visit in an island in Salcedo, Eastern Samar called Butig. It's a small barrio where everyone knows everyone (literally). The place was heavily-ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda last November 2013. The island was almost leveled by the typhoon although, thankfully, there were no casualties.

The Canossian missionaries are now helping the residents of Butig by building houses and an evacuation center for the said island. The goal is to make the island sustainable and resilient to disasters. They tapped the UP Institute of Civil Engineering (where I used to work) and I was asked to join the said project because of my interest and prior training experience in disaster risk reduction and management. And no, I don't get paid. I do this for free outside my work hours and to be honest, I'm happy that my knowledge is of help to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.

We flew from Manila to Tacloban, took a jeep to the city proper, rode a [scary and super fast] 3-hour van ride to Salcedo (two towns away from Guiuan). We went down at Buabua and then took a very short boat ride to Butig Island. The sea was a beautiful shade of blue-green and the islands are practically surrounded by mangroves.

Some of the school buildings in Butig Elementary School collapsed during the typhoon. Imagine a building collapsing under strong winds. They said that the sand used for construction was sea sand hence the steel bars corroded easily. I think airborne debris was also a factor for the collapse.

Those columns are really inadequate.

The very sad state of Philippine education: poor classrooms and two grade levels sharing one classroom

drying coco lumber

Mass housing for 43 out of ~96 families in Butig

One of the big challenges during construction is getting materials. Costs of construction materials in Eastern Visayas rose significantly because of the typhoon. In Butig, it's even more challenging because the materials need to be carried across the sea by boat. Also, it's difficult to find good-quality sand that will not corrode the steel reinforcing bars.

They make their own hollow blocks. They're super strong compared to the ones here in Manila.

However, one of the things I really love about Butig Island is the abundance of natural resources. They get fresh water from wells. A couple of months ago, food was difficult because livestock died and they could not go fishing because there were still corpses in the water so they thrived on mangoes and coconuts from felled trees and on relief goods. Recently, however, situation has improved so they can go fishing again. They also started planting vegetables in their gardens.

On our second day in Butig, the bishop visited the island so a boodle fight with veggies, fried fish and steamed crabs was prepared for lunch. I loved everything, the big crabs especially.

All those veggies and seafood. HEAVEN!!

One more reason to like Butig: flowers everywhere!

Soil is rich in organic material and dead corals.

The people are also very nice. They didn't receive any counseling/debriefing from the government after Typhoon Haiyan but they seemed well and optimistic. I played and chatted with the children and they taught me a little Waray (the native language). Being a person born and bred in the city, it was great to live simply even just for three days-- no internet, no bed mattress, no water closet, no TV, etc.

All those being said, I think Butig island has quite a good potential for sustainable growth. It's probably a long way to go but I think it's possible. And I'm really grateful that I can be of help to them, even just a little.

Run, Run, Run

You are running at a fast pace. You are tired. You look back to see how much you've gone and you realize that you've gone a really long way. You look forward again and you realize, too, that there's much more to go. You don't even know if you've gone halfway already. You are very tired. You are not sure how far you can still carry on. Do you stop? Do you turn around now? Or do you keep running even if you are unsure of your fate and that maybe at one point you'll still end up turning around.

A perpetual note to self:

And if you will allow me to leave this here (lol):

letters in watercolor

Eleven Awesome Days of Learning

It is finished.

Accepting my Certificate of Completion from Dr. Fujiwara of Hiroshima University

Eleven awesome days. It started last August 6, 2012, the Summer Course 2012 Development Within a Low-Carbon World: Preparing Professionals for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation. I can't decide if it's ironic or timely that the monsoon disaster happened right during the training. (Yes, it pushed through despite all that!) For one, it made things difficult for the organizers logistics-wise and for the participants because we couldn't gather data from the local government units or conduct interviews with busy/important people for our paper/presentation. But at the same time, the participants, especially those from other countries, got a real taste of disaster here in the Philippines.

Some lecturers had to cancel their attendance. However, I am seriously amazed by the lecturers who did not back down. One of the lecturers (who happens to be one of my favorites) from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) was warned not to board his plane anymore last August 7, 2012 (the height of the monsoon rains) but he still went! And that's not the end of it... he waded through the floods just to get to a hotel!

