destination philippines - insight tour

8/7/2019 Destination Philippines - Insight Tour

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Destination PhilippinesInsight TourApril 8th-16th 2011


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TEAR Fund INSIGHT TOURS

Learn about the economic, social and spiritual

climate in developing countries;

Observe the living conditions and the lives of thosein poverty;

Witness the hope and dignity that have beenrestored in the lives of the worlds poor who cannow provide for their families through TEAR Fundsministry;

Reflect on ways, as Kiwis living at a distance, wecan impact their lives;

Apply what you learn into your everyday life.

You will go where tourists rarely travel. You will seethe hope, energy and dignity of people conqueringhunger and poverty through their own enterprise.

This adventure will broaden your understanding ofThird World poverty and its solution. It will alsoenlarge your heart!

Experience things tourists cant..

See microenterprises in operation and talk with loan

recipients in their homes.

Visit Partner Agencies and meet staff.

Have dinner and discussions with members of thelocal Board of Directors.

Receive briefings on unique local conditions.

Enjoy sightseeing, shopping and comfortableaccommodation.

Minister to staff of TEAR Funds local Christian fieldpartners, pray for beneficiaries, take part indevotions with a small group of like-mindedpeople.

Richard Barter, TEAR Funds ResourceDevelopment Manager is familiar with thePhilippines and will work to make your journeyinteresting and enjoyable.

You will meet families who have broken out of thisvicious cycle of debt and usury and been able toprovide for their children the basic necessities ofeducation, health and good food in rural areas.

You will visit projects in the heart of downtownManila, Tondo, not far from the well-knownSmokey Mountain a rubbish dump that has foryears provided a living for the absolute poor. Meetfamilies who have come down from the mountain ofpoverty into the valley of hope and enterprise. Youwill get to know the local people in a positive wayyou will never forget and experience the vibrancy oftransformed communities.

It is easy to believe the problems out there are toobig to solve, or to change channel and pretend theydont exist. Take this opportunity to encounter thereality many people in the world experience daily,and a solution to their distress that will convince youthere is indeed hope.

CostCosts are realistic compared to bulk commercialtours. We are expecting the cost should not bemore than NZ$2,995. The exact amount will beadvised closer to departure. This cost is based on aSingapore Airlines Airfare of around NZ$2,000. Itmay be possible to get cheaper flights if you shoparound. Let us know if you want to arrange yourown international flights. This is ok if you are able toarrive earlier or at the same time as the rest of thegroup.

The above Costs will cover Accommodation over the period shown in

the itinerary Main meals (excluding alcohol) plus

morning afternoon teas while on organisedactivities etc.

Transport for all organised activities on theItinerary

TEAR Fund administration and staff costs Airfares from Auckland (You may choose to

use your own agent, and may be able tonegotiate a better price)

The shared costs will not cover Room service charges including phone bills

and laundry You will have the opportunity to take

advantage of local tours. The hotel canarrange this for you. You will pay the hotelor operator directly.

Personal purchases etc. Meals while in transit at airports etc. Any medical fees while in the Philippines,

and for any immunisations, prescriptionsetc. before going

Costs will depend on value of currencies atthe time.


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Itinerary for Destination Philippines 2011

Day Date Activity

April

Friday 8 Check in at Auckland Airport at 10:00pm

Saturday 9 QANTAS SQ0282 leaves Auckland at1:10am. Arrive in Singapore 7:00am. Fly outto Manila at 9:00am on SQ0910, arrive at1:15pm. Check in at Shalom Pensionne.Have a look around the local area. Dinner atRobinsons Mall

ShalomPensionne

Sunday 10 Drive to Cabanatuan. ASKI - HotelCabanatuan

Monday 11 Visit ASKI projects in and aroundCabanatuan Rural MED - The challengesfaced by the rural poor are quite different to

those faced by urban poor. You will visitvillages where people still live much asthey've done for centuries.

HotelCabanatuan

Tuesday 12 Visit ASKI projects in and aroundCabanatuan. Look at ASKI projects in theProvincial City of Cabanatuan. The situationof those living in small cities are unique asthey cannot grow food as can be done bythose in rural areas, but they do not have theopportunities afforded to the inhabitants inlarger centres.

HotelCabanatuan

Wednesday 13Drive to Manilla -

ShalomPensionne

Thursday 14 Visit CCT office headed by Ruth Callanta.CCT is an outstanding example of ChristianMicroenterprise at its best. In the morningwe will be introduced to the organisation andthe many aspects of their ministry. Thegroup will divide between those who wouldlike to visit their Trust Banks. The rest willvisit the Kaibigan street dweller Project andsome selected Trust Bank groups.

ShalomPensionne

Friday 15 Fly out at 2:20pm on SQ0917 to Singapore,arrive 5:50pm. Fly out at 9:05pm

MAIN TOUR FINISHES AT THIS

POINTSat 16

Arrive Auckland @ 11:55am in the morning.

Sun 17 For those who wish to stay on, CCT canorganise a variety of Cultural and HistoricTours. Some examples follow.

You could visit Intramuros (The WalledCity) that contains the original fort built bythe Spanish to protect Manila againstinvasion by sea. This fort was also occupiedby the Japanese in WW2. Shoppingsightseeing in afternoon.

