My Time in the Philippines is Coming to an End

[Jonny R]

So that's it then. After a bit more than one and a half years here in the Philippines I have to return to New Zealand. I really need to get a job as soon as possible.

It has been one fantastic ride here. I'm so glad I didn't let any of my fears stop me from taking the step to come here and work in charity work, as it's been a couple of the best years of my life.

I arrived here in January 2007 and spent the first six months renting a single non-aircon room in a retired man's house, in perhaps low-middle-class neighbourhood about 45 minutes from the CBD. Every morning I'd walk past the wet-market to catch the buss or jeepney to the office...even little things like that become cool memories, so lively is a Filipino wet-market.

I've heard it said that the honeymoon period of living in a developing country ends after a few months, but I've never gotten sick of living here. I ended up moving to a studio space in the CBD last year, and have great friends here.

Adventures I've had have included interviewing a peace-building sultan in a Muslim conflict zone here, camping on the beach on a tiny island in the Hundred Islands, building houses in the burning summer sun alongside the future recipients of the houses, interviewing CEOs of multinational corporations and discovering motivations far beyond simple corporate social responsibility, and seeing children move from lives of no hope to having real hope of a better future.

I've also managed to extend my vocal range through regular karaoke singing with friends, as well as some singing with local bands, in addition to a few guitar jams.

This is an excellent place to live, and there are 7,109 islands to explore in downtime. My language learning has gone reasonably well, and I'm keeping it up for when I return, perhaps for a holiday next year.

For any people on here coming to the end of their education, I recommend taking some time to do something like this before you get to be 30 - the age I was when I came here. There are extra difficulties at my age, including the need to take time out from career and financial progress etc.

Also, if you're straight out of college or only a few years in to work you may be able to get financial help from US AID or whatever your local equivalent is.

Lastly, food and beer cost very little here, and girls are generally slim and pretty. Occasionally dealing with corruption can be irritating, but generally because you're working in charity you're not subject to it too much. Shopping is excellent and in truth I believe tourism in the Philippines is a somewhat undiscovered gem, compared to known meccas such as Thailand.




Wish me luck finding a job please haha...

[Jonny R]

Camping in Hundred Islands:

[Jonny R]

Couple more:

[Tor]

Man, that is quite some bragging pics you've got there!

Actually, the last few months, I have been thinking about doing charity work for a year.. Could be after the bachelor degree I am working on now, before I proceed with the master degree. Thinking about some place in Africa... Seeing things from another perspective, actually providing some help instead of just sending some money to Africa from time to time, seeing real poverty, learning what kind of support they actually need, meeting people from an entirely other cultural basis..... There's a lot to be learned.. Time will show if I do in fact take the last step to do it, but I am strongly considering it.. I have always thought highly of you for your effort in the Philipines. Good man!

[Jonny R]

Man, that is quite some bragging pics you've got there!

Actually, the last few months, I have been thinking about doing charity work for a year.. Could be after the bachelor degree I am working on now, before I proceed with the master degree. Thinking about some place in Africa... Seeing things from another perspective, actually providing some help instead of just sending some money to Africa from time to time, seeing real poverty, learning what kind of support they actually need, meeting people from an entirely other cultural basis..... There's a lot to be learned.. Time will show if I do in fact take the last step to do it, but I am strongly considering it.. I have always thought highly of you for your effort in the Philipines. Good man!

Thanks, man.

Well yeah, if you have the chance then I definitely encourage you to take it, especially if your govt will support you at that stage.

You do learn so much and your life is truly so much richer from the experiences you gain. And as they say, it is humbling participating in it because you meet so many people who are much more inspiring than anything you might do or contribute hahahaha...

I chose the Philippines due to a few factors. In fact, I was here on vacation in 2006, because after staying with friends here in 1996 I'd always wanted to return. I spent an inspiring day tagging along with two of the leaders of the charity I've been working with, and at the end of that day the Exec Director asked me to consider moving here to help haha...I was shocked but ended up moving here one year later.

