May 24th: The last days and final thoughts

On Friday, May 16th, we are all up early although there is no work today. Sally generously offered to take us on her boat to an island with a light house for snorkeling.

Debbie, Dianne, Rick and Heather (the grown ups as Schaana and I have started calling them) take her up on the offer. Schaana and I stay back and relax we also get the chance to meet and visit Sally's rescued monkeys.

After a quick lunch of sandwiches it's time to return to Cebu. We all pile into the van for the long ride home.

After the van we are all happy to be back in the pension with some internet so that we can catch up with our families. Some of the ladies decide to head for the mall to get a few last items. While there we are greeted by Jenny who tells us that the reservation for dinner is earlier than expected. We all rush back to the pension and change into our fancy clothes. It was pretty funny getting into the back of the work van in our fancy outfits.

This was to be our final dinner and we had invited Jenny, Gabe and his wife Marie to join us. Jenny suggested a restaurant in the mountains with a view of the city.

The ride there was a bit of an adventure with steep switchbacks and a final steep uphill that we were worried the van would not make. Upon arrival the view was well worth it. We shared some great Filipino food and got to hear a bit more about quiet Gabe from his wife. After we were done eating, we thanked our hosts with cards and Canada mugs.

We were all tired so after hugs and promises to stay in touch we returned to the pension for bed. Dianne was so exhausted she even fell asleep in the van!

Saturday morning we met for a final team breakfast at the restaurant at the top of the pension served by our favourite waitress Jackie. It was great to have a final meal together before we head home/on our future adventures.

This trip has been a fantastic way to learn about this country and especially to get to know its fantastic people. The team came together wonderfully and we have taken to calling Schaana an honorary family member. I think that everyone valued the hard work and dedication of those who worked with us and we feel privileged to have had this opportunity.

Robin Copestake
DWC Team Leader
Cebu, Philippines: May 2014

May 15th: Painting complete and a celebration dinner

We tried to have an early breakfast, but it didn't happen! This is our last day of painting. On the way to our "homes" we made balloons from our latex gloves. Robin added faces. The kids loved them! They have so few toys.

In short order we finished coat # 3 and the houses look great. The old lady who lived in one of the chattered non stop with Robin. Unfortunately, not in English!

While we finished up, Jenny gave the little kids toothbrush sand tooth paste, and for the older ones caps, pencils and paper.

Back to the Sea Turtle for a swim, lunch and siesta! It is very hot again today. Lunch was as spectacular as all our meals and we each got Halo Halo - a special dessert with a layer of seeds, corn, beans, jello, shaved ice, and cream with a maraschino cherry on top. You mix it all up and dig in!

Late afternoon we go back to the school and plant more under Sally's direction. The plants are in desperate need of watering!

At our debriefing, everyone feels we could have done more work. Probably, we could have painted another couple of houses.

Dinner is a special event hosted by Sally. We lovely ladies are all dressed in sarongs. Our table is set beautifully with flowers.

The meal is delicious - lettuce and potato salad, beef and chicken dishes and lots of excellent wine. Jenny and Gabe thanked us all for our help and gave us each a picture. It was lovely!

Heather Bragg
DWC Volunteer Participant
Tabogon, Philippines: May 2014

May 14th: Green paint and plenty of fun!

Oh what a beautiful morning! Sunshine, blue sea and hearty breakfast gets us in the spirit to load up and head down the dusty road for the next stage of our project. Today, we are rolling on the colour - sort of a forest tree to blend in with the landscape a bit. But just a bit.

When we arrive at the first location, we unload the painting materials and a cooler full of cold water and split into two groups. Debbie, Robin and Schaana head for a home the size of a small shed which belongs to an old man.

No matter what kind of racket the girls make, the old man appears to sleep through. When they need to move inside the house to do some painting, the old man doesn't appear to hear their calls.

Time to bring Gab into the mix. The girls soon discover that the old man is deaf and didn't realize the painting was underway! Before long, he was chattering non-stop to the girls. Unfortunately they didn't understand a word he was saying. But they knew he was some happy to see the paint being rolled on to his home. Even the man's hen seemed to be taken up with all the action!

