Hanging clothes outside to dry outside an urban community. Shy children in a doorway. A shot of the community based at the bottom of a garbage mountain.
Author: Lisa
Pictures of Urban Poor Communities
Community members search and collect items through a mountain of garbage. They resell usable items to junk yards and re-cook what they can for food. A few hundred families live in the village by this particular mountain.
I Was Careful, But Not Enough
As some of you know, my genre of writing practice is creative non-fiction. I am working on compiling essays and poems from my experience here on this trip for a collective personal project. This essay will be part of that project. It is based on my experience today. Before you read this essay, know that […]
I Was Careful, But Not Enough
8:00am The morning was strong, as I. And my stomach made noises as it did yesterday, but they were weakened, I observed. I tested it with crackers. Waited. Bathroom. I tested it again, water. Bathroom. I was determined to go on this trip, but worried about whatever had invaded my stomach yesterday. Dehydration was my […]
Philippines Story: Week II
Quick story from Week 2. I’m now into my third week and halfway through the program — where IS the time going? Holy cow…
"…Or else you’re just a feminist."
The program I am in is a non-stop flight from ignorance to overwhelming. Since my arrival in Manila almost three weeks ago, I have spent about 17 hours everyday in lectures with historians, activists, peasant farmers, union leaders, scholars, and the poor people of this country. There is little time for rest, let alone for […]
Time to Learn Filipino
Phrase of the Day: KITA KEETS:// [kee-tah keets]// Slang. Colloquiam. See you later or Talk to you later.
I’m in the Philippines, Gloria Goes to the US
While Gloria Macagalpo-Arroyo, the president of the Philippines, visited the US this past week, I have been here in the Philippines for the first time in my life. And wouldn’t you know, here is President Bush with his great stereotyping, degrading vernacular talking to the woman president of the Philippines: PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it […]
Peasant Community
On Monday, July 1 we visited a peasant agricultural community. The logistics and traveling were, uh, interesting. From jeepney (public transit) to bus, from motorcyle rides to a long hike at 12noon, I can say that Monday was probably one of the most difficult days of my life – physically, psychologically, and even spiritually. The […]
Barrio Visayas
I stood before them and they asked me if I had any questions. I nearly laughed out loud. How do you survive?How do you feed them?What is life like as a poor peasant woman on this farmland which is repeatedly stolen from you?Why is this world failing you?How can feminism be so incomplete?What is within […]