Anyway, I'm really glad to be part of this Summer Course. I learned so much from the lectures (especially on Climate Change Adaptation and how it is related to Disaster Risk Management). I seriously miss listening to lecturers and asking them questions. I learned many things from my classmates who come from different countries and from different fields. It's great that we learn from each other: foreign language (Tagalog, Spanish, Japanese and German), culture, food, places and even religion. It was fun teaching them Tagalog especially when they can't get the accent right. I hope that they will never forget the words "bayad po" and "salamat po" (yes they take the UP Ikot jeep!) It was also fun watching them getting all excited or curious when they see fruits!

While waiting for the Closing Dinner last Thursday, Sir Harold and I invited some of them to take photos with the Oblation.

And importantly, I have new friends from all over the world! I believe that we'll still see each other someday. Some of my classmates were actually able to meet their Filipino friends from years ago during their recent stay. I asked them how they are able to keep in touch despite all those years and one of them answered "It's easy. Facebook."

It was a great experience. I can't even say it properly in words. I wish there were more short courses of this kind.

All Things New

Can I just say how awesome this training is?

I seriously can't believe how, at some point, I wanted to back out from this because I really had SO MUCH in my hands! But now, I'm glad I didn't!

First, I'm learning a lot from the lectures. Imagine, the lectures are three hours long and yet I can keep my focus on most of them! 

Second, I'm learning so much from my [international] classmates. We come from different fields (not just engineering) and I think practically everyone is multi-lingual so it's fun teaching languages to each other and sharing experiences from different parts of the world. The learning experience is almost similar to traveling! Unlike competitions and conferences abroad, this training is a great venue to meet new friends because we really get to interact with each other. And everyone loves it! Sometimes, it gets difficult when we don't understand each other because of our accents but we get by.

Last Friday, I went to Mezza Norte with some of them. I made the Asians try balut (unfertilized/aborted duck egg) and then the Americans isaw haha. We had lots of food and then beer at Ral's. I really had fun with all the stories.

Yesterday (Saturday), we had a "field trip" of sorts to Tagaytay and Manila Bay. It was so reminiscent of kindergarten/grade school field trips but that's what makes it nostalgic plus it's a very different experience when you're having a field trip with people from different countries!

Now, I just got back from karaoke night with some of them and we enjoyed! It's funny that we come from different countries but we practically know the same songs.

There are only five days left for us to finish our reports and to interact. Sigh. We need to make the most of it.

PS: Not posting photos with their faces because they may not like it or something.

Day One

Apparently, today marks the 67th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.

Today, I had a great opportunity to learn with people from 11 different countries. The event is a cooperation between institutions in the Philippines, America and Japan. As one of the professors said, "The Philippines used to be the battleground of America and Japan during the war." But today, we were all sitting down and discussing climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. 

Today, I saw three people sitting together in one table: an African, an American, and a Japanese. I'd call their table the "panda table" because as the pun goes, "Don't be a racist. Be a panda. Pandas are black, white and Asian." I mean, come on. Who doesn't want to get rid of the racism in this world?

I am seriously stumped with a bunch of requirements (student responsibilities) and workload (instructor and researcher responsibilities) but I know that this is going to be worth it. It's just Day One and I've learned so much! There are nine more days!

Also, today, I had the chance to visit the Executive House (the official residence of the UP President). It's my first time to see the place after six years of staying in the university. Not everyone gets to be invited to the Executive House so I feel very lucky. The house was beautiful. It was amazing. It had beautiful, expensive paintings everywhere (most of them for sale).  My groupmate said "He has a museum inside his house!"

It had chandeliers made of capiz (shells). 

I have one prayer today, though. I hope the rain would stop or even just lessen. :( I'm safe and warm here in my room. However, I can't help wondering about people who are cold, people who are stranded in their workplace and people who are probably scared of floods reaching their homes and bothered by the fact that they'll have to leave their houses and go to evacuation centers that don't have enough food, water and medicine.

In which I wore my sablay on my left shoulder

There goes another reward for years of hardwork. :)

photo from Cathy

another photo from Cathy

Ah, I miss these boys. :( I usually sit in class and study at the tambayan with them during college.

Just wore my old grad dress (it doesn't matter much, the sablay covers the clothes anyway) and my Tonic shoes, blow-dried my hair myself and did my own makeup because I didn't want to spend anymore

Oath taking of new civil engineers last Saturday at PICC.

