Salubo at 4am and rice two ways for breakfast

Earliest start yet at 3.30am for my first Salubong (the encounter). 

Yesterday Virgin Mary was taken from the shrine next to the lounge at home and loaded onto a cart to be lit and beautifully decorated with fresh flowers before being safely stored away for her trip the next day. So after dinner and karaoke it was an ‘early’ night ready for the 3.30am start.

Which turned out to be more like a 3.50am start with just enough time to make myself look decent before meeting my host Jean and her daughters in the street to watch as the statue was slowly pushed up the street by the helpers as a few neighbours followed. My third cockroach passed in front of me but steeled by the previous day I stepped over and avoided a commotion.

The meeting place to ‘get behind’ Mary was the local Petron station where a larger crowd had gathered. Even at this ungodly hour (!) the butchers and veg stall was doing a roaring trade and trikes and vans were forced to manoeuvre their way around the cart. After my initial self-consciousness at being the token tourist I managed to get some bleary pictures (reflecting how I was feeling) and noted the irony as a member of the church carefully avoided stepping on a couple of homeless people sleeping on the street as he took pictures of the lavish float on his iPad.

At some unknown signal the cart was pushed off to meet the Jesus statue for the re-enactment of the resurrection. All I can say is that the service was in Tagalog, it was standing room only and it was 28 degrees at 5am.

On the way back there was some discussion around getting a trike for the 500m back to the house but after some jokes about Filipinos and walking we made the long walk home in time for breakfast of coloured rice cake and rice porridge in the street before home for a nap. 

Close encounter with nature

Another amazing day out with Sally and Homer and their kids. This time we went for a more relaxing take on volcanic activity with a trip to the Hidden Valley Hot Springs. We were warned there would be a hike up to the waterfall but as Filipino style hiking goes this was along a signposted walkway and only about half a kilometre easily done in flip flops, or slippers as we've now all begun to call them.

As you can see from the photos the scenery was stunning and jungle like bar the lack of any nasty creepy crawlies. The waterfall was worth the walk and we made our way up to underneath rescuing stray flip flops a they cam off on the rocks and got washed downstream. At this point Richard left the group and after few minutes of playing 'Where's Richard?' it was agreed we he's probably wandered off rather than perishing in the foot deep slow moving water. On the return journey was a bit of an 'incident' and some shrieking from Harvey and Sharney. Startled by the sudden attack by nature there was much commotion and thrashing of bags to remove the killer cockroach from Sally's back. Water bottles went everywhere and sun cream flew off the bridge until Dan stepped in to remove the completely harmless insect with his hand. Following his success he saved the empty sun cream bottle from the wilds of the grassy ditch and we carried on along the path unscathed.

After this deeply traumatic expedition we were forced to spend the rest of the trip relaxing in the many pools nestled in the forest. Starting in the unexpectedly warm 'cold' pool we moved on to the 'soda' pools, which to Richard's disappointment didn't taste like Fanta (Thanks again to Dan our resident taste tester of water pools) and finally to the 'warm' pools where little plumes(?) of warm water rose through the volcanic gravel of the pool floor. If you've not experienced it its a little like someone's had a wee in the water. But nicer because you know there is good bathroom provision and this is not the case.

As always we were delighted to see salad at lunch and stocked up on vegetables - before a quick dip and then back to Quezon City. Returning home to my host family the statue of the Virgin Mary was being decorated in preparation for the 4am procession followed by my first Catholic Mass. Looking forward to dinner with the family, karaoke and hopefully an early night before the early start tomorrow!

Planes, trucks, jeeps and boats

Off to Boracay for our mid tour ‘break’. Billed as paradise the reality was a long drive to the airport, an hour on the plane, an hour and a half driving and a boat ride to reach the island. This was followed by a cosy drive in a small van type minibus and a walk to the hotel. If you Google Boracay you’ll see what we were expecting and in reality the stunning scenery is set off by a strip of shops (including Starbucks and McDonalds) and music blaring from stalls along the front.