From the Hotel one can walk largely throughparks down to a Promenade on the edge ofManila Bay. The huge Robinson shopping


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mall is around 20 minutes walk away, this isguaranteed to satisfy the most determinedshopper.

For those who have a Trustbank in SanCarlos City, flights and land transport will

need to be arranged before leaving NZ.

Mon 18 You could take the ferry across the Manila Bayto Corregidor Island. Corregidor is the largestof the islands guarding the entrance to ManilaBay. It has in the past protected and been lostto the Spanish, Americans and Japanese. Itwill be a great day giving you a unique insightinto the history of the Philippines. Fly out ofManila 18:50pm

Areas we will travel to..


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Partner Profile CCT

The Centre for Community Transformation (CCT) isa Christian development organization undertaking

transformational programs and services among thepoor. It started as an informal organization ofdevelopment professionals then became a formaldevelopment institution in 1992. Its belief is that theapproaches to development must be holistic andtransformational, addressing both the material andspiritual needs of people. They must empowerpeople to reach their full potential as transformedhuman beings in the image of God.

Our VisionA network of Christ-centered faith communitieswhere Jesus is honored and worshipped and wherepeople live with dignity and sufficiency inaccordance with God's plan for a just, humane andcaring society.

Our MissionAs followers of Christ, we join the Holy Spirit inGod's work of transforming lives and communities

Our ApproachPoverty-focused, sector-specific, family-centered,community based

O j e c t i v e:Community transformation. To restore 'shalom' inthe world through the establishment of Christ-centred communities of love, righteousness, justiceand peace. (Isa. 65:19-25;Rom. 12:1-15:13). This callsfor a Spirit-led process,modelled by the LORD JesusChrist (Lk. 4:18-19; 7:19-21).It brings about harmony andreconciliation, wherebypeople are invited to repent oftheir sins, and to trust andobey Jesus Christ by formingright ideas and relationshipswith God, their neighbours, creation and theirselves (Mt. 22: 37-39; 2 Cor. 10:5). It enables everyperson and community/people group to becomewhat God intended each of them to be (Eph. 4:17-24; Col. 3:5-17).

Approach:Holistic evangelism. In order to proclaim the Gospelin its fullness and integral form among every peoplegroup, we must be concerned for the total welfareof the people - religious, social, economic,

educational, physical, etc. (Mt. 9:35-38; cf. 25:31-46; Lk. 2:52; 10:30-37).

Goal:People empowerment. Whether the wholecommunity turns to Christ or not (most probably amajority will become at least sympathetic to the

Gospel) with the hope that the target people willhave been enabled to become mature andresponsible (not dependent) adults who can makedignified and wise decisions for their individual andcommunal life - as active participants (not passiveonlookers) in tackling issues that affect their livesand destinies.

Strategy:Contextualisation. There is only one Gospel, but asmany different expressions of faith ("religiousforms") as there are communities.

(1 Cor.9:18-23). Let the church planted grow in itsown soil; otherwise, it becomes "church-transplanting" (not church-planting): Outsideresources may be tapped, but these must bemanaged by truly empowered leaders who aresensitive to their local culture(s) and able tomaximise the use of local resources.

Structure:Interdependent groups.. The organised communitywill become a network of peoples' organisations(some quite fixed/formal, others ad hoc) led orstrongly influenced by a core group(s) of committedresident Christians who have been discipled toserve as leaders in the church and in thecommunity.

Community ProgramsSpiritual DevelopmentCCT uses evangelism and discipleship to reach outto urban poor communities, zealously witnessing tothem and proclaiming the Good News of JesusChrist. Those who decide to receive Jesus into theirlives are nurtured and mentored in Christian values,so that they too can disciple others.

MicrofinanceMicrofinance provides credit to poor families with nocollateral to be used as working capital forbusiness. Payable in easy installment terms, loansrange from P3,000 to P20,000 (US$60 to US$400).

Social ServicesCCT's Social Services program hopes to seestrong, healthy, Christ-centered families. TheProgram provides the following services:


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1.Water Supplyand Sanitation

2.Nutrition3.Health Services

4.Social Securitya) Social healthinsurancea) Life insurance

Community EnterpriseCCT engages in joint venture activities with urbanpoor communities and groups to make availablequality goods and services to the community. Itaims to provide employment opportunities forcommunity members. Examples of these socialenterprises include provision of potable watersystems, community drug stores, etc.

Child Development: Visions of HopeOrphans, abandoned, and children of single parentsand indigent families are given financial assistanceto complete elementary and high school education.The children are also given the opportunity toattend weekly spiritual development classes,leadership training, camps, art appreciation classesand character formation activities.http://www.visionsofhope.org.ph

Center for Community Transformation

KAIBIGAN MINISTY

Background of the Project

Decades ago, we have seen the increasing numberslum communities in the cities brought about bymigration of people from rural areas in search forbetter income opportunities. As cities becomehighly urbanized, more and more of these slumcommunities are demolished and relocated in thesuburbs. As cost of living in the cities continue torise - including former slum communities nowdensely populated residential and commercial

areas, people with lesser opportunities foremployment have become even more marginalized.

We now see not only individuals, but families living

in push carts, sleeping on the street pavements andin waiting sheds, doing their daily chores under theshade of the trees in the park, spending idle timesroaming around begging or at worst sniffingaddictive substances to deflect their attention fromhunger.

