OFF THE GRID: Sports Festing!!

The month of October has been relatively slow because my counterpart is the head of the sports committee. Consequently, I have been stuck in the office writing a proposal to our Provincial government for a budget for my next project…writing a coastal resource management plan for my municipality. After we finish implementing our sanctuary, which I hope will be complete by January or February I’ll start on the CRM plan. The plan is a comprehensive view of fisheries in Buenavista which will include a workshop for barangay captains and leaders of people’s organizations in all barangays that contain fisherfolk. Exercises will include, but not limited to: discussion on what a CRM plan is and why is it needed, cover coastal ordinances, coastal law enforcement; discuss current and future fisheries projects, issues on pollution, illegal fishing, and coastal delineation or zoning of waters between barangays.

I participated in a tree planting with my fellow municipal employees in a rural barangay the first week of November. We caravanned it to the nursery which contained about 250-300 tree seedlings. I personally planted 6 trees and as a group I would venture to guess that we planted 200 trees. It was the first time I have participated in a tree planting here in my municipality. It was a fun morning where I was able to meet a lot of other employees. My office is not connected to the municipal hall and as a result, we are sort of segregated.

In mid-October our municipality had a parade to kick off the 2.5 month long sports fest. There is an inter-agency basketball league, which I am playing in. There are 8 teams in the league: White House which includes municipal employees (my team), water district, educators, association of barangay captains, police, Buenavista business owners, fathers of St. Nino catholic school, and navy. There is also a volleyball and basketball league for under 16 youth. There are games going on almost every day in the gym, so it’s a lot of fun…. But not much work gets accomplished unfortunately. The fest leads up to our municipal fiesta which is on January 15.

Tomorrow, I will be heading to Manila for MST (Mid Service Training) which starts on Wednesday. Saturday and Sunday I will be hanging out at Morgan’s site and then I have to return to Manila for a dental check up on Monday morning. I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little nervous for this affair. Filipinos love sweet foods and soda, although I have lost about 15 lbs since coming here I think my teeth have taken a beating. I have drunk more soda than I probably ever have since I was 12 in this country. Anyway I’ll let you know how my teeth fair in the dentist chair on my next update. So, MST is Wednesday-Saturday, and then 4 other PCV’s and myself are heading up to Northern Luzon to hike Mt. Amuyao. (http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/05/mt-amuyaotraverse.html) Mt. Amuyao is one of the highest peaks in the Philippines and will take us 2-3 days depending on our pace. I have been in contact with a guide that many other previous PCV’s have used for hikes. I’m really looking forward to finding some cooler weather and getting out of dodge for a few weeks. After our hike we will be meeting up with 20+ PCV’s for Thanksgiving. Keeping my fingers crossed that one of us can find a turkey!

Dason lang

Robert