Children begging along the front remind you that you are still in a third world country and add that element of guilt at how privileged we are generally and to be here and treated so well by our hosts.

As with many of the things we do here there was a cloud of mystery around the plane / check in / airport protocol. The first checkpoint made sure you weren’t bringing guns into the airport. At check in it was decided we would not check bags and have two as hand luggage. A quick boarding pass check and we were in security. Where aerosols and liquids over 100ml were not allowed. Unless you had two aerosols in which case only one was confiscated or if you pleaded your case for being able to take shower gel and sun cream in which case you were told it wouldn’t be allowed next time.

I think we were all relieved at the plane being to quote the Aussie team ‘a proper size’ having heard some rumours about their airlines and talk of a ‘small plane’.

An inspirational vist to a Rotary housing project

All housing today with a trip to see Brookside, a joint development with the Rotary and Kawad Kalinga. Worlds away from the estates we see in the UK the exotic plants and palms were carefully planted between brightly painted houses and people worked alongside children playing in the street.

Residents pay around 300 pesos (£6) for their property and the land is owned by a church group.  There are community facilities on site with a library and boards in the public space showing the photographs of the area before the construction, through the build and now.

Work with the residents is continuous and residents can be removed for ‘antisocial’ behaviour. From what I understand this is largely governed by the religious principles of the site and grounds for eviction would be activities such as drugs and prostitution.

The school overlooks a wooden chapel and basketball court in the main area and is well kept. I was shown around by the Grade 6 teacher who had a great passion for the children and the work of the school later breaking down when she described her gratitude to the Australian team for their solidarity in the problems faced in the school. A great emphasis was placed on getting the children a good standard of education and parents pay a reduced 50 pesos a month (£1) and help out with cleaning and the cooking the breakfasts provided to give the children a good start to the day.

In 2009 the area flood waters rose over the roofs of the houses and families came to the first floor of the school for shelter. But the water rose higher and reached that level and children had to be passed along a rope to the community centre up the hill where they were safe. Families belongings brought to the school for safe keeping and the schools books and records were all destroyed. I notice now there are no offices on the ground floor. The local Rotary club worked with a sister club in Singapore to provide food for families over the two or three days it took for the floodwater to subside.

The teacher was genuinely proud as she told me how the solid construction of the houses in this project had meant that there had been no deaths from the flooding as there had been in other areas.

Like in Bolton work is being done to provide employment opportunities and income for families on the project. Following the flooding the sister rotary club in Singapore was keen to do more and with RC Holy Spirit they developed a scheme where women in the project were provided with materials to do quilting, candle making and sewing and now produce items to be sold in Singapore. This is a fantastic example of what rotary is like in Manila.

Projects here are targeted to meet specific needs in local areas and inventive sustainable schemes allow the work they do to have great long term effects. In principle they focus on the basics as we do, education, training and employment to allow people to lift themselves out of poverty. When they walk through the estates they are greeted by workers and the residents recognise the badge demonstrating what looks like a really meaningful relationship with the communities and their beneficiaries. 

Links are also maintained with the children through the Rotaract club within the school which is partnered with the club that supports the project.

If anyone does want to know more about this my driver from the host club, Angel, has offered to answer any questions I might have about their work. 

Hiking the Filipino way

Hiking in the Philippines involves getting up at 3am. After four hours sleep. A McDonalds McMuffin to give us some energy(!) and we’re off to Tagatay to the mountains. Having not really left Metro Manila before the trip up was great and the views down onto the lake spectacular.

Dan’s host family and their club had done a great job of planning every detail and leaving the car in a tiny village we set off with enough water for a few weeks and flip flops for the people living in the houses on the way up. It was pretty hot considering it was still only around 7am and our guide put us to shame as he ambled ahead over the rocks smoking.

By UK standards it wasn’t a hard walk although not good for the clumsy people with a fear of heights. The trek included 11 little peaks on the way to the final summit which did seem a bit daunting in the heat until we realised we’d skipped from 2 to 4 without noticing that we’d done 3!

