"Why Don't We Include the Poor in Our Dreams?"

What do you say when someone asks you about your aspirations in life? 

For many, the answer is to find well-paying jobs, own nice things, and be happy. Ironically, most studies find that once people are able afford the basic necessities of life, money and materialistic items cease to make people significantly happier. What does generate happiness is strong social relationships, and dedicating time to a cause greater than ourselves. For instance, spending quality time with family or perfecting one’s teaching curriculum out of love for the job. 

This situation is problematic, as many leading psychologists have pointed out, because people take on 60+ hour work weeks to get a promotion that they think will make them happy, only to realize 40 years later that they've been leaning their career ladders against the wrong wall. Knowing this, it is important that we align our dreams with our knowledge of how flowmotion/life awesomeness occur. One of the social entrepreneurs I met at Gawad Kalinga does just this.

Me and Cherrie Atilano (R) at GK

Cherrie Atilano is the founder of Agricool, an organization that teaches the rural poor how to farm as a means to make a living and develop useful life skills. I was introduced to Cherrie by a friend from college, Edmund Soriano, who is so nice (thanks, Edmund!). Cherrie and I met up at the Gawad Kalinga Farm, where she lives full time. She is short, Filipino, and speaks with an fierce dedication to her work. 

In 2011, Cherrie was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to pursue a masters at Cornell. However, the immediate need of the poor drew her to turn down the Fulbright to work full-time on Agricool in the Philippines. The most striking question that Cherrie shared with me from her conversations with Tito Tony was, “Why don’t we include the poor in our dreams?” After all, it is our goals and aspirations that drive the work we do, and if our dreams solely consist of fluffy jobs, it’s likely that that’s what will come to fruition in our lives. Likewise, if we include the empowerment of the poor in our dreams, it is much more likely to come to fruition, and produce happiness in the process. Hope you're dreaming big!

The Enchanted Farm

Three years ago, 35 hectares of land in the Encanto Barangay (neighborhood) north of Manila had no roads or buildings. Today the area is home to Gawad Kalinga’s Enchanted Farm, which houses 50 families, 14 budding social enterprises, a Bamboo Palace, flourishing gardens and much more. I originally planned to visit the Enchanted Farm for a few hours and ended up staying 5 days.

Founded by Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga aims to build a path out of poverty for millions of Filipinos who live without access to clean water and basic life The goal is to foster an international family of social entrepreneurs that will work with the community to build social businesses to empower the poor. Families apply to live in the GK community and are selected based on their level of need and willingness to work with GK's programs. All adult residents have jobs with either a GK social enterprise or in a nearby neighborhood. Here's a story that illustrates how it all works:

An uncomfortably high percentage of toys in the Philippines are imported and materials that are toxic for children. That's what inspired Fabien Courteille to create Plush and Play, which creates safe and educational plush toys shaped like fruits and vegetables. My favorite toy is a giant banana complete with a detachable peel. The banana is named Jessica Saging, a clever combination of the well-known American Idol participant Jessica Sanchez, and the Filipino word for banana, saging. 

Fabien arrived at GK as an intern from France in 2011. Three years later, he is still going strong with Plush and Play which provides jobs for women, locally made toys for children in the Philippines, and inspiration for the more nascent GK social enterprises. "I don't know what happened, " Fabien said as he reflected on his time at GK, "I just dropped everything and stayed." To date, Plush and Play has sold more than 10,000 toys and aims to sell 20,000 this year. 

Fabien, Randy, Me and the Titas of Plush and Play!

I had a great time playing with the toys, and the Titas (respectful term for women/aunties on the farm) who created them. Sidenote: I am backpacking with a necessities-only rule to keep my pack light, and it makes no sense for me to buy a giant stuffed banana, but even so, it took some serious willpower to leave Jessica Saging behind.

That's one snapshot of the Enchanted Farm. I'll add that there appears to be no crime on the farm, and interestingly, I didn't see any pregnant women. Tito Tony says this is because everyone's working too hard. There is a wonderful family feel to this place; you address everyone by Tito or Tita - the traditional terms of respect for aunts and uncles, and people seemed to learn my name instantaneously which made me up my own name game.

