Tullioz

A couple of shots of me and the Girlfriend just before heading to the states last week for a short visit. Hoping to see some snow before February 3rd when I return. It has been over 4 years since the last time I was able to experience any.

I am working with a people group known as the Badjao, helping with education and livelihood and I visit villages throughout Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The organization and teachers I went to visit in this case are mentioned in this story and work for an NGO by the name of The Claret Samal Foundation. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/482101/2-teachers-kidnapped-in-basilan I was going there to get more information and to learn how to better serve the Badjao here in Davao.

Basilan is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf which is affiliated with Al Quada and fighting between them and the Philippine government is pretty heavy right now. Past comments like the one below probably have alot to do with it too. “We have been trying hard to get an American because they may think we are afraid of them,” a spokesman for Abu Sayyaf said. “We want to fight the American people.” BTW, the Jollibee restaurant that I am eating at in that picture has been the scene of bombings six times in the past five years.

Here are some pictures taken a couple of weeks ago on a recent trip to the island of Basilan. If you ever want to know what it feels like to be the president being followed around by the secret service, then a visit to Basilan would probably give you a pretty good idea. The five soldiers pictured followed me everywhere I went during my visit. When traveling by vehicle there was one military vehicle in front and two behind. I couldn't even eat lunch without them tagging along. Lol...

Thanks

Thanks, it was quite an ordeal. I thought that I was. Lol. I was warned before going to the camp that it was rampant. Once I arrived it was very apparent that it was. Feeling that I was immune to it I was in close contact with several who had it and even held one baby that was in very serious condition as a result of the illness. Had I only known beforehand that i was susceptible to the measles I would have taken further precautions. Here is a news story describing the conditions at the camp I visited. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/576948/death-continues-to-hound-zamboanga-siege-refugees Try to imagine 100,000+ people living on roughly 10 acres with very little water and food for over 5 months. Thanks for trying. There's little hope on improving my looks even under normal conditions. Wow, I can't imagine ever having to suffer with Measles again. Hope the future gets brighter for you and that your resistance will eventually get to a point that you will no longer have to deal with such an awful disease.

Here is a picture of me taken two weeks ago. For about three days I looked like the Michelin man as my entire body was swollen and in addition I had blisters and a rash all over my body. Had a fever that exceeded 103 for over 36 hours and was the first time I ever went to the hospital for an illness. I was diagnosed with Measles of all things which I had contracted after visiting a refugee camp in Zamboanga City a week earlier. I have since returned to normal aside from having extremely dry skin. I would not wish measles on anyone.

A picture of me taken a few weeks ago with some children belonging to the Badjao tribe here in Mindanao.

A day at the office. Taken yesterday

Taken this morning while waiting on breakfast.

I am a partner in a frozen desert company. My primary responsibility is to insure that the employees are doing their part and that my investment is safe. My day consists of stopping by the warehouse at random times throughout the day to make sure things are running smoothly which takes a total of about two hours out of my day. Filipinos are very hard workers and the job market is so competitive that you really do not have to worry to much about the job being done efficiently. The rest of the time is spent doing whatever. There is another partner back in NC and we kind of work in shifts. Very long shifts. lol I was planning on coming back in May, but have decided to take his Summer shift so that I can be back home next Winter. The only thing I miss back home besides family and friends is the variety of weather. 98% of the time here it is Mostly Sunny and upper 80's by day and rain every evening. Outside of the Typhoon that hit Mindanao back in December, very little exciting weather wise has occurred. There are minor earthquakes from time to time that can be a little unnerving though.

Here is a picture from a meeting after work tonight. It's a little difficult to find me, but I am the guy in the red shirt. I was only joking of course, I stick out like a turd in a punch bowl around here.

Here is a picture of me and my girlfriend along the Davao Gulf. This was taken across the street from my apartment here in Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. No need to post obs from here as everyday is always the same. Partly sunny by day, thunderstorms after dark. The high is always around 87 give or take a degree, and the low is usually around 72. I will not be seeing any snow this Winter season for sure.