Filipino climbing also involved a rest area about every half a kilometre in case you change your mind when you see the path presumably. There were some slightly hairy bits for those not accustomed to clambering over rocks although on the way back it emerged that there was actually another path. Perhaps our guide just fancied a laugh. On the way down he was seen miming someone falling over and laughing with his friends. As we’d all fallen at some point I won’t take that too personally.

I think the only way to describe the scenery is through the pictures below and to say that my photography skills don’t anywhere near do it justice.

By the bottom we were all covered in the orange dust, fingernails, legs, face and later discovered inside my socks. Dan’s host Sally had arranged for us to take a ‘bucket shower’ in the outhouse of a house in the village and we did our best to get looking respectable before lunch and the new host families.

Lunch overlooking the lake was another overwhelming feast of Filipino dishes although I think we are all getting better at taking very tiny amounts of food so you don’t have to refuse second, third or fourth helpings. And revitalised by our fresh air and exercise we even managed to work on our secret project for our presentation. All will be revealed (technology allowing) later. 

Fiesta at a housing project and gangnam style the Filipino way

A slightly hungover start to Saturday with another early start. At breakfast in Jollybee (Filipino McDonalds) I knocked over two juices, a coffee and my pancakes. A promising start to the day as we discussed the traditional games we’d be playing later. I hoped they wouldn’t require too much coordination!

Today’s activity was a fiesta at a housing project on a relocation site in San Matteo outside the city. The informal settlers are encouraged the leave the city slum areas and are provided with a house in return for 500 hours labour. Schools and community spaces are built and a livelihood provided in the form of a mango grove. With mains electricity not available in the local area power is provided through solar panels on the roofs of the homes.

Getting out of the car the second thing you notice after the scorching heat is the stunning panoramic view of Metro Manila. Our guide told us that next to the site millionaires pay above the odds for the privilege of having this view.

Workers from one of the partner organisations Christians for Christ mix easily with the families who welcomed us into their houses to show off their carefully put together interiors. Constructed of concrete blocks and Styrofoam the units come finished with a  white painted cement interior and brightly painted outside in a terrace formation. Each consists of one room and a small kitchen area and bathroom to the back.

One owner, a carpenter, had, in his spare time, constructed an intricate shelving system that wouldn’t be out of place in an English country kitchen and the living area had been painted bright blue to match the exterior. All the properties were immaculately kept and tide. Richard, off meeting the voters had made a friend whose mother was providing the rich rice cakes for the fiesta and the whole room was covered in wide plates containing the carefully decorated cakes.

The development is not a government one and is a partnership project with Rotary, ANCORP (I’ll try and remember what that stands for) and Couples for Christ.

After a minor panic from our team leader when we once again lost Richard (he was of course in someone’s house chatting) the fiesta kicked off with a brief introduction to the project and thanks to all the partners involved. Some traditional Filipino dancing was performed by students from a local school and included one that involved balancing on an upright piece of bamboo – not exactly easy on the uneven ground but they persevered and didn’t let it get out of time.

The majorettes performed what we at first thought to be local music played on drums but later we recognised Katy Perry’s ‘Fireworks’ and the Gangnam Style dancing. Dan went down well with the female dancers although was oblivious to the attention he was getting!

I was lucky enough to be able to go with my hosts to their daughter, Ella’s graduation – at three! It was a wonderful experience although the logistics of lining up small children on the stage and getting them to follow direction looked challenging to say the least. The graduation ceremony as we would expect, complete with caps and gowns, was followed by some musical numbers recognisable as the end of term play we’d see at home. Although with it being ‘more fun in the Philippines’ there was a great emphasis on the fun and a fantastic showing from the parents with the retro dancing.

Afterwards some more photos and then off for a ride in a Kalasa (apologies on spelling) with Kassie. It’s so good that the girls have finally started to open up to me, my knowledge of Disney princesses is much improved, and its such a shame that I have to leave so soon.

