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Stories from the field

Stories tagged with Philippines

Oct 10, 2018 PH Philippines

Bacolod, also referred to as “Sugarland” by Joe Studwell in his book “How Asia Works”, is the sugar capital of the Philippines and my first destination as a Kiva fellow. Indeed, arriving in Bacolod was exactly how Studwell described it, one sugar cane field after another, but it was a salty business in that sweet world that caught my eye.

Meet Cecilia, a successful businesswoman who prepares and sells salted dried fish. She started her business buying fresh fish in credit and worked really hard to prepare it and sell part of it within three days in...

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Oct 10, 2017 PH Philippines

"We cannot survive without rice.” “Rice is the reason why we work.” “I can have a meal with just rice.” “Rice is life.” “When there is rice, there is no hunger.”

These are some of the quotes I gathered when I interviewed my colleagues at Community Economic Ventures, Inc. (CEVI), a Kiva Field Partner, about what rice means to them. Rice plays a big role in the Filipino culture as well as for most other Asian countries. My dad would be the first one to agree that without rice, he is not full.

Beautiful rice...
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Aug 8, 2017 PH Philippines

On a hot and humid Santa Maria afternoon, it seemed only fitting to visit Domingo, who is an ice cream maker in the Philippines. We left the van on the road and walked down the dirt path, navigating mud puddles enroute to his neighborhood. Along the way, there was colorful laundry hanging on fences, neighbors washing up and kids playing while curiously...

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Aug 8, 2015 PH Philippines
Since mid-July, I have been in Tagbilaran City, Bohol for my 2nd field placement in the Philippines with Community Economic Ventures, Inc. (CEVI), a partner of VisionFund International. As a popular tourist destination, Bohol, the tenth largest island of the Philippines, is famous for its beaches and resorts. I have heard from friends that Panglao Island, located at the southwestern tip of Bohol, is one of the top diving locations worldwide. However, I wanted to explore the lesser-known areas in Bohol (I know, how rebellious, right?), so I decided to go for a hike in Dimiao, about 36... Continue Reading >>
Jun 6, 2015 PH Philippines
Greetings from Cabanatuan City, nicknamed the “Tricycle Capital of the Philippines.” Tricycles, made by affixing a sidecar to a motorcycle, are a common means of public transportation in the Philippines. More than 30,000 tricycles for a population of 272,676 people (as of 2010) in Cabanatuan means that there is 1 tricycle for every 9 people in this largest city in the province of Nueva Ecija.

This is a tricycle, a common means of public transportation in the Philippines.


After attending Kiva... Continue Reading >>
Jun 6, 2013 PH Philippines
They say that no matter where you’re from, the Philippines is like home. After spending my first few weeks here, I have to say it certainly gives off that 'homey' vibe.
 
While waiting for the final leg of my trip, a short flight from Manila to Bacolod, about 15,000 miles from New York, I met Terry and Ray - a couple in their mid-60s headed 'home' to visit friends and family. Turns out they were also coming from the northeast – they live in New Jersey and work...
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Feb 2, 2013 PH Philippines

Keith Baillie | KF19 | Philippines

Part I: Construction of a New Community

Following the Sendong typhoon, many Cagayan de Oro residents were displaced. I visited one of the resettlement villages, Xavier Ecoville.  Flood victims are still currently living in temporary wooden accommodation built by agencies like Habitat for Humanity.

Temporary housing:

But new permanent housing is being constructed, with the philosophy “We are not just building houses, we...

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Jan 1, 2013 GT Guatemala, JO Jordan, KE Kenya, KG Kyrgyzstan, PH Philippines

By Kiva Fellows | KF19 | All Over the World

With January 2013 coming to an end, KF19 fellows are either continuing on with KF20 or returning home to various responsibilities and careers. Regardless of the next adventure or destination, one thing is common among all: KF19 fellows have been permanently changed by their placements.

What began as a joint blog post about any person, place, or event during the course of the fellowship that affected our lives, of itself turned into simply the one person who left the most impact. Afterall,...

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Dec 12, 2012 BJ Benin, CO Colombia, CR Costa Rica, HN Honduras, JO Jordan

By Kiva Fellows | KF19 | All Over the World

A Happy Holidays to the Kiva family everywhere!  May your celebrations be filled with foods and flavor, smiling faces, natural beauty, light and memories… here are some gifts from around the world courtesy of the Kiva Fellows 19th class:

On the Twelve Days of Christmas my Kiva Fellow gave to me…

Day 1: A Turtle Heading Out to...

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Dec 12, 2012 PH Philippines

Keith Baillie | KF19 | Philippines

I recently voyaged to Siquijor Island to visit the Larena Office of my Kiva partner, Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC). I was accompanied by Lysette, the partner’s Kiva Coordinator:

Larena is a 6-hour ferry ride from the PMPC head office in Plaridel, Mindanao, so the ferry provides bunk beds. At the port, children dive to entertain...

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