It was jumping in and out of its basket and flipping around the inside of the shed to check out the girl's work. Heather, Rick, Dianne and Gab worked on the bigger house. The kids from nearby homes were fascinated with the job. Gab soon got the boys some brushes and they joined the work team.

The little girls shyly passed on our offer to have them help out. So Dianne and Robin gave them a camera to try and take pictures while one of them got their hair put into a French braid. She looked adorable!

Back to the beautiful Sea Turtle Lagoon resort -- a bit of paradise by the sea. We headed straight for the sea and a big swim. It was high tide, so Debbie dove in off the ledge, others jumped and Rick did a cannon ball. But the best was Gab who did flips and all sorts of marvellous jumps from on high. We still think he looks like a boy when he gets his hair wet!

After lunch, we went for an adventure along the coast in a small boat. In my head, I was singing "Under the Sea". We were on the look-out for turtles. Alas, there were none to be seen. But we were thrilled to see some small silver fish fly out of the water and skip across the surface like pebbles! Too much fun! Later, we put on some snorkels and snaked around the water searching for brilliant blue starfish, and amazing fish of all colours. It was amazing to see.

We came back too late to do gardening at the local school. But Rick and Gab managed to finish clearing the back courtyard of rock and rubble and checked out the state of the latrine.

Later at night, we dined outside gazing at a beautiful full moon that shed a band of golden light on the gently rolling waves. We are all so grateful to be part of this adventure.

Dianne Clarke
DWC Volunteer Participant
Tabogon, Philippines: May 2014

May 13th: Painting homes and starting the school site project

Today we got to sleep in until 6am! Some of us ran to the ocean for a quick dip before breakfast. After we ate breakfast, we loaded into the van and car and went off to the work site, Jenny and Gabe too! We painted primer coats on three small houses. Two houses were close together and we split into two groups.

House #1

House #2

We made short work of the first coat and moved to the last house. We attacked the last house all as a big group.

Singing, laughing and painting. As the saying goes, many hands make light work.

The heat of the day rose up as we finished. Sweaty and smiling, we returned to the Sea Turtle and went for a swim. Rest and siesta was the order of the day for the heat of the afternoon.

Around 4:30pm we suited up and went back to work. We went to the school site and started our other projects. We planted and cultivated the front school grounds. We also levelled an area by the latrines and uncovered the septic system so that it could be cleaned out. When we reached the halfway point on these projects, we stopped for the day. Another swim and then our group meeting before dinner.

The food was again, superb: pasta, cheeses, bread, wine, salad, and spring rolls. Well fed and happy, we all were headed for an early bedtime. Dianne is sleeping on the porch again.

Schaana Puetz
DWC Volunteer Participant
Tabogon, Philippines: May 2014

May 12th: Off to Tabogon

Well, no problem for Team DWC: up before the sun, a very very very strong cup of coffee and some fresh fruit provided enough energy for the car and ferry transport back to Cebu.

Jenny was there to meet us and off we set for Tabogon. Of course, we had to make a quick stop for more coffee and a snack. What better than the opulent Radisson Blue. The hostess who greeted us was wearing a long blue gown, with off the shoulder lace collar and a string of pearls. So Canadian ;) - well maybe I should say so Filipina!

I must say that I was glad to have Cebu behind Although it was "mission accomplished" at the Rise Above facility, I believe we all felt a sense of relief as we left the densely populated, oppressive concrete jungle called Cebu City.

The drive to Tabogon took about 3 hours.

As we drove into Sea Turtle Resort, Jennie pointed out some of the ravages of Typhoon Yolanda. The plan was to get settled in, have lunch and then visit our project sites for Week Two.

Sea Turtle Resort is the antithesis of our accommodation in Cebu. It is a small magical resort (could accommodate 30), sculpted into the side of cliffs overhanging the Pacific. Walkways thread there way through flowering shrubs, around thatched cottages and resting places. Some paths take you to jumping off platforms and stairways right down to the ocean.

We are all housed in one of the guest cottages. Rick and Heather in one bedroom and the rest of the girls in the other bedroom. Dianne has laid claim to the deck where she plans to sleep. This is not just any deck! It overlooks the thatched roofs to the brilliant blue Pacific. A true haven after working in +35C, I'm sure!