My final meal with my hosts where unfortunately I was dropping off slightly on the energy levels and worrying about my 3am start was a great finale. Going to the fish market, selecting the fresh fish from the stalls, choosing your cooking method and eating in a canteen style restaurant was fantastic. The food was amazing and as always there were vast amounts with the leftovers taken home for tomorrow. On the way home it was maybe the tiredness or I just genuinely couldn’t believe that after the amount of food anyone would want to go for ice cream. But this is Manila so we did.

As I packed to go to my next host I was further overwhelmed by receiving gifts from hosts that have already been so generous. The hospitality I have had this week has been amazing. I would like to say a massive thankyou to my wonderful hosts for the first week for making me feel so at home and welcome in their home. It was sad to leave and I am already looking forward to seeing them again at the district conference. 

Philippine National Housing Authority, tree planting and a much needed night out

Our first all female club were a stylish group and we went to the National Housing Authority to find out about their work with the housing projects.

I have to say when I got back to my host family for a one hour ‘rest’ before heading out to see some nightlife (which I have to say I did request) I was struggling to write this post. Even though what we’re seeing here is amazing it feels like writing doesn’t do it justice. Either that or I need a few beers and a quick dance before I can write.

So on the way home from the bar with Dennis and Karen he asks how my day was at the National Housing Authority. As he works there he knew when I described my hosts office that he was in fact the head of the organisation. When he mentioned him having he trust of the president further questioning revealed the man I had been given more than two hours with was actually the man for housing in the Philippines.

Sadly not being armed with this knowledge and having already been to see the city planning authority a lot of my enthusiasm was used up and although I managed to cover the causes of housing issues, their work, architecture, social mobility, customer engagement, planning legislation, rent collection, partnership working, breeze blocks, welfare reform and incest I wish I’d had some more intelligent questions.

As everyone here is too polite to wind up a conversation when your time is up by the time I left there was a queue of five people outside waiting. Still I managed to go from the economics of urban migration to the provision of piggy banks so feel I’ve at least got the main points.

After the first vegetarian meal of the trip and some heated discussion around whether my job was pointless and the major issues facing the recruitment problems Rotary have in the UK (maybe related to people thinking my job is irrelevant?) we went on to meet someone in the Department for the Environment and Natural Resources. Again slightly underprepared as a group we managed to pull together what I hope were some passable and meaningful questions. As always the conversation was fascinating despite the pressure to come up with intelligent points on a subject I’d struggle to discuss in the UK. Richard of course saved the day after seeming not to be listening he piped up with questions that sounded well prepared and thoughtful. 

A brief trip and presentation at the tree planting headquarters allowed us to do some planting of saplings in the type of token gesture / photo op sequence favoured by politicians. Some shaking of muddy hands later and our duty was done. 

On the way home I went for my first pearl milk tea with the ladies from RC Acropolis and then off for some drinks at the Rotary Centre with my host family (adults only) and then to watch and try some salsa dancing. Try being the operative word for everyone except Natalie! After our brief and slightly inept performance we went outside for pictures to discover that footage from the dance floor was being streamed throughout the hotel... one to remember for next time!

Mobile surgery, home for 'foundlings' and spa

A move away from housing and tourism to some of the projects today’s host club are involved with; a school, mobile surgery and home for abandoned children.

After feeling very guilty about not being able to finish the second breakfast of the day provided by our hosts at the school we had a tour. Children are on summer break now but we met some by the gate and Richard was able to get his politician’s handshake out. Not sure the handshake went down that well with the baby!

A great innovation from the club is a mobile surgery housed in a shipping container. Two patients can be treated at once using a special local anaesthetic and we were invited into the operating room to see how it works. Not all of us were that comfortable watching the live hernia surgery especially as the child was awake and not looking all that keen to have us there. Her sister was in the waiting area looking very well especially as it emerged that she had only just left surgery herself for the same thing. The type of hernia is apparently common in malnourished children and there is a lot of need in the area for this type of operation.

Another quick stop to get involved in some campaigning going on behind the theatre and yet more photos taken.

