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Mabuhay ! Welcome !
Thanks for visiting my 'web log' or 'blog'. I hope you like it and find it a useful way of keeping up with what I am doing during my two year stint as a Watershed Management Adviser with Voluntary Service Overseas, here on the island of Mindanao.
I will be constantly updating the site with the latest news, funny anecdotes, and just 'chismis' (gossip) so please do keep coming back.
The main purpose of the site is to give a flavour of what its like being here. It's also a bit of an olive branch to friends, family, and everyone back home for when I'm not always as efficient at e-mailing back to everyone as I should be ! At least you'll now know what I'm up to !
If anything you read provokes a burning desire to comment or respond, or you have suggestions for improving the site, please get in touch.
About this Site
Use the links down the right of this page to move around. To make it easy to find what interests you, the articles are in categories - if you want to know about my work, go to "What am I doing here ?", for what life here is like go to "Life's Like That", and so on.
Comments and suggestions are very welcome. Just click on 'Comment' at the bottom of any article.
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
VSO is a leading development charity with almost 2,000 skilled professionals currently working in over 40 countries. VSO's approach to international development is based on volunteers working together with local communities to develop skills, fight poverty and achieve a lasting change. For more information, use the link to VSO's website.
September 27, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Terriffic news about the library, great that the kids now actually have books, what a difference this should make for them and the teachers. Really proud of you and what you are doing.
love you Mum and Dad
October 14, 2006 at 12:53 am
Hi Debbie,
Just read Archives September and very impressed with news of the library–what a wonderful gift to the children. No doubt you are working hard but what an interesting and rewarding experience. I understand (reading Passionist Missionaries) that the feast of All Souls is “thoroughly celebrated” in the Philippines so I guess you will be experiencing that next month. Keep up the good work–it is a relief to hear good work is being done in the world by good people when so much news is negative.
Love, Aunty Moira
October 15, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Hi Debbie
Really impressed with what you’re doing. I have had the pleasure of meeting your mum at Scottish Ballet where she takes you niece. Your mum and my wife got talking and the subject of what you’re doing arose and to cut a very long story short my wife told your mum of my interest in being able to do something similar to what you are doing in the Philippines.
My own professional background is in social work (child care) and I have an ambition to be able to use my experience and skills in another country at some point in the very near future, so to see a “real” example of someone working hard to improve the lives of people who may be less fortunate is a real inspiration – so keep up the good work.
January 22, 2007 at 5:05 pm
It has been fasinating reading all your news and seeing the wonderful pictures of you, Bill, the children and the local folk. I have bookmarked your site and will check in on a regular basis. With love from Somerset.
March 5, 2007 at 2:21 am
Debbie, just chanced upon your blog after having hit the next arrow on mine. I’m so impressed by the work you describe. I live a world away in Miami. I send you my best wishes on your efforts. The world is a little fresher and more sparkling with you around. Thank you.