banana{Spins} around the world!

Saigon, Anyone?

2009-04-03T04:10:00.000+02:00

Anyone reading this ever been to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh,Vietnam?)

I am scheduled for a business trip from May 10-15 and I am thinking of staying an extra 1-2 days so I can see the place.

I would really really appreciate recommendations :-) plus cheap hotel accommodations (company only shoulders May 10 up to evening of May 14, and I don't want to stay there because they usually pick expensive hotels..)

Cu Chi Tunnel Adventure Tour or Mekong River Adventure Tour or just a City Tour? But I heard Saigon is just like Manila.

http://www.viator.com/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/d352-ttd

I'm thinking of doing an adventure tour the whole of Friday and go see the city on Saturday morning. But flights on Saturdays are so early - so I'm having second thoughts... I don't think I want to stay up to Sunday especially if I am alone :P I hate crossing streets and I heard Saigon's streets are worse than Manila streets!

Help ?

Shop at the Alfa !

2009-03-11T03:42:00.000+01:00

It's something new :-) I hope I can keep this moving ! Selling stuff I love that I hope you'll love too! Please add alfacompany as a contact in Multiply. Thanks so much.

Our goal is to sell Hanna (kikay) stuff or Sam (guy) stuff. So far it's all kikay. But the camo laptop bag is reallly nice. :-)

Academy Awards

2009-02-23T08:12:00.003+01:00

With all the work lined up for me today, I totally forgot about the Academy Awards.

I am a big fan (together with the whole family) and we used to have a VHS collection of most of the Best Motion Pictures. They all sank (literally) and pardon the pun, right after we bought "Titanic" when a monster flood destroyed the bottom part of our house. :-(

A friend and I back in college used to always dream about attending the Oscars together. Or even just catch a glimpse of the red carpet on the day itself. He's probably on the right track (being a media/ movie professional) , and I am way off! Hehe.

At least I've seen the Kodak Theater :-)

As for this year's Awards (thanks to the Internet postings) , I'm just happy that Heath Ledger won. And I'm looking forward to seeing Slumdog Millionnaire, which really dominated the awards.

Reviving this Blog

2009-02-20T12:18:00.003+01:00

This blog, www.bananaspinworld.blogspot.com - was primarily created for my UWP adventure in 2007. I know that the Multiply address of this one is kept updated since that one's also linked to my "normal" blog, www.bananaspin.blogspot.com

But I'd now like to revive this blog as something that's related to Travel. I am yet to determine how I'll define the boundaries from my regular blog to this one, but we'll find out sooner or later.

I love going places. My parents made it a family goal to visit at least one new place each year.. we still try to up to now. So, the love for travel is really in my blood! I've had a passport since I was 3.

I am so fortunate because of all the travel opportunities that were made available to me throughout my 27 years.I've also been lucky to have had jobs which require me to travel, therefore allowing me to cover more ground with less budget implications!

So... welcome to my travel blog! Reminiscing OLD adventures and seeking new ones!

To save 65 Pesos a Day

2009-02-20T07:45:00.000+01:00

... was a pact that I made with my friend Ana and Melan last Tuesday.

This was made so we can afford to go on a Mt Pinatubo trek in March! I am so excited :-) We need around 1,900 for:

* Roundtrip Van Transfer (Manila-Tarlac-Manila) inclusive of toll fee and gas
* 4 x 4 wheel drive to Mt Pinatubo
* Service of a local tour guide
* conservation fee
* lunch and drinking water (500mL)
* souvenir

(Ana, ang nakita ko, P1,950 daw sha!)

Let the "saving" begin! I am posting this here as motivation - as a way to pressure me to stick with this goal.

Happy Anniversary Cast B (and C) 2007 !

2008-07-08T03:56:00.006+02:00

July 7, 2007 - Cast B and C 2007 of Up With People finally met in Denver, Colorado and started preparing to rock the world. :-)

Arrival day at the Denver Airport. 07-07-07

And a special song for everyone on our anniversary. Here's a touch of the Philippines for all of you and a message of how diverse and beautiful our world is. And how each and everyone plays an important part!

KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD
Francis Magalona

So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Cast B 2007 Random Updates

2008-06-14T06:16:00.002+02:00

1. I've edited my "book" - now I'm stumped as to how I'm supposed to do the layout. My goal was to finish it before July, but I don't think I can make it.

2. I haven't even started organizing my photos yet. Nor start my scrapbook.

3. Our Cast B Video Yearbook is done! (Thanks to Rafa and Yuri) and according to them, they cried a lot while doing the editing - because of the great memories we had! What's cool about it is that I will be able to afford it (shipment and materials included) ... by using my BLOGGING money.. :-) blogging works!

Still on the video. We'll be paying $30.00 each (no matter where we are) just so it won't be hard figuring out shipment costs from all over the world. The profits from these will be pooled and donated to the UWP Office to go towards a scholarship fund for a student from a developing country.. (hint! hint!)

4. I'm way behind on responding to emails.

5. I have to find a way to finish my "to dos"

Official First Roommate

2008-05-15T17:08:00.008+02:00

I talked about Lesley Loaiza from Tucson, Arizona being my first roommate in the blog entry "My First Host Family"

But now that I look back, my official roommate was really Alexandra Neageau from Romania ! If you can look back at my blog entry, "Reaching Denver" - we were roommates at the Microtel Inn where we spent our first night in the US. (We arrived too early!)

Anyway, it's a wonder what the Internet can do today - imagine, we were all able to have our hotel rooms booked from all over the world! It was Rafael from Brazil who made the arrangements from the comfort of his home in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Thanks Rafa! It's such a wonder that we were able to do that without ever having to meet each other face to face.

Well, they probably used an online booking agent like http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com/United-States/ which I think is so convenient and definitely makes the world smaller! Sometimes Internet booking is also cheaper.

I know the readers of this blog come from all over the world, and most are interested in travel. Let me differentiate 'traveler' from 'tourist' - for me a traveler is one who is eager to feel the local flavor and not just the recommended stuff in guidebooks. If you are a budget traveler, I guess you'll benefit from these links that I am sharing :-) So whether you are really traveling soon or merely traveling through the web - these sites can help you plan your adventure in the United States soon (OR, apply to be an Up With People student for the ultimate adventure!)

Top US destinations

Cheap Miami Hotels
Cheap New York Hotels
Cheap San Francisco Hotels

Cheap Los Angeles Hotels

You can see the famous footprints in Hollywood, LA.

Around this time a year ago...

2008-05-14T14:54:00.006+02:00

... I was at the height of my UWP preparations.

From time to time, you will see me update this blog about my previous experiences or about stories that I failed to write about. As I was reviewing my entries for the book I plan to publish.. I saw a lot of holes that I can still fill and entries that I'd like to improve.

Keeping this blog going will also increase awareness about UWP and my fervent wish that people support Pinoys who want to travel with the program.

I also hope to earn a little bit of revenue through advertising so I can support this campaign. So please check back from time to time to read more of the adventure!

Maximizing UWP's Impact in Developing Countries

2008-04-30T12:22:00.001+02:00

April 30, 2008

Dear Up With People colleagues,

Hi! My name is Hanna Fernando-Pacua , 26 years old from the Philippines. I traveled with Cast B 2007 last year and it was the greatest experience I ever had. I would like to thank everyone in UWP who made it possible. I couldn’t have done it without your encouragement and support.

I consider myself very blessed to have been awarded a very, very significant UWP scholarship. (Up to now I still find it unbelievable…) If I were to convert the USD 12,000.00 fee to Philippine peso considering the 2008 average exchange rate:

$1.00 = PHP 41.00
$12,000 = PHP 492,000

(when I traveled in 2007, the exchange rate was PHP 52.00 to a dollar!!!)

What can people in my country get for half a million Philippine Pesos ?

Aside from being able to pay the down payment for a house and lot or being able to buy a brand new car … P500,000.00 could also afford :

4 years of college education for 2 students (plus some allowances…) at the country’s premiere state university

10 modest but brand new houses for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga program

4 public high schools provided with internet access and enough computers to improve education delivery through the Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access (GILAS) program

I remember saying in my scholarship application that I would have to give up my UWP slot if I was not given a significant amount. The tuition , for a common Filipino – is simply too much to handle. It was almost sinful to ask for so much money for one person when it could do so much for so many!

Because of the beautiful experience I had with UWP, I am really hopeful that many other deserving young Filipinos will be able to travel. I have been making a career in social development even before UWP – and I think the program would encourage more students to go into this field.

Ever since I returned to my country, I have done some interviews for admissions and also a few presentations about UWP. Based on my experience with working with youth leaders in the Philippines, the potential for interested and of-quality applicants is really unbelievable! But the main issue here is the financial need. Especially now that the fees have increased to $14,000, not including additional expenses such as plane fares and VISA fees.

For lack of a better phrase, “my heart aches” as I interview promising students who worry about the huge financial barrier or as I see young people’s enthusiasm fade once they learn about the tuition fees and other expenses involved.

Even the standard answers I learned from my travel year for the “How much would it cost me ?” questions during admissions presentations won’t do the trick in the Philippines. It is just simply too much for young people to digest (who are most probably fresh graduates or just starting their careers) in our country. Even experienced organizations find it hard to raise half a million Philippine pesos for well-advertised causes. However, I am still trying my best to assist the qualified students in their fundraising and have come up with a resource mobilization manual with “Philippine flavor” (please email me so I can send you a copy)

Perhaps, we can target well-off families and exclusive schools in the Philippines? Let us not close the door on this possibility, but then take note that those who can afford the tuition only make up a small percentage of the Philippine population. I also believe that UWP education should not only be for those who can afford it but for those who deserve it, value it, and for those who will use it well.

I dream of more young people getting the same exhilarating experience that I had when I traveled with UWP. I see this happening by getting more Filipinos to participate with the International cast, or by bringing UWP’s experiential learning experience closer to home.

Proposal for the establishment of the Up With People Developing Country Scholarship/ Subsidy Fund– allotment of a specific amount of funds for students from developing / 3^rd world countries.

- can be a special fund window separate from the UWP Alumni Association scholarship that specifically targets developing countries

- would increase the possibilities for more participants from developing countries which may lead to more diverse casts and richer inter-cultural learning experiences

- appointed committees or regional offices can establish specific criteria for students

- would enable students/ potential students set realistic financial goals

- another approach is to make program more ‘selective’ and accepting limited applications so fundraising can be more focused towards the fees of ‘the chosen few’

Proposal for an Up With People Developing Country Program – develop a UWP-prescribed Curriculum and Model designed for developing countries.

- Similar goals with UWP but for a more local setting. It’s “knowing one’s own backyard” This could be a division of UWP or implemented in partnership with a local company/ organization. (A local cast can be formed that travels around the country for a certain period of time spreading the message of peace and service. They also partner with local groups, stay with host families, etc..)

- Local setting means localized and more reachable expenses. Financial goals could be more realistic for students, sponsors and potential donors.

- Operations to be supported or endorsed by UWP international but local resource mobilization should also be in place

- This program could maintain its global flavor through international speakers and interaction with the main program of UWP. (i.e. International Cast to meet/ perform with Local Cast)

- Replicating the experiential learning process on the local level enabling more young people to experience it.

- Continuity and sustainability of community impact programs in developing countries, not to mention the publicity and media value for UWP as a whole.

- Building lasting relationships with communities, NGOs and sponsors

- Create a pool of outstanding leaders that has great potential to travel with an international cast of UWP.

- Opportunity for Up With People to empower communities and organizations and create a lasting impact in developing countries

The possibilities are endless! I am sure, if crafted well – the Developing Country Program can catch the attention of local sponsoring institutions. I hope you will be able to help me echo my wishes for the young people of the Philippines and other developing countries.

Imagine the potential global impact Up with People would have if we open up these windows of opportunities and create a multiplier effect on students, organizations and communities.

Please help me develop these ideas and make it a reality. Who are the right people to write for UWP to consider supporting these proposals? I am really open to discuss further these possibilities – please feel free to contact me through my email hanna.fernando@gmail.com , mobile phone +63 917 5201888 or we can arrange a call through Yahoo Messenger or Skype.

Sincerely,

Hanna Fernando-Pacua

Up With People Cast B 2007

Education Intern and Advance Team member for Prenzlau, Germany

BananaSpin Survey Up!

2008-02-03T12:13:00.000+01:00

I am constantly searching for ways to improve my craft. As I close this blog, allow me to trouble you for just a little bit more to answer this quick survey.

There should be a pop up of this survey in this blog. If it doesn't pop, please click :

HOW WELL DID BANANA [spin] ?

Thanks so much for everything!

The End of My Journey

2008-01-17T13:49:00.000+01:00

As wonderful as it was - and there are still a lot of stuff that I want to go back to, and write about, and share with you... I believe it is now time for me to move on!

It is very hard to sum up what I have learned from UWP. When faced with the question, “How was it?” we alumni would probably share knowing glances with understanding settling happily deep in our hearts. Trying to explain the experience to non-alumni would be very, very difficult – with the risk also of sounding so weird.

I could probably come up with a whole compilation of stuff I learned, ranging from leadership concepts, stages of group development, facilitation and communication techniques to immigration policies – and even a whole slew of games that can be played by people from six to sixty. But I will spare you from that overwhelming sensation and share with you the seemingly small, but valuable lessons that I learned from my UWP experience.

As one of our songs in the Show goes, “One to One, We Change the World” – when we help, let’s not dwell on how many people --- but think more about how we can help them well. Let’s not think about saving the world (this can get overwhelming) but let’s think about helping one person at a time, or taking up one cause at a time and totally being committed to it without flying away from reality. Don’t limit yourself to seeing only a few ways on how people can help others – some blessed people may have the money, the power, and the fame to give away, but you might have the passion, the time, the heart and the talent to share to make a difference in people’s lives.

Open your eyes to your surroundings. You never know when your help can be valuable. Or when what’s happening can be valuable to you. Always remember that even one chance encounter can impact your life (or theirs!). Watch the news. Read the papers. Care and be aware.

The hardest person to ever try to please is your self. We may set outrageous standards for ourselves based on comparison to other people. Let’s make our own (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time bound) goals and reach for it. Make each task your own.

Accept compliments, treasure and nurture them – and use them well. Believe in yourself enough to have self-confidence … but not too much that you make others lose theirs. Be open to feedback and be thankful for honesty – because criticism can be the best advice that people who really care can give you.

Celebrate differences. The world would be boring without it. You might also be surprised how similar two different people can be – no matter where they are from or what their status in life is. And, always remember that what is “common sense” to you may not be the same kind of “common sense” to others.

Think positive. Do not be scared of the world. Bad stuff are probably only 5% of everything that is happening. Good stuff don’t make the news because they are, well, normal. People and the World are essentially good; they just need to be constantly reminded about it.

It’s never too late to get yourself out of a mess. It’s never too late for you to pursue your passion.

Take pictures. Journal. Remember people’s names. Live in the now but do not lose sight of the past and plan (not worry) for the future.

Communicate. It may be hard sometimes but it would be harder not to.

Dance :-) believe me it doesn't matter if you do it well or not. Just dance and feel its power!

Love and Respect are the two essential values that everyone should possess to achieve world peace.

These were the lessons I learned and will value for the rest of my life. The UWP experience is a very personal experience, and what I have written here may not be the case for my other cast-members. As with any other experience, you live it, you make it your own, and you learn what you choose to learn.

Up with People was an amazing experience, and I will never stop raving on and on about how it made lot of my dreams come true. I traveled the world, went whitewater rafting, danced and sang on stage, did a whole lot of service, made a presentation in front of an international audience, saw Anne Frank’s House for real, been on TV – and a lot more. But it is about time that I plant myself firmly on Philippine soil and start living again.

This blogging adventure, like the actual journey – was never without bumps. I had trouble updating for many reasons, lack of time, lack of will, lack of internet access (but certainly not lack of interesting things! The events chronicled here are not even in the vicinity of EVERYTHING that happened!). If I ever offended anyone in any way, I am deeply sorry but please trust me when I say that I just write from the heart and nothing is ever intentional.

This blog will stay online as long as the World Wide Web permits it to be here (may I share also that I think the Internet is the best modern world invention there is!) – and will hopefully serve as a reference for me to look back to when I start to forget about the good things in life, and when I need to be reminded about the lessons I learned.

Perhaps up until the time that I will be able to compile and edit this and maybe publish a book :grin: Now, that is a dream that is worth pursuing. I will keep you posted AND feel free to keep in touch!

I will continue to arrange trip photos in my www.bananaspinuwp.multiply.com account.

Long overdue twist blogging resumes at www.bananaspin.blogspot.com

Feedback most welcome, email me at hanna.fernando@gmail.com

The Best Kind of Folks

2008-01-14T15:17:00.000+01:00

Up, Up with People!
You meet them wherever you go
Up, Up with People!
They’re the best kind of folks you’ll know!
If more people were for people,
People everywhere
There’d be a lot less people to worry about
And a lot more people who care!

We “Uppies” traveled the world to make an impact in the lives of others, but I believe that all the people I met along the way made a bigger impact in my life than I did on theirs.

My host families

Laurie and Bill Zempel from Denver, Colorado – their adorable Bichon, Max (stay cool!) , our host friend Gina and our host little sister Monay (I wonder how your writing is doing?) . Lesley from Arizona was my roommate. I remember the Red Rocks trip and watching Talladega Nights on a lazy Saturday evening.

Bruce and Kathy Garrett from their house-on-the-golf-course in Tucson, Arizona. May the Javelinas not stomp around and ruin your garden, and please keep Bruce away from Prickly Pear cacti (make sure to have Nair Hair Remover at hand because it can dissolve cacti thorns!). But if we can’t help but eat Prickly Pear, we can always wash it down with a White Chocolate Mocha from the drive-in Starbucks. I also miss Mexican Sopapillas and Bruce’s beef jerky! I did not have a roommate in Tucson, but we went to the Desert Sky Museum with my high school best friend Em.

Tim Trent and Daisy Flores from Globe, Arizona. I will never forget Carolin (Germany, my roommate!) and Mine’s bunk beds and our nice hot tub under the stars (with a frog in it!)

Bill and Patricia Turner from Sierra Vista, Arizona. I loved your West Point stories and I would never forget our Kartchner Caverns trip. Thanks a lot for introducing me to Emily and giving me my first taste of real Turkey. Gigi from Canada was my roommate.

I LOVED Terri and Ed Devine’s beach-themed home in San Diego, California. I wasn’t able to meet Ed at all, but I had fun with Terri and Niki (from the US, my roommate!) during that week. Terri was a UWP alumna! I remember our beach picnic trips, healthy salad and pasta dinners (but with sinful desserts! Mmm Ben and Jerry’s Turtle Ice Cream) and the Coronado island adventure! (Terri, awesome sack lunch for the bus, by the way! Thanks!!)

I shared Bob and Elaine Mattes’ home with 3 other roommates – Niki (again!), Tyrell, Gabe (all from the US!). I remember the ENORMOUS train collection from our room to the backyard. I still haven’t tried the lemon cookie recipe that you gave me.. I miss our steak and salad dinners!

Dick and Donna Finney lived about 30 minutes away from Winston, Oregon in a town called Roseberg. I stayed in their gorgeous home with Christine Paluf, Laurel, Amanda (USA) and Carolin (again! From Germany) – it was cool meeting their daughter and their granddaughter when we drove to another gorgeous home in the woods. I remember hot fudge sundaes !!!

(WRITING ALL THESE MAKE ME REALIZE THE REASONS WHY I GAINED SO
MUCH WEIGHT DURING THE TRIP! Sigh…)

Duane and Jacquee Hagans in Eureka California lived right across my favorite American store of all time – Michael’s Arts and Crafts! We drew lots and Sarah (USA) got the room with the moons and stars and Kellys (Venezuela) and I shared a mattress with Momma Cat. I still remember the chocolate rice krispies treats that Jacquee made! Plus that barbecue dinner we had with Josh and his host dad.

Pat diGiacomo from Coos Bay, Oregon certainly made mine and Suzanne’s (Netherlands) breakfast mornings enjoyable! The trip to the botanical gardens were simply breathtaking!