There are individuals who have literally grown old inthe streets kids born, raised unschooled, andlearning the street way of life, while adults spendingsome 10 to more than 20 years roaming around thecity. There are estimated 7000 individuals living inthis condition in Metro Manila and nearby cities.

This number is expected to increase as weexperience the consequences of the recent globaleconomic crises forcing thousands of familyincome earners out of jobs and out of businesses.

This does not concern us just because we do notwant them to fall deeper below the poverty line butbecause allowing them to do so means pushingthem further into the mire of various unlawfulactivities that threatens our very own peacefulexistence making our every effort for personalfulfilment meaningless and community developmentpursuits void.

CCTs Intervention

Kaibigan Ministry is CCTs response to the now asocial phenomenon in Metro Manila and otherbusiness centres in the Philippines streetdwelling.

Seeing the street-dwellers situation and reflectingon Gods prophecy written in the Bible, Ezekiel 37on how the Lord shall reveal Himself as the Lord ofHis people Israel who have long become old, dry

and hopeless due to oppression while in exile, CCTwas inspired by Gods power in bringing back thevalley of dry bones into life giving them flesh, skinand breath, allowing them to once again stand upon their feet like a great army. CCT was alsoencouraged by Gods promise to cause Hishopeless people to rise once more giving themHis Spirit that they may live again and bringingthem back to their own promised land.

CCT upholds the dignity of each street-dweller as aperson created in the image and likeness of God.As such, CCT believes that God so desires for them

to live a full and abundant life under His grace asHe purposefully designed for each one of them.
http://www.visionsofhope.org.ph/http://www.visionsofhope.org.ph/http://www.visionsofhope.org.ph/


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In the last quarter of 2005, CCT started theKaibigan Ministry. The initial agenda was to wintheir trust by befriending them thus, the term

kaibigan a Filipino term for friend was used. Allrecipients/ beneficiaries of the ministry are thencalled kaibigan.

The initial scheme was to meet them at least once aweek, serve them a free meal to relieve theirhunger, share with them Bible-based life values,introduce them the One True Friend, Christ Jesusand encourage them to have a life-long relationshipwith Him while walking alongside CCT. TheKaibigan Ministry also provided medical assistanceto those in need. Individual case management wasalso conducted in order to address short term and

long term needs of the kaibigan.

Individual and group character formation activitieswere also conducted for the kaibigan to ensure thatchange happens from within. Each was also givenopportunity to have source of livelihood based ontheir individual skills and interest. For those whowanted to be reunited with their families, theministry coordinated with CCTs network of branchoffices nationwide and other local government unitsto facilitate the reunion. They are likewise referredto local church group to ensure that they will be wellguided as they face the challenges of rebuilding

their lives.

Through the help of friends and supporters of CCT,the Kaibigan Ministry has been able to:

1. Renovate an ancestral house and buildfacilities within its 2000 sqm backyard thatnow serves as the Kaibigan CommunityCentre amidst a densely populated area inPasay City, Philippines. The owners haveallowed CCT to use their property for 5years beginning this year, free of rental

fees.

2. Build facilities for the street-dwellers withinthe Kaibigan Community Centre such assleeping quarters, toilet and bath, laundryarea, open kitchen, canteen, bakery,general merchandise store, clinic,counselling / prayer room, fellowship hall,tailoring area, ministry office and childrensplayground. We are also looking forward tosetting-up a purified water refilling stationfor the community.

3. Served free meals and conducted value/character formation sessions with morethan 5000 street-dwellers in Metro Manila.

4. Conducted 2 batches of EvangelisticCamps/ Retreats to:

1st

Batch 32 street-dwellers from which 13were identified to join a 6-month in- housecharacter / value reformation. 6 out of thesepeople are now serving as volunteers ofKaibigan Ministry or part of the constructionteam that are on-the-job training with CCTProperty Development Unit.

2nd

Batch 233 street-dwellers joined theChristmas Camp from which about 80

persons were invited avail of the overnight-inn / temporary shelter facilities of theKaibigan Ministry. 45 of them are currentlyon initial 3-month intentional characterreformation intervention. We are now in thephase of identifying employable skills orincome generating projects for them toenable them to have a source of incomeand unlearn the habit of dependency.

5. Organized a 30-member team of Kaibiganas construction workers. They wereawarded a contract to fence half of the

perimeter of 5 hectare CCT Training andRetreat Centre in Tagaytay City, while theother half of the perimeter was awarded toa private development contractor. It wasworthy to note that the Kaibigan team wereable to finish the work 1 month ahead at 1/3the cost cheaper than the privatecontractor. Visitors, without knowing whichside was constructed by the Kaibigan teamwere always mistaken to think that thetopsy-turvy work was that of the kaibigan,while the neat and good work was done bythe private contractor. They were always

surprised to know it was the other wayaround. Their diligence and perseveranceto do their daily work well has paid off. Tothis writing, the private contractor has hiredthe Kaibigan team to redo and finish thework that their team started and leftunfinished due to relationship problems.We look forward to a long-term relationshipwith this private contractor to help us winconstruction contracts with the Kaibigan asworkers. This arrangement will help usincrease the number of kaibigan to join theconstruction team.


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6. Organized a 10-member service/maintenance team deployed at CCT branchoffices in Manila. They started as On-the-Job Trainees. Since January 2009 they

have been hired as employees, withKaibigang Maaasahan Multi-purposeCooperative (street-dwellers cooperative)as their manpower agency. We lookforward to increasing their numbers and bedeployed to other companies aside fromCCT.

