Iris Abellana and Team Building Facilitation, Cebu, Philippines

Sustainable Professions and People who make a difference in Cebu

Long before team building games became popular,
Iris Abellana has been crafting ways to torture participants
to crack their brains to think, solve problems creatively and work together.

She has facilitated with us for many years
in our company leadership trainings,
outdoor team building races,
and family reunions.

Thank you Teacher Iris,
for helping us build our communities
through zany games and outrageous challenges.

teacher iris in action

facilitating a family reunion

coordination and manual dexterity test

iq test

salamat

Dominic Asio/Madhu, Artist, Cebu, Philippines

Sustainable Professions and People who make a difference in Cebu

Madhu is a drummer,
drum maker, drum circle facilitator,
indigenous musician, and crafts teacher.

Madhu is a patient teacher.
He introduced us to the agong and the kuping.
He taught us how to  play the drums.
He showed us  how to make dreamcatchers.

Thanks Madhu for sharing your energy and talents
at KPAF Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm, Cebu.

madhu in action

oldest students

learners in action

madhu at kpaf eco pavilion

join na

Cecile Villarente/ Savitri and Music Workshop Facilitation in Cebu, Philippines

Sustainable Professions and People who make a difference in Cebu

We all love music.
We do not have to be a musician to enjoy music,
but many of us are shy to sing or dance in public.
Most of us will try to  find a dark corner to hide
or  we find some excuse in order not to participate
 in any event that will somehow call forth for an exhibition of our musical ability.

In most countries, they have all year music workshop events
held at community centers and schools.
They are offered to infants, school children, adults and even the elderly.
These events are often funded by the local government,
an art foundation or the national arts council.
These workshops are facilitated by excellent musicians
who are also trained in group facilitation.

Here in the Philippines and Cebu in particular
we hardly have any opportunities to join music workshops
They are either focused solely on highly skilled musicians or given to a select few.

Where can we,
the rest of the people in the normal curve go for a music workshop?
Well, we have a person to call on, who can conduct it anywhere...
Cecil Villarente or Savitri ,
has been giving music workshops
at different towns and events to a diverse group of participants.
She facilitates community singing and dancing.

Lots of fun...
Salamat Savitri!!!

savitri in action at KPAF
Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm

everybody gets to join

loads of fun

Bob Bajenting and Natural Farming in Cebu, Philippines

Sustainable Professions and People who make a difference in Cebu

The vegetables we eat are all laced with harmful pesticides.
Are we going to be forever captives of these pesticide companies?
Are we just going to sit and shove down these poisonous foods down our mouths?
Picture this, the mouths of our newborn infants,  cancer patients,
and those suffering from all kinds of newly emerging diseases.

We all know that we cannot do this to our loved ones...
There is a way to combat this global pandemic.
Grow your own food!
We can do it.
We need  to have
the will to  REFUSE,
the industry to get access to the correct information,
an openess to try out non-traditional methods,
and the persistence to carry out what may appear to be tedious...

In Cebu, yes, we can grow our own food...
Bob Bajenting has been freely and openly sharing
his wealth of experience in natural farming.

What is natural farming?
It is also called sustainable farming,
all inputs to the soil comes from natural materials.
Inputs come in the form of fruits, fish products, organic waste, etc

Sir Bob is the man leading this revolution in Cebu. Thanks for sharing with us.
Part of our companies' CSR- Corporate Social Responsibility is Cultivating Self-Reliance.
We teach them how to grow their own food using natural farming inputs.


Sir Bob doing a Natural Farming Training at the Loft of Elicon House

Sir Bob doing his natural farming presentation

teaching our staff how to prepare fermented fruit inputs

standardized measures

everybody is busy learning by doing

Raul Amores and Beekeeping in Cebu, Philippines

Sustainable Professions and People who make a difference in Cebu

Beekeeping or apiculture is the maintenance  of hives  or bee colonies in order to collect honey, beeswax, to produce other bees or keep them in order to pollinate crops. A beekeeper or apiarist is the person who maintains these bee hives or colonies.

Beekeeping in Cebu has been possible because there are beekeepers like Raul Amores who willingly share their knowledge and love for bees. Our bees in Cebu at KPAF (Katunggan Permaculture Adventure Farm) and KGZ (Kamagayan Green Zone- An Urban Permaculture Project) were set up with the kind guidance of Raul. We are very proud to say that our bees have shared their  honey with us and our friends. Last Christmas our bees joined in the Christmas spirit of sharing.

Our bees help us grow our own sugar. Thanks Raul for sharing your invaluable patience and support.