Barbara and Tom Cave in their squeaky old-fashioned home in Portland, Oregon. Thanks for taking us on a walking tour AND kudos for managing SIX Uppies! I was with Cassidy, Megan, Matt (USA) and Maria (Sweden), Lucas (Belgium). I only stayed with them for two nights, tho – because…

Family friends Tito Eric, Tita Vivian and Noelle Tadeo adopted me! They lived in Vancouver, WA, a 20 minute drive to Portland. We never did have time to go around but I was able to go shopping for make-up with Tito Eric (!), visit Noelle’s school, see Tita Vivian’s awesome bag creations and have dinner with other Pinoy friends.

Still groggy from a 30 hour bus ride from Portland to Las Vegas – I was greeted by my Uncle slash Host Dad Enrico Guamen. I saw Las Vegas as a big break as I stayed with my mom’s brother and was again visited by Tita Girlie and Tito Conrad (they visited me in Corcoran too!) Ah and I saw the ABBA Musical Mamma Mia with Elke from Belgium, courtesy of my Tita Girlie!

Valerio, Nadia and Michaela Bellani from Milano, Italy made my first encounter with the language barrier fun and interesting! Thank you so much for the coffee and pasta and gelato lessons! I JUST LOVE Italian Food! I did not have an Uppie roommate but Michaela was my host sister, and it was great to meet her Italian friends and seeing the Duomo at night! Grazie and until we meet again!

Klemens and Brunhilde Schmidt! My German host family who were simply the BEST and a big support while I was doing Advance Work ! Birte (my roommate, the CRC) had a great great time! The memories of staying in Prenzlau is so overwhelming but I especially remember losing my bike keys (and Klemens and Brunhilde are so forgiving…) and I wonder if it is still there at the Rathaus? Pretty Prenzlau, Beautiful Berlin , Rostock and Potsdam.

Everyday was fun day with Theo, Fiona, Lonneke, Femke and Dion Van Lochem in Dronten, the Netherlands. I think I got over my fear of dogs (or dog! Oh no I forgot his name!!! SKIPPER! Yes, I think was Skipper)!!!! and bicycles in Dronten. It was a great Halloween celebration with the girls ! The Raclette was unforgettable, as well as the nifty coffee maker. Joke (my roommate, from Belgium) and I loved riding the tandem bikes around the park!

Charlotte Colot from Leuven, Belgium, my 18-year old host mom. She introduced me to flat air mattresses, Belgian waffles and fries, Belgian chocolate and Belgian cherry beer. Charlotte slept at a friend’s house and let me and Sophie (from China) use her small room. It was fun though! She was also a UWP Alumna from Cast A 2007.

The UWP Staff

Whom I listed all under Cast B 2007 because staff or student, we are all cast B !

Cast B 2007 - 19 countries. 1 voice (or what I'd like to call the Big Brother House on the Road)

United States – Adam, Amanda, Andrea, Blaine, Cassidy, Gina (I love you I hope you make it for the Bayani build!), Grant, Jennie, Jeremiah, Jeremy (I hope you find a nice Filipina girl), Jessica (all the colors of the heart!), Josh, Katie (let’s name an ice cream flavor “ina-chukuwa, kijiji-kizima” ) , Laurel, amazing dancer Lesley, ounce girl Megan, Niki (Aloha!), Sarah, Tiffnie (go Asian food stores!), Tyrell (Tee-relll) , Vanessa (missing your laugh and our demon children) , Lauren, Mallory (hunt me down, okie?), Matthew, hyper Patrick, Laura, Jared, Scott, Ellen, Christine Paluf, Gabe, Kristina, Samantha

The Netherlands – Aimee (how’s shopping so far?) , Suze (I love you!)

Romania – Alecs (no baby yet … will keep you posted “ninang”)

Belgium – Benjamine, Lucas, Joke, Elke (marriage life is tough but it still rocks!)

Germany – sporty girl and ounce girl Carolin, stunning Stefan, Lysan (thank you so much for your pep talks), Marita (did you finally get a job?) and our Cast Manager Papa Jorn

Austria – Christine Profanter (I love you! I wonder what you are doing now…)

Mexico – Clara, Doctor Hector

Sweden – Maria, Johanna, Linn, Peppe, and my favorite rockstar Johan

Taiwan – Chien Fu (Jeff)

Venezuela – world leader Kellys

Macedonia – Mayor Ljuan

Panama – Luis Felipe (I miss you and your questions), lucky girl Whitney (you know what I mean!)

Denmark – Rasmus (big Filipino hug!)

Japan – the amazing adventures of Yuri (the video intern) and Sayuri (the education intern)

China – Sophie

Canada – Gigi, Raine

Brazil – Rafa-Rafa-Rafa!

Uganda – Ate Jules , you were my soul sister all throughout the trip. Thanks so much for
the laughs, the gossip, and the comfort that your presence offered me!

Special Mentions

Rafa, Alecs, Jules, Suze, Lysan, Johan, Mallory, Yuri, Christine, Luis Felipe, Elke, Marita, Rasmus à a special connection to all of you during the trip. I miss you all and I really look forward to seeing them again soon..

The Philippine Advance Team

Paul, Margaux, Luis, Yamil and Skoogle – thanks for braving Manila and preparing it for the cast. And of course Ana for braving the Cast while they are in Manila J and for at last giving me Pinoy companionship in the cast

Zest-O Corporation – 1 drink

Especially to Joseph Consul for eating Balut infront of everyone and was always there --- with an endless supply of Zesto, One Green Tea and Orchard Fresh (I love the dalandan and calamansi ones!) drinks.

The Department of Tourism, RC-Cola, ECOP, The Philippine Military Academy (special mention to Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Tony Romero who made our PMA visit possible)

The Filipinos all over the World (yes, even the ones right here at home) - meeting you made me look at our country and our people in a totally different light.

A billion thanks to all who supported me since the very beginning. I know I have been thanking you guys endlessly throughout the blog but there is no such thing as too much when it comes to appreciation (Remember that!!!) .

My mom and dad who raised me so well and have given me everything I ever wanted or needed – endless gratitude to you and I love you so much. My husband Sam who was such a good sport and continues to believe in me and my abilities, I love you!

My friends from Ayala Foundation and the FAFI group (you know who you are) who totally had confidence in me and knew that I can make it.. and also provided the much provided long distance emotional support – Nyla, Maui, Jops, Ave, Candice, Aque, Kakay, JJ, Aileen, Kiel, Chiara, Tito, Sarah, MY

My on-line “rallyists” who I may not know that well personally but still were there to give their virtual support – Alex, Geelay, Lee I , Maan, Kristene – plus the people who read my blog, especially those who left messages and comments … (you certainly kept me on my toes updating this!)

Of course, my sponsors who helped me financially as well as spiritually! Reynold from Hawaii, MAD and AGV from AFI, Ms Nicolas-Lewis, Ms Zobel (and Ms Pazing!) and Tita Rene from the Philippine Airlines. ENDLESS GRATITUDE from the bottom of my heart.

Prayer also made me strong throughout this adventure – again I thank God for making me so strong and brave ! And also for making my circle of good people wider!

PS. I also encourage you to please visit Matthew Erley's blog at http://matthewerley.blogspot.com/2008/01/last-farewell.html

thanks

Up With People - The Rose Parade

2008-01-13T13:43:00.000+01:00

While on the road, we were informed that UWP was chosen to do the opening of the world famous Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. It was something big for UWP!

The Parade was on New Year's Day. Obviously, I'm not part of that anymore since I chose to stay in the Philippines for the holidays already (a lot of my castmates also went straight home, but some of them went back to the US just for the Rose Bowl!) ! Ah, but they looked so beautiful! I am so proud of them!

Overweight in Brussels

2008-01-11T09:57:00.000+01:00

Yes, I gained 12 pounds during the trip, but this is not about that. I would have called this entry “Mga Bagong Bayani” but the thought of being overweight amused me.

I would have included this story in my Pinoy blog entry but this deserved its own space.

I went home to the Philippines a couple of nights earlier ahead of the cast. I missed our biggest show in Europe (I heard more than 2,000 people watched, including VIP sponsors and it was also the first one that had cocktail tables and champagne) and our best guest performer (Sandrine, who was like the “Belgian Idol”) and had to ride the train from Leuven to Brussels with all my luggage.

The best part about it was that I can have 2 pieces of luggage at 20 kilos each because it was an international flight. Normally, if I was traveling with the whole group, I was allowed only ONE piece of checked in luggage, then the other slot would be for UWP equipment. Since I was alone, and the equipment was still in use, I had the go signal to use my luggage allowance. It was stress free packing!

So I made it through the train ride and dragged my suitcase and backpack and shoulder bag to the check-in counter. I was so happy because it was still 2 hours till boarding and I can still have a leisurely time walking to my departure gate. Only to find out that I had to pay 600 Euro for an extra 23 kilos – my blood ran cold.

Turns out that the flight from Brussels to Frankfurt will be on a small plane and couldn’t accommodate more than 20 kilos per passenger! It doesn’t matter how many bags, as long as they add up to 20 kilos. I told her that I will be on the connecting flight from Frankfurt – China – Manila and that I should have the international luggage allowance. No, she’s sorry. Brussels-Frankfurt is 20 kilos. Cross-continent flights, 40 kilos. I wished UWP ended its tour in Frankfurt!

I only had 15 Euro left in my pocket, and I was not about to use my credit card to pay for extra luggage. Lufthansa even had a weight limit for ONE carry on (not two pieces, like most American flights) and my laptop just about made the limit, so it was impossible for me to unload some suitcase stuff to my carry on.

In the middle of the Brussels airport, I opened my suitcase and surveyed its contents. With a heavy heart, I filled a plastic bag with some of my clothes, my toiletries, scarves, some books and magazines that I accumulated. All these went to the lost and found bin at the airport.

One hour until boarding time, I was back in line for the check in counter – they weighed my suitcase and this time I was 450 Euro overweight. I noticed a group of Pinoys at the end of the line and acknowledged them with a brief smile – but I did not have enough sanity to think about my Pinoy-quest game. Sigh. I really wanted to cry – I did not have 450 Euro, but then I could not bear the thought of leaving my valuables behind. In my suitcase taking up space and weight are sentimental stuff and some pasalubong I collected along the way and I really did not want to part with them. 5 months of travel can get really heavy.

30 minutes until boarding time, I was beside the check-in counter. The long lines were gone because check-in was about to close. Again, I had a small plastic bag already filled with valuables that I was about to throw away, I was holding on to it tightly. I was silently praying, I don’t know for what – for divine intervention, for a smart decision.

Then suddenly,

“Kabayan, ano ang problema?”

A group of Filipinos, the same ones at the end of the line, were obviously very late for check in. The attendant at the counter was hurriedly processing their papers and was about to close. She was talking to the Pinoy’s Flemish boss.

I explained my predicament to the 3 seafarers (seamen) and they were surprised with the luggage allowance. It turns out that seafaring companies have agreements with airlines about UNLIMITED baggage allowances since their employees travel for at least 9 months. Before I knew it, their Flemish boss was asking me if I wanted to check in my luggage with them.

The lady at the check-in counter told us that once we do that, it will be all our responsibility already, but I can see that she was also happy for me! I was ecstatic and couldn’t stop thanking everyone! It was less than 20 minutes until our boarding time and we said goodbye to the Flemish boss and practically ran to our gate. We made it! And I made 3 new friends in the queerest of circumstances.

The flight was amazingly quick and once we were in Frankfurt, we were joined by a lot more Pinoys on the flight to Manila. There were a lot of greetings of “Kabayan! Saan ka sa atin?” and I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere. When the plane touched down in Manila, the passengers cheered. Most of them were seafarers who are excited to be spending Christmas at home.

What happened to me in Brussels was really a miraculous thing – I prayed for intervention and God gave me my heroes in the form of 3 seamen who were almost late for the flight. What if they were on time? Nobody would have saved me!

A million thanks ! Kina Mr. Hilario Caspe, Mr. Boy Villanueva at sa kanilang isa pang kaibigan. Alam kong masayang masaya po kayo at nakapiling ninyo ang inyong pamilya nitong nakaraang Pasko at Bagong Taon. Nawa'y maging masaya ang inyong 2008!

The Global Pinoys

2008-01-11T06:25:00.000+01:00

Two weeks into the program, I was sick of speaking English all the time and was hungering for my native language. I was missing the Pinoy warmth, the Pinoy family and the Pinoy sense of humor. I know Pinoys were everywhere and I just had to find some.

In this blog entry, “Halo-Halo in Denver” – I wrote about Pastor Carlos Bulalayao, Jr and the Crosswind Community Church and how they gave me my much needed Pinoy culture. We ate Halo-Halo, watched The Filipino Channel, had family bonding time and I had the chance to relax and listen to the Eraserheads in one of their friends’ cars.

In my Filipino blog entry, “Pinoys Around the World” – I was obviously so homesick and showcased here my small encounters with my “kind” But looking back, I think I missed a lot of stories!

In Sierra Vista and in Coos Bay, Oregon - I received some pocket money from very generous Pinoys who I just met. In both instances, these people also traveled the world with a youth group and knew how fun it was to be able to have ice cream on travel stops.

There was 14-year old MJ Magtanong from San Diego, California who proudly wore a “Filipino Pride” shirt. He was Stefan’s (from Germany) host brother. He grew up in the USA and has visited the Philippines (Subic) only once but had no qualms to say that it was the best place ever! We hung out a bit after the show (I remember we had Pepsi from the vending machine) and he uploaded a couple of hip hop songs AND Boom-Tarat-Tarat to my phone. Ah, and he can dance it, too!

I also remember this blog entry from Winston, Oregon where I encountered a Pinoy family falling in line in the food distribution CI I was in.

Of course, I also wouldn’t forget friends and friends of family who sacrificed some of their time to see me (and even host me!). My high school best friend Romilee who’s now in Tucson, my good friend Tiffany who drove alone for two hours to see me in Corcoran, California, my Tita Miriam and Tito Conrad who saw the show in Corocoran AND Las Vegas, my Tito Bobot and Tita Maria who hosted me in Las Vegas and my fun stay with Tito Eric, Tita Vivian, Noelle and Lola in Portland.

In Milan, Italy, one of my castmates had a Pinay helper in their house, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to talk to her. But I met a Filipina OFW on the subway and had a quick chat. My host dad’s boss’ wife (ang haba ah!) was also a Filipina and we talked on the phone. In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a busload of Pinoys on tour got off right in front of where I was standing and to my delight, one of them gave me a big smile and asked, “Pilipina ka?” to which I enthusiastically answered, “Opo!” They must have been weirded out because my UWP friends all laughed and hugged me after that. Because, they too, were amazed at the number of Pinoys I met on the road.

Probably the most touching encounter I had with a Filipino came during one of our Internal days in Portland. I had just finished my Education internship and suddenly had a “less stressful” schedule than usual. With some idle time in my hands, and a pretty slow day (we were watching “An Inconvenient Truth”), it was the worst homesick-est feeling I had during the whole trip.

Thinking about home and my family, I went for a bathroom break and found out that half the stalls were closed because it was being cleaned. An old man was mopping the floors quietly. I studied him closely, he was the kindly, grandfather type with tanned skin and gray hair. I sneaked a glance at his name tag and sure enough, he was Filipino! I was just overcome with emotion and homesickness that I just blurted out,

“Hi Manong, Magandang Umaga po!”

His head snapped up and he stared at me and asked carefully, “Pilipina ka?”

With tears in my eyes, I answered, “Opo, Pilipino po ako!” – and without thinking, I hugged the lolo who was cleaning the bathroom. Soon he had tears in his eyes, too. Two of his daughters married Americans and convinced him and his wife to live with them in the USA. He badly wanted to go home to the Philippines where all his other kids and grandchildren were.

“Gusto ko nang umuwi. Ang hirap dito, may trabaho ka nga pero mahirap at malugkot pa din. Buti sa atin, kahit minsan walang pera, pero masaya tayo! Dito, kayod ka ng kayod, wala naman makuha. Pero mahirap naman basta-basta umuwi kasi mahal ang pamasahe”

It’s funny how easily we forget that some people really don’t have a choice when they go abroad, and that they don’t have complete control of their time and resources because of extreme need. Just like what I felt when I met the family at the food pantry in Winston.

We were performing a mini-show at the Oude Market Square in Leuven, Belgium – the stage was shaky, and it was freezing but the crowd was so happy that it felt really good. A girl in front of the crowd caught my eye, and like everyone, she was also into the performance. I soon learned that she was Malou, a Filipina! She was studying Theology at the University and was eager to introduce me to her friends.

That same evening I joined them for their Wednesday novena. It was the smallest Catholic mass I have ever attended! There were ten of us all in all, including two priests who both celebrated our small mass. We just gathered around a small table with a cross and some Bibles. I read the First Reading.

In my conversation with Malou, she told me that she was looking forward to the time that our media would start highlighting Pinoy achievers overseas and stop dwelling on mail order brides and abused domestic helpers. Apparently, the Leuven community has had its shares of Pinoy students and scholars.

“Na sana Makita naman nila na hindi lang mukha ng Pinoy ang mail order bride at domestic helper. May iba’t ibang mukha din ang Pinoy sa ibang bansa. Madaming estudyante, pari, doctor – na nag e-excel sa kani-kanilang fields”

Filipinos in Abroad already form a world and a culture of their own. It is a world with its own language, hierarchy, beliefs and values. Their experiences are so rich and very different from each other – that it is hard to generalize or stereotype them into one mold.

However, as Pinoys spread out all over the world, I hope they never forget their roots, be not ashamed to be Pinoy, and to always do what is right wherever they may be. This will be a perfect reason for us to celebrate our Filipino brothers and sisters around the world.

Flashback Belgium: Meeting Butchok

2008-01-09T03:56:00.000+01:00

Our family in the

Philippines

is a licensed foster family. For those of you who do not understand this – it’s like being host family to kids who do not have a family until the time that there is a permanent home available to them. By permanent home, this means an adoptive family or when his biological (real birth parents or maybe relatives) family decides to get him or her.

There are many reasons why a child becomes “homeless” – this can be abandonment intentionally or maybe abandonment by death (orphaned), sickness, prison, etc.. There are also abused kids and kids who are “foundlings” (saddest case where they find kids with absolutely no history) These kids are usually put in orphanages or what we can call “institutional care” – think houses with 20 or more kids with some social workers looking after them.

Foster family care is an alternative way of taking care of these kids. It is temporary care in a real family setting where they have a mom a dad and in some cases, siblings and pets and toys and books they can call their own. But then this is temporary and is very different from adoption. Like I said before foster care is a prelude to adoption (getting the child accustomed to family life while his or her papers are being processed) or a temporary staying place while the real parents are getting their acts together (like deciding whether to keep the baby or not, or while looking for a job, or while recovering from an illness..)

This is my mom and dad’s advocacy. They hope to see more families stepping up to the challenge to become volunteer foster families. Our family takes care of one child at a time and they have stayed with us for as short as 3 weeks to 4 years! I guess me having 15 foster brothers and sisters in a period of about 12 years compensates for our lack of family members.

We once took care of a cute little boy named Michael Gabriel or MG or in my term of endearment for him, “Butchok”. I forgot for how long he stayed with us – but he was a darling little boy who was adopted by a couple from Belgium when he was only about a year old in 2005. I was very thankful for the rare chance for me to see him again when UWP was in Belgium!

My mom wasted no time getting in touch with MG’s adoptive parents when we found out that I was going to Belgium. The De Turcks (Koen and Marie Therese) were equally thrilled to meet me there. Their first adopted son, Paolo (5 years old) is also a Filipino and was really getting curious about the Philippines – and MG was growing up to be an active little 3 year old.

So I took a one-day leave from UWP (yes, this is allowed – we can apply for a “leave” as long as it is two weeks in advance and all info about our whereabouts are supplied to the staff) and got picked up by the de Turcks. They lived about an hour away (oh but it took them over 2 hours to get to Leuven because of extremely heavy traffic, yes, even in Europe!)

MG, (or Michael as they called him) was shy at first but gradually turned into a sweet little boy and naturally did not remember me nor speak any English. I was “Hanna from the the Fillipenen” (I don’t even know if I spelled that right) and that “Paolo and Michael are from the Fillepenen too!”

We drove back to their hometown and went to Michael’s pre-school. The teacher introduced me to the “all-white” / Caucasian class and through body language and some translation I understood that she was saying that I was a Filipino like Michael. She motioned to my black hair, my dark colored eyes and my tanned skin and how me and Michael were similar. I can see the pride in Michael’s eyes as he showed of his “ate” and the kids’ curiosity as they proceeded to ask their teacher (in rapid Flemish, which is what they call their language – not Belgian!) questions about why their eyes are different from ours. It was such a pretty sight.