Boystown, the home for ‘foundlings’ was a trip back to Marikina City where my host family live. Rundown but well kept and clean I think meeting these children has had the biggest impact on everyone so far. Following Dan’s lead we got in and talked to the kids who were shy at first but then keen to ask questions although sometimes in Tagalog and I’m not sure they understood why we couldn’t answer. Getting the camera out was the biggest hit and my deputy photographer did a very good job despite wanting to get me in the pictures.

More photos and a demonstration of their superiority in doing  Gangam style we had a quick tour of their sleeping quarters and the work the Rotary have done in improving the home.  There are around 40 children living in the area for boys under 6 and a home of this type in every city around Manila. In total around 300 children live in this home. Back in the car I think we were all fighting back tears as we pulled away but luckily Dan was there to make us laugh or in my case just confuse me.

Our schedule for the afternoon changed and instead of visiting their centre for children involved in criminal proceedings we went to the spa. Not sure we felt entirely comfortable with the contrast but were soon distracted by a very vigorous Thai massage which involved being hauled over the head of the masseuse and suspended over the floor. A bit of a shock when all she’d said she was doing was stretching my arms!

A much appreciated opportunity for beer, shower and change of clothes before the club meeting with the day’s host club and their baby club, that of my host Dennis. A lively meeting and a much improved presentation with the inclusion of some of Natalie’s zumba moves to give people a break from endless powerpoint. 

Housing projects, construction elevators and being outdone by the Australian team

A lie in until 7 it was off for our first day of ‘real work’ and Ed from the Camp Craume club took me to the Urban Planning department where they gave us a faultlessly relevant presentation on their housing plan and projects. (You will later see why this was impressive)

Great to see what they’re up to and the process of providing ‘socialized’ housing in the city. The focus is on areas where there are Informal Settler Families (ISF) and ‘blighted’ areas. Some polite questioning revealed these were what we would call slum areas. Housing projects are developed by the city in these areas in partnership with other bodies for the finance and development and involves use of charities such as Habitat for Humanity.

Instead of renting people are assessed on their ability to take out a 40,000 peso mortgage and make the 2500 (£50) peso a month repayments. This is affordable to street vendors, drivers and other workers making around minimum wage. No benefits back up the system and if you are living in a slum that is being developed and can’t afford to pay you can choose to be relocated to a cheaper development paying around 200 peso a month or find another vacant lot to rebuild. Relocation areas are generally further outside the city and further from jobs, schools and their communities. A lot like our overspill estates really.

When housing is allocated there is no points based system. If you are an existing occupant on the site you have priority, then those in danger zones, those affected by government infrastructure projects and then those whose homes have been demolished. Although many people in the slums are undocumented city surveys provide evidence on these claims.

Housing projects are championed by the current major who’s nickname is Bisket – hence the housing projects being named Bisketville 1 -12. Perhaps a naming system we should be looking into for our developments?

Quickly back to the police headquarters where Natalie and Dan were on their visit and some great discussion with Ed on social issues and what exactly my job involves. Too much good food again followed by birthday cake and plans for nights out then off for the afternoon visits.

After making it clear that if there were any more trips to the firing range I’d want to be involved first stop was one of the housing projects from the presentation and a slightly voyeuristic photo taking session of people living in slum housing. Then on to one of Eds projects, a high end apartment development. As we went up the first few flights of stairs some jokes were made about using the construction lift and when we left the stairwell to use the car parking ramp I was very relieved.

Sadly this was just the way to the lift, for those that haven’t seen its basically a lift with no walls, shaft or enclosure over the top that climbs precariously up the side of the 36 floors. To prolong the stress we had to wait a good 10 minutes for the lift operator by which time I’d had time to assess the situation as being less than felt safe! Eyes glued to the floor and holding on tight the worst part was stepping over the gap to the 34^th floor, the two flights of unfinished stairs (and climbing through scaffold on breeze block stands) to the roof and the two flights of open tread stairs to the top of the plant room.