***

One sunny afternoon, I jogged past a group of 8-10 year old boys on the Farm. They greeted me with energetic smiles and a respectful, “Hi, Po!” (“Po” is used like “sir” or “mamn” in the US). I waved and smiled back, and before I knew it the boys, all in flip-flops, were running with me! They giggled as they parodied my jogging style, throwing in some sassy hips and high knees as we made our way around the 35 hectare farm. I felt like a movie star enveloped in a throng of fans. Just for kicks, I started skipping. The boys followed suit. I grape-vined to the left and then the right. So did they. This escalated into a full-on game of follow the leader that culminated in a sprint down the homestretch back to the dining hall, laughing the whole way. We had run the whole farm and I had hardly noticed. What good company to have on a jog. And man, those kids sure could fly in their flip-flops. 

Coconut Milk Overdose

Coconuts at the beach

When I was young, and before I read Michael Pollen, I loved to eat Milano cookies. I once told my mom, “I could eat one million Milanos!” My mom laughed and wisely responded, “If you eat too many, you might get sick of them.” Never, I thought, I could never be sick of Milanos! Then, on one fateful day, a sale at QFC Grocery resulted in four white bags of Milano cookies sitting in our pantry. 

It was a dream come true as I indulged in orange chocolate Milanos, raspberry Milanos, dark chocolate Milanos and of course, mint chocolate Milanos. About 30 minutes later, I started feeling funny. My stomach hurt, I got a headache, and then I flat-out passed out on the couch from my Milano overdose. When I awoke from my sugar slumber, I couldn’t even look at Milanos without feeling nauseous. I can count on one hand the number of Milanos I’ve consumed since. It was a lesson well-learned to enjoy treats in the right quantities, or so I thought. 

More than 15 years later, I suffered another overdose at Gawad Kalinga. The culprit this time? Coconut milk. 

One of the things I love about the Philippines is the common carts of fresh young coconuts that street vendors will cut open and straw-up for you to enjoy the fresh coconut water. I had happily sipped a few coconuts in this manner when I came across a coconut milk stall at a market in Angat. Here, they cut old coconuts in half, shredded the coconut meat, put the shreds in a straining cloth, and then press the liquid out of the coconut, producing a thick and creamy coconut milk.

I was so excited about my small bag of coconut milk. I brought it back to the farm, put it in the fridge to chill and waited for that moment when the heat would make me crave a cold drink. When that moment arrived, I eagerly poured the coconut milk into a glass and took a sip. I knew immediately that I shouldn’t have the whole 8oz at once because it was pretty much coconut cream. I was like, I’ll just drink a little and put the rest in the fridge. I should’ve known better because before I knew it, I had downed the cup hoping to quench my thirst (which it doesn’t do!! Go for the H2O, people, go for the H2O). 

It was Milano deja vu. First I felt my stomach. I was on the verge of throwing up, which probably would have helped. Then I got the headache, and then I just passed out for two hours. It was my body’s last line of self-defense to protect my consciousness from the poisoning power of excessive coconut milk. I felt so sick. 

Luckily, the farm is like a family and everyone made sure I was alright. Jio - my awesome, singing tour guide - went to the herb garden with me where we picked fresh peppermint and tarragon to make fresh tea. “Peppermint and tarragon grow well together, and they taste well together too,” Jio told me with his teddy-bear smile. The tea helped a lot and I can’t wait for the day when I grow my own peppermint-tarragon herb garden. 

Eventually the episode passed, and the jokes began. “Hey Willa, want some coconut milk?” was the question of the day :). So this overdose did have at least a couple of silver linings: garden fresh tea and good laughs all around. 

Amazing herb garden! 

Peppermint tarragon tea

The Power of Light

My excitement for the Philippines skyrocketed when I met Amira Polack, a wonderfully warm lady who just returned from a two-year tenure in the Philippines. She’s a Princeton grad heading to Harvard Business School, and her smiling demeanor is showcased in photos that line the walls of Manila’s EAT Cafe. Upon discovering our shared passion for social entrepreneurship, Amira introduced me to a plethora of inspiring people in the Philippines. One of these social innovators is her former boss and founder of Hybrid Social Solutions, Jim Ayala. 

Jim grew up in the Philippines and is the second oldest of six children. When he was 15, Jim’s father died prematurely, instructing Jim and his siblings to study hard and look after their mother before passing away. The Ayala children took this to heart, and all of them earned Ivy League undergraduate degrees on nearly full scholarships as well as graduate degrees from Harvard University. Jim attended Princeton and Harvard Business School before working for Mckinsey for 20 years, playing a key role in starting many of the company’s offices in Asia. He then went to work for the Ayala Land Trust, a group responsible for the development of Makati City, a posh neighborhood in Manila. It was in Jim’s beautiful Makati home that I found myself learning about how Hybrid Social Solutions is literally electrifying the rural Philippines with solar energy.