I met some Danish students once in Thailand, volunteering for six months with the support of the Danish govt. Does your govt provide support for such things?

[Jonny R]

I'm trying to find other interesting pics I might have on my laptop...

Building in Bukidnon, southern Phils:



Sunset over the hills outside Cotabato City. The hills are not really safe to travel around, due to conflicts in the region...



A not too impoverished example of a slum here in Manila (the really bad ones are a lot worse):



Doing the tourist thing on one of the top 10 beaches in the world:




Sunset over Manila bay, from my friend's condo:

[Tor]

Yup, I believe they do. There's no problem having the govt or other organizations financing your stay when you do volunteering work.

I am thinking it could be great if I could use my economics education out there, but at the same time, it would be nice to work on stuff I wouldn't do otherwise.. Help building schools perhaps..

[Rainmaker]

I always love your pics and stories man. I pretty much wanna BE you.

What kind of job are you looking for when you get back?

[Jonny R]

Yup, I believe they do. There's no problem having the govt or other organizations financing your stay when you do volunteering work.

I am thinking it could be great if I could use my economics education out there, but at the same time, it would be nice to work on stuff I wouldn't do otherwise.. Help building schools perhaps..

That would be cool indeed. I read Sachs' book The End of Poverty, enjoyed some of it, and noted he found the experience of being personally involved in developing countries very beneficial for his economics work in general.

We've had a bunch of students come from the Ivy League to study the work our organisation has been doing (it seems to be unusually successful, to the point it was the only Filipino organisation invited to the Clinton Global Initiative last year). They find it useful for thesis work because what we're doing is really across the whole range of work needed in redeveloping slums into good communities.

[StrangeSound]

That's very inspiring, thanks a lot for sharing the story and pictures. I feel that I need such an experience somehow, too.

[Jonny R]

I always love your pics and stories man. I pretty much wanna BE you.

What kind of job are you looking for when you get back?

Haha, thanks...you've got plenty of time to do some awesome stuff You've got a natural opportunity in Malaysia I guess too...What are you studying?

I'm looking to get back into IT business analysis / functional consulting / consulting, maybe even with a touch of product design etc. Hopefully next year (or even over summer) I'll get started on doing some econometrics papers as I want to bridge from my post-grad diploma in business (IS) to a Masters of Commerce (economics).

Whatever I get into, I want to keep a decent amount of analysis sort of work going on (business, economics, social etc).

My role here in the Philippines has been principally split between journalism and promotional writing, and a bit of business analysis and requirements stuff for their internet and email campaign sort of needs.

[Jonny R]

A couple more pics.

Sunset from a catamaran off Boracay Island:



Another view of Manila from my friend's condo:

[Jonny R]

That's very inspiring, thanks a lot for sharing the story and pictures. I feel that I need such an experience somehow, too.

Thanks mate.

Well, if you are from a country where your government will support you, it's an awesome opportunity. And as the old cliche says, you do receive far more in return than you ever contribute.

I think I posted this here once before, but it's a really good video that tells a beautiful story and also shows a reasonable amount of what we do, not including such programs as education, healthcare, livelihood creation etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpKthgVqKf0

[Stratman]

If you get to Makati, Cebu, or Batagus, say hello to all my kids....

[Jonny R]

If you get to Makati, Cebu, or Batagus, say hello to all my kids....

Haha...I live in Makati, just outside the financial area where paid expat workers live, but still in a pretty safe area.

[Hoss]

nice pics...thanks for sharing...sounds like quite an experience?!

good luck to whatever you do in the future!!!

mike

[Gr8Scott]

Wow! Nice pix and good on ya for helping others! Cheers mang.

[newking70]

so, didya find ferdinand marcos' gold?

[Skarekrough]

You're leaving somewhere a better place than when you arrived.

Take pride in that. Not many folks get how cool that really is.

[JB_From_Hell]

Wow.... amazing pics. Good for you and what you did.

+1 on the "leaving it a better place" thing.