We then picked up Paolo from his school, where the two boys hugged and were so happy to see each other. Obviously Paolo and Michael were “famous” in their schools and everybody just scrambled all over Michael to say hello and touch him and squeeze him. Paolo’s love for his brother was very evident as he announced, “My brother’s here, my brother’s here!”

At the de Turck’s house, the grandmother was there as she was also very eager to meet me. We could not talk much because of the language barrier but Marie Therese and Koen helped with the translation. It was also very evident that they loved their two Pinoy kids to bits. They showed me a lot of pictures, and even showed me how they kept the boys’ clothes and their old feeding bottles from the Philippines.

I was amazed at how they spoke so highly of the Philippines and the Filipino people, and how they would love to spend more time here. Koen even told me that if his boys someday would like to go live in the Philippines and look for their parents, he and Marie Therese would gladly accompany them and live here. They told me that there was a different kind of warmth in our personalities that makes a person feel good. They particularly loved Cebu and have made fishermen friends there when they came 2 years ago to pick up Michael. The family is really saving up now so they can come visit the country by 2009.

It was definitely a visit to remember! In the afternoon, a couple more adopted Filipino kids went to the house for spaghetti and to meet “Hanna from the Fillipenen” – It was a surprise because I saw another one of our foster kids ! Corazon (her name is now Celine and she was also adopted by a Belgian couple.)

Contrary to its Philippine image of “kawawa naman” (what a pity / what a sad case) – adopted children are very special children and very loved children. They are so lucky to have these people go to great lengths just to call them their own.

For more information about foster care / adoption and how your family can get involved, leave a comment or email me at hanna.fernando@gmail.com.

Studio 23 - "Amazing Pinay" (!!?!!) - EDITED

2008-01-03T01:06:00.000+01:00

Aside from the psychological pressure of being home with the cast, I also had to put my best foot forward for media events. For a person who is totally honest that her secret dream is to be a celebrity , I was a nervous wreck during our first press conference at the Tektite Tower in Ortigas as the PR team of Zesto (our main sponsor) introduced me over and over as the "First Filipina Uppie"

I was a good spokesperson during my UPLB years. I don't know why - probably due to higher standards of the "real world" , my confidence just faded away when I was already working.I guess that's a different story altogether and something that I should totally overcome.

Going back, it really took a lot of courage from me to do these media stuff (pwede, pasulatin nyo na lang ako and wala ng interview?) . I had a press briefing from Paul Whitaker and Luis Petzhold (our Asia team) and had a brief pep talk with my cast manager Joern Gutowski and a big hug from castmate Lysan (thanks so much Lysan!)

It also helped a lot that the Studio 23/ ABS-CBN crew was a fun crew And the best part was when the camera followed Jules and I from Ortigas , to the cab, to the apartment in San Lorenzo.

Property of News Central, Studio 23.

It was funny because they featured this back to back with Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez' participation in the Amazing Race Asia. The title of the feature? "Amazing Pinay" :oP

Also thanks to Ann (the reporter, I LOVE HER JOB) UWP had good exposure on Studio 23 :-) Watch out for other features in the next updates. Ah, if you want straight news and extraordinary feel good news, watch News Central!

When the World Visited the Philippine Military Academy

2008-01-01T04:35:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the repetitive versions of explaining what UWP is. This was submitted somewhere for publication so there was a need to explain... I tried editing it out but there were snippets of information that I'd like included! I also inserted some personal insights.

Last December 6-9, 2007, colorful dots appeared among the sea of dress grays during noon and evening mess at the Philippine Military Academy as 70 students representing 19 countries across 5 continents dined and participated in various activities with the Cadets. I have always found life in the PMA very intriguing and it was such an honor getting a glimpse of it even for just a short while.

Based in Denver, Colorado in the USA, Up with People is an extraordinary global education and leadership training program which takes young people from different cultures and backgrounds on a life-changing journey around the world. Along the road, we experience different cultures and different ways of life as we undergo extensive training in servant-leadership, global issues, cultural diversity, and the performing arts. Starting with a month-long orientation period in Denver, last July 2007 - we continued on to tour around the United States (Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon and Nevada) and Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium) before reaching Manila last November 13^th. In each city or country we visited, we partnered with local organizations and did volunteer work, learned about local culture through living with host families and regional learning, and performed an inspiring musical variety show. Making it a point to visit one developing country in each semester, this was the first time that the program visited the Philippines since the 1960’s which made the Manila and Baguio City stops very meaningful for the program and for the participants

While in Manila, Cast B 2007 (as our batch is called) had a very busy schedule taking in the Philippine history and culture. Our corporate sponsor Zesto Corporation, in association with RC Cola – with full support from the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation made sure that the group had an enriching experience. The Manila leg of our tour was culminated by two major shows full of international songs and dances last December 1 and 2 at the Meralco Theater.

Aside from tours around Manila and the Show, the Cast also spent most of our time volunteering for several Philippine non-profit groups such as Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for Humanity, Virlanie Foundation, Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation Inc., Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities Inc., Ortigas Foundation Inc., Assumption School, KYTHE Foundation, ERDA Tech Foundation, Makabata School Foundation Inc., and the Rotary Clubs in Valenzuela.

Being the only Filipina in the Cast (and possibly the first Filipino to travel with the Up with People program) made me very proud of the good things happening in our country through these organizations. Yes, the UWP visit was in perfect timing with the bombing at Glorietta 2, the bombing at the Congress and the Manila Peninsula stand-off – but all these were overshadowed by the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino. Some of my co-delegates also said that it is in our country that they felt the sense of community the most. That’s the Pinoy concept, “Bayanihan” at work, I guess!

It was again an unexpected warm welcome for us at the Philippine Military Academy (even if most of them thought that we were students from U.P!) . Here we enjoyed a great (and very wet) soccer game and very interesting indoor activities at the Longayban Hall. It was surprising to enjoy a very child-like game of “Bear, Fish and Mosquito” with the future officers of the AFP! And we were very impressed with the opinions that you shared with us during the game “Take a Stand.”

While playing "Take a Stand" Something that made an impact on me was when we asked "Are you ready to go to war for your country?" My natural reaction was to assume that all cadets will stand on the "Yes" side. I was surprised when a lone cadet stood on the "No" side. Of course his fellow cadets jeered him on for an explanation, to which he shyly answered = that he was here to defend his country but that he strongly believes that problems cannot be solved by war. His response made me think of a General in Mindanao that I met a few years back -- he told me that soldiers are peacemakers and not warlords. War is not the only solution (with this I pray for lasting peace in the country!) In that same game, I also remember saying "No" to "Do you think your country should be lax about immigrants from another country". My take on this is we Filipinos and the Philippines must concentrate on building our own identities and getting our acts together before inviting everyone to live here. I feel like most Pinoys feel inferior to foreigners and in the process actually become foreign in our own country.

Lunches and dinners were made more interesting as we experienced your everyday way of eating and were treated to a special cultural presentation and a Cadet Uniform Fashion show. Oh, and we would also never forget the proper alignment of utensils, the “third viand”, the symbols for sauces and the “bone plate” and the occasional “social graces” notes that reminded us all on how to eat a banana!

The whole cast also enjoyed the synchronized twists and turns of the PMA Saturday parade and the refreshing Silent Drill performance at the Burnham Park for the Baguio City Centennial Celebration Kickoff. And to make our PMA immersion more complete, we teamed up with some cadets and did the obstacle course. A few hours and a number of sore muscles later (but happy! I fell on my butt HARD while doing one of the obstacles and it was PAINFUL... I was wondering if my spine was still aligned even after 2 days) , Home Team # 2 won the relay with a time of 5 minutes and 4 seconds to brag about.

Saying goodbye to PMA on the very last day was like saying goodbye to a host family!

Up with People’s Cast B would like to thank the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines, Lt. Candelaria, Col. Perfecto and Gen. Maligalig for welcoming us so warmly and sharing with us four days of your very busy lives. We certainly learned a lot and we greatly appreciate it! What better way to end our 6-month tour but with an interaction with other promising young leaders that was so different from us?

The laid-back and flexible lifestyle of the UWP program was such a contrast against the rigid training environment of the Academy. And that is what Up with People is all about – looking beyond the differences to spread the message of peace and understanding. Because deep inside each person – be it a UWP student or a PMA cadet, is the goal of making the world a better place to live in.

Being a leader requires a lot of guts and commitment. I guess this is the similarity between Up with People and the PMA.

Spending time in the PMA and doing what they did (sort of) was a very cool experience for me. I saw (sort of, maybe not even near the vicinity of pero pwede na din..) what my husband and a lot of my friends went through everyday while in the Academy. As I skipped one obstacle after another in the O-course (I admit that I can be a scared girly-girl most of the time!) my friend Alex (a first class cadet at the PMA) told me that I had to do it so I'd know what they go through. I told him that they do not need to make me go through the course to gain my respect - they have already gained my respect a long, long time ago :-)

By the way, my Home Team #7, Semiah Jr. finished 3rd place in the obstacle course. 5 minutes and 13 seconds.

and here's another treat for you ...

All Fired Up to Make a Difference

2007-12-17T05:50:00.000+01:00

This was published by Manila Times yesterday. I wasn't able to get a copy of the paper -- but probably Internet is good enough! (Nothing beats newsprint tho!) I pasted the article here but here is the link as well:

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/dec/16/yehey/weekend/20071216week3.html

“IN all the places that we’ve been to during this tour, it is here in the Philippines that I was able to feel the strongest sense of community, of helping each other out. I think that the concept of your Bayanihan is truly amazing,” so said Marita Mecke from Germany, one of the 70 new friends that I gained while traveling with the global education program Up with People.

Hearing that from Marita was like music to my ears and my heart burst with pride. Bayanihan—the Filipino concept of working together for a common goal (usually symbolized by a photo of people carrying a house to a new location) indeed is still very much alive up to this day.

For five months starting July, our group has traveled across the United States, stopping in Colorado, Arizona, California, Washington State and Nevada. We then visited European cities in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. The last month of this great adventure was spent in the Philippines. For most of the members of the group, this is the very first time that they have looked at poverty straight in the eye. It has been a shock for a lot of delegates—but most interesting for them was the warmth and steadfastness that the Filipino people exuded and the ability to still smile amid all the crises plaguing our country.

Through a comprehensive tour around Ayala Museum through the Ayala Foundation Inc. and Intramuros through the Department of Tourism, we were given a very informative walk through Philippine history. We also visited the Gawad Kalinga Baseco community in Tondo where we learned of inspiring stories about people working together to make a difference in the lives of others.

Our tour isn’t that type where we fly into a city, take a lot of pictures, buy souvenirs, and then say goodbye. Every destination was an intense, hands-on cultural immersion and educational experience. In every city that we visited, we learn about culture, history and current issues. We live with host families to experience life in its most real state. We perform community service with local nonprofit organizations and also stage a show that aims to spread messages of love, hope and peace in diversity. Throughout all these, we discuss about leadership, multicultural issues, listening and communication skills and respect for people and the environment. We were always tested on flexibility, patience and were constantly taught lessons on humility and acceptance.

After months of traveling with Up With People, it is only now that I am experiencing a stronger love and sense of pride for my country. My reaffirmed love for the Philippines did not come from my being homesick but for a strong urge to come back and serve my country again after hours of volunteering abroad. It came from knowing that we have hardworking kababayans abroad who are proud of our roots and are still planning to return to their homeland someday.

Here in Manila, the Up with People students are doing volunteer work every day for 13 days with local nonprofit organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for Humanity, Virlanie Foundation, Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation Inc., Philippine Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities Inc., Ortigas Foundation Inc., Assumption School, KYTHE, ERDA Tech Foundation, Makabata School Foundation Inc., and the Rotary Clubs in Valenzuela. Every day, the group is working alongside community members, other volunteers and organization staff members.

Seventy students from 19 countries make up the Up with People students. The past semester seemed like I was living within a microcosm of the world—and the program showed me that underneath all these differences, we all have a common goal and desire for a better life and future for all. The whole experience made me believe in the power of one person, whoever you are, wherever you are—to make a difference in another person’s life. Now that I am back in my country and the tour is about to end, I am all fired up and ready to make a difference in my country. I am proud to be a Filipino and I hope someday, the Filipinos will be proud of me, too.

For more information about Up with People please visit www.upwithpeople.org.

Manila (ila-ila-ila)

2007-12-12T11:29:00.000+01:00

(The cast seems to get a kick out of singing Manila-ila-ila to the tune of Umbrella-ella –ella , which I believe was fitting for one of the experiences we had here!)

Believe it or not, I have not ridden so many cabs in a week before UWP is in Manila. Nor have I tackled rush hour traffic in a Philippine jeepney (a jeepney or jeep or “dyip” is a modified US-Army design jeep that is the primary mode of public transportation in the Philippines .. an example of Filipino ingenuity!). In my normal life in the Philippines, I avoid these modes of public transport. I either find someone to take me, or just go to places accessible by bus or by walking.

Yep, that’s right – I am not a city girl. I lived most of my “matured” life in UP Los Banos. I worked in the Makati Central Business District and made myself familiar with the route from the mall bus stop to my office, and back. Beyond Makati, I am in nervous shambles. I get tears in my eyes whenever I imagine myself living in Quezon City.

Honestly, taxi cabs for me are scary and jeepney routes are way too confusing. I am geographically-challenged.

But if I can handle public transportation in Denver, Berlin and in Milan – I should be able to conquer my fear of Manila. And that is how Up with People is squeezing me out of my comfort zone even in my own country. It is about time that I face the city !!!

As I said before, Internet access in my apartment has been erratic (I don’t even know when I will be able to post this…) so if this gets posted way after the cast left already, I am so sorry!

Manila decided to welcome the cast with torrents of rain. My CI site was located in a part of Makati where a few sprinkles of rain floods the streets. Lo and behold, during my first day of CI, the cab decided to drop us off at a street corner and we had to ride a tricycle to the main office of Virlanie Foundation. I was assigned at this CI site with Jules (Uganda), Patrick (USA), Lysan (Germany), Christine (Austria), Jessica (USA), Whitney (Panama), Vanessa (USA) and Mallory (USA). Imagine my horror when we had to walk through knee-deep murky water to get to our respective houses! I was not to grossed out by it, but the thought of having my co-UWP students brave this on our first day!

What a cultural experience!

Unlike in the USA and Europe, where the Cast saw each other everyday – Manila is treating us differently. We see each other (if we are lucky) only twice a week. And luckily the Cast activities are scheduled at the Assumption College which is only about two blocks away from my apartment (but Jules said, it’s far!)

Not seeing each other everyday was a bit hard, especially added to the drastic change in our cultural environment. I cannot help but feel bad and sorry for the people who cannot seem to adjust to the crazy Manila / Philippine environment. The traffic, the air and noise pollution, the language – the “balde” (a bucket filled with bath water) and “tabo” (a smaller “scooper” used to get water from the “balde” that you use to pour over your body to take a bath) , the lack of hot showers, and when available – the outrageous number of househelp in the homes of host families.

It is hard to face the negative feedback and negative feeling around the Cast. But I know that this will only get better as we move along.

Manila, by far, will definitely be the cast’s most memorable moment. The ultimate O.S* moment ….

(O.S defined – “Oh Sh*t” moments are moments in our lives that scare and surprise us. But as we go through it, it makes as stronger, braver and more learned. This came from a speech by Mr Steve Farber during our Denver orientation. I absolutely love the concept.)

Somewhat Like Home

2007-11-21T08:31:00.000+01:00

I am home. The sights, the sounds, the smells of my Manila.

But it totally doesn't feel like home. Because the cast is here and they are still my life every minute of the day. It really feels weird to be home but totally thrown off your regular routine.

It is also only this time that I feel a sense of loss of my long-time job at Ayala Foundation. Remember, I was still working two days before I left for Denver last July. Oh well, opportunities will come, I guess (I hope! :-)

These past few weeks have been crazy. It has been an emotional roller coaster!

The cast is here, the cast is about to leave soon.
My friends and family are here, but I haven't really had the time to see them.
There is so much to do in the Philippines ... and I hope a lot more people will step up to this challenge.
Feeling less engaged in cast activities.
Hearing the cast's opinions on the Philippines and the Filipino people - some of them negative, some of them positive.
I've been on TV, the radio, and the newspaper.
I think I've accomplished a lot of things in my "secret wish list" like presenting infront of an international audience, volunteering internationally and being featured on TV.

Whew. Intense. Mixed feelings.

Here's another article for you! This was published in today's paper. http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/2bu/view_article.php?article_id=102125.

Student :slash: Host Mom

2007-11-17T01:02:00.000+01:00

Yes, we are in Manila.

Crazy being home with the cast. It seems like half of me is in the real world and half of me is in a dreamlike state.

I stay in my apartment in the middle of the Central Business District, and currently hosting Jules from Uganda. Other uppies have a ton of househelp at home and me and Jules are highly independent women (that's putting it nicely.. this means we wake up early in the morning to prepare our breakfast and come home exhausted to still frozen dinners)

It's taking the phrase "step out of your comfort zone" to the next level.

With full days, heavy traffic, grocery shopping, media worries (!!!), bad internet connection -- I hope I get to update my blog soon.

love, hanna

Global Pinoy: "Living a Dream with UWP"

2007-11-11T13:19:00.000+01:00

Check out this article :-)

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/philippineexplorer/philippineexplorer/view_article.php?article_id=99643

Mahal ko ang Pilipinas (I love the Philippines!)

2007-11-11T10:20:00.000+01:00

After a very smooth flight from Brussels-to-Frankfurt-to-China-to-Manila (there's a story in between but I'll post that as soon as I get my laptop to connect to the Internet -- ah yes I am typing this from our old Desktop PC in Binan, Laguna) I felt like I haven't even been gone for the past few months.

Yes, Philippines still feels like home and the hot and humid weather was more of a welcome comfort for me than an annoyance that I expected.

It was funny to struggle a bit with the I-don't-know-why-they-constructed-it-that-way arrival lane at the NAIA (have you ever been there? It's quite impossible to navigate a heavy trolley down there alone, it is sloped downwards and has a sharp curve that is also still sloped. It was kind of funny) but I was way too excited to care. After hugging my husband tearfully , it was also great to met Luis Petzhold, the fun UWP Community Relations Coordinator here in Manila.

My first craving was a Regular Yum with Cheese at Jollibee (it's a cheeseburger , and Jollibee is a Filipino fastfood chain) . Mmm.

I feel like the whole 4 months of UWP was just a dream and far far away, but the cast is arriving here in Manila on Tuesday and I just can't believe it! It will feel so weird to have them "invade" my Pinoy lifestyle. I am honestly afraid of the responsibility that I have for my country and UWP now..

But I have a very good feeling that they will love our country. Where else can you get warmth and hospitality AND the English language spoken everywhere? Here, we can get Italian pasta, Danish cookies, Japanese food, German franks, American fatty food, European fashion, pretty girls, great beer. All the best of life while still keeping in touch with the reality of it as well.

Saan ka pa?

Kita-Kita Tayo sa Pinas!

2007-11-08T14:43:00.000+01:00

Last show day in Europe today! And I am currently in the Staff Workroom nervously waiting for my time to go to the train station and on to the airport to fly home.

Yes, I won't be in the last show in Europe :-( and the cast will be going to the EU Parliament in Brussels tomorrow (something that I was looking forward to when I heard "Europe" when I applied for UWP) . This is also the first time since Tucson, Arizona that the cast will be complete onstage! Ah, but they're not complete now because I won't be there.

But going home first will be cool too, I guess!

I have a lot of stories to tell about Leuven (which, by the way is a very cool University town!) like the old buildings, the nice stores, the waffles, the churches, the very touching BTS we had, the amazing CI, and the Filipino students I met...

.. But those stories would have to wait. The next time I get to be online I would probably be in my normal "pambahay" clothes in Binan, Laguna or the very hot and humid Apt 9 in San Lorenzo in Makati. Am excited.

I would LOVE to have a stick of Banana-Cue when I get home.

In Up With People Land...

2007-11-03T22:06:00.000+01:00

Dronten Week was Immigration Week. Immigration is a big issue in the Netherlands and we learned about it a lot from our intensive education sessions and activities. For me, it was one of the busiest, most interesting, most intellectually-challenging, discussion-heaviest week of all.