Admittedly Ed was right and the view was stunning, a 360 view on Metro Manila. Lots of photos were taken and the only way to do this justice. On the way down he tells me the previous GSE team had refused to go up. If only I’d realised that was an option!

Back to police headquarters for a museum trip and the surreal experience of 5 police officers photographing us next to some mannequins then our first multi club rotary meeting.

Our presentation went OK until we saw the Australian team’s one  and a brief intro to us and our vocational areas was put to shame by one of the club’s rendition of a Filipino love song complete with handing out roses in the club pink to us at the end. An auction for the End Polio Now campaign was livened up by Steale’s Greek dancing, Natalie’s zumba solo and then a poor attempt at our whole team zumba(ing?). Definitely a lot to learn from the Aussie teachers on engaging an audience!

At the meeting Dan our fixer was worried I had not made today’s vocational visit. I explained how good it had been and how well it worked out. Apparently it was not the Urban Planning department I was supposed to meet but the Department for the Urban Poor.

Hats off to the planning department for their ability to whip together a presentation and pretend they expected me all along! 

Old Manila, Coconut Palace and the guessing game

Luckily a slightly later start to day two with the chance to see Quezon City’s rush hour in full swing. I think only a clip from an on board camera or birds eye view will be able to justify the chaos of six lanes of traffic interweaving, undertaking and using the u-turn lane.

Manila’s premier tourist attraction (according to Lonely Planet) was a lovely old fort with a uniformed guard on a bike and some hot looking horse pulling tourist carts. There was a brief delay in the cultural tour whilst we posed behind the historical cut outs and with the statues but luckily our hosts were just as keen to get what the Australian team call ‘wacky shots’ as we were. We might need to look at cutting down on the cameras at some point though as waiting for seven photos in the baking sun might not be sustainable.

From the walls of the fort there were views over the Pasig river and down into the ruined cell where Dr Jose Rizal was imprisoned before his execution in 1866 for his part in starting the revolution against Spanish colonial rule. Brass footprints marked his path to the execution spot and his final poem, smuggled out of prison in an oil lamp, put our Spanish to the test. We all missed the explanation in English inlaid in the floor as we puzzled over the poem.  

Sadly Imelda Marcos’ coconut palace turned out not to be made entirely from coconut as billed. Built in the 70s and designed by Francisco Manoso there was an impressive amount of coconut involved from the chandeliers to the furniture. 20,000 coconut trees were used in the construction and originally made up 70% of the building. A table for 25 had a stunning inlay pattern made up of 40,000 coconut shells  and was put together by 60 small fingered children aged between 8 and 12.

Luckily enough trees were spared to provide some shade from the 40 degree heat on the patio whilst we heard about Richard getting left in the Korean demilitarised zone by his tour bus.

All facts in this are hastily scribbled and may not stand up to any kind of internet checking. Links are to help you find the right information…

I can remember a lovely meal with the GSE team that came to the UK who did their best to resolve my 3G issues and drinks, snacks and a live band with my lovely host family and their daughters who have stopped being shy and have moved onto testing my knowledge of flags. No I didn’t guess the Filipino one. Very embarrassing.

Flag raising, meeting the major and Rotary Hour

Our first proper day began with a very early start. (although apparently 5am is normal to allow Filippinos to get through the traffic to begin work at 8). The flag raising ceremony at City Hall was attended by hundreds of workers in their purple shirt uniforms and we were ushered onto the stage as the mayors guests with our host families.

This ceremony takes place every Monday morning and included and address from the Chairperson on Women and Family Relations which I think was linked to women’s month being celebrated here at the moment. A documentary filmaker was awarded a scroll and the best performing TB task forces were presented with certificates. As the ceremony was almost entirely in Tagalog it wasn’t always that easy to understand the standing up / sitting down / applauding ettiquette but as we were on the second row I hope the crowd didn’t notice our confusion.

