I finally found you...

I have been searching for this blogger application so I can quickly and easily scribble random but significant thoughts and events in my journey along the road less traveled. Tonight I found it and I am indeed happy. Readers, expect more to come!

Tais

According to wikipedia:

Tais cloth is a form of traditional weaving created by the women of East Timor. An essential part of the nation's cultural heritage, tais weavings are used for ceremonial adornment, home decor, and personal apparel. The Catholic Church of East Timor has also adopted the use of tais during its ceremonies. Because of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, detailed study of the history and importance of the tais began only after 2000.

The tais has been used in East Timor as a unit of exchange, often for livestock or other valuables. In ceremonial use, the tais is usually worn along with feathers, coral, gold and/or silver. Still, the sale of tais has become common only in the last thirty years. Although small-scale commerce of tais is an important source of income for women, however, export is difficult and nearly all sales take place with foreigners. In recent years, the public textile market in the capital Dili has seen an influx of foreign-made weavings, which often look like tais and are sold (and made) more cheaply. 

In my experience, our partner community based organizations in the district always have tais ready for guests whenever they receive staff from the regional office, international office or donors. I would tag along, as part of my long list of job responsibilities. Being with these guests, I also get the honor to be given the tais. In my almost a year and a half stay in Timor-Leste, I had collected 6 tais corresponding to 6 occasions I attended where tais-giving ceremony was done. There could have been more but I managed to avoid several occasions by convincing them that I am not a guest.  The ceremony is normally done in this process.

It started at the school entrance. The child folding the tais carefully. 

Puts it over my head

Arranged it well around my neck. 

I had to say 'obrigada'

Then we started walking towards the class room. 

Just to add on the information from wikipedia, personal account from my colleagues mentioned tais as a sign of gratitude for the good things given to the community. In our case, the projects being implemented in their district, school or organization. It also symbolizes giving and receiving something back in return. On a deeper cultural root, tais is used as part of their traditional ritual symbolizing wealth which might be similar to what wikipedia mentioned as 'worn along with feathers, coral, gold and silver. In their uma lulic, there is always a tais designed especially for this traditional ritual.

We always inform our local partners not to do this but we would always find them prepared with the tais ceremony. For them, refusing tais is like refusing them and rejecting their culture.

To make use of my tais, here is a photo of where they ended up in my house.

wall decor, table runner...the weaving depends on the district where the tais was made. 

A Significant Change Story...

I've missed this page. I haven't posted anything for almost three months. What a shame! I don't know if I would promise again to write regularly or not. Nonetheless, I wanted to share this significant change story which was posted in my organization's blog. A glimpse of what I am doing in Timor-Leste. 

From a Leaky Roof to a Comfortable Classroom 

Enjoy reading and let me know if you have feedback or similar stories to share. 

Numbers as Indicators

http://fridayreflections.typepad.com/weblog/2007/10/not-everything-.html

Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts --- Albert Einstein

Timor-Leste is one of the countries in South East Asia with the highest incidence of malaria. It is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the country. My organization is implementing a project on Maternal and Child Health in two districts in Timor-Leste. It is on the last stages of project implementation and at the moment we are just consolidating the activities and now preparing for end-of-project evaluation. At this stage, stories of most significant change are being collected.

The focus of the story this time is the health staff of the community health center but I won’t be dwelling in details about their story. Though one thing for sure, the project has created impact to the health services of the sub-district. This was based on their personal account of how the project enabled them to deliver health services to the remotest villages through the trained community health volunteers. A major focus of intervention was decreasing malaria incidence in the communities. During the visit to the health center, I collected data on statistics of malaria cases to support my story. Based on the humble records of the laboratory technician, yes, I call it ‘humble records’ because patients who underwent malaria tests are recorded in a notebook improvised by the laboratory technician which was admirable because of the ingenuity in marking positive  and negative results. It was only in 2011 that the Ministry of Health developed a log book for the laboratory.

Counting manually, recorded cases of malaria in 2009 was 27 and in 2011 it was 702. Judging by the figures, immediately the conclusion would be: the project failed because instead of decreasing the prevalence, it had increased. The number shows a different story. When asked why the number increased, the health staff cited a number of reasons: 1.) increased awareness of people about detection and management of malaria; 2.) information about the availability of laboratory for malaria testing at the community health center; 3.) regular information dissemination by the community health volunteers. Therefore, detection of malaria has increased as more people go to the clinic at the onset of malaria symptoms.