Our hostess Sally meets us in the lunch area and provides us with a recount of what happened to the community as a result of the typhoon. Apparently the Philippine government has not really provided much as far as relief or rebuilding resources to this area. Hence, the projects that Rise Above is coordinating/funding.

We also met Grant who is a Canadian who has recently moved/retired here. He is assisting several agencies, including Rise Above with the rebuilding of the area. Grant took us in his van to the various project sites that we will be working on.

I cannot really describe the road. We bumped along a stone, dirt and rock route with an occasional strip of concrete. At one point, we all had to get out of the van, because Grant had to turn around. This particular section had piles of rocks left such that they obscured passage any further. Grant tried but bottomed out.

Our work for this week will be to:

1. Paint three homes that have been built for families that lost their homes in the typhoon. Three coats, one primer of white and two coats of green, all oil based.
2. Gardening/restoration at the school site.
3. Excavation of the septic area at the school.

Once back at Sea Turtle, we took a much needed swim and relaxed until dinner. Grant was insistent that we engage in Karaoke after dinner. Karaoke is so very popular here in the Philippines and I mean popular! Thank goodness we have Robin along. With Robin, it's all about fun if you are doing Karaoke. Her rendition of Twist and Shout got us up dancing.

Then off to bed to be up and at it by 5:30AM to beat the heat.

Debbie Bragg
DWC Volunteer Participant
Cebu City, Philippines: May 2014

May 10th-11th: Weekend in Bohol

Friday we arrived at the ferry station quite early. Schaana had to pay the ferry entrance fee and the rest of the participants got off scot free as seniors. We headed up to the coffee shop where we indulged in cupcakes and people watching. The ferry ride was uneventful for everyone but Debbie, who had a two year old behind her who loved to play with her hair.

We got off the ferry and were greeted by our lovely hostess, Faylyn. We piled into the van and headed to grocery the store to stock up on food for our house this weekend. We were thrilled to buy tons of veggies, four pints of yogurt, granola and cheese.

We walked through a resort to our house and had our first glimpse of our beautiful beach. White sand, azure seas and our house set back on a green lawn with a lovely oleander tree in bloom. Most of us headed straight up to put swim suits on and run into a sea as warm as a bath (Lynns pool).

After swimming, the team relaxed while Robin taught the cook Tash to make Canadian style stir fry with about 3 lbs of veggies. What a treat! We couldn't get enough of it. After that, we took our bottle(s) of wine to the beach where Heather had the first massage of the trip.

First massage of the trip! Lucky Heather

Saturday morning we were up by 5:30 am because we're still on work time. It was swim time again, yahoo! After a breakfast of mangos, pineapples, yogurt and granola (a lovely alternative to the fish and bacon we had been eating all week) it was time for the girls to head off on an island adventure.

The drive was lovely. A chance to see the island and it's communities, farms and forests. First stop was the chocolate hills, they were less impressive than we expected. Although, we had fun taking silly pictures trying to hold the hills.

Chocolate Hills

From there we were off to see the lovely Tarsier. By lovely, I mean freaky. The group agrees they look like Yoda. This video clearly demonstrates how weird these little primates are.

Tarsier! aka "Yoda"

After that, we stopped at a grocery store to pick up some things for dinner. In the afternoon, we relaxed and napped. That night, our cook made us tempura shrimp and a lovely traditional seaweed salad.

Mother's Day (Sunday) is our major relax day.

The mothers awoke to Mother's Day cards from their team leader and some of their children. So that Rick didn't feel left out, he got a card from his first communion. With our breakfast, we enjoyed some mango mimosas. Along with relaxing, Dianne, Debbie, Robin and Schaana did some snorkelling.

Mother's Day involved reading, napping, massages a soundtrack from a family reunion of NEVER ENDING karaoke and screaming games from the resort next door.

Robin relaxing!

We will end our time on Bohol with a last dinner on our veranda and maybe one last swim.

Last dinner

Tomorrow we head to Tobogan to begin our painting project. There is no internet there so it may be a while before we post again.

Team Cebu 2014 Adventure
DWC Volunteer ParticipantsBohol, Philippines: May 2014

May 9th: Last Day

This morning we awake to pouring rain. Since it is our last day and we need to leave early to make it to Bohol, we decided to go to the worksite at 5:30 am instead of 6:30 am. Although we are still really enjoying the work we are pretty tired and ready for the weekend.