One part of it was the Up With People Land game which simulated a country with immigration issues. Upon our arrival in Dronten, each cast member was issued a "Passport" which stated our citizenship/migrant status. There were Citizens, Migrant Workers, Legal Aliens and Illegal Aliens. The paperwork also had information about our "personal life" and the role we had to play in the game. There were business owners, employers and employees, asylum seekers, refugees, students, and unemployed people. We had the Justices of Peace who can perform marriages, and the Border Patrol Officers who had the authority to inspect passports. We had education background information and also the types of housing we have: whether we own it, rent it, or if we were homeless.

The game lasted for the whole week and we would role play throughout the day, which included priority rights for Legal Citzens. At the beginning of the week I was issued a Citizen passport ( I was so relieved!) unemployed, with a College education. I was also renting a room with Clara.

At the end of the week, I was able to get a job!

It was really a cool role playing game, that made us learn about the country and human side of immigration. We learned how it was to be robbed of our citizenships (better keep an eye on your passports!) , and to gain better insight on the plight of migrant workers, illegal immigrants, and refugees.

Another part of our Immigration Week was working with Dutch high school students to come up with 5 workable and realistic laws within a new Immigration policy. We had two days of guest speakers on Immigration plus trips to the Mosque and the Refugee Center to learn all that we can, and then we were split into groups to create the policies.

Oh, I had such a headache thinking about the policies, and it was so HARD. It had to be humane , but not too lenient, and had to be realistic enough to work in a country (meaning; no magical fast processing of papers or a totally free country who accepts people with no questions asked). What also made it harder was the diversity of the group and all the different opinions on immigration. It was great hearing thoughts from people from rich countries vs people from poorer countries.

Each group presented their policies to a panel of judges - some staff members plus some Dutch immigration experts, who were to decide which set of new laws were both ideal and applicable to a real country.

The headache was worth it. :-) Our group won!

In Dronten ...

2007-10-31T18:53:00.001+01:00

Yes, I am in the Netherlands!

I am hating myself for not being "too into"the cast this week. Maybe I am stil adjusting from being away for so long OR I am just busy thinking about going home soon. It might be a mixture of both. Plus, maybe about the fact that I feel like I am missing SO much of Belgium (even if it is just 2 days...) which is going to be BIG for the cast AND for Up With People.

I missed USA Closing because of Admissions Team and now I am missing Europe Closing too :-( -- ahh I hope my early trip to the Philippines will be worth it for the Cast and UWP!

I will tell you more about Dronten in the coming days.. for now, I will leave you with the following information:

1. I ride a bike AGAIN here. It takes around 30 minutes to and 30 minutes back everyday.
2. My family is a military family with 3 teenage kids.
3. Joke the dance captain is my roommate
4. We have a HUGE dog that barks so loud (and I am alone with him right now)

See you all soon!

Show Day!!!

2007-10-28T01:13:00.000+02:00

It is almost 1 am here, but body clock is 2 am already. My side of the world just adjusted to Daylight Saving Time and saved 1 hour. However, I can sleep in tomorrow!

It was Show Day today (err yesterday? whatever -- October 27 basta) and this also means that this is my last day as Advance Team member (oh, maybe except for Host drop-off on Monday) I am so excited to join the cast again -- because it really feels so weird to be away from them, especially for 3 weeks. Everything happens so quickly and one misses so many things.

It was Tuesday of this week that we found out that only 20 tickets were sold. Lo and behold, the Uckerseehalle had 1,000 happy audience tonight! We really owe it ( I believe) to the team who did the dance workshop Community Impact because i feel that they really made a big impact to the students. Enough impact that the excitement will be talked about even after we've gone from Prenzlau. I was talking to the Europe Tour Manager, Frank Liffers and he said that Cast B's presence in Prenzlau was very important because of future sponsorships and long term partnerships. And the sponsors were happy with what they saw on show day! Woo hoo!

Aside from the"normal show" new stuff and surprises made it more fun. The cast had a German song (I am thankful that I did not have to learn it, but it was so cool onstage) - then some local Prenzlau students also shared their talents! Like many other shows, local youth participated in our Stomp! number. They took a step further and shared a breakdance exhibition + an original German Rap Song written especially for Up With People. It was so cool. That's not all -- a Polish dance group also performed a lively dance number.

It was amazing! Because getting the whole community involved is what Up With People is all about. Diversity and participation was really evident on stage. And the sight of the hip hop dancers and break dancers jamming with 60's music was also really fun to watch!

This was my first time to watch the show and I really liked it. The message of Peace, Unity, Respect, Community Building rang out through the music without being pushy or "preachy"

Now that Advance Work is over, it feels weird that I am saying goodbye to Prenzlau where things have become so familiar to me after 3 weeks of exploring its tiny streets. I know that I might never see this place again, and that makes me feel so sad. My host family, Klemens ( the best driver, picture taker, tree climber, cheese cutter in all of the world) and Brunhilde are amazing people!

Well, who knows? Maybe someday I'll get to visit again.
We got unlimited ice cream from a local ice cream company. :-) It felt like AYLC all over again. Here I am with Frank Liffers.

Host family! Klemens, Brunhilde and their daughter Judith who drove from Berlin. Birte is the one infront.
With Dr. Blohm. He is a city representative and we worked a lot with him. Without him, all of it wouldn't be possible. He was so cool and helpful (despite the language barrier)

The Seefeldts! Our pseudo-host family who gave us late night rides home. They were the host family of Rasmus and Jeremy.

Katie is now the only original child wrangler onstage. In tonight's show, she took my old place.. (the spot near the soloist) and it was so cute! Hehe, I wonder if I'll get my child wrangling job back?

Cheers to Prenzlau and Up With People ! Let it be known that I will be home in less than 2 weeks!

The Cast is Coming!

2007-10-22T08:46:00.000+02:00

On this cold... cold.. day.

Yup, they are finally coming tonight ! I am not happy with the cold weather - my bike seat is frozen, the grass is frozen, my fingers are frozen. Sigh. And it's not getting any warmer.

Rostock, Germany

2007-10-20T21:44:00.001+02:00

Another hour away from Prenzlau is a beautiful city called Rostock. It is a University city and my host dad studied there. It was like an amazing old group of buildings in the heart of the mall. Seriously. But of course, the Universität Rostock has a very interesting history. Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area as well as the second oldest in northern Europe after the University of St Andrews. It is the third oldest university in Germany in continuous operation. (Where else did I get this information but from: Wikipedia :-)

Do you notice that I am getting wider and wider? Believe me, it is not just the thick winter coat but I am also gaining a lot of weight on the trip. After Up With People, I do not know when I will be able to travel again and I just want to try and taste everything. This trip to Rostock was no exception. We met Klaus (my host dad Klemens' brother lived in Rostock) at the Schokolateria (a shop devoted to chocolate! sigh) , then walked to a nearby Italian coffee shop for some German cakes and ice cream. Uh-oh.

They had chocolates from all over Europe. And some really cool looking truffles (Kaktus flavor??) that cost 1 Euro each. :oP

We had 2 platters of these sinful things.

It was a not so sunny day and my outdoor pictures looked a little bit blah. It was also freezing cold that I did not have much enthusiasm -- but I guess these are worth sharing...

The cast arrives two days from now. Let's cross our fingers that everything goes well :-)

Pretty Prenzlau

2007-10-15T16:29:00.000+02:00

(How lame can my blog titles get? "Beautiful Berlin" and "Pretty Prenzlau" --> hay, please forgive me)

But it really is pretty. Yesterday (Sunday) was a sunny day and my host mom was happy to oblige me with a relaxing bike tour around Prenzlau.

Here are some of my favorite photos:

Every morning is a 10 minute walk to the office (or bike ride) and we pass through a short cut through the cemetery. The cemetery is beautiful, but creepy at night. Last night, after promotions, I was able to convince Birte that we take the main road (so much longer) instead. :-)

Beautiful Berlin

2007-10-14T21:42:00.001+02:00

The Brandenburg Gate: former city gate and one of the symbols of Berlin

The Reichstag: site of the German Parliament

The Neptunbrunnen shows Neptune, the God of Sea.
This is one of the oldest and most beautiful fountains in Berlin

Saturday, October 13

The perks of staying 3 weeks in a City means you get 3 weekends! Unlike in the US, weekends in Europe are more laid back and relaxed. As Advance Team intern, I expected my days to be so full up to the weekend! Luckily, Birte feels that personal education and field trips are as important as logistical preps for the cast (cross our fingers we get everything done). So, my host family decided to take Birte and I to Berlin, which is about 1.5 hrs away from Prenzlau.

The adventure started on the road. To get to Berlin, we had to pass through the world famous German Autobahn. Wikipedia refers to it as a "nationally coordinated motorway" - simply put: Germany's freeway system. How is it different from other freeways? The Autobahn has been labeled by National Geographic as the "fastest freeway in the world" because they have no general speed limit. The recommended speed limit though, is 13o kph. My host dad said a lot of people (especially Chinese) go to Germany just for the chance to ride in the Autobahn.

From what I have seen in National Geo, my first reaction to my ride through the Autobahn was, "What? This looks like a normal freeway." - Nope, cars don't go whizzing by (maybe one or two whizzed by, but I guess in every part of the world you get a few daredevils) -- but still, driving through was an experience. The roads were so smooth and the way to Berlin cuts through a thick forest with color-changing leaves (let me repeat that I love, love the autumn leaves). There was even a bridge exclusive for animals to cross from one side of the freeway to the other. If you wish to learn more about the Autobahn, this site mirrors my thoughts - plus a lot more accurate information: http://gettingaroundgermany.home.att.net/autobahn.htm hn.htm

Hooray again for Wikipedia: Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million in its city limits, Berlin is the country's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the ninth most popul ous urban area in the European Union. Located in northeastern Germany, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area, comprising 4.9 million people from over 180 nations.

Probably the most interesting part most people know about Berlin is the famous Wall that separated West Berlin (Western Allies: US, UK and France) from East Berlin (Soviet Union) for 28 years. 1989 marked the fall of the Berlin Wall , leading to the reunification of Germany in October 1990. I might as well give you again the website for the interesting story of the Berlin Wall at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_wall

Let me say that I have never been interested in so much history (ever... I just subconsciously memorized my way out of elementary, high school and college history). Traveling with Up With People makes me wish that I had paid more attention. History is so engaging and interesting, and I know that it is never too late to hone this newfound interest.

Walking along the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall gave me a sense of wonder and sometimes severe goosebumps thinking about how it was to live in a violent, divided country. I can almost feel the terror of getting killed when escaping, or even hearing the cheers of the crowd when the wall finally fell. Ah, it was just so interesting for me! The picture below shows what they call the "death strip" where thousands died trying to escape East Germany.

Berlin is a busy city with so much history that it is impossible to walk around without wonder and awe (especially if it is your first time and you came with a purpose!) . We also passed a huge memorial for the casualties of the Holocaust (another very interesting subject for me, I have read a lot of books based on the Holocaust even before UWP) which I felt was cleverly done. It was very symbolic - just a labyrinth of blank grave-like structures. I was also able to see many memorials of people who died in the wars and also sculptures about the concentration camps.

I also saw the "United Buddy Bears" (http://www.united-buddy-bears.com/)-- the bear is another symbol of Berlin, and the United Buddy Bears are symbols of peace and unity. These are fiberglass bears painted by artists from all over the world. I absolutely fell in love with them :-) Apparently, these are the "Minis" and the original big bears are having their world tour.

These are the Golden Buddy Bears, which symbolizes the Golden Rule. The wording of the “Golden Rule” in different languages is distributed on two bears. According to the website, this further symbolizes that nobody can live on his or her own, that other people belong to our lives and that our behavior towards other people has consequences.

And look, a Philippine Buddy Bear! The plaque says it was painted by Filipino artist Pierre F. Patricio - that is the Philippine Eagle on the bear's tummy.

Where in the World is Prenzlau?

2007-10-13T22:03:00.000+02:00

Prenzlau is a city in the Uckermark District of Brandenburg, Germany. Its population is about 21,000 (2005). The town is twinned with Uster, Switzerland. It is about 1.5 hours from Berlin.

I was in the paper last Wednesday (Mittwoch in German). The title read: “Junge Tanzer suchen noch Schlafpatze” , which I think literally translates to “Young Dancers in Need of Beds” (funny if you think about it, haha). With matching picture! It would have been fun if I knew what the article was saying! Well, I just have to be satisfied with seeing my name crop up in a few places. Ahh, Advance Work in a foreign land.

Cast B was in Switzerland and will proceed to Zell Am Hammersbach in Germany this coming week. Sad to say though, that Cast B is incomplete.. why? Because Hanna from the Philippines and (most importantly) Ljuan from Macedonia is not with them! And from what I have heard, Megan, Vanessa Graves and Lesley are also missing in action.This is the part of Up With People that we call Advance Team Internship. This, I think is one more amazing growth and learning opportunity with Up With People.

If you didn’t know, ever since our first city on the road in the US (which was Tucson), somebody (sometimes 2 people) from the cast makes a sacrifice and leaves the cast for a few weeks to help the UWP staff set up a city. Yes, it is kind of unfortunate that these students miss 2-3 cities in the tour – but this is replaced by the fantastic opportunity of going behind the scenes in a UWP semester and knowing everything about logistics, publicity, admissions, host family coordination, etc, etc. Not to mention the experience of working in a cross-cultural setting. Whew. Take that resume!

Ljuan and I are currently in Prenzlau, Germany doing Advance Work for the Cast. (Photo was taken in Milan, though) It has been very challenging and exciting for me because of the following reasons:

It is my first time in Europe. The culture is very different.
I don’t speak German. I can’t even pronounce the words.
They don’t speak English.
This is my first time working with a German person (Birte, our CRC)
This is my first time working with a Macedonian person (Ljuan!)
It is so cold.
I ride a bike to get around. (Please see # 6 again…)

The previous week, Ljuan and I walked around the Prenzlau shops for show promotion. Not one of us spoke any German other than “Hallo!” , “Danke” (Thank You) , “Ja” (Yes), “Nein” (No) and “Tschius!” (Good Bye) – oh it was so funny! We mainly used facial expressions and body language to communicate.

Ordering coffee is an ordeal. Asking for a receipt is harder. Ah, imagine me trying to buy shampoo in a grocery shop where all labels are in German (I had to go back the next day because it turned out that it wasn’t shampoo after all!). But I am having a lot of fun. Even if Advance Work is Work (duh) it means I get to stay in a city longer. 3 weeks will mean I get to know my host family a little bit better (even if they speak very little English) and immerse in the culture a little bit deeper.

My host family are the Schmidts – Klemens (pronounced Kleemens) and Brunhilde (pronounced Brun-hild-uh) and we live about 10 minutes bike ride from the UWP office in town. They are really cool people. I am staying in their home with Birte, the UWP staff member.

Food has been very great too. Although I really like Italian, German food has proved to be very interesting. Meat and cheese are definitely favorites here (I love cheese and tasting all the different kinds is such fun!) – and I have also tried authentic sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) which I feel is very much like the Philippine atchara. My host mom Brunhilde is a wonderful cook.

Prenzlau is such a little place with cobblestone streets and beautiful buildings. It is a small city where I believe everybody knows everybody. It is very beautiful this time of the year because the leaves have just started to change color. If I weren’t so stressed with riding my tall bike, I would have biked for hours in the breathtaking tree-lined pathways by the lake and the meadows.

Sigh. More to see and experience in Prenzlau in the coming weeks!

Fallen Comrades

2007-10-11T16:05:00.001+02:00

Momentarily taking a break from UWP blogging to give honor to our brave Filipino citizens who gave up their lives fighting for the honor of our countrymen.

Remembering our fallen comrades
Ramon J. Farolan
Inquirer

October 08, 2007

MANILA, Philippines -- A week ago, four members of the Special Warfare Group (SWAG) of the Philippine Navy were killed in an encounter with suspected pirates off Basilan. SWAG elements better known as SEALs (Sea, Air, Land warriors), are considered as among the best-trained and best-equipped combat personnel of the Armed Forces.

Somehow the loss of these highly skilled fighting men reminded me of the disasters that we suffered earlier in the Basilan-Jolo area of operations.

It has been three months since 14 of our Marines were ambushed, beheaded and their bodies mutilated in an encounter with MILF/Abu Sayyaf elements in Albarca, Basilan. This was followed by another ambush, this time of Scout Ranger elements in Jolo. A test mission mounted on an Abu Sayyaf base in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, also resulted in the death of five officers and 10 enlisted men all belonging to Force Recon Class 13 of the Philippine Marines.

Whatever happened to the AFP offensive aimed at getting the culprits which was launched with much fanfare? Even elements of the Presidential Security Group were thrown into that offensive. Now I realize that the objective of the assault was not an easy task. The terrain in those areas is extremely difficult, the environment is not very friendly and the enemy is as slippery as a snake in the jungle. There are a multitude of reasons that can be advanced for the hardships we face in bringing these criminals to justice—particularly, those who were responsible for beheading and mutilating our Marines. But we must continue to exert our best efforts if only to maintain a semblance of AFP credibility in the eyes of our people. But most important of all, as a sign of respect and remembrance for our fallen comrades.

Slain Navy Seals honored with Gold Cross

By Nikko Dizon
Inquirer

Posted date: October 09, 2007

SANGLEY POINT, Cavite City, Philippines -- Eight months pregnant with their first child, Marilou Peralta said she lost "the center" of her life after her husband Ruel, a Navy Seal, was killed along with three other comrades in an encounter with alleged Abu Sayyaf members in Lanjil Island, Basilan, last week.

"My life revolved around him. He was the center of my life," Peralta, a 29-year-old teacher, tearfully said in Filipino.

The irony that the first time she and Ruel were at the La Naval Church at the Naval Base for their wedding last June was not lost on Marilou.

"This is our second time at this church but he's there," Marilou said, looking at her husband's coffin.

She promised Ruel she will take good care of his "junior" after an ultrasound test showed that they were having a baby boy.

And one day, too, Marilou will certainly show their son a little gold medal awarded to his father, to remind him of his bravery and gallantry in fighting Abu Sayyaf terrorists as a member of the elite Navy Special Operations Group (Navsog), formerly the Special Warfare and Action Group (SWAG) and the equivalent of the US Navy Seals.

The Navsog's Peralta, Jay Soguitan, Michael Abrio, and Joe Vincent Sistoza were on Monday posthumously awarded the Gold Cross Medal -- the third highest military award -- by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at noon at the church where their bodies lay in state.

With the President were Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and Navy chief Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag.

The fallen soldiers' wives received their medals in their behalf, and gently laid the medals on their coffins. Sistoza's wife is also pregnant.

Two-year-old Angel Abrio drank from her milk bottle as she stared at the President briefly speak to her mother, Rhea, by her father's coffin.

The President also gave Soguitan's wife a brief hug. Ms Arroyo herself pinned a medal and promoted Soguitan last January as part of the team that neutralized Abu Sayyaf leader, "Black Killer," in Tawi-Tawi.

A photo of the President pinning a medal on Soguitan was placed atop the soldier's coffin.

The President has also increased financial assistance to families of soldiers killed in action from P100,000 to P250,000, military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, said.

The families of the four Navy seals each received P100,000 from Ms Arroyo Monday, "with the balance of P150,000 to follow," Bacarro said in a text message.

"The AFP has also been receiving donations from civilian intended for our casualties," he said.

The four Navy seals were killed last Oct. 1 in an encounter with alleged bandits led by Abu Sayyaf "sub-leader" Abdulrajak Sadikal in Lanjil, an island in the northeast of mainland Basilan.

The Navy last week described Sadikal's group as "pirates and lawless elements."

On Monday, it positively identified the group as the Abu Sayyaf.

Sadikal's main link to the terrorist group was his brother, Faisal, a known ASG member, said Vice Admiral Emilio Marayag, heads the Naval Forces in Western Mindanao.

"In Basilan, it's difficult to recognize the Abu Sayyaf from the non-Abu Sayyaf lawless elements. We have an unconfirmed report that Sadikal's group aided those who ambushed the Marines last July 10," Marayag said.

Lubos po akong nakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga sundalong namatay sa pakikipaglaban sa Mindanao. My very sincere condolences also to the teams at SWAG and the AFP.

- hanna

WANTED: HOST FAMILIES FOR THE PHILIPPINES

2007-10-09T16:23:00.001+02:00

As you all know, the cast will be going to the Philippines in November - December.

