Pre-Island Prep

Tomorrow we finally leave for the island – Palawan here we come (back)!

The last weeks have gone by in the name of preparing for this trip that, as of now, is a one-way ticket. If we really are prepared for a longer, most probably quite adventurous stay, time will tell. But we sure tried.

Mo has taken first steps to test his green thumb in the garden at home, practicing with his new bolo (machete). Results were some properly trimmed palms, a fresh and cleaned banana patch as well as a shattered garden lamp and one baby banana tree less. But at least I kept the cats out of the way. And after half an hour and many many more practice swings, he even got to drink a glass of I-opened-my-very-first-coconut water.

First swings. Practice makes perfect. Please practice this A LOT!

Instead of green and overgrown, we ventured into the depths of the urban jungle – Quiapo, Chinatown (Fun fact: It is the oldest Chinatown in the world). When looking to buy cheap, you buy in Quiapo. Thank goodness for Lito, our driver and guide through the crazy grid of specialized streets. Tarps, hardware and the best Chinese food found their way into our bags and bellies.

Streets of Quiapo.

A few days later, we explored the neighboring shopping haven Divisoria. There the streets are lined with wholesalers – just what we needed to stock up on storage boxes and more tools and fun stuff for farming and camping comfort.

Those boxes in the pictures filled up quickly and then made their way straight to El Nido on a boat – fingers crossed our amihan (south-westerly) winds allow them to arrive safely.

Shopping round two. Divisoria. At least I won't lose him in the crowd.

Time to pack.

Not only did we gear up ourselves, but we made sure our car got a cover and tarp as well. It actually embarked on its own journey today and is currently out on the open ocean and arriving in Puerto Princessa tomorrow night.

A new outfit for our baby.

After the material, we enriched our mental arsenal – or so we hope. By chance, I had stumbled upon an event called the Farm Tourism Consultative Meeting being held at the Costales Nature Farm in Laguna, around 2,5h hours outside Manila.

It was a very early rise and shine, only to sit and wait – as we should have expected – for all the speakers from various government institutions to arrive. There were representatives from the Department of Tourism, the Department of Trade and Industries, the Agricultural Training Institute (part of the Department of Agriculture), Go Negosyo Kapatid as well Senator Cynthia Villar (former Chair on Agriculture and Food) and a ASEAN leader awards winner.

We learned that in December 2016, a Farm Tourism Development Act was signed – a bill meant to promote the development of farming and improve the income and economic viability of small farmers and rural communities where poverty is most widespread. Make farming more attractive to business people. Make business more attractive to farmers. And most of all – go back to the roots and invite the youth to remain in rural areas and return to producing.

Initiatives and various training possibilities were introduced and the government’s efforts underlined.

Though, with multiple different accreditations and requirements from all the different departments, they were not all on the same page quite yet. And some opacity when it came to concrete questions showed that the government themselves have not quite figured out all the details… It was interesting to hear about all the free trainings on farming methods and post-harvest processing as well as ensuring to hear that the government is taking the first steps in the right direction.

Waiting.

Senator Cynthia Villar.

Costales Nature Farm.

Cigarette breaks with madam senator's ride.

With only a day in between to catch up on sleep and prepare our minds for yet another flood of information, we had another early morning and took another trip outside Manila to take part in the 4^th Social Business Summit held at the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan.

Welcome to Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm.

Gawad Kalinga is the largest and officially the most trusted NGO in the Philippines. Its mission is to end poverty for 5 million families by 2024 by empowering the poor, creating livelihood, educating and peace-building. It has grown in the last two decades and now has countless villages all around the country and chapters internationally. The Summit was held under the headline “Social Market: Disruption for Shared Prosperity Now” and revolved around the notions of social enterprise, disrupting norms and preconceptions, changing the way we see the world and do business to include the large untapped source of creativity and ambition – the poor.

The speakers came from all corners of the market, government and Gawad Kaling-ans themselves and the talks highlighted the fantastic work and noble values of the NGO. It was humbling. Motivating. Inspiring. And all around impressive to see how far one man’s dream can extend. But growth, developments, sponsors and businesses aside – the people that have been touched by and make-up Gawad Kalinga are what made the Social Business Summit so extraordinary.

Tony Meloto, Founder of Gawad Kalinga.

SEED Students - School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development.

What we took home from these two and half days, many hours of sitting and listening and lovely walks through their farm and incubator for businesses with heart and soul, is that if we are able to add that element of “social” to our enterprise – which we are hoping to – we will enrich our business and personal lives by something priceless and more valuable than financial income. That, no matter how small, disruption can have an impact on your own and the lives of others. Also, that you do not have to be an expert in something to run a business in that something. That doing things the RIGHT way and holding on to your values is not only possible in this country, but can make all the difference. That not everything needs to be planned out – haha, this one is going to be hard for us Germans to accept. And finally, most importantly and probably most difficultly – that we need to disrupt the entitlement of the giver, the mindset of master and subservient and only then will you truly be able to work WITH the community and for the benefit of everyone.

Inspiration.

Touring the ever-growing and changing GK farm.

My most treasured discovery of the summit - this AMAZING gelato made of purely raw ingredients. 

A night of dancing.

Senator Bam Aquino.

Much to take in, much to process. You take what you can work with and re-think it into something applicable. So thanks, GK, for the experience!

Roots represent!

And now we’re off and exciting for some sun, sand and lots of sweat! Time to get busy! Expect some updates, if and when our mobile Wi-Fi decides to work...