The Heritage Tree of Canlaon, Negros Oriental

What is a heritage tree?

It is a tree designated by the local or national government
as a protected tree because of its historic or natural significance.
In most cities around the world,
any tree that has a minimum trunk  diameter of 15 inches
or circumference of 45 inches ;
is an endemic or native species,
and lastly, has a special character,
an important historical or community significance,
is considered a heritage tree and must be protected.

Therefore heritage trees
are legally protected and property of the province or country.
These trees are to be protected and maintained in a good state of health.
In most countries, these trees are under the care of the city arborist.
In other places, they form heritage societies
whose sole purpose is the care, maintenance
and protection of these heritage trees.

In Kanlaon City,
there is a Balete tree that is  said to be 1,328 years old
(according to the provincial government).
It stands in the middle of the rice and coffee plantation
of OISCA Farm in Lumabao, Canlaon City.
It is said to be the oldest tree in Negros Oriental
and perhaps also of the Philippines.
At night, it appears to be illuminated
because of the thousands of fireflies that take refuge in its crown.
Thus, the locals think that the tree is enchanted
and  inhabited by fairies that have special powers
that they use to the maximum when provoked.
Maybe it is the reason why the locals
have restrained themselves from chopping it down.

Local children, lovers, and teens love to climb this majestic tree.
It has also become a major tourist attraction in the city.
This tree has long and sturdy roots,
with large and spreading branches for a crown.
We loved climbing this tree.

The national and local government in the Philippines
seem to  have not yet come to the awareness of the concept of heritage trees,
as they think of this tree only as  a tourist attraction.
But, it is more than a tourist attraction.

If the government has not taken action, I will.

It meets all the criteria of a heritage tree.
The trunk diameter of the tree is way more than the 15 inches minimum.
It is old and has witnessed the history of Canalon City.
It gives playful joy to the locals and visitors.
It  has a special character
because it is a natural  habitat to thousands of fireflies and other wildlife.
It is also the home of the most respected
and everlasting residents of the area- the powerful tree fairies.

I therefore baptize it
as the Heritage Tree of Canlaon,
in the name of the birds,
the fireflies,
the fairies and the people who climb it
and breathe the oxygen it emits.

Capilla sa Cambaloctot, San Jose, Negros Oriental

On the way to Lake Balinsasayao, there is a beautiful chapel with an outdoor altar/grotto. The chapel was built to celebrate the "miracle of the dancing sun" as witnessed on that site by a medical team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Dumaguete on March 4, 1989. The team was doing volunteer civic action work in Barangay Cambaloctot.

Spanish inspired architecture

the interior of the chapel

the outdoor grotto and altar

view of the sea from the chapel

Cebuano Bike Commuters, Cebu, Philippines

Felix, carpenter/bike commuter

maintenance team and bike commuters

There is a call to action in the Philippines--
that  roads should be allocated to two wheelers,  pedestrians and sidewalks.
Why?

Right, why walk or bike when you can ride a car, right?
This would be the reflex response of the average Filipino.

We do not like to walk,
with just a few meters of required  travel, we take the trisikad....
We do not like to bike, it will make us dark and black,
we pride ourselves to being the most enthusiastic users of skin whitening products...

Why not?
Lifestyle exercise- research has shown that regular and moderate 30 minutes lifestyle exercise will greatly improve our health, mood and relationships.

What is lifestyle exercise?
It is any form of physical activity that is part or ingrained in our activities of daily living.
Examples are: gardening, ironing clothes, taking the stairs, scrubbing the floor, sweeping and mopping and biking to work, market, school or church.

a bike is a form of alternative, appropriate and fossil fuel free transportation.

Yes,
a bike is an  alternative form of transportation,
it is a human powered vehicle,
we use our muscles to propel it to movement.

it is an appropriate form of technology,
it is economical and readily available to the public,
good for our health and our pockets.

it is a fossil free technology,
it is good for our lungs and the environment.

well. walking brings forth the same merits.

With the influx of affordable and recyclable Japanese bikes, there is no reason why the Cebuano or the filipino is general cannot become a bike commuter. There are also some groups like Bike 4u founded by Jens Funk that assert that a Bike is a Right and Not a Privilege. They distribute bikes, teach safety and maintenance to locals. They also organize fun rides to educate the public about bike commuting.

Years ago, we had a chance to join Bike 4u in a fun ride.

waiting for the ride to start

at the i.t. park

biking as a small time step, with potentially big time results

local icon- Budoy, lending a helping hand to bike commuting education

Cebu needs more bike- a- thons.
Almost every week there are marathons.
Maybe this is a passing fad... like  badminton...