The Advance Team is already there and they are so busy making things work for the Cast. Do you think UWP is exciting? Do you feel like you would enjoy meeting people and learning about the places that I have been writing about on this blog?

UP WITH PEOPLE IS LOOKING FOR HOST FAMILIES!

Open your home to the world and enjoy a very different learning experience. There are 70 young people from 19 different countries needing a home in the Manila/ Makati area starting November 13, 2007 and they will stay for 3 weeks. Host families are expected to have a bed for the student to sleep in.. breakfasts and dinners.

Staying in host families is a really a big part of UWP and enables a student to really immerse in a country's culture. It makes one see a country beyond the surface :-)

Take part in this unique opportunity!

For more information, please contact Ana at 0920 9473723 or Margaux at 0915 295 1770 and email mhovine@upwithpeople.org

You may also contact me ! Email me at hanna.fernando@gmail.com

hanna
(currently in Prenzlau)

Parli Inglese?

2007-10-06T00:22:00.000+02:00

A little bit of the Swiss alps from the plane ride from Frankfurt to Milan..

After a 30 hour bus ride from Las Vegas, around 15 of us from Cast B took the first group flight out of Seattle (the bus literally drove us straight to the airport from the grueling road trip). We flew United Airlines to Washington DC (where the flight was delayed for 3 hours), then to Frankfurt, Germany. In Frankfurt, we boarded a Lufthansa plane to Milan, Italy.

“Parli Inglese?” (Do you speak English?) was my favorite phrase.

The answer was mostly a puzzled look and a ‘No’. When I finally get a ‘Si’ (yes) and then ask my question, they talk to me in rapid Italian with confusing hand motions. Yes, that was what happened to me on my first day of navigating Milan using the Metro and the train. I was almost frustrated and lost. Take note I said ALMOST … I was on the brink of getting frustrated and lost, but be proud of me because I really wasn’t! After asking about 6 people “Parli Inglese?”, I finally found one who really could. I found my way alright and was so happy about it. By the time I had to leave Milan, I was so disappointed because I loved the public transportation and walking along the city streets and feeling very much in the “real world”. I go around the city using the Metro and the train , and then the bus to go home to my host family's house.

I loved how it wasn’t so big and overwhelming like America. Believe it or not, Italy was almost like the Philippines to me. It was also a week of missing my family. All of the delicious pasta, coffee and gelato made me wish so much that my family were also in Italy. We all love Italian food and authentic Italian was simply the best! Imagine having different varieties of pasta and cheese everyday – not to mention a really strong espresso or cappuccino for breakfast! Starbucks is NOTHING compared to my host mom’s home brewed coffee (oh, I will miss it so much) . They had an espresso machine, then, she also made me try the traditional Italian way of preparing coffee on the stovetop. (Ah, 2 shots of espresso in one evening is not good … I found it really hard to sleep, hehe)

My host family was wonderful. Nadia and Valerio spoke very piccolo English, but their 20 year old daughter Michela learned English in school and have traveled quite a bit. Michela also introduced me to her friends (it was a birthday party and we had Tiramisu!) and we went around downtown Milan where I saw the Duomo and the Galeria, the Teatro Scala (I went there again with some cast members during the afternoon). It was really beautiful, and it was cool that one of her friends was an architectural student who knew a lot about the old buildings. It was quite strange walking around with 11 Italians and not understand a word that they said -- but my host sister was really good in translating stuff.

I was in a "special" group in Italy. By "special" -- I meant that it was a unique arrangement because my CI group was completely detached from the cast for 3 days! This was because (1) The partner organization requested for a specific number of people and these SAME people should come for all 3 days and (2) The CI site was some 2 hours away from the meeting facility. It totally felt weird because a lot of us felt so disconnected and (excuse the word) abandoned!

We worked with an organization called Amici de Bambini (Friends of Children), preparing for a fundraising exhibit and designer T-shirt sale. The advance team in Milan called it the "Fashion CI", but really, it was far from fashionable. We cleaned the warehouse, painted walls, and prepared exhibit materials. (Note: I never imagined myself walking around Milan, the fashion capital of the world, looking so scruffy in my working clothes! Ahh, Up With People!)

Being separated from the cast for 3 days was really frustrating for the group. Hardly any information reached us, and we were working until show day afternoon. But as always, we had to make the most out of it and came out of the grueling 3 days more mature and with new learnings. The small group was able to get to know each other really well underneath the surface.

The show in Italy was called "Viva La Gente" -- AND I THOUGHT IT WAS AMAZING! It was fun singing some of our songs in Italian, and I felt very "cultured." We sang Di Che Colore La Pele De Dio (What is the color of God's Skin) and Viva La Gente (the UWP Theme song) and the chorus to the Sound of Peace in Italian.

We were supposed to have only one show in Italy, and one special night BTS for the host families who lived far from Milan (the students were hosted in Milan and in a little town called Cusano Milanino, where a Catholic church helped find host families). But the Cusano community apparently requested for a whole show, so we ended up performing 2 shows!

In Euro culture prep, they told us that encores are part of the culture. And indeed it was! "Bis! Bis!" the people chanted, and yes, we performed an encore for the 2 shows in Italy! It was an amazing experience performing onstage and seeing people watching us happily. I know we have performed in a lot of shows, but Europe gave me a different feeling because the people's language is so different. Yet, they seemed to enjoy the show!

Shaking the hands of the people while saying "Grazie!" was very uplifting. They shook our hands very warmly, sometimes we get a hug, or double kisses (in Filipino, beso-beso) and warm words of Italian appreciation. It felt very good.

As we in Viva La Gente say, "Music is the universal language"

I wish I had more time in Italy! Would love to come back in the future!

mmm.. Gelato! I tried Pistachio, Biscotti, Nocciola, Latte, Latte Blanca, Nuttela .. mmm

My host family

I lit candles for home at the Duomo

Limited time :-( more photos next time!

Vegas: Stripped

2007-10-04T23:24:00.000+02:00

I experienced Vegas like I have never experienced it before.

Nope, there were no wild, drunk nights. And no, I did not hit the jackpot. I did visit the penny slot machines, but let me tell you about the Las Vegas that we do not usually hear about.

I have been to Vegas a couple of times before, but it is only now that Vegas popped up to me as more than just the Strip. Beneath the flashy lights, spinning roulettes, whirring slot machines, is a real, true to life, normal (well, kind of) city.

We did our Stand for Peace projects in two schools in Vegas, and they were really awesome and smart schools. These diversity workshops always end with a show preview (BTS) and, I had my taste of my childhood dream to be an "artista". In the school shows, we have a few country introductions where some (2-3 people) cast members get to greet the school and introduce themselves in their native language.

In the first school: "Magandang umaga sa inyo...." (voice drowned in applause)

In the 2nd school: "Mabuhay..." (voice drowned in applause again)

Amazing, there were a lot of Pinoys in Vegas and they are proud to be Pinoy. A number of kids said hello, shook my hand, yelled "Mabuhay!" They looked really excited and I also received some hugs! I especially loved it when I learned that they have been living in the US for a long time but still did not forget their Tagalog, and "po" and "opo" (Philippine expressions of respect).

I also had the opportunity to join the Admissions team to do a couple of UWP presentations to high school classes at the Las Vegas Academy. It was my first time to do an Admissions presentation and I was so nervous and did not know what to expect from American high school kids. We (JC Rivas, UWP Education Coordinator and Aimee, a cast member) presented to three classes (1 theater class and 2 language classes) that day. I had to learn the presentation in time for my advance work for Germany.

It was very interesting - we really hope a lot of them will consider to travel! (Ah, by the way, I met another Pinoy student. I think he graduated from the Ateneo grade school)

Another amazing experience in Las Vegas was breaking the fast of Ramadan with the Muslims in the Mosque. We were given the rare chance to go inside the Mosque, speak to the Imam, and actually staying with the Muslims as they prayed. At the end of the evening, we shared an Afghan meal with everyone (too spicy for me!) I had an amazing conversation with a Muslim girl about the conflicts related to the religion around the world.

I got a little bit emotional when we were talking , because the issue was so close to home. She hugged me and told me that she will pray that never in my life that I will doubt or fear the religion, for it is only the humans who are making the mistakes and NOT the religion.

We had an amazing show facility, and again, I had family in the audience. Tita Girlie (mom's sister) and Tito Conrad drove from LA. Tito Bobot (mom's brother) and his wife, Maria, lived in Las Vegas but was unable to go because of reasons that cannot be disclosed! My uncle was my host dad.

Photo: Tito Bobot and his wife, Tita Maria

Viva Las Vegas!

ps.I was able to catch the "Mamma Mia" ABBA musical at the Mandalay Bay. It was super great!

Pinoys in Portland!

2007-09-27T07:45:00.000+02:00

Photo: Tita Alice and Tito Eric were my dad's classmates in High School

The power of technology!

After 2 nights of staying with all the people in our host family's house, I learned that I was to transfer host families. And the best part was : They were a Filipino family and they were the Tadeos! Tito Eric Tadeo was my dad's classmate in high school. And it was very nice of them to "take me in" ! We even had a nice dinner with some of their friends.

I actually got to live in 2 states! All UWP activities were in Portland, but the Tadeos lived about 30 minutes away across the bridge in Vancouver, Washington.

They are a family of artists! Tito Eric is obviously a musician, Tita Vivian is a cool designer (she gave me a really, really nice bag which she design and created herself) and Noelle is – ah, I never really witnessed Noelle show off her talent, but I can tell that she has lots of it. I know she sings, she writes and that she’s really smart. (Ahem, definitely Up With People material)

I got the chance to visit her school’s Open House, the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. The VSAA is what they call a “magnet school” – exclusive, specialized public schools that admit students based on talent and merit. The Open House invited parents to talk to teachers individually about what’s in store for the students for the year. It is basically a getting to know you session where they also discuss the grading system, status of performance, etc, etc. I was amazed at the curriculum and the depth of the discussions that they obviously have.

THANKS SO MUCH TADEOS! For the Pinoy meals, the good conversation, the music! I really hope that you enjoyed the show...

Portland, Oregon

2007-09-27T05:31:00.000+02:00

Photo: Neighborly host sisters. Johanna, Megan, Laurel, Cassidy, Tiffnie, Hanna, Sarah, Kellys, Marita and Maria. Our host families lived close together so we walked around downtown Portland.

Portland week was sort of like a blur to me. (And I am writing this in Las Vegas, and I can't even recall last week!)

I was first hosted with 5 other students from the cast - Cassidy, Megan (USA), Maria (Sweden) and Matt (USA), Lucas (Belgium). I moved to another host family in the middle of the week, but that story deserves an entry of its own!

Portland was environment week (yey Kakay and Miss Adel, up to now you are my tag team for the environment!) and we watched Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth which was pretty good minus the snippets that screamed hey-you-see-I'm-so-smart-why-didn't-you-vote-for-me- now-look-at-your-president.

And just to make us aware also of how much waste we generate per week, each of us were given trash bags to carry around for three days. We were to throw our trash and excess food in the bag. This generated a variety of responses... some people didn't like it, while some people really had fun with it. I was one of the people who tried to eat less so we won't carry around that much trash. Food packaging in America is terrible. Layers upon layers of plastic!

People shared spoons, recycled water bottles , or tried to transfer their trash to other people (!) But it really was amazing to see how 68 people can contribute to soo much trash. We were also given the chance to take our carbon footprints -- which basically translates to

"If all of the people in the world lived like the way you do/ use up natural resources the way you do, how many worlds are needed to support us?"

If people lived like me, we would need 3.5 worlds. Oh, I need to cut down on my . One of my castmates needed 12 worlds! Living in the Philippines gave me the edge because I don't need to heat up the house.

We also did Stand for Peace (see http://ba nanaspinworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Stand%20f or%20Peace) at the Prescott Elementary School.

My CI for Portland was for a women's shelter.

For regional learning, we went to the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (no longer in Portland, but already in Washington state) , which I think was really nice. Check out the website here. One thing I love about America is how they value the natural wonders (or some) that they have. The trip to Mt St Helens was very exciting, beautiful, and educational!

This made me think back again to Crater Lake in another part of Oregon and how I hoped that our own Philippine Taal Volcano can have a nice and informative visitor center. I guess that can be one dream I have for my hometown.

Two shows again in Portland! I got to meet Katie Allen's (from Georgia) parents who flew in to watch the show. Katie is one of my ice-cream craving friends and also co-child wrangler (translation: we take care of the guest performers in the show) , ah and we are also both "signers" (not singers) for one of the songs. A big hello to Mr and Mrs Allen! It was great to meet you !Photo: Suzanne Maas from the Netherlands is the new Education Intern!

Homesick!

2007-09-26T08:08:00.000+02:00

I just discovered wi-fi signal here in Las Vegas! I still owe you all my Portland entry. That will be up soon. But now, allow me to dwell on this moment of homesickness.

After 2 months on the road, it is finally settling in. Last week at a hotel, I met a Filipino lolo who was working as a hotel janitor and I found myself hugging him. I believe that will be a moment that I will treasure forever.

I miss my dad and our tiny apartment in Makati. The long walks to the office and the delicious food we eat. I miss our car and the long hours we spend in Manila traffic.

I miss my mom and her cooking and our Tagaytay weekends.

I miss my husband. I miss missing him while I am at home and he is in the base, I miss anticipating the time when he can come home to me. I miss the late night phone calls and unlimited text messages.

I miss Sir Mario and my officemates in AFI. I miss my meetings. I miss my Nescafe coffee breaks, precious moments spent sitting on the table in front of the coffee vendo machine at the 8th floor.

I miss UPLB and school. I miss driving through Calamba and Pansol and the winding road at PCARRD.

I miss Landmark, Glorietta, Powerbooks, Big Chill, Jollibee, Red Ribbon. I miss avocado shakes and tapsilog. I miss riding the bus to Binan.

I miss scrapbooking.

I miss my bed, my closet, my books.

Heck, I even miss junk text messages and the sound of tricycles!

I miss my old life! Who knows when I'll get it back?

-- hanna in a moment of sadness --

EUREKA !

2007-09-23T20:23:00.000+02:00

Photo: Jules and Cassidy wrote that on the sand and made me pose

It was from Eureka, California to Coos Bay when I discovered my soulmate: The Snickers Ice Cream Bar. Mmmm. Go ahead, add it on to my growing waistline.

On Travel Day, we stopped by the Redwoods National Park. Amazing, magnificent trees! The bus dropped us off and we explored a short trail in the forest.

CI in Eureka was cleaning up a local sports stadium that the community members helped build. It was really beautiful. There was a baseball, football and soccer field. Season is about to start again. Another CI was working with the Physical Rehabilitation facility at the local hospital. We worked with physical and occupational therapists , and I found it really interesting.

We performed at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts.

And it was also there where my dance shoes broke...

With my host family in Eureka, host mom Jacquee and host dad Duane! I was roommates with Sarah (from Kentucky) and Kellys (from Venezuela).

Back Track - Winston

2007-09-23T19:27:00.000+02:00

Time is precious - our travel time from Portland to Las Vegas was moved from 10:30 in the morning to 1:30 in the afternoon. More time to update and to "regroup" my luggage. My goal is to be able to update this blog up to Portland as well as I can. Cross your fingers..

Back Tracking to Winston!

We visited the Roseburg Lumber Yard - which was a huge lumber processing plant. The machines were amazing!
We performed at the Riverbend Park in Winston and opened the Melon Festival parade! I got to ride on the float in my Filipiniana costume and danced to Up With People song (something that I wouldn't have had the guts to do at home...). Matthew Erley from Denver carried the Philippine flag !
Here I am with the Education Team -- Scott, Jeremy, Hector and Ellen. Jeremy and I were the interns. Challenging meeting place ! We squeezed in with all of our tech equipment. there simply wasn't enough room in the park!

Beautiful scenery... on our free day, we drove to Crater Lake. Our host family lived in Roseburg, Oregon and could not drive us around so we had the UWP Van with us. I was hosted with Carolin (Germany), Laurel and Amanda (both from Texas) and Christine (Staff, from Connecticut). I thought Crater Lake was very much like our Taal Lake. I hope someday we can also preserve the history and scenery of Taal Lake and also have an information and history center about it.

It was also in Winston when Rafael attempted to load his flash gun to my camera - and that procedure screwed up my memory card. I lost a lot of pictures from Corcoran (with firemen! sigh) and was unable to take photos in the Wildlife Safari and our community impact (CI) project in Winston.

I did CI at the Food Pantry, where volunteers gather twice a month to assemble food packs for underprivileged families. When I say "food pack" -- it is not like the food pack bags that we have in the Philippines during relief operations. These are BOXES of food, some of them luxury items for me. Birthday cakes and coffee and tea and granola bars and cottage cheese. But still, the experience made me see poverty in America.

The thing that struck me the most was meeting a Filipino family who was in line at the Food Pantry. I thought about the "stereotype" American dream image that we have back home: that whoever goes to America makes it big. This family probably had relatives in the Philippines expecting gifts and "pasalubong"! Yet, there they were - swallowing their pride and signing up for food rations.

Life is so different. Poverty is so different too. The family owned an Asian market and small restaurant serving Philippine food (woohoo! I visited them and ate adobo and pancit) , yet it amazed me how they are considered "poor". Which goes back to my comment before in Denver - when I thought America was overreacting about their poverty. But I understand now. I simply cannot compare the poverty here to poverty in the Philippines. Because poverty is poverty wherever we go.
Photo: Having fun with Philippine chichirya at the Asian Market. Look it's Boy Bawang!

Changes -- and Wilkommen!

2007-09-23T18:06:00.000+02:00

Change in itinerary again! Notice that Lecco is no longer listed -- because we are going to Milan, Italy! I have never seen the Filipino movie "Milan" and now I have the sudden urge to see it. It is supposedly about a Filipino guy who goes to Milan to find his lost wife who was working there. I am excited to go to Milan because I heard that it is a gorgeous place and probably lots of Filipinos (I hope to gain more and more insight into the lives of Filipino immigrants and OFWs - a goal that suddenly popped up as I travel around)

I almost missed Italy -- because I applied for Europe Advance work. Advance work is another Up With People internship opportunity where a student will go ahead of the cast to a city in the itinerary to help in setting up and preparations. Yes, the student will most probably miss 2-3 cities or countries in the itinerary to focus on logistics, admissions, promotions, host family hunting , etc -- in an upcoming city. Sounds bad, I know, because who'd want to miss travel? But the opportunity and challenge of working in an entirely new environment is really too good to pass up.

I will be doing Advance Work for our 2nd German city, Prenzlau. I will be going with Ljuan Zequiri from Macedonia, and we were told that we were supposed to leave as soon as we get to Italy and spend 3 weeks preparing Prenzlau. Both of us were so disappointed because we were really looking forward to Italy. Good thing plans changed and we will leave Italy after one week!

I still feel bad that I will miss Switzerland - but just like what my mom always says, "You can't have your cake and it eat, too" ( or in this case, maybe chocolate!)

Wilkommen Prenzlau! For more information about Prenzlau, you can check out this site: http://www.prenzlau.info/

Coos Bay: The End of my Education Internship

2007-09-21T09:05:00.000+02:00

Photo: Ellen was my staff partner for the Education internship. I had fun working with her.

Coos Bay was my intern city. This meant it was my chance to "run" the city as if I were the staff member. Since it was only a 3-day city, it was not that hard to setup. Also, count the fact that we only had one community service project for the whole cast. (This meant I did not have to divide the cast in many groups going to different places!)

I was so excited for our project in Coos Bay! It was a coastal cleanup while learning all about the Oregon Coast. As I did the announcements for the trip, I was so disappointed to notice that my name was NOT on the list! I was so bummed that I wasn't able to go -- and they saw whales and seals and also had a pretty awesome experience ! Please click this link if you want to learn more about the cast's day at the beach!

http://www.castb2007.com/2007/09/17/sunset-beach-coos-bay-by-cast-b/

This was because the all the interns were signed out to meet with the cast manager to talk about applying internship lessons to real life. We were also given tips on how to write our UWP experience in our resumes or curriculum vitae.

Coos Bay was indeed a very charming city for me -- I thought it was a funky, artsy town and I had fun doing promotions around town with Sophie from China. (Promotions is when we go around telling people about the show , we also give out flyers and posters) They had a lot of quirky stores and a really cool scrapbook store! If I wasn't with Sophie, I would have just ditched promo and stayed there!

