Outside Looking In

Outside looking in., originally uploaded by suvajack.

Is how we felt when we got an opportunity to experience the homes of 4 families to examine their self built homes. This stage in our designing project let us get in touch with the target group for our housing project. The spaces these people live in are much different from what I am used to in Canada. There is no heating which can make it very cold in the winter given La Trinidad and Baguio are 4500ft above sea level. The addition of galvanized steel wall that are not insulated at all only amplify the outside temperature, cold or hot. Space is at a premium with most of these families opting for the largest lots they can afford to plan for the future. These lots are still smal by most standards because of the hillside location. Regardless the families must pinch every centavos to build some kind of shelter. If you think this house is small for one person you can only try to imagine what the 5 inhabitants feel like.

All of the four houses we visited had many things in common. Metal roofs, walls and a detached bathroom or comfort room as its referred to in the Philippines. The owners of this house have plans for the future construction. On day when they can save enough money they hope to take advantage of the concrete posts they installed to build a new hollow block home. Thought this structure may look temporary they are built in an affordable permanent way very common to the area. This house is actually better than most with these posts witch not act as a support and foundation to support and keep the house intact in severe wind weather. This home was also the only one to have a inset sink inside, the three others live as most do washing what they need outside in a large basin including themselves. No heat or hot water here.

Apparently the people in this area are no stranger to crime and attack even going as far as saying that they hope one day they can afford a concrete house because criminals often easily cut through the g.i. sheeting.

Mother Nature's Still Upset - Baguio - Earthquake

Just now, while we were in the middle of our pre-lunch workout, Baguio and the surrounding area just got hit with an earthquake. It was minor enough to not cause any damage here that we know about, but strong enough to make this 4 story concrete building wobble like it was made out of rubber. We were stretching, sitting on the floor at the time so we could really feel it. No idea where the epicenter was but something tells me Typhoon Mina woke something up. OK, back to stretching I guess!?

Recent Baguio Earthquake History

Away With Mina

Mina - Calm before the storm., originally uploaded by suvajack.

It looks like Mina has made its way off of Luzon island, and further away from Baguio than was originally expected. It's unknown right now if it has weakened but we should know the complete story by later today. For now, its calmed down to a rainy, gray day.

Facts from Planet Ark:

Typhoon Mina swirlled out to sea on Monday after killing 8 people, destroying homes and flooding rice paddies in the Philippines. Mina, a category 1 typhoon with winds of 120 km per hour (74 mph) at its centre, lost strength as it made landfall late on Sunday and did not directly hit the central Bicol region, where nearly 300,000 people had been evacuated.

Disaster officials said Mina flooded wide areas in the northern and central Philippines, destroying more than 100 million pesos (US$2.3 million) worth of agricultural production, half of them ricefields in Isabela and Cagayan provinces.

Bamboo Lovers Dinner

Abra - People, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

We concluded our eventful and educational last day in Abra with a beautiful dinner at Mely's house. All of us were tired from the day but in great spirits. It felt amazing to be in the company of some of the greatest individuals I've ever met in my life: David, Mely, and our new bamboo friend, Dr. Raul, from India who is the president of INBAR and currently working out of Shanghai, China. They all have achieved so much, and at the same time have made a difference in their respective communities/countries. It was one inspiring day and I felt so fortunate.

Abra Weaves

Abra - Process, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Despite the low with the workshop, our luck did not fail us. And our trip across the river was not completely wasted as we came across a gem of a spot when Mely took us deeper into the barrio. Only a 10 minute walk from where the workshop was being held, we met a community of weavers using bamboo as there raw material. They were using a native bamboo that had the perfect qualities for creating woven products. We observed beautiful bamboo baskets being woven right in front of our eyes by men and women. We learned that this is where Mely sourced most of her workers, and bamboo, to build her bamboo home. They even showed us their process of making their bamboo flooring - surprisingly basic! This experience showed us exactly how simple it is to work with bamboo. Bamboo allows the common man, women and even child to be involved and easily learn how to create a wide variety of bamboo products as a source of income and a means of livelihood.

But we were not the only observers. The children of the barrio were observing us, too. Again, the children never cease to amaze us with their lively, curious, picture-loving selves.

Design Center Workshop

Abra - Workshops, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

We were disappointed to say the least. We watched as the DCP workshop leader finish the bamboo in somewhat of a creative way, but with toxic paints and other finishes. The fumes alone drove us away from coming any closer. Hmmm...maybe someone should give the Design Center of the Philippines a little workshop on eco-friendly products and practices.

However, there is still light at the end of tunnel. This is where we come in: we saw this as the perfect situation/direction to step into and become pro-active about, and one that could be the most influential. We see that our outside perspective and knowledge of sustainable practices can benefit the market place a great deal. By influencing companies such as Boysen (the largest paint manufacturer, and most used brand in the Philippines) to evaluate their products' ecological and health affects, and invest in the research, production and marketing of an eco-friendly line of products, the road to sustainable growth and development will become much easier. See the blog below for an insightful look into this subject.