The Cebuano bikers have always been around,
let us give them a chance to educate the public....
It cannot be a fad,

We need to  become bike converts or better yet bike commuters...
To  pedal and stay healthy
To save transportation money
To keep Cebu pollution free
To ease the traffic congestion and lessen accidents
To be less dependent on foreign oil reserves
Most of all to be free, mobile and self-reliant.

Forest Camp, Valencia, Negros Oriental

What is there to see in Valencia aside from the Spanish Fountain in the Sunken Town Square? Well, we heard that they have a Forest Camp with ATV rides to Casaroro Falls. Wow, three exciting things all in one place. Ok, take it easy, let us start with the Forest Camp.

It is a 2.2 hectare property built next to a river. They have beautifully made wooden cottages using bamboo, old wood, nipa and antique farm implements. I really like observing the grain of old wood and admire how the owners used these reclaimed wood as decorative accents in their camp.

What I love the most about this place is that one can just sit in the water amidst rocks and boulders and feel the cool water gushing  like a natural jacuzzi. There are other things to do there like: fishing and banca riding and also atv cruising.

hanging bride going to the river  swimming area

the river

wanna ride with us

no catch, no meal...

The Sunken Town Square, Valencia, Negros Oriental

On an unplanned road trip to Dumaguete, we decided to check out a town called Valencia. It is about 10 kilometers west of Dumaguete. On the way to the town, we were surprised to see very huge, (bordering on palatial) homes, mostly owned by British and American residents. They must be the royalty in Valencia...

Anyway, there are many things to see and enjoy in Valencia. So, let me just start with what impressed me the moment we got to the town. Ok. As one enters the town, there is a large town square. Yes, the locals residents  are blessed with an open space where they can have soccer games, outdoor performances and markets and just a place to come together for free and enjoy the fresh air. The square is lined with giant heritage trees which have been silent witnesses to the town's history.

Most Spanish colonial towns always have a town square that is surrounded by the major social institutions- like the town hall, the church, convent and convent school and the market. In Valencia, the town square is surrounded by the market, and the church.

no wonder the negros kids always make it to the palaro finals

soccer and a place for family fun

trellising for yellow bells around the town square

open market stalls

There is also a Spanish  fountain which is said to be a remnant of the town's colonial past, built by an Agustinian friar to provide water to the town taken from an upland stream.

water for the town

the spanish fountain

gazebo for  hanging out

Mc Do opens dozens of branches in Cebu

Yes, you read it right...
Mc Do has opened dozens of branches...
at almost every busy corner...
Is this for real?
Is this proof that because Cebu is the BPO center of the Philippines,
we have turned international...
Our tongues are so American from all the accent eradication...
Our taste buds turned American, too that we only eat at Mc Do....
Yes, only Mc Do can satisfy the hungry Cebuano
Yes, Mc Do - short for  Mag duku duku : English: To Bend in side walk eateries...

side walk eateries everywhere

chicken, meat balls, spring rolls

These Mc Do entrepreneurs are addressing a local need...

hot food, at the right place, with the right price..

it would be nice though,
if they actually sold healthier food like vegetables, fish and soup...

So, when in Cebu, make sure you visit the corner Mc Do store.
Lets go mag duku duku...

Public Laundry Communal Space, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Public Areas- means a space allocated for community use.
Communal Space- area to be shared with others for the common good.

I have seen public parks, public markets, public toilets. This was a first for me...
A public laundry communal space... I stayed in Quetzaltenango for a  Spanish Language Training Homestay Program and was amazed at the Guatemalans sense of commons....
Commons means belonging equally or shared by a number of people...

In Guatemala, every village, town or city has a public laundry communal space. They have a sense that water is a common and is to be protected and shared. It is also a great place for the women to socialize and bond while doing their chores. So in effect, it is really a laundry place and a community center all in one place. And since it is mostly the women who do the household chore of washing, the place in effect becomes a women's center also. Maybe, they should station the local public health workers there also...

Everyday, I passed by the laundry area coz it was right next to my host family's house
I would  observe the locals do their laundry... in ice freezing water...
I was content with observing and never had a chance to wash my clothes,
I was content wearing my dirty clothes,
coz the weather was cold,
the water was cold,
did not want to catch a cold...

Mercado La Democracia, Quetzaltenango, "Xela", Guatemala

A public market is a place where the locals can display locally grown fruits and vegetables, animals and artisan crafts and textiles. At the Mercado La Democracia, one can see the locals in their traditional clothing and see them sell their crafts and produce.

veggies

strawberries

locals selling their produce