Show day in Coos Bay was very challenging but fun. We were in a very old venue called the Egyptian Theater, with no dressing rooms and barely a backstage. We had to setup tents outside in the biting cold so we can have a place to dress up in.

It was also the Coos Bay Fun Festival, and we got to perform a BTS there (BTS is Back Tracking Show, remember? A small preview of the show for free!) on top of a flatbed truck! It was also my first time to be in a small BTS Crew -- they usually get the dancers and singers for it to make sure that it will turn out alright. I guess I qualified for the "diverse" criteria ;-)

Coos Bay was very memorable for me - aside from having a great host mom who makes great breakfast (thanks so much Pat!) , I had a super cool roommate (Go Suze from the Netherlands!) - Ellen and I had a closing of my internship run (one on one), and then the Education team also had a closing meeting at the local Dairy Queen. Even if the internship is over, I am still looking forward to helping the Ed team as much as I can. I might have not enjoyed the logistics/ admin part of it, but I did enjoy the research, planning and execution parts of it. I definitely learned a lot, but maybe not as much as I could have. I have a lot more to learn! I felt like I did not do well enough in public speaking and putting my thoughts into (spoken) word.

Now, we are in Portland - first city without the internship and I feel like I have so much idle time it's crazy. I am always looking around feeling that I have to do something! Argh :-)

GO INTERNS ! Here is a photo of the first round of Interns after our closing meeting. We will miss working, but welcoming the less hectic schedule as well!

Catching Up (Again)

2007-09-21T08:52:00.000+02:00

I am now in Portland...

(from the last time I wrote, I was in Eureka, then there was Coos Bay... then now here!)

I wonder how many times I'll have "catching up" as my title?

I wonder how many times I'll say "I am sorry for the late update!"

Sigh. Jessica Walters, an Up With People staff member, was right. It is really hard to keep a blog updated on the road!

1. The schedule is crazily PACKED. We wake up very early in the morning, go through the day barely breathing, and go home too tired to do anything else.
2. We love spending time with host families.
3. Lack of internet access in some areas.
4. Lack of creative juices
5. A lot of things happen in one day and it gets too overwhelming to write about ANYTHING

Okay, I might be making excuses, but these are all so true! If you are a blogger having a crazy hard time updating your site, please share with me the challenges you face!

Would Love to Get Mail

2007-09-12T20:26:00.001+02:00

Just found out that they forward us our mail ;-) So if you want -- I'd love to get mail -- thanks!

US Address (September)

Cast B 2007
c/o UP WITH PEOPLE
World Headquarters
1600 Broadway Suite 1460
Denver, CO

Europe Address (October-November)

Cast B 2007
c/o UP WITH PEOPLE Europe
Avenue de Tervueren
300B-1150
Brussels
Belgium

Happy Birthday Memi!

2007-09-12T19:24:00.001+02:00

"Memi" is my nickname for my mom -- this is a letter I made for them today! It's her birthday on the 13th of September.

Happy Birthday Memi!

I will be writing this in English since I will be posting this email on my blog too (to save time)

We are currently in Eureka, California - and it's show day today. I have this short opportunity to use the Internet in the staff workroom! Yey! But I am also doing research about the Oregon Dunes because the cast will be going there tomorrow.

(I know I missed telling stories about Winston, Oregon -- but briefly, our days there were filled with activities for the Annual Melon Festival -- which was like a city fair with food and game booths. We performed at the Riverbend Park -- an open park venue! It was really fun performing in the open and for the first time AND being able to wear jackets! It's getting cooler now.. I also had the opportunity to walk over to a Filipino Restaurant and chat with the family. They are from Sta. Rosa, Laguna! I ate adobo and pancit and bought Boy Bawang!)

This week is my last week as an education intern and I can say that I am sad but relieved! Sad because I loved doing it and knowing about education stuff for the cast ahead of time, and relieved because I get to be a student again and just go with the flow. By tradition, the last week of internship is also called the "Intern Week" where the interns get to run the city and the staff will be there as "support". It has been fun being an intern and I really learned a lot -- I am sure if I get the time to really sit down and reflect on it, I will find out that I learned even more. I encourage all students in Up with People to try and get internships :-)

Since it's intern week , I had the chance to design and facilitate a workshop with the cast. It was confusing to work on something when we are moving around so much, but Jeremy (my partner intern) and I were able to pull it off. Thanks to my experience with AFI and AYLC (yey!) plus some grad school background, we have gotten great feedback for the Values Workshop! Some even say that it was the best workshop they had this semester, and I tell you we have had lots! But off course, it could still be improved and I promise I will work on it.

I think it is really cool that I am being forced out of my comfort zone everyday in this trip be it something big like speaking infront of a lot of people, or something really personal like living out of a suitcase, living with dogs, interacting with people you are uncomfortable with (honestly !) -- Something new everyday, something frustrating a lot of times--> but I feel like I have grown a lot during this first few months on the road, and I look forward to the challenges ahead!

Happy Birthday again Memi! I am sad that I missed Sam's 30th birthday (eek) and missing yours and missing Pepi's. Wah. I am having fun but I am also missing you all, and I wish you were all here with me to see and feel everything that I am going through!

I love you!!! Ingat kayo lahat palagi!

September 4 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM !

2007-09-03T07:18:00.001+02:00

This is my husband Sam.

It's his birthday on September 4!

He will be ___ years old. (Gosh! That's old.. hehehe)

I miss him so much! I hope someday we can travel the world together!

I love you Sam :-)

-- hanna --

The Farming Capital of California

2007-08-31T05:31:00.000+02:00

Big Cities. Small Cities. Ah, the beauty of Up With People. From the beaches of San Diego to the fields and fields and fields of farmland in Corcoran, CA.

Yes, we are here in this town called the "Farming Capital of California" and the home of the JG Boswell company - the largest crop company in the United States, the largest producer of tomatoes in the world and controls 65% of California's premium cotton production. Take note, however, that California produces 90% of cotton in the world market.

Corcoran welcomed us with a parade led by a vintage firetruck (so cool that I was able to be on it! We also had a picture in the front page of the paper the following day!), police cars, balloons, motorbikes. Our arrival in this City felt so promising that day and now that I am on my 4th day, I can say that I am not disappointed.

This is my first time to have roommateS - I am staying with my host parents, Bob and Elaine - and with Gabe, Tyrell and Nikki (yup, same Nikki in San Diego) Nikki and I have a sweet room on the 2nd floor of the house that is just full of model trains! Our dad is crazy about them that he has a huge track in the second floor, and a more "scenic" track in our backyard - complete with bridges and lighthouses.

Crazy Corcoran had a Crazy Schedule!

Tuesday and Thursday mornings were full of Stand for Peace workshops. May I share again that Stand for Peace is an Up With People project which aims to bring awareness and understanding of culture and diversity into the classroom. We do this through an interactive workshop with the kids - so far we have done SFP with middle schools around the country. We also did mini-shows for these schools right after the workshops.

Wednesday morning treated us to a tour of the JG Boswell fields and cotton gin. I would say that Corcoran is Boswell town, I see the company's name in plaques around town-- donating this and that. The tour was fields and fields as far as the eyes can see! We had an intresting video about the cotton and the tomatoes that they produce and how they do crop rotation with alfalfa and wheat. Oh, Sam would have loved this tour! It was amazing how they use sattelite driven trucks to harvest the cotton and tomatoes (no drivers!). We also had a chance to see an actual tomato harvest!

Now, what exactly is cotton gin? Yep it's an alcoholic drink made from cotton!

Kidding.

The cotton gin is where the raw cotton is processed to be made into the clean fiber that manufacturers use. The JG Boswell cotton gin is able to process 12 loads of cotton per hour (and that's 26 tons of cotton per load!). The phrase for that day was remember, cotton is dangerous! If they are all compressed into big bales! The company is able to process 170,000 bales of cotton per year. Our lunch for that day was sponsored by the company and we got souvenir pens and caps! Ahh, and mini 1 pound cotton bricks!

For our late afternoons from Tuesday through Wednesday , the cast was split into 4 groups and were dropped off in different schools as we helped out with YMCA after school programs. Our group had 80 kindergarten and 1st grade students in our hands for around 3 hours. It was exhausting but fun! Especially on the third day when the kids really knew us already. They loved doing "Baila, Baila!" , a Spanish song that we learned during the Up With People Alumni Reunion back in Tucson.

Friday was an internal education day and I really had a great time. We first had a human rights workshop which I helped facilitate (kudos to Jeremy, the other education intern -- I think he did a great job!) and then had a guest speaker, Kathleen Andersen - the State Warden of the California Substance Abuse and State Prison.

Corcoran is home to this prison -- the population of which outnumbers the 12,000 population of the City of Corcoran, and is considered to be the largest prison in the free world. Charles Manson, an infamous serial killer in the US is there along with several other "famous" people.

It is amazing to know how "privileged" the prisoners in California are. It is mandated by law that they go to high school and to learn English (if they don't know it). High school graduates are offered vocational programs so that they will have skills if ever they are released. They have amazing healthcare benefits and it may even be possible for them to get free heart surgery if they really need it. I had a great urge to say : Hey, if I need heart surgery, I'll just kill a couple of people and go to prison for free healthcare!

Halfway through lunch we had an intern meeting where all interns did a small persuasive speech to practice for public speaking -- I'll tell you more about my speech later!

Friday afternoon was FREE TIME at the YMCA pool! We had Home Team Olympics where cast groups competed against each other in events such as -- Synchronized Swimming, Fastest group to go down the slide, Diving for Rings (getting rings 12 feet deep!) , and "Chubby Bunny". Chubby Bunny was a fun (but quite disgusting) game where people stuff marshmallow after marshmallow in their mouths until they could no longer say "Chubby Bunny!" -- the person who puts most marshmallows in his or her mouth wins the game.

Ah, 3 hours of free time was pure bliss. I did some laps and felt so stretched and refreshed.

I was so excited for show day because my Tita (Aunt) Miriam and Tito (Uncle) Conrad from Cerritos, CA , and my friend Tiffany from Los Banos, CA came to see the show! The John Muir gymnasium was again such an experience because it was so HOT ! I could feel the sweat streaming down my face and see steam and droplets coming off of everyone on stage.

But it was a full house! Tickets were sold out and we had an amazing audience. It really helped that we spent a lot of time in the schools around the city. The kids liked the show a lot and even asked for autographs!

Sunday, (today!) is free day! I spent the morning with Tita and Tito and Tiffany. We went to the next town to do some shopping (I got an extra pair of formal slacks because we wear them all the time, a new black top because mine is so tight already because I am gaining so much weight, new dance shoes because Tita Girlie said better to get them now than in Europe, some tops) and I ended up with more luggage than ever even if I unloaded some of my stuff! It was so fun to catch up with everyone and to speak my language again :-)

Tomorrow is Travel Day again -- after a Mexico culture presentation -- we will all board the bus to Redding, California. We'll spend the night in Redding then continue on to our next city, Winston, Oregon! The cast will be a big part of the annual Melon Festival.

Work, Work for the Education Team next week! Winston is Ellen and mine's city. As Education Intern, I play a big role in planning and executing internal education for the cast. For next week, we have Debate/ Dialogue and Public Speaking sessions coming up, as well as Community Impact projects and Stand for Peace classrooms. Whew. It's going to be a busy week! By the time we get to Coos Bay, Oregon -- I should be able to run cities on my own. I am so nervous about it!

Goodbye Corcoran! Loved this city!

Look, my own street!

On the Road Again .., Goodbye San Diego

2007-08-27T08:27:00.000+02:00

As with with Tucson, I am finding it hard to say bye-bye to San Diego. It is such a beautiful city with lots of things to do. I can imagine myself living here (if I didn't say that already) -- with the sun, surf, sand. And as the San Diego visitors' guide says: San Diego - 365 days of aaaahh. Yes, my host mom says it's bright and sunny all year round.

Terry, my host mom (her husband is out of town...) travelled with Up With People in 1985. And it was so fun exchanging stories with her , and getting a glimpse of how Up With People was back then. Imagine, during their time, it was one whole year of travelling! My roommate this time was Nikki from Hawaii.

Today was free day and we were able to visit Coronado island (home of the posh Hotel del Coronado and the Navy SEALs) and then.. SEA WORLD! Terry's friend Dwayne gave us free tickets :-) so we went around with Dwayne, Jeff (from Taiwan) and Lucas (from Belgium).

Our first ride was the Shipwreck Rapids -- where we all got soaked! Then we also saw the Dolphin Show, the Shamu show (yey!) plus the Wild Arctic ride.

I guess I have a new dream job now -- yep, dolphin trainer!

Ah, we dropped by a place overlooking San Diego before going home and I think I got a great shot of Nikki there ;-)

Tomorrow at 7am, we go to Corcoran, California...

Border Issues and Unaccompanied Minors

2007-08-23T07:58:00.000+02:00

It is Thursday today and the three days that passed in San Diego has been very interesting for me ...

Tuesday was a day full of speakers, and it was a welcome break from rehearsals and workshops that only involved people within the group. I needed variety. And Tuesday was truly one of them.

The City of San Diego is right beside the Mexican border, and the location makes it a hotspot for illegal settlers. Our morning started with Kathi Anderson, Executive Director of an organization called "Survivors of Torture International". The non-profit deals with people who are victims of politically motivated torture or illegal immigration. some of the services they offer are healthcare, legal counsel, livelihood training and counseling. We also learned at how the staff dealing with the clients also undergo what they call a "vicarious trauma" due to their exposure to the sad and horrible stories of torture..

The next speaker was Pedro Rios, the Program Director of the American Friends Service Commitee. Their organization deals with the illegal immigrants who come into the United States -- mostly those who cross the border from Mexico.

The border, aside from being a physical manifestation of the separation of Mexico and the US, also represents a site for human rights abuse.

After a promo show at the Seaport Village in San Diego, we were off again to another Regional Learning Activity at the Tijuana Estuary. The Tijuana Estuary is a wildlife preservation park (wetland) that runs along the border.

Soon, we were at at the border, looking over to Mexico. It was a weird feeling to see a very thin but powerful fence separating two countries. We got to talk to Sean Gisler, the Border Patrol officer on duty that day. According to him, due to the daily risks they face on the job. almost all officers are against amnesty for illegal immigrants. He also emphasized that 22% of those that cross illegally have criminal cases such as rape, robbery, substance abuse and smuggling.

It was amazing how in the morning I was empathizing with the immigrants, and in the afternoon -- I could also totally feel for the Border patrol officers and how they risk their safety preventing the illegal immigrants coming through.

Wednesday and Thursday were both Community Impact days and I decided to challenge myself and signed up to volunteer for the Southwest Keys Unaccompanied Minors Center. The organization helps young people who cross the border unaccompanied by their parents or guardians. They provide food, shelter, education -- and everything else that every kid should have. At the Center, we painted the office walls and interacted with the kids a litle bit.

I was amazed at how beautiful the place was -- indeed incomparable to the rescue centers or orphanages that we have in the Philippines. The kids (15 residents only at a time) were well provided for and the stuff that they have available at the center are things that a normal Filipino child can only dream of! They had gardens and a basketball court. The buildings were air conditioned - with vending machines and bathtubs and carpets and computers. Two kids to a bedroom and each room had their own bathroom.

The kids mostly came from Central America -- Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, etc.. ; and there was one guy from China. Most of them did not speak any English - so my conversations with them were full of "no intiendes" !

Seeing them all there affected me a lot, and made me think hard : What prompted these kids to just risk their safety and cross the American border illegally? What will happen to them next? When they were all introducing themselves, I was just sitting there in awe and thinking about how many more people around the world may be chasing the American dream ?

I just fell silent then and there and wondered about how these kids' lives were in their own countries.. were they happy? were they forced to cross the border? do they ever want to go home? Do they have any family?

It was a fascinating CI for me. I believe that I connected with the kids even with the very bad language barrier. "No intiende" but muchas impormasyon and realization.

Here are some processing questions that I'd like to reflect on , and maybe invite you to try it yourself..

1. Put yourself in the shoes of a torture victim. How are you feeling? Also be aware that you have somewhere to go or someone to talk to.

2. Put yourself in the shoes of one of the staff that works with torture victims. Do you think you may be able to handle it? What do you think will be the hardest part of it?

3. Put yourself in the shoes of an illegal immigrant? What drove you to leave your country? Was it fear? need? Loss of hope? Is it worth all the risk?

4. Imagine that you are a border patrol officer, working hard in the hot sun. Imagine the border patrol officers' family waiting eagerly for him to come home at the end of the day.

Have a great day everyone!

Featured in Sierra Vista

2007-08-22T08:37:00.000+02:00

I am now in San Diego , but would like to invite you to visit the Sierra Vista Herald site :-)

Yours truly got interviewed for the paper ! Together with Johann from Sweden and Blaine from Texas.

Read the article here:
http://www.svherald.com/articles/2007/08/17/news/doc46c5420a29032653039525.txt

Sunny San Diego

2007-08-22T04:28:00.000+02:00

(featuring my impossibly heavy luggage)

Lots of reasons to be excited about San Diego.

1) It's a big California City! Sea World. San Diego Zoo.

2) I was here 15 years ago and it feels so weird that I don't remember anything.

3) It's Navy. Navy. Navy. It's a huge Navy city and Coronado Island, where the US Navy Seals undergo basic training, is located here. (more for Sam than me!).

4) Two days of community service, woohoo!

5) San Diego makes me feel so homesick.

Sierra Vista Show Photos

2007-08-21T08:34:00.000+02:00

I hardly get show photos. My host dad in Sierra Vista, Bill, had a blast taking show photos. Here are some of them :-)

Most of them are not so flattering angles -- but hey, it's a show! (Ahh and the camera added 10 pounds hehe)

I am a "child wrangler" -- in every show, we have child performers. I am part of the team who is in charge of them. It is really fun!

We have a song called "One to One" where we also use sign language. I am one of the "signers" onstage. Most of the cast goes into the audience for this part.

We sing and dance to Abba's "Mama Mia" -Yuri (from Japan) and I love this song because we get to be infront, rock out , and not care!

I also get to wear my Filipiniana costume for two songs during the show. It gets tighter and tighter after every city as I gain more and more weight. :-)

I hope you enjoyed the photos!

Pinoys Around The World

2007-08-20T05:08:00.000+02:00

Excuse me, non-Filipino speakers - I just need a break from all that English. This entry shall be written in my native language.

Alam kong madaming Pinoy sa abroad. Kaya nga tumataas ang halaga ng piso, ay dahil sa dolyar na ipinapasok nila sa Pilipinas. Bago ako umalis para sa Up With People, naka-kundisyon na ang sarili ko na maghanap ng Pilipino.

Sabi nga ng kaibigan kong si Pat, "Hanna, wag ka mag-alala - kahit saan ka magpunta, may Pilipino. Pag nalulungkot ka, sumigaw ka lang ng 'baboy' -- sigurado ko, may sasagot sayo!" -- haha natawa ako sa sinabi niyang yon.

Well, hindi ko naman kailangan sumigaw ng baboy para mapansin! Pero ang masasabi ko lang, nandito na ako ngayon sa ika-apat na lugar sa Amerika, at sa lahat nga naman ng lugar ay may Pilipino!

Naalala ko, nakasakay ako sa bus sa Denver, Colorado nang tinanong ng Amerikanong katabi ko kung taga-saan ako. "Philippines," I proudly answered! Aba, bigla na lang may nagtanong mula sa liuran ko... "Saan ka sa Pilipinas?" Siya si Grace na tubong Cebu. Naalala kong tuwang tuwa akong mag-Tagalog.

Sa Denver ko din nakilala si Amy na nagtatrabaho sa mall, may isa pa pero di ko na matandaan! At siyempre, di ko malilimutan si Pastor Carlos at ang kanyang pamilya, at ang kanilang Colorado Community Church. Kung saan ako ay sumama sa church service, kumain ng kanin, nag halu-halo -- at nanuood ng ASAP sa TFC.

Matapos ang Denver, napadpad ako sa Tucson. Doon nag-aaral ang best friend kong si Em - at habang nag-iikot kami sa University of Arizona (o diba? dati sa LB at lobby lang ng Rural ang tambay namin) may nasalubong kaming isa pang Pinoy na taga-LB din. Ang saya-saya.

Ang sumunod naman ay ang Globe, Arizona. Saan yon? isa siyang maliit na town na ilalarawan ko na parang isang lugar mula sa Twilight Zone. Yun bang parang nai-lipat ka ng ibang dimension? Tahimik, antique shops, mga lumang tren.

