I arrived in Pandan, Antique on Thursday September 18, 2014. I left Manila in the morning, after a sleepless night saying farewell to volunteers scattering across the Philippines. The flight from Manila to Kalibo, in Aklan province in the northern part of Panay Island was quick and easy. Ashley, Eli and I traveled together with our counterparts. The three of us were already very excited to head to our sites, our excitement was enhanced when we boarded the plane. The aircon filled the cabin like a fog machine and dance music was playing over the speakers – it was as if we walked into a party and we danced down the aisle to our seats. The flight was quick, and before we knew it we unloaded in Kalibo, a pass through point for travelers heading to Boracay, a popular resort destination. Ashley and Eli packed their bags into a van and left for Sebaste and Culasi together. Camilo, my counterpart, and I took a tryke to the bus terminal and caught a bus to Pandan, Antique. The trip was beautiful with views of rice paddies and mountains in the distance. Once we got to Pandan, we loaded my bags into yet another tryke for a short trip to my new home.
Welcome Sign at the Municipal Agriculture Office, my place of employment for the next two years
Ashley and Eli enjoying the massage chairs at the airport
I live with Nanay Judith and Tatay Willy. Their home is very nice, Nanay keeps a beautiful garden. She did the landscaping herself and it looks enchanted, with moss covered rock walls and winding pathways. Candle filled lanterns hang from the trees and there are benches made from repurposed wood. My Nanay is very resourceful; in the kitchen Nanay has used a variety of broken tiles to brighten up the gravel flooring which she salvaged from construction waste of neighboring homes. The home is simple and warm and my family is very welcoming, I feel at home already.
Tatay Willy is a great cook. Some of my favorite foods are Chicken Adobo (a standard Filipino dish), Eggplant Omelette, and a mix of okra, eggplant, and bamboo shoots cooked in fresh pressed coconut milk.
I often spend my weekends doing laundry (by hand), hanging my hammock at the beach and reading, or maglago lago (walking around) with my Nanay. Life is simple here and there is not too much to do, but I find ways to keep busy.
I work at the Municipal Agriculture Office in Pandan. Its a small office, and everyone is very friendly. Only two of us in the office work with fisheries and coastal resource management. I have visited half of the coastal Barangays (villages) and will be working closely with the Mag-aba Marine Sanctuary which received emergency relief funding from the UN FAO for logistical support for their Marine Sanctuary. I attended a Law Enforcement Seminar hosted by the UN FAO last week and they will be providing marker buoys, a guard/watch house, GPS, Camera, Telescope, and a patrol boat. There are three other MPAs I will assist and there is also a plan to establish a fifth MPA.