7. Assisted 16 street-dwellers to be reunitedwith their families in their hometown/province. The network of CCT CreditCooperative staff and partners nationwidehas made it possible for the Kaibigan

Ministry to trace the whereabouts of thefamilies of the street-dwellers in theprovinces. They have also been referred toa local community church that can nurturetheir spiritual/ character growth. There wasalso a time that the Kaibigan Ministry inManila helped traced the children ofresidents in a CCT community who wereillegally recruited to work in Manila andwere forced to sleep on the streets. TheKaibigan Ministry prevented the two youngladies from becoming street-dwellers inManila.

8. Provided medical assistance to 66 street-dwellers. 5 were housed at the RecoveryRoom at the Kaibigan Centre until theywere fully recuperated and were reunited totheir families in the provinces.

9. Organized the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multi-purpose Cooperative (KMMC - street-dwellers cooperative) to facilitate theincome generating projects/ businesses ofthe Kaibigan. Currently, the cooperative

runs:

a. A Kitchenette that cooks the foodserved during feeding programsand supplies catering services toCCT functions. Soon we will start toaccept catering functions fromnetwork of CCT friends andsupporters. We are also on our wayto setting up a Party Needsbusiness.

b. A Bakery to provide quality and

affordable bread to street-dwellersand other members of the

community where we operate. Wealso look forward to supplying thevariety stores owned by CCT CreditCooperative partners as outlet of

our bakery.

c. General Merchandise Store currently sells household cleaningproducts, generic medicines andused clothing. Allowing people topurchase used clothing at minimalprice gives them a sense of pridefor being able to have a good buythan giving for them free. We dogive free clothes as a gift duringspecial occasions like birthday orChristmas. Selling of household

cleaning products house-to-housewithin communities where CCToperates becomes a source ofincome for the kaibigan too.

d. Tailoring Shop trains street-dwellers tailoring skills and acceptstailoring jobs.

The KMMC provides savings facilities and asocial security payment scheme for thekaibigan. Loan windows are also provided

to those who are already employed or whowould want to start an individual or groupincome generating project. We currentlyregister 83 kaibigan as associate membersof the cooperative.

10. Minister to 50 adults (including elderly andsick) and 30 children daily, while we docase management and exert efforts toreconcile them with their families.


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ASKI Profile

The Organisation

ALALAY SA KAUNLARAN SA GITNANG LUZON,INC. (ASKI) is a non stock, non-profit Christiandevelopment organisation. A group of Christianleaders and businessmen in Nueva Ecija registeredthe organisation with the Securities and ExchangeCommission in July 1987.

VisionTo see people living in accordance with Gods plan

for a just and caring society where all live withdignity, sufficiency and responsibility towards othersand the rest of creation.

MissionTo promote socio-economic and spiritualtransformation in the Province of Nueva Ecija bystrengthening and harnessing the resources ofdevelopment organisations, cooperatives andgroups engaged in micro, cottage and smallenterprise development and assisting individualbeneficiaries alleviate poverty and bring about thefullness of life based on ecumenical Christiandevelopment philosophy.

Background information

The province of Nueva Ecija occupies theeastern rim of Central Luzon Plains in northernPhilippines and is completely landlocked.Surrounding provinces include Pampanga andBulacan in the South, Pangasinan in the North,Aurora and Quezon in the East and Tarlac inthe West.

The predominant terrain within the provincecomprises low lying alluvial plains and rollinguplands.

In view of it being landlocked, the provinceswater resources are composed mainly of

surface and ground waters that are harnessedfor irrigation, power generation, aquaculture,production, recreation, and domesticconsumption. Water for domestic consumptionis extracted from the ground waters by meansof deep wells and hand pumps. Rural areas ofthe province with no irrigation facilities extractground water for irrigation purposes.

The province has a total land area of 550,718hectares, with 197,448 hectares (37%) of thisclassified as forestland. However, only 94,454(48%) hectares is forested. The numerous

birds, reptiles, mammals and insects aresubject to indiscriminate hunting.

There are 29 municipalities, 4 cities, and 849barangays (villages) which make up theprovince of Nueva Ecija. The province containsa total population of 1,659,883, growing at arate of 2.11 % (census as of 2000). Theregional and national regional and nationalgrowth rates are 3.20% and 2.36 %respectively. Male population accounts for50.83% of the total population while femalepopulation accounts for 49.17%. The Census

2000 indicates a total household base of340,158, with an average of 4.87 individualsper household. The working age population(aged 15 years old and over) is estimated atapproximately 1,065,000 (64.16%). Out of thisapproximately 391,000 (36.7%) areunemployed, 674,000 (63.3%) are employed.Forty two percent (42%) of those employed areengaged in agriculture.

As per poverty threshold indicator, a person inthe province would need PHP11,319.00 peryearat his disposal to ensure he/she could

meet their basic needs. There is a povertyincidence of 15.4% in the province. (Incomeand poverty indicators 1994-1997).

The provinces population density per squarekilometre is at 302, higher than that of thenational average of 255 per sq. km. . Urbandrift is apparent in areas due to perceivedgreater opportunities for gainful employment,business activities, education, better access tosocial services, etc

Both in the urban and in the rural area, going to

fiestas (elaborate community celebrations) is abasic social norm. People invest time and


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resources in such activities. In the rural areas,a favourite recreation activity post harvestseason is playing tong-its (a game card) orbingo.