Maniwala ka't hindi, oo may Pilipino din doon. Anim na guro at ilang mga nurses. Ang host dad kong Amerikano ay may CD pa ni Mark Bautista.

Ngayon, ako ay nasa Sierra Vista, Arizona - ang lugar ng Fort Huachuca, isang US Army Base. Noong isang araw, kasama ako ng isang grupo na nag community service sa base. Kumain kami sa Army Activity Center at napansin ko kaagad ang isang ale.

Ngumiti ako, nagtanong, "Where are you from?" - Siempre, ang sagot nya, "Philippines" . Siya si Greta, 30 years na sa US. May kasamahan pa siyang isa pang Pinay, asawa ng sundalong kano! (Siya naman ang lumapit sa akin at nagtanong, "Where are you from?"). Taga Cavite City si Greta, at yung isa naman (pasensya na, makakalimutin ako) ay taga General Santos City.

Noong hapong iyon kumakain ako ng Mexican food (sawa na ako sa kanya, promise - mahilig ang mga Amerikano sa pagkaing Mexikano) at nagbubugaw ng langaw (oo, may langaw din sa Amerika) nang may batang lalaking (high school siya , grabe matanda na ba ako at "bata" na ang tawag ko sa high school student?) lumapit sa akin, "Hanna?" ang sabi niya.

Matagal ko siyang tiningnan, ngumiti siya at nagsalita... "Kumusta ka?"

Apparently, yun lang ang Tagalog na alam niya. Siya naman si James, ipinanganak sa Pilipinas pero lumaki sa Amerika. Panalo, isa siya sa aplikante sa Up With People. Matagal din kaming nag-usap.

Noong gabing iyon ay may show kami. May bahagi ng show namin na tatakbo kami sa audience at sasayaw. Habang sumasayaw ako't kumakanta, may sumigaw ng pangalan ko. Si Greta! Ang sarap ng pakiramdam ng may kakilala at may kapwa Pilipinong nanonood sayo. Gusto kong umiyak! Mababaw ba? Homesick lang siguro ako. Ang tindi ng kaway ko nang ipakilala sa entablado ang Pilipinas :-)

Kaninang umaga ay nakapagsimba ako sa Catholic Church. Di ako gaanong relihyoso pero ang sarap ng pakiramdam. Isinama ako ng kaibigan ng host family ko.

Ano pa nga ba ang meron sa simbahang Katoliko kundi, Pilipino! Madaming madaming Pilipino! Nakatanggap ako ng regalong novena at madaming yakap mula sa mga kababayan ko. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam. Pati ang paring Amerikano ay marunong ng kaunting Tagalog , at pinatayo ako at pinakilala sa buong Simbahan. "This young lady is travelling around the world with Up With People"

Dinala din ako ni Emily (kaibigan ng host family ko) sa bahay ng kaibigan niyang Pilipino. Tingnan mo nga naman, may bagong hango silang Palitaw! :-)

Hay, overwhelming ang araw na ito. Madami pang kwento pero itong entry na ito ay para lang sa Pilipino. Malamang, mas madaming Pinoy sa San Diego!

Napansin ko lang, lahat halos ng kausap kong Pinoy - nagtatanong, "Bakit hindi ka na lang dito sa Amerika?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero pakiramdam ko , sa Pilipinas pa din ang buhay ko (hindi lang dahil andun ang asawa ko)

Yee-Hah! (Globe, Arizona)

2007-08-18T07:51:00.001+02:00

In the city of Globe, Arizona - we performed in the RODEO STADIUM of the Apache Gold Casino. The experience was so different from Tucson -- in this city, nobody knew about Up With People! As in kakalog-kalog ang venue namin. But it was such a unique experience!

I also totally enjoyed our Community Impact (CI) projects there. One totally got me out of my comfort zone as we worked with the Gila Employment Services Training Center -- handicapped adults. I was CI leader for the day and it was such a challenge. But I feel like I am slowly overcoming my English language insecurities because of our neverending activities!

We also got to paint a local landmark train at the City park. That was fun! Even if it meant scorching heat and burning metal! We were also featured in the local paper :-)

Look closely, I am there somewhere? (Bottom, second from left !)

The University of Arizona Centennial Hall

2007-08-18T07:23:00.000+02:00

This is where we had our Tucson show. We had about 2,100 people! The show was sold out.

FYI, Tucson, Arizona used to be the home base of Up With People -- so the people there know and look forward to the shows. We were also lucky to be performing right in the middle of an Up With People Alumni Reunion (at the super posh Westin La Paloma Hotel)

Here are some more photos!

(We taught the kids of UWP Alumni some songs and dances for the Alumni show. Haha. It was frustrating and fun.)

BackTracking Tucson

2007-08-18T06:16:00.000+02:00

Now where do I start writing about stuff that I missed writing about?

Maybe the Stand for Peace project we had in Desert Sky Middle School in Tucson? Yes, I guess that is a good starting point. SFP is an Up With People program for schools , where we go into classrooms and conduct workshops on diversity, respect, and peace for the students. We were all trained to do the workships in one of our Education sessions.

We had our first Stand for Peace a day before our Tucson show.

I was a bit nervous conducting the workshops infront of kids from a different culture (8th grade - aged 12-13 years old) since the image that I had of American kids were those from the movies. Brats, smart aleck-y types. But I was so surprised and refreshed after working with the kids! They were all really smart and focused.

A typical Stand for Peace session looks like this:

I. Welcome and Intro for Stand for Peace and Up With People

II. Getting to Know You Ice Breaker

III. Activity: Card Identification (an exercise in similarities and differences)

IV. Movement: Stomp! (we teach them one of the dances in the Show)

V. Activity: Tammy Stands Up (a special session about bullying, which is a big issue in US schools)

VI. Activity: Power With vs Power Over (an activity about how working together peacefully is better than fighting over things)

VII. Wrap Up : Piece of the Peace Puzzle (students write down how they can make peace in their own little way in puzzle pieces)

I was not too confident with my facilitation skills , especially since at the back of my mind I have my insecurities with my English. I promise to have more confidence and to do better next time!

In the afternoon, we had our Back Track Show (BTS) for the students which is like a sneak peek of the full show.

Ah, my favorite part of the day was:

"Diversity. Does anyone know what diversity is?"

(Student raises hand) "Diversity is like a bowl of Fruit Loops. We all come from the same box, yet we are all different. But we're all good"

Loved it.

(photo shows my teammates Raine from Canada and Gina from USA with our homeroom teacher Mr Hill)

Updated US Tour !

2007-08-18T05:39:00.000+02:00

To family and friends who can meet me along the way... they announced the new US Tour schedule this morning. (drumroll please...) Kindly email me ahead of time if you can meet me in any of the cities!

August 20-26 - San Diego, California
August 27 - Sept 2 - Corcoran, California
Sept 2 - 3 - Travel from Corcoran to Winston, Oregon (overnight somewhere!)
Sept 4- 10 - Winston, Oregon
Sept 10-13 - Eureka, California
Sept 13-16 - Coos Bay, Oregon
Sept 16-23 - Portland, Oregon
Sept 23 - 24 - Travel from Portland to Las Vegas
Sept 24 - 30 - Las Vegas, Nevada
Sept 30 - Travel from Las Vegas to Seattle (18 hours on the bus -- Lord, give me strength!)

We will fly to Italy from Seattle. Las Vegas was not on the original itinerary, and the tickets are already booked from Seattle, hence the ridiculously long travel.

Tucson Photo Album

2007-08-17T06:52:00.000+02:00

Haven't had the time to really write... but I uploaded photos to the gallery.

Please go to http://bananaspinuwp.multiply.com/photos/album/9/The_Desert_Museum_-_Tucson_AZ for some great photos from the Arizona Desert Museum. It was an open air museum in the middle of the desert! Ang init!

Enjoy the photos! I am now in Sierra Vista, Arizona (first night in new host family) -- we just came from Globe, Arizona, where we performed in the Apache Gold Casino's RODEO STADIUM! Hope to write about it soon and to post photos also!

Ingat sa lahat! Miss ko na ang Pilipinas.

"Live in the Now" ...

2007-08-11T09:52:00.000+02:00

... my host dad said.

Yup, I have been here in Tucson for 4 days now and this is the first time I am writing about it. I am so sorry if I have not been able to write about our experience in Gallup, New Mexico (it was only an overnight stay) and a whole lot of details from other experiences. It's just that my host dad told me to live the moment and not stress myself about writing because I just might miss the action right here, right now. So I am just living in the now right now!

I am loving Tucson. Great city. Great experiences. Great host family.

My host parents, Bruce and Kathy Garret lives in the middle of the golf course (I am without a roommate this time, and the room is right beside the laundry room, yey!) . They have such a beautiful home and they are such wonderful people. They have shared a lot of wonderful stories and experiences with me. I do hope I get the chance to right about the whole experience soon.. (promise, i will try my very best.)

Had a great Community Impact day with some people in the cast in one of our beneficiaries' satellite site (our beneficiary was the Southern Arizona Center for Sexual Assault) where we interacted and played with the kids whose moms / guardians were seeking therapy or guidance. It was super fun mainly because the kids were so particapative and open, plus there were only 7 of us who did the CI, which was a great number. We were able to discuss about things well...

I also got to see my best friend Em who is taking up her Masters degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Arizona. She came with me and my host family to the Desert Museum on my last day in Tucson.

( I can't believe I am missing to write about a lot of other stuff ! Like the Up With People Reunion, our Stand for Peace project, meeting "Super Dad" Bob Kincaid at the alumni Reunion and finding out that he has hosted 6 Filipinas in UWP!, babysitting the kids of the people who attended the reunion, etc, etc...)

Will be leaving Tucson tomorrow and will be on our way to Globe, Arizona. I badly want to blog about this Tucson experience! I need to find time in the bus...

The Denver Opening Show

2007-08-07T08:53:00.000+02:00

The Up With People season officially started as Cast B did its opening show with a bang last Friday, August 3. The energy in the air was intense and a lot of us still cannot believe that we were there, about to perform the show in every city that we go to.

According to the show list I had 4 roles to play: We had some songs where we had children as guest performers, and I was assigned to be one of the students "in charge" of the kids, I had to lead them on stage and guide them on where to go and what to do. I also had to be a "signer" on stage during the song "One to One" (involved sign language) , while other cast members went to the audience. For the song "We'll be There", I had to change from my show costume to my Filipiniana costume and be part of the group and get to be onstage ahead. Lastly, I was an Up With People "jammer" which basically meant I am left to "jam" onstage while other castmates go to the audience during our last song, the Up With People theme song.

(Which, may I add, is hard to do when you are wearing the prim and proper Filipiniana costume)

I was not the least bit nervous about the show. I was more of excited! Excited to be onstage again, excited for the whole cast who worked so hard on the show. I knew that on that day we were all exhausted (especially the soloists and the main dance lines!) -- but everyone was pumped for the first showing!

The dressing rooms definitely added to my excitement - they were, well, "just like in the movies"! With bright yellow lights and different posters and signs of theater productions. We had our own mirrors and chairs! Again, the whole experience felt so surreal. i totally enjoyed taking photos. I am not a fan of doing my makeup everyday, so i really enjoyed having an excuse for it for the show.

Right before the show, the staff called us for "the Green Room" - which is a theater term referring to the time prior to a performance to go over final notes and team motivation.

Our first Green Room was very interesting and emotional. Everyone did not know what to expect as we were led to a room full of streamers and balloons plus inspiring and motivational posters made for us by the staff.

(By the way -- I love the UWP staff. They may get overboard with all the happiness and positivity at times , but it is way better than being annoyingly sullen. )

After a few show notes and last minute reminders - a few words of appreciation were said about the members of the Staging staff (Some UWP staff only stayed with us in Denver and did not go on the road) and I really think they did a great job in training us.

Then, Gabe , our dance captain, read a letter to Cast B -- it was a letter of reflection that walked through the amazing experience that we had all throughout 4 weeks of staging. He asked questions like, How different are you today? Are you excited? Do you feel like you have made friends for life? Think about how lucky you are. Think about the people back home praying for you. Who misses you? Who do you miss?

Before I knew it, I was crying and people were sniffling all around. It was such a powerful moment and it really made me very thankful for the experience, for the people back home and those who helped me get where I am right now.

Oh and I TOTALLY THINK THAT OUR SHOW WAS AWESOME (well, to think that we had to prepare for it in 4 weeks and that some of us are not really dancers or singers ;-)

Goodbye Denver

2007-08-05T13:52:00.000+02:00

I just can't believe that 4 weeks already passed.

This makes me wonder about the feeling of the next 5 months on the road that will probably be gone in a snap.

Today, I look back on everything that happened here in Denver. The first day, the first week - and then the entire surreal month where I was stretched out of my comfort zone.

I can't believe that we have performed a show already, the first of many... and I am sure things will never be the same from now on. I believe people in the cast are more confident now and are more willing to share a part of themselves throughout the trip. I am so happy to be a part of Cast B.

I haven't uploaded show photos yet but I will once I get Internet access again. We leave Denver at 7:30 AM today, after 8 hours, will stay overnight in Gallup, New Mexico and then travel another few hours to Tucson, Arizona.

I am excited for Tucson. New host family, new environment... I will see Em (my high school best friend studying at the University of Arizona), we will get to do two Community Impact projects, then there's the Up With People Alumni Grand Reunion!

Until next log-in...

Playing SuperStar at Teikyo Loretto

2007-08-04T15:56:00.000+02:00

(I am again late at posting this! Please bear with me…)

Another adjustment for me! Last Monday, Lesley and I had to take a one and a half hour ride to the Teikyo Loretto Heights University - the venue of our show! Rehearsals were in full swing.

When I got inside the theater, my mind flashed back to the days when I was in high school and college and we were getting ready to perform at the DL Umali Hall in the University of the Philippines Los Banos. At that time, the “audi” for me was the most prestigious performing place in the University (hey, it was expensive to rent!)

I am in the chorus / cast movement most of the time for the show. But still, I felt like this is definitely a dream come true – haha. Come to think of it, when I watch a professional production, I never imagine myself as the lead character ;-) I always thought that the chorus looked more fun! Besides, I know my limitations! (Ah, plus the extreme talent that my castmates are showing!)

Addiction

2007-08-03T13:55:00.001+02:00

Addicted to...

But I should be eating ...

This! (mmm, real peaches! This is called a Colorado "summer peach" , it's all white inside)

Travel to Asia Without Getting on a Plane!!!

2007-08-02T06:41:00.000+02:00

The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival was held last July 28-29 at the Sloan's Lake Park , Denver, CO.

It was a fun event, with a lot of things happening at the same time! We went last Sunday, at around 2PM. I was really excited to go because there was a Philippines booth there (I even announced it to the whole cast so that they may get the opportunity to experience a bit of Pinoy flavor) and I was looking forward to speaking Tagalog and maybe getting a Philippine flag to add on to the UWP collection.

The place was vibrant with a lot of colorful sights and wonderful smells. There were stalls selling merchandise from places like Thailand, China, India, etc.. And the selection of food stalls was overwhelming and everything had a long line! As we walked further in, we were able to catch a breakdancing exhibition and the history of hip hop and breakdancing. Interesting that the movements actually came from "gang wars", hence the "chopping movement" of the hands and that intimidating hip hop attitude.

We entered a Mongolian "yurt" -- it is a low ceiling portable tent used by nomads. And we were also made to try "horse milk" -- an alternative to beer in the Mongolian culture. I did not taste it but Lesley and my host mom did and they said it was .. NASTY! I did taste some of the Mongolian snacks and some were really good except for one (ugh). I tried fighting the taste with a sip of the Mongolian milk tea, which was not good either .. hehe. I guess I'm just used to the sweet tea, and was not too prepared for a salty kind of tea.

It was great seeing the Philippine booth! They had a musical instrument called "agong" , which all the while I thought was called "kumintang"! Wonderful to learn something new about my country while I am away! There were several exhibits and photos of traditional Philippine culture such as our games, etc. People can come in and try our native "Sungka" (kind of like the African game Mancala?) and kids can try and draw the Philippine flag.

We were there just in time for the Tinikling demonstration and the Rondalla presentation. Way cool. It was also nice meeting Filipinos there too , however, it would have been nicer if they can speak Tagalog! Most are 2nd generation Fil-Ams that can't (or won't?) speak the language.

We were also able to catch a Filipino rock band perform songs like "Laklak", "Narda", "No Touch" (pahipo naman... pahawak naman...) --> personally, I did not like their selection of songs! I asked one of them after, why not Eraserheads? I didn't get a clear response though :-)

We stayed and saw all the acts - and saw several interesting ones! The Hula Dancers, Indian dances, Acrobatic martial arts, a Chinese guitar player (i forgot what her instrument was called!) and the best part was the Taiko Drums!

Taiko, which means "big drum" in Japanese, is the art of ensemble drumming -- and it looked really great ! The group sets up huge drums on the stage and pounded on them skillfully and they looked awesome!

Just before we drove home, we were able to get Philippine "Lumpiang Shanghai" (they call 'em egg rolls!) with some sweet chili sauce. Yum, and it was 6 pieces for a dollar too! I was happy that Lesley and Laurie liked them!

I wasn't able to get a big Philippine flag, tho -- but they gave me a smaller one ;-)

The Colorado Rockies!

2007-07-28T07:11:00.000+02:00

Had an opportunity to watch a live baseball game at the Coors Field in Colorado! We were way up high in the "rock pile" but it was still okay!

I did not care much about the game (it was long AND boring, no offense!) but more about the experience, the sights, the sounds -- and to see how much America loves baseball.

Cast B Invades Boulder, CO

2007-07-28T06:13:00.000+02:00

Last Wednesday was Regional Learning day and the cast travelled by bus to Boulder, Colorado. It was about an hour and a half bus ride.

I liked Boulder a lot! It was a university town (home to the largest university in Colorado, the University of Colorado at Boulder) with nicely paved sidewalks and a really cool outdoor mall called the Pearl street mall. (It seems like Colorado residents can't get enough of the great outdoors. They also have the 16th Street mall in downtown Denver)

We were dropped off at the Boulder Public Library for our morning meeting. We soon learned that "Regional Learning" did not mean sitting inside rooms listening to lectures or visiting museums. We were to do our learning by ourselves, through a scavenger hunt around the city !

We were asked to form a group of 6 people with at least 3 countries represented, with both male and female members, and were given a map and a list of things to look for and gather around Boulder. My teammates were Marita (Germany), Sophie (China), Johann (Sweden), Clara (Mexico) and Ellen (Staff, USA)

It was a very interesting day! Of course we had to deal with a few disagreements about where we should go first or whether we will just use the Internet to find info or to really run around town trying to get first-hand info. We also had a short discussion about the purpose of the hunt - should we aim for the prize? or should we just have fun? Well, we ended up getting both! (Yup, we won... )

Some scavenger hunt stuff we had to find out or get...

- Which Woody Allen movie was filmed in Boulder?

- Get a business card from a local Police Officer and ask about the major issues that they deal with in Boulder

- Get the name and classes of a Professor in the University of Boulder, get your picture taken with them in front of one of the campus buildings

- Get a beer coaster from a local microbrew beer company

and a lot more ! (there were 20 challenges all in all)

The Pearl Street Mall

Met her at the Police Station! She was a US Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines with the Mangyans in Mindoro. She loved the country and is now very active in the Fil-Am community and is even part of the Philippine Dragonboat Rowing Team! She invited us to go to the festival on Sunday

On a wall at the beer making factory!

After the scavenger hunt -- we all had the opportunity to go to the Celestial Seasonings tea factory for a guided tour of how the tea was made. It was a great time! Especially for the tea sampling part! (Photo shows me, Suzanne from the Netherlands, Vanessa from the USA, and Benjamine from Belgium)

In Denver and Missing the Makati Walkways

2007-07-28T05:03:00.000+02:00

I used to work in the Ayala Ave. area of Makati City in the Philippines. There, it was fun walking around even when it is hot or even when it was raining because it was a pedestrian-friendly place. We had covered walks!

Denver is such a big city with wide roads that it looks almost empty. I always have trouble walking around and finding where I'm supposed to be because of the wide streets.

Now imagine having to walk across wide streets in super bone-drenching rain. It was freezing cold, the sewers were spewing out water, the sidewalks were flooded. And me and three other crazy people just ran through around 4 blocks of heavy, heavy rain. One time, while crossing the street, I left one of my flipflops in the middle of the road! I had to run back and get it. By that time all of us were running around in our bare feet.

