Pilipinas. The butterfly flap

PILIPINAS

WHAT IF…

All beings were freed

Life steps were not steep

We were kind to animals

EQUALITY EDUCATION

PLANET

Life were a canvas

Oceans were turquoise

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

THE CHAOS THAT EMPOWERS

WHAT IF THAT BUTTERFLY FLAP IN ETHIOPIA CREATED A TYPHOON IN THE PHILIPPINES? WHAT IF REMOVING A SINGLE GRAIN OF THE WHITEST SAND IN BOHOL CAUSED A THUNDERSTORM IN WASHINGTON DC?

We don’t have to start a war. What if Lisa, the pre school teacher at Balicasag, gives the girls at class the same tools she gives the boys. Lisa was great and eager to start a conversation with the two Spanish ladies coming across her backyard…she has twelve kids at class and seemed to me like the teacher who will tell the girls those comments that can transform a lifetime. Just to believe you will be able to, will put you in an advantageous position to achieve your goals. Girls need to believe in themselves. So those small remarks Lisa and her parents will tell her are going to make the difference and set the typhoon going.

A high percentage of girls in the Philippines drop out of school due to unwanted teen pregnancy. About 60% of 3 million drop outs are girls, forced into marriage or family matters. What if Lisa made a slight change that could change this situation? More Lisas are needed.

According to the butterfly effect theory, the slightest change can imply a huge difference in the long term. I think this is right and small changes in a girl’s life can result in a different future and life.

Lisa wanted us to visit the school but our boat was waiting. Lisa is the pre school teacher at Balicasag.

LIFE IS EPHEMERAL

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

WE LEARN TO LIVE, TO GIVE BIRTH, TO LOVE, TO ENJOY, BUT WE DON’T LEARN HOW TO DIE OR ACCEPT DEATH. AND LIFE HAS AN END. WHAT IF THAT BUTTERFLY FLAP SERVED THE PURPOSE OF GUIDING OUR MOURNING.

So the butterfly flap continues and sometimes a typhoon is only metaphorical. The typhoon, for instance, is the death of your father or your aunt. It swirls around your head, makes you dizzy and becomes impossible to believe, difficult to understand. The typhoons of life have an impact on us, leave scars and show us we are vulnerable. But it is this vulnerability that makes us special and shows us how important is to love and to let the others know there is love.

Again come the women who are eager to expose themselves and become death doulas. Doulas had a different role, assisting when life started, but these new doulas are ready to assist when life is coming to an end. Because when we need to accept that life comes to an end,

we better have good company to walk the walk and talk the talk.

And then comes the mourning and the grieving. And, at some point, there is some healing. But we don’t come out as naive as we started. There is some painful learning but there are some gains as well. And that it is the appreciation of the beautiful small butterfly flaps. Conversations about life and death come natural in this earthly paradise.

LIFE

LEARNING TO LIVE AND LOVE

Life, love, and death. The ephemeral sense.

UNDER WATER

SLOW MOTION IN SHALLOW WATERS

THE KEY TO THE UNDERWATER IS TO SLOW DOWN. BREATHE SLOWLY, LOOK AROUND, OPEN YOUR EYES.

To overcome claustrophobic feelings and to get used not to inhale through your nose nostrils…to overcome your fears to be able to enjoy the underwater. So amazing when your travel companion inspires you to explore beyond your limits and you realize you can.

Melba is one of a kind, strong and delicate. Adventurous spirit, ready to explore the world. Generous and funny. Talkative and easygoing. Intelligent and smart. Ready to

take the best picture. Energetic enough to carry on with meetings. As sweet as the desserts we have shared every dinner.

The best buddy for underwater initiation.

MUSIC FILLS HEART AND SOUL

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

MUSIC AND DANCE ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT LIFTS YOUR SPIRIT AND MAKES YOU SMILE, WHEN PASSING BY.

Beauty, harmony.

Down the Loboc river, there was music and then there was dance.

MUSIC

FROM MY SOUL AND HEART Music is in the air

FALL 2022 RECIPE. MELYO RICE

MELYO RICE. CHICKEN AND PINEAPPLE

CONCHITA AND CHUNA ARE EAGER TO PREPARE THIS NEW RECIPE. THE RECIPE HAS ITS ROOTS IN KUALA LUMPUR, AND INCLUDES THE TASTE OF EXTREMADURA AND MADRID AS WELL.

We meet two couples of cooks in Balicasag. The first couple is also engaged in water googles renting and the second couple is also ready to sell souvenirs.

Pork is quite typical. According to the Filipinos we meet, Spanish legacy consists on drinking…I would add religion and pork.

The second couple of cooks prepares our Melyo rice, exquisite dish, plain and easy to digest. Melyo rice

provides the required energy to go snorkeling to salute three huge turtles, Nemo, Marlin and Dory. Women in Balicasag are special. Women in the Philippines are very special.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

UKELELE TWINS

SAND SWEEPING

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FIVE YEARS LATER

YES WE CAN

WHEN WOMEN REPRESENT A TINY PERCENTAGE OF THE ATTENDEES, BUT YOUR TEAM IS AN ONLY WOMEN TEAM. PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TEAM. HAPPY TO BE HERE FIVE YEARS AGAIN SURROUNDED BY AMAZING WOMEN.

In 2017 women were minority in this event

A global pandemic, remote everything, but…Five years later, nothing has changed. Good news are our team is an only women.

What does ICEX have that the private sector does not? Also happy to have shared these five years with Rosa. And yes, we missed Sara and Mercedes, but enjoyed Laura as well.

IS IT OK?

MAYBE IT IS NOT

DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT ? IS THE FUTURE VEGAN?

This is a blank page for all of us to reconsider.

BRIDE TO BE

THERE IS STILL TIME TO THINK IT OVER

THE WHITE DRESS, THE PICTURES, THE GUESTS, THE VOWS, THE RINGS, THE BRIDESMAIDS, THE PRESENTS, THE FAMILY, THE FRIENDS, THE DAY BEFORE, THE DAY AFTER, THE HONEYMOON, THE DINNER, THE CHURCH, THE DANCE, THE DAY, THE HOURS… THE LOVE?

Traditions are to be questioned. As long as we think it over, it is ok. But let’s give it a second thought.

THE FUTURE AHEAD

FRIENDS

THE FRIENDS ARE THE FAMILY WE CHOOSE. FRIENDSHIP IS AN UNIVERSAL FEELING.

Friends will stand by you. In difficult times, friends will provide you with love, strength and help you find the passion in you.

ARCH:GIRL, BIKE, PLANT

GIVE ME A RIDE