We get to the site at 6:00 am sharp. Gabe has to honk the horn many times to wake Michael up who lives at the site. He lets us in and we get straight to work. We have 4.5 hours to finish the project and we all really want to see it completed. I go back to my new found trade as a mason. I think trying to get the cement perfectly smooth appeals to my obsessive nature. I also really like working with Romeo, one of the professionals helping us. I think he is sort of laughing with/at me but that is nothing new and makes me like him more. This photo is of him stopping me from falling into wet concrete as I smooth out an area just out of reach.

 The rest of the team mixes and carries cement. They are machines today, they are refilling the place where we mix the cement as soon as it is empty.

Team work!

There are fewer breaks today. Luckily, Jenny has brought a small coffee maker so we kept well caffeinated. Schaana uses the caffein break to supervise!

Schaana supervising

By 10:00 am we are pouring and smoothing the final section with glee. Schanna and I approach Gabe with some money to buy celebratory beers for the team. He returns and the canadian and local workers share a drink and marvel at the volume of work we were able to complete in just 5 days!

Celebration time!

After final handshakes and a last cuddle for my new doggie best friend, we are off for a quick shower before we head to Bohol for some much needed r and r.

Today has really been what the trip is about for me. Both our team and the local team came together. Teasing each other, working closely, sharing ideas about how to finish the job together and genuinely enjoying each others company.

These men are fantastic people and hard workers and I only wish we could bring them with us to Tobogan!

Robin Copestake
DWC Team Leader
Cebu City, Philippines: May 2014

May 8th: The Big Pour - Day One

We all are up at dawn again. Robin and I shared breakfast, banana pancakes and poached eggs with coffee and a mango shake.

The van arrived at 6:30 am and we piled into the back and headed for the site.

Heading to the work site!

It is hot and very humid today so we will have to make sure our buddies keep hydrated.

Keeping hydrated

We are now ready to start pouring the concrete. The ground has been levelled. The footings poured and the outside wall erected. The stone has been raked evenly and the rebar is in place.

We are ready for the concrete. The mixing box is made of a plywood base and a skirt of wood about 6 inches high. Heather and Schaana throw thirty shovels of sand into the box which is raked evenly across the bottom.

Mixing all the ingredients

Then a bag of cement is dumped on the sand and raked smooth. Three wheelbarrows of stone is raked smooth and four pails of water is poured over top. Michael and Miguel use shovels to mix up the ingredients and voila! its ready.

 Debbie, Diane, Schaana and Heather form a conga line of pails of concrete.

Debbie, Diane, Schaana and Heather forming the conga line!

 I use a wheelbarrow for the pour. Robin has decided that she has a future career as a mason and is placed under the tutelage of Nario and Romeo. She and Romeo trowel and level the concrete.

Robin leveling the concrete

Group work shot

We repeat this process all morning until half the floor is laid.

At the first morning break, Robin decided that we needed to be entertained. She demonstrated her unique brand of twerking. She sure was shaking and baking.

By the end of the work day everyone was hot, wet, and dirty. We headed back to the hotel for an afternoon siesta. We arranged to meet Jenny at 5 pm to go and see the Cathedral.

"Rick was very exhausted so it turned out to be a laddies trip. Jenny and Gabe were quite nervous about our safety as the Cathedral is right downtown in the most dangerous part of Cebu. We drove down found parking and headed in. It was nothing like I expected. It was very open with a huge courtyard in front, where there seems to be a constant service in progress. Don't these statues look like angel garden gnomes? " - Robin

Angel Garden Gnomes!

Around these statues there were some sort of grottos and fountains where people could light candles. From there, we headed inside which took us to a lovely courtyard with another grotto and fountain.

Priest statue

We headed out, checking out the art work as we went. It was fascinating as it depicted a celebration of the priests bringing christianity to the filipino culture.

Because we are leaving for Bohol tomorrow afternoon, we will pack tonight and eat at the hotel. Unfortunately, we picked the night where they were also hosting a wedding and our dinner was very slow arriving at the table, but once it came was delicious.

Everyone heads to bed early as we have another big pour waiting for us.

Frederick Bagg
DWC Volunteer Participant
Cebu City, Philippines: May 2014