I realized that increasing or decreasing figure does not always show the real picture. Since I started focusing my development work in Monitoring and Evaluation, I have never been a strong advocate of ‘quantitative indicators’ alone. The results you are measuring always matter.  That is why I always believe in mixed indicators which is balancing quantitative indicator with qualitative indicator so that numbers are properly described and analyzed. I also believe in collecting significant change stories because it’s a testimony of the changes in people's lives or the community as a result of the project's intervention. It’s a story of change which comes from the people who are the main actors of the development process.

After completing the interview, it reminded me of what Albert Einstein said: not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts. Indeed!

On a side note, this was the road on the way to our project area. It's a National Road. We waited for few minutes while the road was being cleared for vehicles to pass through.

The Risen Lord in Me

askmax.countrymax.com

What struck me most from all the homilies during the 3-day celebration of the passion of Christ was the message during the Easter Vigil mass that was ‘Don’t lose heart; God is at work in your lives’. Many times I have told friends and even clergy friends, I have stopped praying for something because for so long I have been praying for it but I always end up getting not what I have prayed for. My clergy friends react in silence but other friends would keep assuring me, in His time.

In all my assignments, this is the first time I have observed Holy Week from start to finish. Even when I was working with Caritas in Zambia, Holy Week was an opportunity for me to spend holidays exploring nearby countries or other places within the country. This year, it’s different. I’m not sure if it’s because of different priorities, the geographical nature of Timor-Leste, the solemnity of the celebration, or the crossroads I am trekking at the moment. Whatever the reason(s), I am glad for this transformation in my life. For 3 years now, I am in a situation where I always find myself asking if I am doing the right thing or oftentimes finding a reason to justify it. I wanted to get out of it but I always find myself pulled back and in the end, I am once again trapped. The realization during this Lenten celebration is clear to me and all I am asking is wisdom to think properly and clearly so that I could lead myself to making the right decision. Strength to carry all the pains I am and will be going through for taking this decision. I know it won’t be easy as I thought it would be, but these two things are all I am asking for, to set myself free from this trap. A trap which led me to deception, cheating, countless pains, drenched pillows from tears, unaccounted phone calls, sleepless nights, trips back and forth to SOS hospital in Ha Noi.  Decision made which transformed me to a different person.  


On the celebration of the risen Lord, is also a resurrection within me. It’s not going to be easy but like the message of the Easter Vigil, I should not lose heart because God is working in my life. Happy Easter!

Road Trip to Jaco Island

Jaco Island is one of the few must-see places in Timor-Leste. For a brief profile of Jaco Island, here is a link from wikipedia: Jaco Island.

Together with friends in Dili, we have been planning this journey sometime back. Initially, it was a big group but on its final stage, we ended up a 'group of four', Zeidy and her son, Dhidhak and me. Due to different reasons, the rest of the gang failed to join us. 


Despite the long and bumpy ride, it was worth the trip. The turquoise blue waters, long stretch of white sands, diverse mangrove species, absence of infrastructure, litter-free surroundings, these are few of the many attractions of the island. I just hope that even when the government of Timor-Leste or other 'aid' or 'development' organizations develop this area for tourism, the ecological aspect of it will be seriously considered. What it is now is the reason why people visit the Island. It should be maintained the way it is and the present development in Valu Beach, not in the Island. However, there are a few things that need to be improved for the safety and security of visitors/tourists: 

• life vest on the boat while crossing the short stretch (more or less 15 minutes) from Valu beach to Jaco Island;
• a stand-by boat in Jaco Island instead of just dropping and picking up visitors and leaving them on their own in the island; 
• minimum standards of toilet in the guest house at Valu Beach;
• signage in the junctions on the road, either ways - using Com or Lospalos road

Mere description of Jaco Island and the trip is not enough, so I made a photo story for better appreciation of its natural beauty, and to tickle the reader's imagination and eventually be encouraged to come and visit.  

I hope you enjoyed the road trip to Jaco Island...

