City refuge

One of my favourite parts of the week is the regular visit to the city refuge. It’s extra special as Shiela and I do it together. The children have very few visitors and get bored so they really enjoy it, too. We have a time of Bible stories, drama, worship and games.

Recently we have included a time to teach the children. This can be challenging, and because they come from different situations, they are at different levels. Some have started school and others not, some of them are at the centre long-term, rather than temporarily.

At the moment there are more young low-level children so we focus on teaching them the basics, reading, writing and numbers. The fewer higher-level kids learn Maths, Filipino and English.

The children want to learn and often when we have our worship time their thanks or prayer request is about learning. We enjoy the challenge of teaching them, it’s rewarding to see them learn.

Building squad

These are the Badjao men who are working on building the bridges that will join up the new village and form the walkways, with materials provided by local government.

At first they made almost no progress because their tools were lost in the fire – they had nothing to work with. The Father's Refuge was able to provide all the men with the tools they need to build their new village. That's Duncan in the middle... errmmm, we can't see your spade, Duncan...

A Phoenix from the ashes

Our old centre/school in the Badjao village was destroyed along with the rest of village. But the good news is that a new building (which we have dubbed The Phoenix Centre) will ‘rise from the ashes’!

Like all the Badjao, we will have to move to the new relocation site. The Father's Refuge has been given a 10x10 metre plot of land at the new site, where we will build our new centre. We were even given the privilege of being able to choose where we want our plot of land to be. In the picture: The Father's Refuge senior team choosing and marking the plot where the new centre will be located.

Model homes

We are in the second week of building a model block of houses for the Badjao community at their relocation site, this is to help prevent the area becoming a slum. With only 10,000 pesos (£150) per home from the City Government, this is a slum in the making unless there’s some intervention.

So, the model home we are designing and building will have a single roof for a block of ten homes, fire resistant partitions and clothes washing/showering facilities, which makes them more cost-effective than single buildings.

The building is 16 metres by 40 metres and has a total of 55 cement posts, which raise the houses above the mud at high tide. Materials have to be carried on site by hand because of the mud and it’s hard work in the thick mud.

The foundations are the slowest part of the project but important to stop the building sinking into the mud. They are deep and wide with steel bar frames running though the cement to give extra strength.

I am on site several days every week with one other person from the KNA team (we always have a couple of people on site). I am there to help supervise the workers and to buy any necessary materials. But we all get involved and I enjoy helping the guys working – and I'm learning a few new skills in the process.

Life on a basketball court

Seeing what’s left of Badjao village was sad, burnt posts and crumpled corrugated iron sheets is all that remains. But it’s good to know that all our work in the village was well used and made a difference to the people.

Now the whole Badjao community is squashed onto 2 basketball courts.

As I walk around greeting the people I know I’m amazed they can still smile and enjoy small talk despite their difficult living conditions.

Some of the families are living in gazebos; the rest are in makeshift tarpaulin tents. It’s very hot and smelly in the cramped tent village. I have to duck down often because of the low roofs making it sticky in the heat. When it’s raining I need to dodge the leaks and water runoff from the roofs like hundreds of taps left on.

It was a great joy to help with the relief goods distribution. Before we can give to the people it takes hours of finding and buying what they need. Because of the huge quantities needed we go round several shops and market. Sometimes like when we gave a wood cooking stove to each family it felt like we brought every stove in town, we went to almost every shop to get the numbers we needed.

Items like the hygiene kits we gave out then have to be packed into bags (soap, toothbrush ect) that we give out to the people as a pack. Lots of smiles and happy people as we give out the supplies. We have a list of their names so as we read several names they come and collect their items as the next names are being read out. Some came to me asking for the items before their names are read out, But I told them “there is enough for everyone, wait till you hear your name so we know everyone gets help”.

Each distribution was a tiring long day but I am very happy to have been a part of it. The Badjao community was also happy to receive the help.

A new home

Following the destruction of their village, a relocation site has been given to the Badjao community by the Government. Each family is given their own 6x8 metre plot on which to build their home.

This new area is next to a mangrove, and the whole site is on mudflats which are flooded by sea water at high tide. The new village will therefore have to be built up on stilts above the mud, like the old one.

There is some distance from the sea making it safe from storm surges, but their boats should still be able to get close at high tide.

The show must go on

Even without our centre, we are continuing our weekly activities/ministry with the Badjao community. We feel it is important to have a regular presence with them because this is a really difficult time for them – especially for the children, as our work with them gives them a chance for fun.

So, our highly-effective ALS (Alternative Learning System) school continues weekly, temporarily using a room in a nearby school.

The kids’ club ministry also continues, giving them a break from difficult cramped lives in their temporary tent village. We pick them up and take them to a nearby park or use another building where they enjoy Bible Stories, worship, games and fun activities. Also we fill them up with healthy food!

They lost everything

The Badjao people on Palawan are still currently homeless, living in a makeshift village of tents and gazebos until their relocation site is ready. Local government is providing food, tents and a few toilets for them and a few other organizations have given aid as well.

Thanks to those that partnered with us, we were able to distribute relief goods directly to the Badjao people; that's 345 families totalling about 1500 people made homeless by the fire. We distributed items to every family, including personal hygiene kits, clothes, cooking stoves (pictured below), thermos flasks and tools to help rebuilding.

Badjao rescue

Another busy day yesterday distributing relief goods to to Badjao community. Buying the needed quantity of goods and distributing to the 345 families is tiring but very rewarding, I feel privileged to be a part of it.