Notably, the majority of both urban and ruralpopulations are able to meet the three times aday diet requirement. However, there is littleevidence that the diet is a balanced one.

Only a few cottage industries operate in therural due to low quality of electric power, lack ofwater supply system and the absence ofadequate communication systems. The samefactors have discouraged potential investorsfrom establishing factories and other forms ofindustrial operations in the rural areas.

With regard to gender: women are partiallyrecognised as economically active. They arenot merely treated as housekeepers but a helpmeet in their homes and communities as well.They are given the opportunity to deal withother people and also manage small businessto increase family income.

There are multiple factors determining povertyin both the urban and the rural areas. Thefarmers and landless workers in the rural areassuffer from limited and poor rural infrastructure,which significantly affects their productive

capacity. The poor infrastructure means limitedaccess to the markets that are essential toobtaining a fair price for their produce.

Farmers and landless workers have very limitedaccess to capital as well as to appropriatetechnology.

The informal sector is equally affected by lackof appropriate technology and access tomarkets. Thus, workers in the informal sectorsuffer from irregular employment. Further, theyare subject to exploitative terms and conditions

at work.

A small number of families dominate both thepolitical and the economic scene in theprovince. Approximately 15 families own 85%of the land. With the resource base andpolitical power they control they direct adevelopment process which does not alwaysalign with the needs of the most vulnerable

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion inthe province. Other significant religions includeIglesia ni Kristo, Aglipay, Methodist, Jehovahs

Witness and Born Again Christians. In generalthere is little discrimination on the basis ofreligion in all spheres of life. However the

Christian tradition is the central source ofvalues which pervade society.

A.S.K.I. has been working as a povertycommunity development agency in the province

of Nueva Ecija since 1987. Until recently theyhave worked primarily with the informalworkforce through holistic micro-financeprogrammes. However, a growing realisationthat the urban oriented micro-financeprogramme is not a panacea in developmentterms, has led them to seeking ways in whichthey can broaden their programme. A greatdeal of focus has been brought to designingprogrammes which can be used to facilitatetruly sustainable development for the mostvulnerable communities within their province. Itis in this context that ASKI has looked to the

more marginalised rural communities.

Land use

Quezon has a total land area of 6,937 hectares.The agricultural area is about 6,050.27hectares or 87.22% of the total land area.Residential areas (3.2%) all barangays areconcentrated along the transport lines. Theremaining land area (9.58%) is utilised forcommercial, institutional and other purposes.

Agriculture/ Horticulture and Animal Husbandry

Quezon is primarily agricultural land. Of itstotal land area of 6.937 hectares, 87.22% isdevoted to agriculture. Rain fed area covers1,267.27. The terrain in the municipality isgenerally flat and has silt loam soil type, wellsuited to agriculture, particularly to rice andcorn growing.

There is an irrigation system in the area that ismade up of shallow tube wells and small farmreservoirs. Irrigated area covers about 4,783hectares.

Rain fed area covers 1,267.27 hectares and isonly suitable for cropping during the wetseason.

Vegetables and other root crops that are notaffected by scarce water supply, are planted asa substitute to palay in rain fed areas during thedry season. Vegetable production is notimmensely affected by water because it isplanted in bacood and puddy during dryseason and near creeks during rainy season.Fruit bearing trees are grown for domestic

purposes only.

Drought is a problem during the dry season andthere is a need to encourage farmers to plantdrought resistant crops.


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The municipalitys agricultural production is lowlargely due to inadequate water supplyattributed to lack of adequate irrigation duringthe dry season. Marketing of farm produce is

also inefficient as a result of poor road networksand farm to market roads.

Farmers cannot get a good price from theiragricultural produce (palay) during the wetseason, largely because they are sold in theimmediate wet condition. Solar dryers, apartfrom being limited, are only efficiently utilizedduring the dry season. There are currently nofacilitieswhere farmers can dry their produceduring the rainy season.

Livestock and poultry are raised for domestic

use as well as for commercial purposes by agreat proportion of the population. There areover 15 commercial hog rearing backyardproduction enterprises. There are over 10commercial poultry operators or contractgrowers, mostly in barangays Dulong Bayan,Ilog Baliwag, Dona Lucia, and Bertese. Ducks,turkeys, dogs and sheep are also raised in thearea.

Fisheries

The municipality has commercial waters andabout 35.23 hectares of fresh water fishponds,with 17 operators. These fishponds have anaverage yield of 52.84 metric tons per hectareper year.

Trade and Commerce

There are approximately 239 commercialestablishments in the municipality with sari-saristores being the predominant enterprises. TheCommercial activities are centered in andaround the public market located in BarangayII. It is accessible to all barangays by tricycle.

The only large scale industry in the municipalityis metal craft manufacturing.

The trade and commercial growth of the town isslow, being attributed to the lack of industry andcorresponding employment.

Small and the medium scale industries aregiven little support for their development. Thereare limited marketing outlets for manufacturedgoods and products. There is lack of financialassistance and credit facilities.

The LGU encourages setting up of more smallscale livelihood activities. It recognizes the

need for capital assistance, training supportand technology transfers for groups/ individualswho are interested. However, the municipalityhas insufficient capital to boost cottageindustry.