My Best Friends' Forthcoming Weddings

Take note of the noun, it's plural! yes, my two best friends are getting married on the same year. One of them has been with her boyfriend for almost 3 years now while the other one had just been found recently by her boyfriend. I am overjoyed for both of them because I knew that they deserve to be happy. 

photo from: myspacegraphics24.com

They are my two closest friends, we were actually four but one of them migrated to the US and so the 3 of us were left in the Philippines until I started my journey to the road less traveled by. While taking this journey, they have been with me. They have been a witness to my life's development both personal and professional. They knew everything about me, they have laughed and cried with me, they have shared with me my successes and failures. Lately, it dawned on me that I'll be losing them, of course not physically but I am expecting and anticipating that there will be changes. 

When one of them announced the final date of their wedding and asked me to be part of the entourage, I was extremely happy. After a week, I was not expecting that the other one would also be announcing that she's getting married in December. I felt happy upon knowing it while at the same time shocked by the news. It was least expected because a month ago, just before I left the Philippines, she told me that there is nothing official going on between them, so receiving this news in less than a month, shocked me indeed. 

Later that evening, I realized that i'll be alone. I have a partner and have sustained it for a long period of time, long distance! No clear directions to where it is heading but all i knew is, I am happy with my relationship despite its challenges. With my friends around me, there was no personal pressure or any longing to have a husband or start a family of my own because I knew they are there but this recent development is an awakening for me, like what my mom would always tell me, friends won't always be around for you so better look for a partner. It dawned on me that indeed it's true. Of course my mom is always there though i knew that it won't be forever. It's great though that I found new friends who are single like me and the same age as mine who I think are blessings in another form. 

I am hoping and praying that whatever is His plan for me, I'd better be prepared for it, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. 

Catching Up

Going back to work after a long holiday is always difficult because there are so many things that you have to catch up, reviewing and checking deadlines, deliver outputs expected from you, submit reports which are overdue, etc., etc. This has been my situation in the past few weeks. After returning from home, I have to catch up with project monitoring, writing reports, internal evaluation, collecting stories and case study writing. Due to too much work and other pre-occupations, I neglected my blog but I promise to be catching up this month. I'll try my best to recall significant events that are worth-writing. 


Mana, maun, senhora, senhor, everyone, anyone reading my blog stand by for more posts to come. 

Scene at the Mall

I have written this while I was in the Philippines at the peak of holiday shopping on 23 December 2011 but I was not able to upload it immediately. Christmas is one of the busiest time of the year in the Philippines. Going to the malls is a real challenge with so many people doing their Christmas shopping, long queue in cash counters and taxi bays. For 4 consecutive years now, I have been out of the country and within these four years, I was lucky to be home for the last two years but I don't enjoy anymore the hustle and bustle of the holidays but this year I didn't have choice but to join the people in the malls as I have to buy some important stuff. I must admit that I am not used to it anymore but I couldn't avoid it this year. 


After finishing my shopping, I went to queue for a taxi. It was a double line queue but I knew that it wouldn't take me long to hop in so I patiently waited for my turn to get a taxi ride. Then suddenly I heard a noise from a woman who was so annoyed with the guards who were assisting the shoppers in the queue to get a taxi. She was complaining why a shopper who was outside, near the exit door was allowed to get a cab. The guards reasoned out they were allowed to get a taxi in that area because they have a baby but this woman insisted that it was not fair. She added that everyone should queue regardless if they have a baby. My uttered silently, what a ruthless woman she is. She even threatened the guards that they will be reported to the management of the mall. The guards however just smiled and left them, which is a real portrayal of a true and genuine Filipino.  


 While listening to this woman, it made me ask myself, is this what fellow VSO RV from the Netherlands was telling me at the boarding lounge of Dili airport that I am near the age when I would feel a stranger in my own country, that I would feel I don't belong anymore because soon, it will be my fifth consecutive year of being out of the country and this was the year he felt such strangeness in Holland. Or was this woman one of those who thinks that she is right and reasonable. I wanted to tell her: be thankful for all the comfort and conveniences you are enjoying in our country. Be thankful to be living in a city where life is being one of the best you could have in this world. I have seen the family she was referring to who has two children, a toddler and a baby. I guess the guards did the right thing of letting them take a ride without queueing with the rest of the shoppers at the taxi waiting area. I just couldn't believe what I have witnessed. I wish and hope that this woman would have the opportunity to be in the country where i have been working and living so that she would come to realize the goodness of life she is living and the comfort she is enjoying. Reflecting this incident during this season of the year, i hope my country would wake up to the real meaning of Christmas. It's not just shopping for presents but more important is keeping the real spirit of Christmas in their hearts.