When the mayor arrived on stage I think he was slightly overlooked by the UK team who were expecting him to be older and more formally dressed. No suits, chain or minder here, just a youthful looking man in his early 40s happy to be sorting his own chair out for the signing of a paper on TB. Perhaps our mayors could pick up some tips here although perhaps it is representative of the younger demographic; 40% of the Quezon City are under 20.

After a short breakfast where I managed to knock the table and spill four cups of coffee simultaneously onto the white table cloth it was off for tours of the memorial and museum (I’ll get Dan to write something interesting about the architecture here as he completely outdid me on this)

A whirlwind tour with our host club South Triangle included a drive round the university where there was a student demonstration about tuition fees following the suicide of a student over this recently and lunch in a rice restarant where we has (I later discovered from my host) what basically is pork scratchings in blood. I’ll have to check the details on this but tasted good before I knew what it was!

It was then off to UNTV to film a segment for the ‘Rotary Hour’ programme. It was the first outing for our formal group uniforms (yes that is the blazers and no there are no pictures) and I think given that we weren’t given any advance warning of the questions I think it went pretty well. Dan the ‘media face’ of policing and Richard’s smooth policians answers definitely helped us out.

Final trip of the day was to the mall and for a type of exercise I seem to remember being described as ‘mall walking’ in Modern Family. The malls are endless and include every shop you would see on the British high street and I imagine every chain you’d find in the US as well. If you’re struggling on scale think of the Trafford Centre stacked over 5 floors with a fairground in the top.

Tomorrow a lie in for a 9am start and a cultutural tour. 

How many women?

Today I was honoured to be asked to come to speak to people at the ‘How many women does it take?’ event put on by Vanessa McDermott one of the Community Development Officers in our Neighbourhood East team. Women from Breightment and the surrounding area gathered at St Catherine's Academy, donned bright yellow t-shirts and sustained by cups of tea put the world to rights. 

After a brief into on the 'power' of social media' with discussion of the Arab Spring, Kony 2012 and Malala Yusefzai some people (if not all!) were, I hope, inspired to be using these channels to campaign and get their voice heard. 

As the day went on and Craig from our Income Management team faced a barrage of objections and complaints around the bedroom tax it was clear that there were some main themes and that there would be no problem in getting the women to share their opinion. 

One of the sessions was working with a writer to write a 'rant'. I've never seen a writing workshop and it was great to see Louise draw out the ideas and get something produced in only 20 minutes. 

Below are the women's rants. They're not complimentary and the language reflects the strength of feeling. You'll note that one woman has ranted about her damp property - this has been passed on to someone who can help! 

Am looking forward to getting some specific social media sessions set up with the women to get them all tweeting these themselves in the future. 

How many women: Rants

The bedroom tax is out of order as people who have lived in a property for years are being made to move after putting in money, blood, sweat and tears.

Squash it.

I am really worried about universal credit. I’m having sleepless nights.

I think its really unfair that only certain people are allowed EMA. Education is important and everyone should have the right to it. As you need education for a good future and some people may not be able to afford travel due to being skint. It makes me fucking mad.

Rant over.

I am very angry that I was misled and lied to about I was told I needed a three bedroom house and now I have been slammed with the bedroom tax. I think that its unfair that people who have a three bedroom house and two children of a different sex have to share or you have to pay £12.95 a week. When if you do downsize when your children are old enough you have to move again.

How do you expect people on  low income to live on when you got bills to pay and food to put on the table. When you have more than two kids they need their own room It makes me angry and upset because they’re taking money out of kids mouths. I would campaign and protest to save other families.

If you keep taking benefits off us how can I possibly do my degree? It’s unfair for us that will work for the NHS and struggle. Its punishing us before we even start our career

My kids will be punished for me wanting a good job. This makes me fucking angry.

Keep funds for people who are going to give up their lives for others.

I will keep murderers and rapists off the streets or I will help others from taking their lives. I will help people in crisis but I will be in a crisis of my own.