The commercial activities are centered in andaround the public market. Enterprises found inthe different barangays are generally smallscale sari-sari stores (run out of peopleshouses) which have limited customers. Theirexistence is precarious almost withoutexception.


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TEAR Fund

Since it was founded in 1974, TEAR Fund NewZealand has raised millions for aid and

development assistance in the world's poorestcountries and communities.

TEAR Fund works in close partnership with otherChristian development agencies, national churchesand missionary societies throughout the developingworld. TEAR Fund has a holistic approach todevelopment that provides economic and materialhelp as well as spiritual hope by bringing together apartnership of social action with a clear andunambiguous witness of Christ's love and salvation.TEAR Fund is a recipient of New Zealandgovernment matching funds through participation in

the voluntary agency support scheme. This meansthe funds you provide will multiply.

Your input will be reused to create jobs forgenerations to come. Thank you for consideringpartnering with these people.

In Christ

Richard BarterManager Resource Development


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DESTINATION PHILIPPINES

The 7,000 islands which comprise the Philippinesare the forgotten islands of South-East Asia: they'reoff the main overland route and have never

attracted great numbers of tourists. There's nodoubt that the country has lost out economicallybecause of this, but its reputation as the basketcase of Asia is now thoroughly outdated. Most ofthe Philippines is laid back, stable and relativelysafe. The country likes to promote itself as theplace where `Asia wears a smile' and the locals are,by and large, an exceptionally friendly and helpfulbunch. On top of this, transport is cheap, the food isgood, accommodation is plentiful and (for themonolinguistic) English is widely spoken.

Facts at a Glance

Full country name: Republic of the PhilippinesArea: 299,000 sq km (116,610 sq mi)Population: 68 million (growth rate 2.5%)Capital city: Manila (pop: 10 million)People: Predominantly descendants of Malays,

Chinese and Muslim minorities and a number ofmestizos (Filipino-Spanish or Filipino-Americans)Language: Pilipino (Tagalog) and English plusnumerous widely spoken indigenous languages,some SpanishReligion: 82% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 5%Muslim, 3% BuddhistGovernment: Republic


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Environment

The Philippines consists of 7107 islands in thewestern Pacific Ocean, only 2000 of which areinhabited. Luzon and Mindanao are by far the

largest, and comprise roughly 66% of the country'sarea. Only about 1000 islands are larger than onesq km and 2500 aren't even named. ThePhilippines' nearest neighbours are Taiwan (north),Eastern Malaysia and Brunei (south-west), andIndonesia (south).

The archipelago has a volcanic topography andexperiences frequent seismic activity. There are 37volcanoes in the archipelago and the highest peakis Mt Apo (2954m/9689ft) in Mindanao. About halfthe country is under cultivation and about a thirdremains forested, despite tree-felling and slash-

and-burn agriculture. There are more than a 1000species of birds and animals, notably wild dwarfbuffalo, mouse deer, crocodiles and pythons. Thereare over 10,000 species of trees, shrubs and ferns,the most common of which are palms andbamboos.

The Philippines are hot and humid year-round. Theweather pattern across the archipelago is complex,but can be roughly divided into the dry season(January to June) and the wet season (July toDecember). The average annual temperature is25C (77F).

HistoryThe first inhabitants of the Philippines arrived up to300,000 years ago, probably migrating over a landbridge from the Asian mainland. The Negrito orAeta arrived 25,000 years ago, but they were drivenback by several waves of immigrants fromIndonesia, followed by maritime immigrations ofMalayan people. In 1380, the Arab-taught Makdumarrived in the Sulu archipelago and began toestablish what became a powerful Islamic sphere ofinfluence over the next hundred years.

Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521 and claimedthe archipelago for Spain. Magellan was killed bylocal chiefs who quite naturally disapproved of thisnotion. Ruy Lopez de Villalobos followed in 1543and named the territory Filipinas after Philip II ofSpain. Permanent Spanish occupation began in1565, and by 1571 the entire country, except for thestrictly Islamic Sulu archipelago, was under Spanishcontrol.

A Filipino independence movement grew in the 19thcentury and Filipinos fought on the side of theAmericans in 1898 during the Spanish-American

War. When the Spanish were defeated, GeneralAguinaldo declared the Philippines independent.The USA, however, had other plans, and promptlypurchased the islands from the Spanish for US$20

million. The USA eventually recognised theFilipinos' desire for independence and Manuel LQuezon was sworn in as President of the PhilippineCommonwealth in 1935 as part of a transitionalphase pending full independence. Japan invaded

the Philippines in 1942 brutally interrupting thisprocess and ruled until the USA re-invaded twoyears later. The Philippines received fullindependence in 1946.

Ferdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965,declared martial law in 1972 and ruled virtually as adictator until 1986. His regime was attacked by bothcommunist and Muslim guerrillas, and he wasaccused of ballot-rigging and fraud. Theassassination of prominent opposition figureBenigno Aquino in 1983 sparked massive anti-government protests. A snap election in 1986 saw

the opposition parties rally around Aquino's widow,Cory. Both parties claimed victory, but Aquino waswidely believed to have polled most votes. Sheinitiated a programme of nonviolent civil unrestwhich resulted in Marcos fleeing the country.