Here’s the issue (from Hybrid Social Solutions website): “one in four Filipinos, about 20 million people, lacks access to electricity…Without electricity, communities lack the basic resources for development, trapping them in a cycle of poverty, illness, and environmental detriment.” 

HSSi brings solar energy technologies to off-grid populations with a Kiva-like model. They provide solar energy and electric products like flashlights and headlights to community organizations that them distribute the products to local populations. Jim’s office is lined with a myriad of HSSi products that have effectively helped students to do better in school, improved work conditions for many and reduced livestock loss during natural disasters. 

Jim giving my friends and me an awesome demo of HSSi's work.

Prior to solar lights, students could only study until the sun went down. HSSi came up with a system where students could check out lights for a day to study, allowing them to finish their homework and study longer. One low-ranking school became one of the top-ranking schools in its district with this technology. Those who sell livestock suffer fewer losses during storms because light enables them to save chickens that would otherwise float away. This allows people to pursue economic growth with fewer bumps and stop signs. That’s the power of light.

Of course, this is just the beginning. When discussing this issue with Willerie Razote, who worked with  the Acumen Fund in Uganda, she noted that the trend with solar energy now is to go big. Small lights have changed lives, and it has inspired people to desire and innovate more. Instead of just a light for studying, they want a refrigerator so they can feed their family and reduce risk for contamination, an electrified office building, etc. HSSi has served over 100,000 Filipinos and they aspire to bring energy to all who need it in a sustainable way. 

If you’re interested in learning more or helping, HSSi is hiring and also accepts volunteers!

Jose getting us where we need to go!

10,000 Fireflies

Fireflies light up for 3 reasons:

1) to attract a mate

2) when they sense danger

3) to communicate 

As we cruised on the starlit river, the trees seemed empty and quiet. I was on a firefly watching tour and there was hardly any light in the dark maze that we had entered...until the tour guide shined a red LED light into the trees. The fireflies perceived the red-light as danger and lit up those trees like the fourth of July! Actually, they light it up like Christmas time because they make the trees look like Christmas trees adorned with lights. Hehe. It was really an incredible sight, and I loved that there was this kid on board who got everyone excited by exclaiming, “I see it!!!” every time we encountered the fireflies. Once in a while a firefly would linger on our boat like a little fairy cruising by. 

Manila pics:

Carlos Celdran Tour. Many people skip over Manila when they visit the Philippines because the pollution is rampant, and infrastructure is weak. For example, there is a path that lines the beautiful Pasay river, but no one uses it because it's accompanied by a sewer system for a majority of the way. After taking this tour, I am majorly impressed by Manila's resiliency because it's been tossed around as a way toy, moving from a mostly Muslim population to Spanish Imperialism to US and Japanese hegemony.  

Slums adjacent to more modern developments

Fried tofu for Adrian's Birthday

Adrian and Tinka

The Kong's got competition.

Visit to SmarterGood, one of many social enterprises I've visited (more to come on this).

"No Sugar (healthy)". Word. 

Korean Palace

New friends, Matt and Clint, at La Terasse. It was the Scorpian, wasn't it?

First the Banana Hostel, and now this at my Cebu Hostel? The Cosmos is working. 

Salt-water Snorkling

February 13, 2014

Honda Bay is an open water marine scene consisting of 60 islands big and small. At 6:30am I hopped into a van full of tourists in Puerto Princesa to go island hopping in the Bay. First stop: Starfish Island, known for the starfish. I went snorkeling for the first time and was blown away when I ducked my head under water. Right next to my feet were little fish dancing around. There was a Nemo, a dory, a jellyfish, schools of small blackfish, a long skinny clear one and one guy that kept swimming right at my goggles. It was peeking at another world, and I was humming “Woowww” the whole time. 

About 50 feet from the shoreline, the ground dips sharply into a world of coral, sea urchins and fish. There was life that I have gone unaware of for most of my life. And with a snorkel, you can float and observe for extended periods of time. We were in clear saltwater so my skin got a nice exfoliation over the next day and now my epidermis is feeling smooth as silk. 