I didn't really want to attend the because I knew what's going to happen: basically sit, stand, raise your hand and swear. And it's not worth the PhP 700 per head. TOO EXPENSIVE! Even the person who's taking the oath has to pay. But my parents wanted to go so we paid a total of PhP 2,100. Isn't that crazy? We could have spent the money on more important things. :(

But oh well, enough with the rants. At least I sat with my batchmates. We wore our UP sablay with Barong Tagalogs or white dresses like what our upperclassmen did before. It's great because our clothes stand out so it's easy to spot schoolmates. 

After getting my documents (PRC license included!), we were very hungry so my mom asked me where I wanted to eat. I seriously answered "Jollibee" because I didn't want any more spending and I don't eat fastfood much anyway. But she said that it's not fitting for my clothes so we ended up at this Japanese restaurant along Roxas Boulevard, Shiro Shiro (literally means White Castle, judging from their logo). Great interiors and good food. I totally love the Ebi Kani Salad! :) Although for me, Sambokojin is still a better run for money.

Ebi Kani Salad and Salmon Sashimi

Seafood Chahan

Omurice (omelet rice) and Ebi Tempura

Floor

Interiors

Civil Engineer

But PRC registration first!

My co-faculty members have been trolling me since Monday "May results na? May results na?" even when they know that it takes a couple of days for licensure exam results to be released. Of course I kept my cool. After all I could only wait (and ask for Grace) as I've already done what I could during the exam. I wasn't really anxious last Monday and Tuesday but the anxiousness inside increased as Wednesday night approached.

My countdown calendar to keep track of the number of days left to study

Things I Miss: Studying

No, really.

trusty calculator since high school!

Nowadays, I'm the one who's giving the exams and checking tons of papers. Nowadays, I'm the one standing with my back facing the whiteboard (except when I'm writing on it).

Reasons to Be Happy

Your cactus has formed a bud. Last year, it bloomed during April. It formed a bud quite late this year that you thought it's not going to bloom anymore. But you checked on it last Monday and saw it. I really hope it doesn't fall though.

There's an occasion...

...so you made some quick blueberry cheesecake. I had to do the quick version. I was so busy with research and besides, it's my first time making cheesecake so I thought I'd try first the easy no-bake recipe. By the way, it's their silver anniversary. Sorry if my note on the ref is cheap-looking. It's actually scratch paper. Haha. I was much too tired at 3am to make something prettier.

Seminar/progress report for the PHIVOLCS-UPD ICE joint project this afternoon. My first time attending something like that. It's also the research I've been blabbing about and the thing that has been making me so busy recently. I reported a little something in front of seismologists and structural engineers (take note, I'm just a fresh grad). It was well and okay except my voice shook a bit when I realized that there was a mistake in my slides that I overlooked (even after numerous times of checking). I also managed to drop the microphone after I reported and placed it on the table. Good thing I turned it off and the floor was carpeted so it didn't make a noise. Haha mishaps. But anyway...

Now that we're done with the progress report, we can finally take SOME rest, relieve stress and go back to work perhaps by Thursday night. I swear I'm not doing anything research-related tomorrow.

Eating the cheesecake and having everyone at home say it's delish except for my younger brother who says he can't taste anything from it. I dunno what's wrong with him or with his taste buds.

I'll treat myself to spa or some shopping once I get paid. So much things/problems came up and I've been so stressed lately so I'll need a little pampering.

Pros and Cons

PROS

1. It's not an 8 to 5 job.
2. There is more opportunity to take graduate studies and there are higher chances of getting scholarships abroad because of the network. But do I really want to take graduate studies?
3. Compensation is good during the early years (well, compared to corporate).
4. According to Wigi and to Prof. Ignacio, "madaling rumaket".
5. There's sembreak, Christmas break and probably even summer vacation (if ICE continues not to offer courses during the summer term).
6. Prof. Castro once said during class, "The corporate ladder is made up of people. If you want to go up the ladder, you have to step on people... That's why I'm in the academe."
7. I don't have to leave UP. Plus I can still hang out in Maginhawa Street. And the new ICE building (which is currently under construction) is along C.P. Garcia, very near Moonleaf. Err, I mean Maginhawa Street.

No More Escaping

Last vacation of my life and I've been stuck in the city, mostly. I'm going to Batangas with my friends in less than two weeks. And that reminds me that I need to find a swimsuit. Sigh. I'd really like to go to many places this summer but I only got Batangas. Well, I guess it's better than nowhere. Although I wish someone would drag me to Ocean Park. Or to Enchanted Kingdom. Or to Tagaytay. Or anywhere nice but not too expensive. I'm pretty easy to please, really.