Don’t get me started on stereotypes. How stupid people assume how all teenagers are lay thugs and how chavs sit on street corners drinking in tracksuits also how people think men are stronger than women – if it want for women they wouldn’t be here. We deserve more respect and the way people bully people that are different and how they think gap people are all womanly, love wearing pink and shopping.

Why do I bring my child up on my own? Its unfair that some people get away with paying for their children – yet walk around with new clothes and always with drink and cigs. Why do I not have enough at the till, the sleepless night – no tea for me?? The government protect justice for fathers buts its always the single mother’s fault. The lies and deceit, frauding the country – yet get protected.

Why?

Single them out for once!!

It gets me mad cos my house is damp and it seems like nothing is being done for me and my two kids.

I find dog fouling fucking angry it makes me want to go and kick him in the balls. A man outside my house dog no lead there watching his dog have a shit on the grass the dog wiped his feet then they both walked off. Just wish I had the guts to say would you like a bag but I didn’t.

How unjust is this country? Where have all our rights gone? What about all the old people who have spent their lives fighting for their country who now are living in poverty? We have people here who sit on their backsides and do nothing and get all our money! Come over here where we literally pay them to live here! And those who do work take all the jobs. Think about your kids or yourself? What jobs are you going to do in the future? You stupid wankers in parliament sit on your arses and are in denial about it. You’re so cushty in your lives Unjust soft country. Pathetic bastards.

I am fed up of having to tell people with dogs letting the shit along my home and along the pavement and on the road I live on. Also all the litter, several of us go along picking all the rubbish up, even the roadsweepers don’t do there properly.

I keep going out telling them no one will listen. I feel I would like one of the councillors to go round with the sweeper people or gutter people and supervise.

People on benefits are not scroungers. It is unfair to class everyone suffering from poverty.

Don’t tar everyone with the same brush. Its unjust and hurtful. Lots of people are genuine lots of people have worked hard all of their lives in all weathers for a pittance of a wage and some need help when they retire. Only a very few people are really scroungers a small number.

So you’re alright Jack! Doesn’t affect me – bedroom tax – what does that mean? They’re all on benefits anyway. All scroungers its time they all cut the money they get serving all those scroungers right!

Recognise any of these feelings? Believe any of these? Well if you do then you should rethink and be ashamed of your ignorance.

This bedroom tax is wicked – it is unfair divisive and disgraceful that the government are endorsing the misery fear and dislike that this will cause to the most vulnerable and disempowered members of society. Those that are the most easy targets.

This policy is poison – it is demeaning – it is fat cats who close their eyes – ‘let them eat cake’ till echoes today.

The cost of this insane policy is scandalous. It will cost more in human suffering than will be so called saved by the government. This government doesn't care about people any more. 

I am very angry about the EMA system it is very unfair that only certain people can receive payment for attending college. Some of the people who do not receive payment are skint and I think everyone should be entitled to some kind of money to help with travel food costs.

People may not be able to get to college and to get jobs people need an education to have a good future. It is important that people have an education. I think if not everyone can get a small out of money the college should be scrapped. 

I am very angry about Child Tax Credit because it leaves you feeling like you are along you can't do anything. 

Low income don't pay enough tight fuckers. Bedroom tax causes more poverty. Government selfish make us angry. Want to move me into smaller property they can come and pick me up hunger and poverty. 

It just scares me that there is so much poverty in this country that their are people starving hungry and having to survive without a job and clearly desperate to work but because of the media, we're all being labelled as scroungers and skivers and just not trying hard enough to make something of our life.

I feel that the government has a lot to do with this and what they're doing is in no way helping us to support us enough to get us out of the mess that they've put us in. 

The next step is to work out how the women can do something about this whether it be campaigning, protesting or taking action. There's a march organised by Bolton Councillor Kate Challender against the bedroom tax on Saturday and although I'll be away by then I hope to see the women and their bright yellow t-shirts there having their say. 

You can keep up with the how the women will be changing the world following #howmanywomen

People to follow:

Vanessa McDermott @veemcdee 

Lisa Forrest @LisaF_BaH 

Kate Challender @katechallender