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

It's not often I leave a meeting and think 'I must write about that'

Although I knew we had tenancy services I don't think I'd considered what this actually meant. I don't really go to meetings where discussion about what we do comes down to individual cases but this meeting opened my eyes to what these services actually mean for our customers and why what we do really matters. 

Being at Bolton at Home for less than a year I sometimes think I'll never get used to the slower pace of change, the endless bureaucracy or ex-local authority culture. However I don't think there are many private sector landlords who would consider so carefully whether a tenancy was suitable for someone or not, make regular visits to ensure problems were addressed early on or create relationships with families to allow us to understand them and provide the right support. 

In the context of cuts and staff shortages there were extra meetings arranged to allow tenants to feel happy with services, time taken to arrange cleaning and food parcels and clean bedding left on the doorsteps of vulnerable people. Caseloads discussed seemed to me to be more than enough to do let alone allowing staff much time to be going the extra mile. 

From a communications point of view (which is of course why I was there in the first place) it was so important to hear how we are going the extra mile and also to get an insight into why so many people tell me they are too busy to spend time on social media when they attend the training. 

But before anyone in housing services think they're let off the hook I'm now keener than ever that they tell people about what they're doing. It's far more positive and more interesting than I thought it would be and although many people working in housing might think this is run of the mill there will be many more people out there to whom this would be news. 

And for me it was a useful reminder of why the bright lights of the private sector might not be all they're cracked up to be.