The Philippine government was considering a reproductive health bill that would make contraception more available. Guess what major religious institution was opposing it? Yup. The good old Catholic Church, in classic knee jerk fashion. Never mind that many Filipino families have so many children they can't afford to feed them. Very frustrating.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Cute Kids
They came over to sell me something or other, I think. But really they just wanted to stare at the sunburned white guy. I was SO sunburned and putting on apple cider vinegar (I'd read this would help...didn't). They were so adorable I asked to take their photo, and like kids everywhere, they loved looking at the pictures once I'd taken them.
Big Tree in the Tropics
I was fascinated by these trees. I wish I was more of a botanist to know about them. They really made this boulevard in Dumaguete.
Crowding in Manila
This shot just about sums it up. You've got your big modern skyscrapers, and nice open spaces and upscale neighborhoods (upper left) and then you've got massive slums, especially along the waterways. A few haves and a whole lot of have-nots!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Ouch!
Well, I'm sitting here in my room with some bloody gauze in my mouth. The good news is the operation only cost $68! Back in the states I'm guessing it would have been well over a grand, because it took almost two hours.
The bad news is this a procedure I wasn't totally expecting, and it isn't over by a long shot. I knew I had a cavity under one of my crowns, but I didn't know how bad it was. It was bad. I remember being so optimistic when I got my first crowns. I didn't realize my gums would recede. The one they did today was my left upper rear molar, which used to have a shiny gold crown on it. Once they pulled that crown off, it was very clear the tooth would need to be pulled.
I use the word "pulled" euphemistically. They did a lot of pulling alright, but it came out in many many pieces, all the way up to my sinus cavity. It had been root canal'd and it was brittle and even though I prayed and tapped, it really wanted to stick around.
Anyway, it took forever, was very painful at times, and very stressful the entire time. Wish I'd asked for another Xanax. The gold crown is sitting here on my table, and will probably more than pay for todays two hour treatment, but I'm going to need another implant. Damn.
And here I am in one of the great eating capitals of the world and I'm supposed to stick to scrambled eggs and yoghurt! I know that I'm whining and I really have no right. Hurricane Sandy hit land this morning and it doesn't look good for New York City and surrounds. I'll stop complaining now and wish everyone back there love and light.
The bad news is this a procedure I wasn't totally expecting, and it isn't over by a long shot. I knew I had a cavity under one of my crowns, but I didn't know how bad it was. It was bad. I remember being so optimistic when I got my first crowns. I didn't realize my gums would recede. The one they did today was my left upper rear molar, which used to have a shiny gold crown on it. Once they pulled that crown off, it was very clear the tooth would need to be pulled.
I use the word "pulled" euphemistically. They did a lot of pulling alright, but it came out in many many pieces, all the way up to my sinus cavity. It had been root canal'd and it was brittle and even though I prayed and tapped, it really wanted to stick around.
Anyway, it took forever, was very painful at times, and very stressful the entire time. Wish I'd asked for another Xanax. The gold crown is sitting here on my table, and will probably more than pay for todays two hour treatment, but I'm going to need another implant. Damn.
And here I am in one of the great eating capitals of the world and I'm supposed to stick to scrambled eggs and yoghurt! I know that I'm whining and I really have no right. Hurricane Sandy hit land this morning and it doesn't look good for New York City and surrounds. I'll stop complaining now and wish everyone back there love and light.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Some Dumaguete Photos
Filipinos are a bit obsessed with light skin. In this they are like the Thai, I believe. It seems such a shame, but then I think back to my 20's when I would try and get a tan! But I never stooped to using darkening soap. Alana told me it was hard to get any soap that didn't include bleaching agents! Uck.
Before I got to the Philippines I was worried about eating well enough. Ha! Even though their native cuisine is a bit limited, the whole country seems to embrace western food. For breakfast I would usually just go to a little hole in the wall and get eggs for about 35 cents, and a few buns I got on the way for maybe 12 cents.
The fancy meals like this one would set me back $3 to $5. This was one of the most gourmet meals I had my whole stay!
The far back wall of LCP had a number of these...murals? PSAs? To me this was the most intense. There are recruiting companies that offer domestic service jobs, especially in rich countries like Dubai. I know they also prey on Africans from Kenya. Once the girls get there they are actual slaves, receiving no pay and no freedom whatsoever, living in squalid conditions and forced to work long hours 7 days a week.
Probably there are legitimate companies as well. Alana told me that there are more Filipa overseas workers than from any other country right now.
My dear hosts, Jacques and Alana, are hopefully enjoying a much deserved R&R vacation on the beach in Sri Lanka. I would never have taught in the Philippines at all, were it not for Alana. They delayed their own departure (and I think they were READY after 2 years) for two whole weeks and endured a second round of tearful goodbyes! What wonderful folks.
Can't Sleep So Here's Some More Photos...
Well, it's 2:30 am and I can't sleep, so I thought I'd catch up by posting some photos from Dumaguete. The photo above is from my enthusiastic class at LCP - the Little Children of the Philippines, where Alana worked for two years in the Peace Corps. Lovely folks. Some of them are women who represent rural districts, as part of an empowerment program for women.
The gal in the front with two hands up on her head, she came back the next day and brought her niece who is still traumatized by a flood that wiped out her home.
We had an awesome session and then worked on the Aunt's Bell's Palsy.
Fun Facts on the Philippines: If you squeezed the island nation into one land mass, it would be just slightly bigger than the state of Arizona, but would contain the population of our 5 biggest states: California, New York, Texas, Florida and that 5th one I can't remember. That's a lot of folks.
Unfortunately, they've achieved a deforestation rate of about 95% and that's why the flooding is so horrific here.
And of course the cheapest land, or free land, is along the rivers. Not good!
And here is my first, 2 day class at NORSU - Negro Oriental State University. This was a much tougher class, with less participation. Here I met the culture shock head on, and yet there were some folks here who I'm certain will take the teachings to their community in a very big way. By the end I was so happy to be there.
Okay, this is a shopping mall in Manila. I don't go to malls in the US much, so I'm not sure if this looks unusual or weird, but this is in a third world county, with beggars and families living on flattened cardboard on the sidewalk! I saw them on the walk over to this place, which was super air conditioned, of course.
Alana, who has been here for two years, said "we still don't know who can afford to shop here". We had a lovely dinner at one of the restaurants. My first meal in the Philippines. I took home leftovers and on the way back to our pension a little boy beggar tried to grab it from me!
Welcome to the third world, which is built upon vast disparity of income.
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