First Impressions of Manila
I have now been in Manila for over a week and have been getting into the daily grind of work. Work is an interesting one, I have no computer, there is only one phone in the office and absolutely no private space in which to work. It is a very different environment to working in Australia that's for sure! I work with very bright people but there is so much to do and so few people to help. I know now what it means when we want to provide overseas development assistance to a country in a particular area and there is no capacity in-country to use the money - because of course we don't usually provide core funding to particular agencies for their work, we normally have particular requirements and outcomes that need to be achieved in order for the funding to be provided. But when the talented people are so busy doing their everyday work, there really is no capacity to do anything else. With 20% of the budget of the Philippines going directly into debt servicing, I wonder what this country would be able to do with a full budget. However, as Neil and many others bring up, it depends on what they spend the additional 20% on.
Anyway, generally it is hot, humid, and the traffic is awful here. It really isn't a walker's city (I never understood this before I came here) because with all the traffic spitting out dirty exhaust (most of the vehicles are hand me downs from Korea and other parts of southeast asia and look like they should be retired) the air pollution is absolutely terrible. Neil and I walked about 200 metres around the corner for some dinner last night at an American-style resteraunt called 'Shakeys' and 100 of those metres were along a fairly busy road. By the time we got to Shakeys my eyes were full of grit and I could feel the air pollution in my throat - it's so nice!!
But because you can't walk anywhere - it means most people take taxis, jeepneys or buses everywhere - the worst offenders when it comes to traffic pollution! Half the traffic is public transport and I wonder if people would walk more and then require less vehicles on the roads if they were cleaned up a bit . . .
The heat is very exhausting. We generally eat less, are more tired and run the air conditioner as much as possible when in the home. We're told the hot season should only last a little while longer until we hit the rainy season. While this initially sounded nice to me, I have been assured that when it rains, it pours. What's worse is that it only makes things more humid! So what it good about this place?? Well, it is pretty exciting, there is always a lot going on and the people are absolutely wonderful. And by all accounts, as soon as you get out of Manila, it is supposed to be wonderful. We have a friend, Paul J coming to visit us as of tomorrow, so we'll use that chance to get out of Manila and see a bit of the Philippines. And I promise to write more about the good aspects of this place - because despite the heat, travel time to work, air pollution and humidity - we are enjoying it I promise!!
First Day at Work
I arrived for my first day at the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) to a very welcome reception from everyone at the Program Development Division (PDD). After being shown to my desk, which is one of 9 desks in a 5 x 9 metre room, I had a brief chat with the women with whom I will be working with the next 12 months. At 10am the team put on a more formal orientation in the sole meeting room of the Agency. I was provided with an overview of the work of the NCRFW, we discussed a bit about my formal work plan, we talked about what kind of expectations everyone had regarding my assistance in the office for the next year, and I was briefly introduced to the Chairperson of the NCRFW.
I was then treated to a delicious lunch with the women in the office who each had brought in a local Filipino delicacy. This included the staple of Filipino food – rice as well as:
• Adobo: pork and chicken
• Mixed Vegetables
• Whole Fish
• Mahablanca: a sweetish white thick dessert made with corn flour and corn; and
• Leche Flan: a milk flan a bit like cream caramel.
It was a really yummy lunch. In the afternoon I settled into my desk a little and became acquainted with the tiny office and the people I will be working with. There are four ‘technical officers’, what we would consider policy or program officers, and two technical staff whose role is solely administrative. The technical officers, Anna, Bernadette, Maricel and Irene (An, Dette, Marcel and I) are highly skilled, intelligent and committed women. I fell as though I will be learning more from them than them from me! I don’t know much about the support staff – Jean and Aleth, but they are also really friendly people.
Homemade lunch: Jean, Dette, Macel and Aleth
Working in this office under the present government's ‘austerity’ measures will prove to be a huge challenge and I hope I will be able to add something from my past experiences in Australia to help. I’m trying to learn some Pilipino, but my brain is having some absorptive problems – but I’ll keep trying.
I'm hoping to put up some pictures soon - we've been having some problems connecting our home phone, but I'll let you know the number as soon as we have it operational!
More soon - Emily
Manila Map
I am working in City of Manila, we are living in Quezon City and Neil is working in Makati.
Our Condo!
This is the website of where we will be living in Manila:
http://www.manila-condos.com/real-estate/manila/index.htmWe are living in the building to the very right on floor number 10.
First Days in Manila
It's been 4 days in Manila already and as can be expected, it has passed really quickly. Manila is a huge, busy city but I think I will enjoy it here. The first few days we have spent on 'orientation' - meeting the people we will be working with, spending some time getting some cultural information about working and living with Pilipinos, learning the rail system, adjusting to the food and trying to find a decent place to live. After a rough day on Wednesday looking at a couple of very basic places to live, with the help of the great SAGRIC team who are responsible for our placements and orientation, Neil and I found a place to live in the same building as 3 other AYADs who will be sharing an appartment together. It is pretty far from where Neil and I will be working, however it is very close to the rail lines - an essential requirement in Manila where the traffic (as everyone reports) is truely incredible. What is even better is that it has a nice view, has a pool and has a spare bedroom! So people are more than welcome to come visit and have a place to stay. It's a bit expensive, but I think worth it to have a decent place to get away from the madness of the streets of Manila!
The food so far has been great - it is possible to live really cheaply and I've been managing decent meals averaging at about $4 Australian. Of course it is possible to spent a lot more if you want to, especially in the area where Neil is working, Makati, where many of the big 'Western' coorporations are located. Manila varies from looking a lot like any other 'Western' city (Makati), to the cardboard slums that you imagine when you think of a developing country. My health has been so far ok, but poor Neil has just suffered from a 4 day bout of the 'travellers bug' and had to take a day and a half off work. But thankfully, he seems to be improving and I think it is something that everyone will go through here - it will be just a matter of time!!
Before I sign off this post I just want to say a big thank you to Matt and Tash and Glenn, Lyn and Junko for putting me up before I left Canberra. I hope you come over so I can repay the favour! I'll try and write more soon - Em
Safe Arrival
Just a quick note to let you know that I arrived safely in Manila. Will write more soon!
Philippines Crew
Asia AYADs
We had a weeks training in Canberra prior to our departure which included a cocktail function at Old Parliament House with Ambassadors, Heads of Missions and the Minister. See if you can find me!
Philippines call for a 4 hour working week
Government offices in the Philippines are to work a four-day week for the next two months to reduce energy costs and help its flagging economy.
President Gloria Arroyo said the move was "imperative" because of soaring oil prices and a worsening fiscal position. Inflation is running at 8.5%, jobless levels are above 11% and the budget deficit has widened to 4% of GDP.
The order will apply to all staff working in government departments as well as state-owned corporations.
Read more at the BBC :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4393881.stm
