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 5: Starting on construction projects

On Sunday evening, Rick chose a restaurant nearby for our meal called Cafe Verde. He had asked the hotel desk clerk if we could walk there and she said yes. She and Rick discussed some street names and directions. Off we went! However, in Cebu streets can look like alleys and they are not remotely well marked. We were beginning to feel a bit lost when a street vendor selling maps saved the day and showed us the hidden restaurant. Note our fearless leader said if Rick had allowed her to read the map, she could have found it. :) After dinner we all went back and off to sleep.

Monday was the first day of our project work. We met for breakfast at 6 AM and then met in the lobby to travel to the Rise Above centre.

Our team really came together. We fell into a really great groove that allowed us to be safe, productive and comfortable.

We worked on the main project of laying a concrete pad in four mini projects today:

• Dig a trench for a drainage pipe.
• Level out a high corner of the pad area.
• Dig out and replace a damaged drainage pipe.
• Dig a trench for a footing for a retaining wall
  
  

Around 11 AM Jenny served us lunch of chicken and rice. It was delicious and well received. After lunch, we drove back to the hotel in chaotic traffic, Each of us raved about how good it felt to shower. After our shower break, we met for refreshments and discussion at the hotel restaurant guided, of course, by Robin and her binder.

Schaana Puetz
DWC Volunteer Participant
Cebu City, Philippines: May 2014

May 4: Day Two in Cebu City

Before I share today, I will just sum up what happened yesterday post blog. First Rick and Heather's luggage safely arrived. After that we went out for dinner then and everyone headed to bed early. I think this photo really shows how exhausted we all were:

This morning we met for breakfast at 7am. Everyone slept well and was ready to start the day. Our task for today was to do a "feeding" with the Rise Above Foundation. This is where we help cook and serve a meal to the children from the area that use the foundation's services. This also gave us a chance to see and support one of the many programs run by the organization we would be working with.

Jenny and Gabe picked us up at 8am and took us to the centre. It is in a field with housing surrounding it. Jenny wanted to take us to see the community and the people they served. Walking into the neighbourhood was surreal. It was everything one expects: housing made of corrugated tin, children and animals everywhere. As we entered, we were greeted by someones stereo blasting "Impossible Dream" over the community. The juxtaposition of such poverty with this song of hope just intensified the sites and smells around us. We also felt a bit like voyeuristic wandering through people's community peering into their homes.

After that we returned to the centre to work on the meal and make kits of pencils and erasers for the children to use a school. I feel like a picture is worth a thousand words here so enjoy our cooking process:

It's Debbie here, helping out with the blog. The pictures may not clearly depict what the finished meal became so let me describe. A delicious, nutritious thick rice soup with finely chopped vegetables, ginger and ground beef.

There is a very strict organized protocol. Jennie had distributed meal tickets to the children in the community the day before.

The children began to line up at the gate to the Centre about an hour before they were served. Little boys were peaking through the bottom of the gate, so cute!

You'll see from the picture it looked like a cauldron. It was dispensed into tubs and placed on a table at the centre's entrance. The gate opened and ten kids were admitted at a time. One ticked equaled one mug scoop into whatever they had brought to hold it from sturdy containers to plastic baggies. Some were as young as three.

By 11 am there was little soup left so we grabbed a ride back to the hotel with Elizabeth who shared the background and history of rise above. After lunch nearby, we headed to a local fancy hotel's pool to cool off and grab a little R&R. After going back to our hotel, we headed out for dinner. Now we are off to bed and an early start tomorrow.

Robin Copestake & Debbie Bagg
DWC Team Leader/Volunteer
Cebu City, Philippines: May 2014

May 3: Arrived safe and sound

After flying from Toronto, Ottawa, Kamloops and Victoria, the team came together in Manila at 4:30 am this morning. Debbie, Schaana, Dianne and I were happy to see Rick and Heather waiting for us when we blearily found our way to the gate for our Cebu flight.

Those of us who needed it managed to find some coffee then we all chatted and watched the sky get brighter. After a bit of a delay, we were on the last leg to Cebu.

We arrived about 40 minutes late, and when we went to gather our luggage, we discovered that Rick and Heathers bags with all of their clothing had not arrived. They had all of their donations for Rise Above, but nothing for themselves to wear. We reported the bags missing and were told they would be on the next flight. It is 3pm now and here's hoping they arrive soon.

We were greeted at the airport by a smiling and Jenny and Suzy with cold water bottles and a tray of mangoes and bananas. Rick, Heather, Schaana, Dianne and Debbie crowded onto the two bench seats in the back while I sat up front with our hosts. I felt right at home when I hoped in the front and was greeted with the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack on the radio.

The drive from the airport was our first chance to really see Cebu and the country. The streets were so busy and traffic seemed to run with no real rules rhyme or reason much of the time. The colourful "jeepneys" (these are old army jeeps that have been converted into city buses) were all packed with people hanging off the back street car style. There are also lots of motor bikes and scooters. Debbie and Schanna noticed one mother riding on the back holding her baby while the driver wove through traffic.

We arrived at the hotel, freshened up and headed to the roof top terrace for lunch. Schanna was a bit tired so headed for a nap instead. The restaurant is lovely, it is open with views of the city and a great breeze to help with the heat.

After lunch and a rest Debbie, Rick and I headed out to buy water for the team and a SIM card for our cell phone. Luckily Jessica from DWC was here two weeks ago and had let us know where the grocery store was. Even walking those few blocks in the heat was intense. We wandered through a mall area and Rick was very excited to see that there was a spot that offered a 30 minute foot massage for 200 pesos ($5); if we are missing Rick after a hard days work, I guess we know where to find him. We also walked past a couple selling the cutest tinny puppies that still had their eyes closed. I thought they looked like they would love Penny and Spencer (my dogs), but I guess volunteering with a puppy would be hard.

We are now back at the hotel resting up before heading out for some BBQ dinner. Tomorrow is our first day of volunteering so I will post after that.

Salamat Po! (thank you)

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