Aquino re-established the democratic institutions ofthe country, but failed to tackle economic problemsor win over the military and the powerful Filipinoelite. US strategic influence in the countrydiminished following the 1991 Mt Pinatubo eruptionwhich destroyed the US Clark Air Base, and afterthe Philippine Senate refused to ratify the lease on

the Subic Bay Naval Station. Aquino survived sevencoups in six years and was succeeded by herDefence Minister Fidel Ramos in 1992. Ramosattempted to revitalise the economy, attract foreigninvestment, cleanse corruption and expandprovision of utilities. In 1998 he was replaced by thePhilippines' answer to Bruce Willis, Joseph Estrada.

The Philippine government and the Moro NationalLiberation Front signed a peace accord inSeptember 1996 ending, formally at least, theMNLF's 24-year struggle for autonomy inMindanao. The peace agreement foresaw the

MLNF being granted considerable autonomy inmany of island's provinces. Peace in the arearemains elusive however following the rise of asplinter group, the militant Moro Islamic LiberationFront (MILF), which opposes the agreement. Thegovernment continues to conduct militaryoperations in MILF-held areas in Basilan and Sulu.

EconomicProfile

GDP: US$173 billionGDP per head: US$2660Annual growth: 2.5%Inflation: 7.5%Major products/industries: Electronic and electricalproducts, clothingMajor trading partners: USA, Japan, Taiwan


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CultureThe Philippines has developed a mixed culture fromthe blending of foreign influences with nativeelements. Today, the Muslims, and some of the

isolated tribes, are the only people whose cultureremains unadulterated by Spanish and Americaninfluences.

Although traditional theatre, literature andkundimans (love songs) in the national languagehave experienced a resurgence since CoryAquino's People Power movement, visitors aremore likely to witness beauty contests, lurid soapoperas, violent and sentimental Filipino movies, andlocal bands perfectly imitating Western pop tunes.

About 10% of Filipinos (the so-called cultural

minority groups or tribal Filipinos) retain theirtraditional culture. There are some 60 ethnologicalgroups, ranging from the Badjao of the Suluarchipelago, who are sea gypsies, to the head-hunting Kalinga in the north of Bontoc.

The Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia.Over 90% of the population claim to follow Christianfaiths. The largest of the minority religious groupsare the Muslims, who live chiefly on Mindanao andin the Sulu archipelago. There is also a PhilippineIndependence Church, some Buddhists, and asmall number of animists.

The geography and history of the Philippines haveconspired to produce a multiplicity of languages,some 80 dialects in total. The concept of a nationallanguage developed after the Spanish-AmericanWar in 1898 and Tagalog was declared the nationallanguage in 1936. There were several othercontenders for this role, including Cebuano,Hiligaynon and Ilocano. A compromise reached in1973 confirmed Pilipino as the national language.

This is based on Tagalog, but has linguisticelements of other Philippine languages. Despite

this, English remains the language of commerceand politics in the Philippines.

Filipino cuisine has Chinese, Malay and Spanishinfluences. Popular morning and afternoon snacksare called merienda, and pulutan (small morsels)are served with alcoholic drinks. Barbecued sticksof meat or seafood are popular evening snacks.Standard dishes, always served with rice, includemeat and vegetables cooked with vinegar andgarlic, grilled grouper, meat stews and a hugevariety of soups - rice, noodle, beef, chicken, liver,kneecap, offal and sour vegetable. Side dishes

include strips of unripened papaya, fermented fishor shrimp paste and bite-sized pieces of crispy pigskin. Halo-halo is a dessert made from crushed ice

mixed with sweets and fruits and smothered inevaporated milk.

Facts for the Traveller

Visas: Twenty-one day visas are issued on arrival.Health Issues: Check with your doctor revaccinations.Time: Four hours behind NZElectricity: 220V, 60 HzWeights & Measures: MetricTourism: 1.2 million visitors per yearInsurance: Ensure you have Travel Insurance. Wecan arrange this. Please let us know.

Money & Costs

Currency: peso @ Feb 24 2010

Exchange rate: US$1 = 46.4 pesosNZ$1= 33 pesosRelative costs:Budget meal: US$2-3Restaurant meal: US$4-5Top-end meal: US$12-15Budget room: US$4-5Mid-range hotel: US$15-20Top-end hotel: US$150-400

The US dollar is the most recognised currency inthe Philippines, and is often easier (and cheaper) tochange than cheques. Large denomination US bills

will get you a particularly good rate, but only cleanbanknotes are acceptable. If you want to usecheques, the bigger brands will be accepted bymost banks throughout the country. ATMs are allover the place, and you can use Master Card andVisa in them.

Whether you tip or not is up to you. Restaurant staffwill generally expect one, even if there is a servicecharge included. If you're catching a taxi with aworking meter, round up the amount. Whenshopping, especially in markets, it's worth trying toget a 10% discount - most Filipinos will aim for one.

As a tourist you'll probably be quoted a higher thanusual price anyway.

CCCuuullltttuuurrraaalll TTTiiipppsss fffooorrr ttthhheeePPPhhhiii lll iiippppppiiinnneeesss

Maintaining cordial relations at all times is essentialin this culture; making only positive comments is a


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good place to start. Negativity of any kind cancause "loss of face", which has unfortunateconsequences in this culture, including loss ofreputation as well as the severing of friendships andOther meaningful bonds.