After a yummy lunch with eggplant and rice, we hopped to Sinking Island, so named because it submerges completely with the tide. There was a diving board there and I reminisced on my diving days by doing a front flip into the water, which shot a bunch of salt water up my nose. Boy did that to clear my sinuses :). 

When I wasn’t in the water, I hung out with the my tour-mates. I don’t know how it started, but it became a thing for everyone to say “Willa!!!!” throughout the day. “Wiillllaa, don’t forget your shoes! Willaa, try to feed the fish! Willlaa, we can watch your stuff!” Or just, “Willlaaa!!” for kicks. I thought this was nice because everyone was looking out for me. There was a group of older Filipino Americans and two American guys, Matt and Clint, that I enjoyed sipping coconuts with. 

Matt and Clint and I laughed so hard about scorpions, and cricket. After the tour, we all had dinner at La Terasse, another delicious recommendation from Adrian. Then we invented a special Puerto Princesa bar crawl, hitting up some sweet spots including one with live Filipino bands singing Bob Marley and island tunes. After some local Red Horse Beers, we walked down to a shack called “Street Bar,” which was literally a bar in the street. Finally, we ended up at Tiki Bar where I had a mango banana smoothie, watched 15 year olds tear up the dance floor, and did the shopping cart to an Asian band doing covers of Kesha. Win. 

Pics or it didn't happen:

My ride and company in Puerto Princesa

Veggie Dish and coconut banana smoothie at Kalui restaurant, recommended by my sister, Diana, and Adrian.

Whoever said not to play with your food is missing out. Look, it’s a “W” made of grape seaweed!

Smiling seaweed. Hehe.

Fruit bowl for dessert. 

Poster for free Zumba! Apparently it’s a thing to do this at the mall. 

Red bananas!

Odysseus set sail...except with neon green and pink flags.

Stylish water shoes that everyone had to wear. They each held about a pound of water.

Shipmates

The view, reminded me of Seattle.

Cupid banana

Captain Wentzie and the crew.

This is a real starfish! Photo cred to Cap W.

Me and Captain Wentzie!

Hike to Heaven

Flotation meditation

This is the office of the Mayor of Cebu. Jk! He just donated the backboards. Nice marketing.

Huge sound system on the back of a truck.

Nice People

Oh, Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Hope it was awesome and filled with love and appreciation for family, friends and SO’s.

In the recent days, I have lost count of how many times I have said “You are so nice. Thank you!” Here are some stories of nice people:

Nice Family #1: Marjorie, her son, Leon, and her brother:

I found a great coffee shop called Brown Cup to do some reading and catch up on emails. I asked the barista if there was a gym nearby because I was itching to try Zumba in the Philippines. The waiter didn’t know, but the woman next to me chimed in with a suggestion. We started chatting and I met her son, Leon, who is 5 years old, has curly hair, and kept saying, “Mommy, I love you!” What a good little support system. 

Then Marjorie’s brother came and suggested a yoga place in town, and then Marjorie called her cousin who gives hiking tours to see if he could give me a tour, and then she gave me her number in case I needed anything! 

Nice Person #2:

My Zumba teacher in Cebu!

This guy was great and danced to "Rodeo Romeo!"

Nice Family #3: 

Allyssa Camiso and her parents. My good friend and T-Rex leader, Josh Gross, introduced me to this family that he was close with when he lived in Cebu. I ended up celebrating Valentine’s Day with them at the Radisson Blu and they are amazing people. They took me to an incredible nature hike/playground because they knew I like active outdoor activities with fresh air. 

One of the few negative aspects of the Philippines is that the air is quite polluted because the majority of the vehicles emit potent fumes. But not at Uncle Rick’s and Auntie Nelda’s nature getaway. Rick and Nelda are the Camiso’s good friends, and they are developing a pristine plot of land in the mountains of Cebu. They didn’t know we were coming, but they were so excited when they saw us,  saying “come in! I have cake. try this banana and go explore the playground!” Their warmth and hospitality are traits I hope to develop and emulate in my lifetime. 

Uncle Rick, Auntie Nelda, Mr. and Mrs. Camiso, Allyssa and me

What's that??

On a related note, I feel strongly that everyone should have a community where they can share their success and confide any conundrums weighing on their minds. The research on the positive effects of strong social support systems on health, crime, economics and every aspect of life is undeniable. I like being the place where friends think to go when they want to talk or just read/sit quietly with company. It’s always an honor when a buddy knocks or calls or emails randomly and I feel that people encourage this where I've been traveling.