We took photos, and people and locals were waving hello and taking photos. It was a hilarious experience. We finally got to the nearest restaurant to get something to eat while we waited for the rain to stop.

My roommate Lesley and I decided not to go to tonight's Culture Jam anymore because we were soaked! The rain did not stop though, so we just shivered our way down at the bus stop, and shivered again through the hour and a half trip back to our host family's house.

Wet Jaylee and Lesley at Johnny Rockets (a nice 50's restaurant)

Really wet and cold Vanessa, Hanna and Brodie.

First CI : The Inner City Health Center

2007-07-27T06:28:00.000+02:00

(CI means "Community Impact")

We had our first CI last July 19 at the Inner City Health Center. The ICHC is dedicated to helping people who cannot afford medical care or health insurance. We were there to improve their lawn through gardening and planting flowers and to do a bit of painting in the offices.

Coming from the Philippines, I thought the clinic was really first class. And of course, I couldn't help but wonder and ask myself: What am I doing here in America, helping people, and doing mundane things when there is so much poverty in my country and the world? When their standard of "poverty" is our standard of "rich" in my country.

But my new friend Vanessa told me that I shoud not feel guilty or bad.. because poverty is still poverty all over the world. And no matter how little an impact we made at the Health Center, we at least made a difference in this small community.

Leadership, Leadership Circles and UWP

2007-07-27T05:26:00.000+02:00

Developing leadership skills is one of the goals of Up with People. What sort of skills can be developed in UWP activities?

- developing trust

- personal responsibility

- negotiating

- managing conflict

- self confidence

- confidence in others

- creativity

- decision making

- managing change and transition

- active listening

- valuing ongoing learning

- building understanding

- sensitivity to the needs of others

- being solution oriented

July 18 was Leaders' roundtable day, where we spent time with Denver leaders from different backgrounds: government, academe, non-profit and businesses. I gathered interesting ideas and advice from them! I won't enumerate the thoughts/ interesting info one by one, nor enumerate the people who said them, here they are in a nutshell

- In Colorado, schools are financed by real estate/ property tax.

- Communities get involved in school management, especially the rich communities. There is a standard "schools package" and the state does not try to level the "poorer" ones to what the rich ones have.

- A leader should always lead by example and be a motivator.

- If you are a true leader, you will always be a leader wherever you go. Whether you are holding a position or not.

- Your values play a big role on your leadership style

- It is helpful to have your own personal mission

- Being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses is helpful

- Become self aware and always look within you

- When frustrations come from what you are doing or from the people around you... look within yourself and find inspiration within you and your personal cause.

Catching Up

2007-07-26T06:37:00.000+02:00

Hard to catch up! Been having very busy days lately. As much as I want to write in detail, I find it super hard to keep up with thoughts and feelings that I would like to share with you.

What is Barnga? /barn-ga/

We had no idea what Barnga was ... but it turned out to be really interesting! It was a tournament card game set up to be a simulation of culture shock and adaptation to new environments.

(Now this game only works best if you have no idea about how it is played ... but I badly want to tell you about it. So I just wish you'll forget about everything I wrote when the time comes that you have to play it...)

The cast was divided into 9 groups in separate tables. Each table had a deck of cards and a set of rules. Everyone reads the rules and starts playing -- the catch.. there should be NO TALKING.

After a certain amount of time, winners move one table up (i.e. winner in Table 4 will move to table 3) and losers move one table down. The objective of each person is to reach the highest possible table, Table 1.

Sounds pretty easy, right?

But what we soon found out was that each table had DIFFERENT RULES! and nobody was allowed to talk...

Imagine coming into one table oh so confident with what you know only to realize that you have no idea how things are. You end up totally clueless , frustrated, feeling stupid, and sometimes become defensive and argumentative.

Sort of like finding yourself in the middle of a different culture, a strang country, or a different group of people.

Cross the Line

Now this was an exercise in diversity... a line was drawn across the floor and we all stood on one side. The facilitator started askin

g questions and everytime that you feel that the situation / question applies to you, you have to cross the line to the other side.

After you have looked at each person who crossed the line or remained in one side... everybody goes back to where they were.

The questions were pretty light at first, such as:

Cross the line if you are:

a woman.

an Asian.

an American.

feeling homesick.

But after a while, things started to get intense when the following questions were asked:

Cross the line if:

ever you or you had a friend who was discriminated against because he was gay.

your parents are no longer together.

you have ever experienced discrimination.

you have ever felt misunderstood.

you think you are minority in the area you live in.

And you can feel hesitation and emotion in the air... What people realized in this activity was how we all seem different in the surface , but once you peel off the layers --> there were more similarities between people than we thought.

Ah, man is truly a multidimensional being... I hope someday we realize that beyond our differences, we have something special and common inside ourselves. And maybe (just maybe) this realization can make us empathize with each other and give way to world peace ;-)

Personal Goals and Group Values

2007-07-23T06:48:00.000+02:00

Up with People exists today to spark people to action in meeting the needs of theircommunities, countries and the world while building bridges of understanding as a foundation for world peace.

Yup, that is the overall mission of Up with People

But I know how important it is for me to set personal goals so I won't find myself "lost" in the middle of the semester -- or much worse -- CONFUSED at the end of the semester. (Who knows? I might be in danger of wanting to be a world famous pop star when I get home, hehe)

I am hoping to come out of this experience more confident about myself and knowing what I want to do best and where I am best at. I do fully intend to return to the Philippines and use the experience that I gained here for my professional growth. I am still looking forward to a career in social development work.

I wish to:

- challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone

- improve my communication skills

- know more about different cultures

- practice interacting with people from different backgrounds

- establish an international network

- challenge myself to write about my experiences (and GET PUBLISHED!!)

- improve my habits in being globally aware

I am looking forward to seeing or learning about:

- how people around the world work together to make their communities a better place

- different non-profits and how they sustain operations

- education programs or educational system in communities around the world (mostly about how communities are involved in the public school system)

And more miscellaneous stuff:

- to use my experience with admin and logistics work to assist Up with People

- to give my castmates a unique learning opportunity in the Philippines

- to show them that the Philippines is a great country with great people

- to encourage young Filipinos to sign up for Up with People !

- to get a job in Asia with Up with People (hehe)

During the application process and throughout the first week, I was sort of disappointed that I got this opportunity sort of "late" in life (most cast members are aged 18-21 years old) . But after getting accustomed to the environmentand having meaningful discussions with some people... I now feel that this is the best time for me.

It is good to have established my roots in the Philippines so I won't go blowing in the wind after this! (Nice adventure - but I am not that type of person...)

I will not be surprised if I am unable to reach my personal goals or travel a straight line towards it. We are only 2 weeks into the program (feels like MONTHS already) and the diversity of the group (and each one's personal goals!) prevent one-track discussions from taking place. I sometimes feel so old and boring when I start bringing up these "professional stuff"...

We also came up with group values, on how we want to live and learn throughout the semester:

1. Be respectful, inclusive and thankful

2. Be openminded, flexible, tolerant, patient and understanding

3. Challenge each other

4. Have fun

5. Establish great friendships

6. Maintain a balance between work and fun

But I also have my own!

1. Embrace change and look at each experience as a learning experience.

2. Be thankful and keep in mind that you are not only doing this for yourself but also for your family and your country.

3. Do not lose sight of your goals.

4. Respect people and also be respectable

5. Celebrate differences and diversity

6. Pray, pray, pray.

7. Always remember that you are not alone and there are people back home waiting for you.

Dance as if no one is Watching...

2007-07-22T05:40:00.000+02:00

"Oye el boom, boom, boom de mi corazon
ven y dime tu no me digas no"

Now I have no idea what that somg said -- but it has something to do with listen to the beat of my heart - boom, boom, boom.

Ah, and I get to dance the SALSA... yeah, dance as if no one is watching and I feel sexy. Haha.

This past week passed by so quickly and most of the time at 3PM I am so ready to pass out of exhaustion... tired from dancing, singing and there is the occasional education session (which I love, by the way...) - definitely information overload!

My motivation is that fact that we go to the Philippines and get to show off this stuff! I guess we Filipinos need these happy uplifty songs once in a while!

I vow to update my journal over this weekend! Well, tomorrow we will go whitewater rafting!

Cast B Itinerary

2007-07-17T14:00:00.000+02:00

A lot of Cities have changed and still might change also!

August 6-13 Tucson, Arizona

August 13-16, Globe, Arizona

August 16-20, Sierra Vista, Arizona

August 20-27, San Diego, California

August 27-Sept 3, Corcoran, CA

Sept 4- Sept 30 - Around Oregon and Seattle

October 1-7 - Lecco, Italy

October 8-14 - Luzern, Switzerland

October 15-21 - Zell Harmersbach, Germany

October 22-28- Prenzlau, Germany

October 29-Nov 4 - Dronten, The Netherlands

Nov 5-11 - Leuven, Belgium

November 12 - December 10 - PILIPINAS!

Keep posted for SHOW DATES! Sa mga kaibigan kong Pilipino, manuod kayo ha. Di ako bida or anything but if you look closely (as in super close) baka makita nyo ako! Haha. But really, the show is super worth watching ;-)

Opening Day Letter; Something to Reflect on

2007-07-17T05:55:00.000+02:00

Last Opening Day, we were asked to write a letter to ourselves, telling us all about our present selves and also about who we want to be after the program. Then we gave it to the staff for safekeeping. I am guessing that these will be returned at the end of the semester..

After that, a member of the previous cast shared his letter to us, and it was so beautiful. Sharing this also with you...

Dear Andrew,

Listen carefully; I have something very important to tell you.

This is a remarkable world, and it deserves all of the attention you can give it. Let everything inspire you. Focus on yourself and all that is around you. Find the patterns. Search for the differences. Understanding these will help you make sense of your life. It will help you break the habit of falling down in the same place where you’ve always fallen down before.But be warned, it’s a hard habit to break.

You are about to journey to far corners of this world and in every one of them a secret is waiting to be revealed to you.You’ll have to keep your eyes open to see them. You can’t keep your heart locked up like a secret if you’re going to realize that you are so much more than just yourself. You are a part in the great mystery of everything.

Just think, for a second, of every thing that’s happened to bring you here today. Not just your life, but all the lives that came before you.

You can believe in anything, God or the ground beneath your feet, to know that your existence and presence here today and in the world is what they mean by ‘miracle’.

Now think of what could be waiting out there for you. All that is about to happen that you cannot control. Families across the world who will welcome you with open arms. You may never really know if people can change. But you are about to learn that experience can change everything. Your actions can spread. Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and the love you give can expand, coloring everything in your life that came before it. Love expanding. Now there’s a concept that could change the world. So keep your eyes on your heart and nothing else. You’ll find, with this, that your heart will lead you to the truth. The truth, which is not your emotions, or attractions, or excitements. The truth is strength where you were once weak, compassion where you were once ignorant, and kindness where you were once cruel. You must give these gifts to yourself before you can give them to others.Because love is a choice, not a feeling, and it’s only the brave who ever really make it.

Be kind when no one is watching, and treat those you grow to love always with compassion first. But don’t be so hard on yourself when you don’t.

Always ask – what is it from this that I am meant to understand?What is it the world is really teaching me?Because the world has taught us lies.That we can live a full life alone, but that we need others.That we should put ourselves first. That we should take instead of give.That to love and have joy should be easy. And that our words need not have meaning behind them. It’s not the world’s fault it’s lied to us – it can’t help itself.But it’s our fault for believing the lies, and we don’t have to any longer. So – appreciate humanity. Appreciate this earth and everything in it. It needs you now, and it’s every atom, if you allow it, can inspire you to grow and change.

Have fun, close your eyes, spread your arms and forget yourself and how to breathe. Everything you know is over-rated, everything you’ll ever learn will someday be forgotten. And to be lost is to be free.

This experience is not about the moment that came before, or the moment that comes next, it’s about the truth you open your heart to in every moment that you are in. It’s a gift to close your eyes, raise your head to the sky, and see light where there should be darkness. The world is waiting for you, right now, to teach it something new. So teach it loudly. Life begins today, just as it began yesterday, filled with possibility.Have faith. Do not be afraid. That which is true will never leave your side.It is never to late to turn what’s wrong around.You are about to build a family around yourself. So Welcome Home. Build your life with pride, and kindness. Beginnings do not last, it’s what you do with what you’ve started that will determine the worth not only of this experience, but of your very life.

Up With People Performs in Denver

2007-07-17T05:28:00.000+02:00

Friday, August 3

and

Saturday, August 4

7:00 PM

Teikyo Loretto Heights Theater

3001 S Federal Blvd

Denver, CO 80236

Tickets available at the Young Americans Bank or please call (303) 4607100 ext 125

$15.00 Adult

$10.00 Seniors/ Children

This show is for the benefit of the Young Americans Center for Financial Education

Cast Decision

2007-07-17T02:59:00.000+02:00

So, remember when I wrote that we were divided into Red and Green groups?

Well, today they finally announced our real Cast. It was intense and everyone was nervous since this morning. Because everybody has made friends already, made little cliques within the groups and it just didn't make sense to us for them to change groups.

In the morning we had a leadership discussion, and then they oriented us on how to do Up With People admissions (finding potential students). After that, we had vocals and then movement. The dance was easier this time!

After that we were asked to hang around the hallway and were forbidden to enter the ballroom. After a few minutes of drama and anticipation, they opened the ballroom doors and scattered around there were lists of names and instructions on where to go...

My list said I had to go to the auditorium -- oh and I was so happy that I was still with some of the new friends I've made! But still, we did not know what Cast or tour we would be in.

The atmosphere was very American Idol-ish. People happy, people sad, people surprised, people crying, people hugging each other...

The tour announcement was full of drama. They played "Let it Be" and alumni and roadstaff dressed in black and white came out on stage wearing signs that said all sorts of "becoming" stuff: It was sort of emotional and exciting!

Be Impactful

Be Eclectic

Be True

Be Bold

Be Global

Be Positive

Be Determined

Be Thankful

Be Fun

Be Active

Be Inventive

Be Challenged

Be Humble

Be Confident

Be .. Cast B !!!

Yup, Cast B 2007 that will travel to the Philippines! Woo Hoo!

BUT I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY PUT MALL OF ASIA AS A PHILIPPINE HIGHLIGHT. Sigh. Will post the whole itinerary in a different blog entry!

Cast Party afterwards!

Halu-Halo in Denver

2007-07-16T01:20:00.001+02:00

Halu-Halo (roughly translated in English as Mix-Mix) is a famous Philippine dessert that has all sorts of sweetened ingredients like beans, nata de coco (coconut jelly), banana, corn, langka (jackfruit), ube, leche flan (caramel flan) -- topped with crushed ice, sugar, and milk.

Mmmm.

Ah and it is really true that you appreciate your country, your culture, your heritage so much more when you are miles away from home.

Today I had an opportunity to spend time with Pinoy (slang for Filipinos) living in Denver. The power of technology brought us together. (I Googled "Filipino Community Denver" and found them there and made contact!)

I got in touch with Pastor Carlos Bulalayao of the CrossWind Community Church and they were happy to invite me to Sunday Christian (Baptist) Service. Although I am Catholic. attending service is okay with me since it is all about God's message anyway.

It was a wonderful little group of Filipinos , everyone very enthusiastic, welcoming and everyone proud to be a Filipino. It was amazing how the foreign spouses have adapted to the culture and didn't seem to mind us breaking into happy chatter in Filipino.

After the Church service, we all (well, most of us) went to a Chinese Restaurant for lunch (they said so I can eat rice!) I rode with newlyweds Paolo and Harlyn who had an Eraserheads CD playing in the car Astig!)

After that, we went to the Bulalayaos' house for some halu-halo! The TV was tuned to the Filipino Channel and I was able to watch ASAP (nice show too!) and the Buzz!

Twas a nice day! Here's a photo of me with Pastor Carlos and his wife Tita Rowena.

Up with People Stage and Lights Setup

2007-07-16T01:00:00.000+02:00

This entry is especially for my UPLB Thespian Circle Friends...

Up with People has amazing stage and lights equipment that travel with the cast all over the United States. When the cast goes to Europe, the office there has a similar set. When we go to Asia however, we would have to rent equipment because of the expenses involved.

While doing theater orientation, I immediately thought of my old college theater group - UPLB TC ... We used to have similar workshops with our newbies. Terrms like Upstage, Downstage, Wings, Fourth wall, etc etc made me miss my college days.... Oh how I wish we would have equipment like what UWP has!

Eat your heart out!

Philippines: A place where US sailors get their tattoos

2007-07-14T19:03:00.000+02:00

Wednesday, July 11 – we talked about Stereotypes. Stereotypes were defined us categories/ generalizations that we put people in based on their race, place of origin, country, or affiliations.

After a bit of discussion, big sheets of paper with individual countries were posted all over the room, and we went around to write our “image” of that country or people living in that country.

Then people from the countries are asked to go up front and talk about how they felt about the stereotypes that other cultures put them in. I was kind of surprised about what they put on Philippines. There were some stuff there that were totally unexpected and I was surprised that some of those that I expected didn’t even come out.

I didn’t get any racist or stupid remarks and that was good. And the negative ones that came up were partly true and it did make me feel quite bad that my country is like that or has that! But hey, we need Brutal Truth sometimes.

Here are some that I remember…

Poverty – a lot of people wrote this. Totally true.

Prostitution and Child Trafficking – it is sad to admit that there are some “hot spots” in the Philippines but I shared with the group that people resort to these practices due to lack of education and extreme poverty. I also added the fact that foreigners are the most likely customers because they have the money to spend. This is especially true with parents who tolerate their child being sold out there.

All people can dance the Tinikling – no, not all of us can do it! But (hopefully) all Filipinos know about it

Very Traditional – Personally, I kind of feel like we are losing the Philippine traditions. In this age of technology we have lost “panliligaw” (courtship) and that “Maria Clara” image of women (women being shy and conservative) . and somewhat our respect for elders. But I do still value the “po and opo” (words we use to show respect) and the Filipino family culture.

Bad Food – we have very good food (to which someone agreed! Yehey!)

Where US Sailors get their tattoos – probably because of the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman”

Exotic places – so true, I haven’t visited all of them though

Tsunami – no, we weren’t affected by that

Rice, Seafood – yup

Traffic – in some places, yes

Of course, I told them that Filipinos are very friendly and cheerful people. That they should all expect the extreme hospitality that we shower to guests.

Oh and I learned a lot of things about other places too – here are some of the interesting ones…

In the Netherlands, people love bikes. But they get old bikes so they don’t get stolen.

Even if it is in Africa, there are hardly any wildlife in Uganda. You have to go to Safari in order to see them. Julianna, the Ugandan delegate haven’t even seen a lion in her whole life.

Contrary to Harry Potter, Bulgaria can be very hot in the summer – as in up to 40 degrees Celsius.

Brazilians love showing off skin.

The Swedes are very quiet people and are kind of amazed how people can talk so much.

That’s about it for this topic!

Some (Fun) Facts about US Culture

2007-07-14T19:01:00.000+02:00

Right now we are divided into two groups – Red and Green. We are still not officially called a “Cast” and they will announce the final groups on Monday. I am so excited.

We will be staying for 4 weeks here in Denver (3 remaining weeks!) practicing and learning the show… so we had a bit of a discussion about US Culture. And here are some interesting Facts::::

How much time at work does it take to make $1,000.00?

CEO = 2 hours and 15 minutes
Doctor = 13 hours and 5 minutes
Professional Athlete = 6 minutes
Policemen = 43 hours
Brad Pitt = 4 minutes
Farmer = 57 hours
Janitor = 103 hours

(Upon comparison with my old salary, I think I will be earning $1,000 dollars after 3 months of working – tama ba ang computation ko?)

We also tackled the consumerism in America.. in a country with around 300 Million people, here are some trivia of what gets bought everyday…

50,061,507 cans of Pepsi
152,424 pounds of Starbucks Coffee (they have Starbucks in every corner! But just like in the Philippines, some people consider it an expensive and “trendy” brand – a place to be “seen”. I’ve always thought it was a “normal” brand here.)
300,000 packs of diapers
2,400,000 Burger King Whoppers
500,000 Twinkies
20,826 Laptops
86,000 I Pods
6,000,000 Fed Ex Packages sent

Keep in mind that these are DAILY purchases!