If you missed the news, on Sunday 3rd September a fire broke out at the Badjao stilted village (built over the sea) destroying the whole settlement in just two hours. 1,500 people lost everything, although miraculously no lives were lost. 400 families lost their homes and almost all of their belongings. Most escaped with just the clothes they where wearing. 

In 2015 The Fathers Refuge (KNA) team had spent seven months building the only safe bridge in the community and a spacious, well equipped centre for education, ministry, food distribution and health care. The end-of-jetty T section is all that remains. We named the bridge Tulay ng Buhay (Bridge to Life) which became prophetic – as the major reason there was no loss of life in the fire was this stable and wide escape route.

Now KNA has been able to give hundreds of hygiene kits, clothes, cooking stoves, thermos flasks and tools to start building a new village. Many thanks to all that have partnered with us to help the Badjao people. More news to follow...

Our wedding

Shiela and I were married on February 16th... which seems ages ago now! Sorry it's taken so long to put up some photos but life's been a bit hectic finishing our home as well as working full time. 

Anyway; it was a beautiful ceremony, a mix of two cultures and two languages. The service included lots of symbolic items and acts not normally in a British wedding. There was of course exchanging of wedding rings and vows, but there were also many others. At the start of the ceremony the two mothers lit two candles, to signify two lives. Then at the end Shiela and I used these two candles to light a third signifying two becoming one. 

After exchanging vows and rings a large veil (extra to the bride's veil) was placed on the two of us on my shoulders and Shiela’s head. This symbolized us becoming one in the presents of God. 

Then a cord was placed over us in a figure of eight (representing infinity). This showed the unbreakable bond between us. There was also a role for some coins (as prosperity) and of course a Bible as our guide. My Dad was my best man; he had lots to do as Dad and best man and had a position at the very front of the church close to me and Shiela. 

The reception was much more like a British reception. Including the ‘top table’ which is not normal in a Filipino wedding. It was special and gives the parents a more important position than they normally have in Filipino tradition. During our first dance in Filipino tradition – called the ‘prosperity dance’ – the guests pinned money to our clothes while we danced (pic below). 

Ninong’s and Ninang’s are important in a Filipino wedding; they are like wedding god-parents. Normally there are about 10 to 20 of them! They are important to the couple; people that can advise and guide the couple though married life. They are also the official witnesses. All in all, it was a very special and memorable day.

To see some more pictures from the wedding, see this Google Photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/7SbzBCtaQJLUcxfz6

Growing food together

While protecting vulnerable children and helping them heal from their past, we also train them in life skills for their future. So, children and team members each have their own bed in the vegetable plot.

The kids love it and it helps them learn how to grow their own vegetables. It’s a good bonding time for all. And it's another good activity to keep them busy during the school holidays. More vegetable growing is always a good thing; we grow organically so it makes very healthy meals!

Feeding the hungry

At our new centre in the Badjao village, we have started a new Kids Club for children who do not go to school, in addition to the current weekly ministry. There is Bible teaching, stories and worship, plus games, sports and basic education.

As you can see in the photo, we have also started a feeding program during our ministry activities there. Because of poverty many of them do not have enough food, so while they are with us, we now fill them up with good healthy food.

Working at KNA

Life has changed in the last few months but we are still full time at Kanlungan Ng Ama (The Fathers Refuge). I no longer live full time at the safe home like I did before I was married, but Shiela and I are still there most days, with the kids and my other work responsibilities. 

Weekends are the time when we stay at the Safe Home. I am weekend duty manager so we are on site night and day for the two days at weekends. I am still very much enjoying the ministry here at KNA with the kids and the other parts to the work. Although I do not stay there every night, my responsibilities and work are still the same. 

In the pictures: everyone's enjoying themselves at a camp we organised at a local beach during the recent school holidays... great fun for kids and team alike.

Our home

Our house is complete; it is a simple native-style wood and bamboo construction, but it is well built and beautiful. There is a bedroom and a joint kitchen/lounge area, as well as an overlooking balcony at the back. The block on the left is a shower/toilet room, joined to the house by an overhanging roof and concrete floor.

Built up on cement stilts, to stop the termites eating away at the wood pillars, this also helps prevent other unwanted insect or snake guests! Shiela’s dad (bottom pic) was the head carpenter/builder – he is very good and we are happy that it is a well-built, strong house.

Here on Palawan, inside/outside living space is far less defined than in a cold climate; people spend more time outside of the home. So houses can be smaller with dining and relaxing areas outside. We still have more plans and things to add to and in the house, so I am often enjoying a bit of DIY. It’s a simple way of life but we are happy, it’s our home.

building up the sides

Things are moving a-pace on the construction of our first, native-style home near the edge of the jungle. Flooring and walls are going in! Looking good to be ready in time for our wedding in 2 weeks time. My dad says we've got to save the last nail for him to put in when he arrives... just so he can say he helped...

We have a roof!

You can find a record from start to finish of building our first home – and lots more pictures – on my Facebook page.

Daisy and me

Meet Daisy, she's the farm dog at KNA where I work... and we're great friends. She wasn't used to being picked up and being loved... but she's getting there!

Building our first home

We've started building our first house in Palawan; it'll be a simple, small native style house made from wood and bamboo, on four main foundation pillars, with a metal roof. Plus a veranda. As you can see it's on quite a slope, so the veranda will high, with lovely mountain and forest views. And it should be ready in time for our wedding in mid-February!

You can find a record from start to finish of building – and lots for pictures – on my Facebook page.