Although the re a re m an y social ine qua lities ,

there is a belief that everyone must be treated withcivility. Moreover, as people rise in importance, theyare expected to behave with heightened modestyand graciousness, especially in their dealings withthe poor. For example, beggars are politely refusedwith the phrase "Patawarin po", which means,"Forgive me, sir." Snubbing a beggar may resultonly in "loss of face."

Visiting m en sh ould e xpect to s hake ha nds firmly

with other Filipino men, both upon introduction and

subsequent meetings.

Foreign wome n ma y initiate a ha nds ha ke with

Filipino men or women.

Ge nerally there is not suppos ed to be p hysical

contact between men and women in public. Whenin public, rather than initiating a handshake, menshould wait for a Filipino woman to extend herhand. Christian women in the communitiesappreciate a handshake, especially when aforeigner initiates it.

Clos e u ppe r clas s fema le friend s in thePhilippines greet each other with a hug and kiss.Similarly, close upper class male friends mayexhibit close physical contact, such as holdinghands or walking arm in arm around a friend'sshoulder. A handshake, bow and smile is mostcommon in the poorer communities.

As a sign of res pe ct, the children, whenintroduced to elderly, take their right hand and put iton their forehead (just like what you commonly seewhen the Pope or the priest visit the children inEastern countries). We call it "pagmamano".

Children a ddres s o lde r males a s "kuya," a

respectful title for elder brother and the female as"ate" for elder sister.

Filipinos often gre et e ac h other b y making eye

contact, smiling, and then raising and lowering theireyebrows.

Whe n some one raise s his or her eyebrows at

you, it is often a way of indicating that you havebeen understood.

Raising one's voice is unacceptable in Filipino

business culture. Moreover, it's important tomaintain a low, yet controlled tone of voice at alltimes. Striving to speak this way can help you

conduct business with greater effectiveness andmay even allow you to project more of anauthoritative, confident image.

Don't as su me that a s mile is a n indica tion of

amusement or approval. Frequently, smiling is usedto mask embarrassment, nervousness, and otherfeelings of distress. This is why you will sometimesobserve Filipinos smiling or laughing duringinappropriately somber or tense moments.

Vis itors s hou ld a void s taring a t Filipinos, who

can easily interpret a stare as an hostile gesture. Ifyou are stared at, it will be in your best interests tolook away, or return a nice smile.

It 's recomme nded that you break e ye contact

several times in the course of a conversation. When

you look at a Filipino too intently, it is ofteninterpreted as "gawking" rather than a sign ofattentiveness.

Whe n it is ne ce ss ary to walk be twe en two

people, lower your head with your hands clasped infront of you as you pass them. This gesture confersrespect.

Becaus e of the yea rs of

U.S. military presence in thePhilippines, most NorthAmerican gestures are

recognized and understood.

P ointing a middle finge r

at a person or thing isconsidered the mostobscene gesture in the Philippines.

S ince pointing can easily be perceived as aninsulting gesture, Filipinos rarely indicate objects ordirections by pointing with their fingers. Instead,they indicate with a glance or by pursing their lips.

To beckon s ome one , hold your ha nd out, palm

downward, and make a scooping motion with thefingers. Beckoning someone with the palm up andwagging one finger can be interpreted as an insult.

You ma y obs erve pe ople hiss ing in resta urants;

this is a common way of beckoning servers. It is notused to beckon foreigners.

Indicating "two" with the finge rs is don e by

holding up the ring and little finger, instead of theforefinger and middle finger. The thumb is notgenerally used to count numbers in the Philippines.

It is not co ns ide red polite to pu t your hands onyour hips when talking.


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A Filipino, e s pe cia lly a child, m a y try to ge t your

attention by brushing a finger against your elbow.

Corregidor Island TripCorregidor is the largest of the islands guarding the

entrance to Manila Bay.

Tadpole shaped, it lies of the southwestern tip ofBatan Peninsula, 26 miles off Manila.It rises about 450 feet above sea level with a landarea of three and a half square miles. During theSpanish era, the island was a fishing village repletewith a lighthouse and signal station through whichall ships entering and leaving Manila Bay had tostop, thus earning it the name "Corregidor" whichmeans "corrector."

When the Americans came, a hospital was built for

wounded soldiers. In 1906, because of the strategicimportance of Manila and the Bay, the Americansbuilt a full-scale fortification on the island, equippingit with long-ranged and tractor-drawn guns,minefields and anti-aircraft guns.

During the last Pacific War, Corrigidor became atheatre of war between the Japanese ImperialForces and the combined defenders of Filipino andAmerican troops, thus, its valiant last stand againstthe superior invasive forces came to be written inhistory. The occupying forces, however, were to bevanquished upon the return of the Americans in

1944.

On October 12, 1947, Corregidor was turned overby the US Government to be Philippine whose flagwas hoisted in place of the American flag,witnessed by President Manuel Roxas. TheFilipinos regained final ownership of the islandfortress.

Location : Off Bataan Peninsula

How to get there : Trips to Corregidor may bearranged with local travel offices in Manila although

daily tours via passengers yachts could be availedAt the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex atRoxas Boulevard for a very affordable packagerate.

Travel time : About 1 hour cruise from the ManilaBay area.

Corregidor, Philippines is approximately 145 Kms.away from Manila (Rizal Monument).

destination philippines - insight tour

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