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My Week from 27 June - 1 July

I though I would document my week. Looking back, it's not really indicative of my previous weeks here at NCRFW as I have been really busy. Usually I try to fit in some vocab learning each day at work on the slow times of the day, but I've just been too busy this week. Perhaps it's because I'm finally feeling a little more knowledgeable about the work of the division and therefore more confident in my ability to help out , or maybe it's just been a busy week. Only time will tell! So here we go - I've included food too because it's lunch that I've really been able to be exposed to the real Pilipino food. . .

Lunes (Monday) - AM: We had a 9am General Assembly to discuss the rationalisation plan of the Government of the Philippines. All government agencies must submit a rationalisation plan on how they are going to streamline their agency and provide administered savings. It went for a long time, most of the morning.
LUNCH: I had pork chop steak in a nice sauce with gata kalabasa (one of my favourites for lunch - pumpkin in a light coconut sauce) and rice. This was followed by left over merienda from last week - avocado, icecream and coke (Only the avocado and icecream was combined).
PM: We had another agency-wide meeting with just the technical staff to present section feedback on the Agency's draft operational framework to 2010.

Martes (Tuesday) AM: last night I was informed that I was to have a meeting with the Executive Director, so in the morning I did of preparation for this. We were then advised mid-morning that a meeting with the NCRFW Board, and a meeting with the Social Development Committee (SDC – a Committee with the head of Government Agencies) hosted by NEDA (National Economic Development Authority – the central planning agency) would be held later in the week where Local Sectoral Representation (LSR – one of my tasks) would be discussed. So I asked I if she needed any help. We agreed that I would revise the PowerPoint presentation for the NCFRW Board. So I worked on that until lunch.
LUNCH: I had torta talong (an eggplant omelet type thing - was good), ginisang sitaw (sauteed green beans) and rice.
PM: I worked on the powerpoint presentation then met with the Executive Director at 3. The meeting went for a while but it was a good opportunity to talk with her and Anna (my formal supervisor).

Miyerkoles (Wednesday)
AM: After saying to myself that I would sleep in, I still got to work at my normal time. But only Aleth was yet in the office. So I quickly jumped on the computer to check emails. The AYAD in country manager is coming for a monitoring visit next week so I had to check the details. Once everyone else arrived it was time to eat morning merienda - mais (corn) from the street vendor. I just had coffee (instant coffee with a little sugar and creamer - no milk). We chatted for a while and then Macel and I talked about our planned trio tomorrow to meet with local government officials to provide technical assistance in their GAD planning and budgeting.
LUNCH: I had lumpia shanghai (my favourite! - homemade spring rolls) along with monggo (cooked mung beans) with rice
PM - I worked on providing comments for the Office of the Press Secretary's GAD Accomplishment Report and GAD Plan and Budget. NCRFW has to endorse all the GAD Plans and Budgets of all Government Agencies. Mine was only a 1 pager - I hope my comments are in line with the division thinking . . . we'll see.

busy at work at the office

Huwebes (Thursday) AM: I arrived at about 9am where I quickly finalised my comments on the OPS GAD Plan and Budget for Anna. Macel and I then went to LEARN for the trip down to Los Banos. At about 10 we drove down to Los Banos to meet with local women’s NGOs and local government officials to present information on engendering the local planning and budgeting process. My role was really just to observe, while Macel presented to the group. She did a really great job – I don’t think I would have been able to have presented for an hour as well as she did! It was interesting to see the dynamics at the local government unit and many of their issues were very different to those at the national level. So even though I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the day, it was another good insight into government planning and budgeting process.
LUNCH: We had either an adobo type dish with vegetables. For merienda we had pancit (noodles) and a rice cake type thing - I can't remember what it's called!

Biyernes (Friday) AM: Everyone was really busy when I arrived - they had to present something at the Board meeting. SO I busied myself in reviewing the presentation that I had prepared for the SDC meeting and after coffee and some cassava pie from Los Banos (buko pie is much better I think!) I asked I about my Pilipino homework (she gave me some context on the prepositions we are supposed to learn for Monday's lesson) and then hopped on one of the computers to finish some 'mapping' of NCRFW's allies to target them for some LSR advocacy.
LUNCH:
PM: Friday afternoon I went with I to NEDA to the Social Development Committee meeting held monthly between with heads of Departments and Agencies. NCRFW presented a number of agenda items including a report back on the 49th Session on the Commission of the Status of Women in New York (which the NCFRW Executive Director attended http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/english/49sess.htm, an update on passage of a bill on Reproductive Health rights for women and families and on the Local Sector Representation. By the time the LSR was presented, there wasn’t much time and there wasn’t much time for discussion. So it was a bit of a disappointment for I especially. We ended up going for a drink afterwards and met Neil for a great chat.

posted by batik billy @ 4:26 pm