Posted in Philippines on October 26, 2023
Day 1 October 23
Full school assembly gave us a very warm welcome
Introductions all round
Refurbishment plans discussed
Setting to work on a wide variety of tasks
Taking care and pride in our work
Decorating windows and doors, plastering toilets
Adding panes of glass to the windows, fixing edge angle for the ceiling,
and
Yes, we do have someone who can do electrics
Where is Gabe, “where is Gabe”, “where is Gabe” we all say
And here he comes to our rescue with tools and advice
Screwdrivers, sandpaper, screws and skim
Getting very hot and sweaty
Resting during tea break
Eating a very tasty school dinner
And letʼs do it all again tomorrow
Time to relax in the pool
Day 2 October 24
Classrooms being worked on – 2
Everyone has tasks to complete
In one room the ceiling is being put up meaning
Lots and lots of riveting
In the other angle iron is being folded to create a
Network ready for the next ceiling
Grids are being formed by cutting and welding rebar to keep the school safe
Skimming of the toilet is complete
Up on ladders
Painting of the window frames continues to take place
Day 3 October 25
Diligent filling of rivet holes in ceilings
Andy various odd jobs around the place for Gabe
Yes we are actually quite good at this 😊
Trims around doors and other places to hide cracks (and ants)
Humidity at 90 percent………sweating loads
Rehydrate, rehydrate
Eating delicious food prepared by Marie
Electricity erratic today.
Day 4 October 25
Painting, PB banana sandwiches, and pork belly
Is it gloss latex or flat wall enamel, Gabe knows
Nick our driver gets us to and fro, safely
Again, the power is out, for a time
Many meals made by Marie and mothers
Upwards the drive to the school
Nearly halfway already?!
Glowing faces are we and they
All the pressure to drink fluids, some with barley
Junior books provided to pupils
A day without rivets is a great day
New bonds, new relationships
Day 5 October 26
Week’s work complete, ceilings up in both classrooms
Every rivet so much better than a screw
(Even though they’ll never come out)
Keeps Flemming happy-ish- when he gives his review
On the walls, no filler or paint missed;
New glass cut for the windows; another job ticked off the list;
Each evening, cold Red Horses until we’re feeling……… relaxed
Days to unwind now before we’ll do it all again
On to the stage next week where soon the kids will play;
New grilles for the windows, more sanding and painting;
Everyone remember, “it’ll be OK”
Blog/poem by Chris Mallett, aged 34 and 11/12ths.
Days 6 and 7
Holiday weekend away
At Hale Manna Coastal gardens in Moalboal
Leisurely swimming and snorkelling
Experienced sea snakes and turtles
Mending our aching muscles
After a hot day, cold Red Horses
Night time strange lizard and gecko noises
Nine of us fully relaxed
Always thinking of Caba Asan school and next week’s work
Blog by Andrew Clark, a bit older than 34 and 11/12ths.
Day 8
Ready for the week to begin
Enjoying the painting, glass cutting and sanding.
Dive right into it, don’t wait for Tata to vote
Hope for less rain!
Oooooo very good pork belly! Thanks Marie!!
Really good pork in fact
Safety first, hard hats on
Evacuate! It’s half three and we want to swim in the rain
Blog by Dave and Red Horse
Day 9
We have seen a lot of wildlife
Insects of all shapes and sizes
Lizards and geckos
Dogs, lots and lots of dogs
Little baby chicks
Insects, millions of ants
Frogs in the Labyrinth
Elephants (only joking)
Blog by Lynn
Day 10
Continuing to paint
Lots of filler and new wood
Amazing fried chicken for lunch (Thakyou Marie)
Singing (Karaoke) from over the valley
Singing in classroom 5 with the bluetooth speaker
Room for vocal improvement on both fronts?
Over the valley definitely
Only a couple of days left now
Make the most of our remaining time
Someone needs another job………..
Flemming on a mission somewhere else today
Only Jessa, Marie and ……
Under Gabe’s watchful eye
Re-use if you can, new if you can’t
Another hot one
Near on 80-90 percent humidity again
Drenched with sweat
Finally the day ends
Into Nick’s van we climb
Visit a market on the way home
Everyone happy and tired
Blog by Boss
Day 11
More painting
And still more
Never
Going to finish
Or maybe we will
Finally painted the outside wall
Lots of graffiti hidden
Oxide (red) applied to security grilles
And a frame made…
Take a moment to make a handprint
Blog by Ailsa
Day 12
Closing remarks made today
A blast we had what else can we say
Building and fixing for two weeks
A couple of blokes made a nice speech
Away to another build (next year) most of us go
Sporting a house on stilts just so
And kids gathered round to sing with us a song
Now we’ve got those memories it couldn’t go wrong
Keep Philippines in your hearts
In giving these kids a good start
Dash away, dash away all
So far as this Canuck is concerned, we all had a ball
Blog by Curt, (our only Canuck)
Posted in Philippines on October 26, 2023