Masking Eco-Friendlies

, originally uploaded by suvajack.

Our bamboo tour of the Philippines uncovered massive amounts of exceptional sustainable designs except most had one fatal flaw - caked on toxic coatings. If there was one key message we always tried to suggest it was that you don’t need that much coating on and you should try to use a non-toxic finish. It turns out eco-friendly finishes aren’t easy to come by here and it is unfortunately the one thing that stops these incredible designs from being some of the worlds best eco options. In case you haven’t heard there is a new trend in the world that is here to stay and that is the mainstream arrival of environmentally intelligent products. These products created from regenerative sources are beautiful in design, functional in application, and responsible in environmental impact. The Philippines is privileged to have an abundance of rapidly renewable raw material and skilled workers how know how to work wonders with it. Though this sector is under developed it has the potential to be a booming and regenerative agricultural industry. What is missing to push this industry into the competitive market and towards a completely environmentally friendly final product is the use of non-toxic adhesives and finishes. Toxic glues and finishing coats on products damage the environment, people who worked with them and the end user that lives with it. You may be unaware that much of the products that we furnish our homes and offices with are in fact poisoning our air. Thankfully industries are changing the way they make products. Largely in part to the surge in consumer acceptance of organic goods as well as concepts like cradle to cradle and design for disassembly; The world is experiencing a big wave of eco-conscious consumers that are making the conscious choice to search out product that are not harmful to air quality.

Design Center Workshop

Abra - Transportation, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Going to Abra on a whim, and with no plans whatsoever, turned out in our favor. Our timing was just perfect and the Design Center of the Philippines was in town to hold a workshop on bamboo finishing techniques with a barangay . But first we had to get there. We took this ferry (or what acted like a ferry) across the Abra River just to the other side. Did sketchy come to mind? Yes, but it did its job, taking several tricyles, a jeepney and the SUV we were riding in.

The Home of Mely

Abra - Homes, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Mely has done a beautiful job with her home by using local bamboo and other indigenous made products to give it that ethnic Filipino feel and identity. One of the highlights of her home is the open-air living room which allows the wind to breeze through, to keep the home cool, and the sun to light its interior, to reduce the amount of electricity used.

The Home Of Mely

Abra - Homes, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

So after much anticipation, we finally make it to Abra, which is about 5 hours north of Baguio, to visit our friend and bamboo trip coordinator, Mely Berselona. Mely's home has been on the list of things to see on our trip as much of it is composed out of bamboo. Bamboo floors, ceilings, rails, windows, furniture, doors, and decor. When we arrived in Bangued, the main town in Abra, it seemed like everybody has either heard of, or has seen it as it sticks out like a soar thumb amongst its neighboring homes which are all constructed out of the typical building material: concrete and steel.

6 AM Bus - Baguio to Abra

We get a head start on our trip to Abra for fieldwork in search of bamboo homes. After a minor electrical fire half way down the mountain, sunrise illuminated the gorgeous valleys and made for a spectacular yet bumpy bus ride to Abra.

III International Junior Delphic Games

Baguio - Events, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

The III International Junior Delphic Games is the world artists' equivalent of the Olympic Games and was held this year in Baguio City. It is a competition for the arts and is the spiritual rebirth of the Delphic Games held in ancient Greece. The Games take place every 2 years, alternately as Delphic Games and Junior Delphic Games. Each nation sends its best artists and representatives of arts and culture to compete in the form of exhibitions and demonstrations, that mirror the artistic diversity and cultural wealth and heritage of their respective countries. Some of the major categories include:

MUSIC & ACOUSTIC ARTS – i.e. singing, instruments, choir, orchestra, preservation of intangible heritage,
PERFORMING ARTS – i.e. dance, theatre, circus, photography, film, etc. and preservation of intangible heritage,
LINGUAL ARTS – i.e. poetry, writing, fairytale telling, literary translation, moderation, debating, etc. and preservation of intangible heritage,
CRAFT, DESIGN & VISUAL ARTS – i.e. painting, sculpture, pho-tography, goldsmith, cutting, book binding, instrument making, weaving, and knitting,
COMMUNICATION & SOCIAL ARTS – i.e. media, computer ga-mes, mediation, pedagogic, didactic, mediation, etc. and preservation of intangible heritage,
ARCHITECTURE & ECOLOGICAL ARTS i.e. landscape and city planning, cultivation and re-cultivation, preservation of soil monuments and historical monuments, etc. and support of cultural heritage.

We were fortunate enough to be invited by Narda to become models for her fashion show, which was the evening showcase for the Games' opening day. The experience was a bit nerve-racking as we went through the whole deal with little experience - the fittings, rehearsals, backstage changes, walking the catwalk (with 28 others), the lights and cameras, and not to mention, the hundreds of spectators that filled the convention hall.

The games, for the first time, beginning with the Philippines, will recognize hip-hop music as a world art form. Check out this amazing video of a German hip-hop performance. They were also the judges for the hip-hop dance competition, and for good reason.

III International Junior Delphic Games

Baguio - Events, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Alex and I were invited to become fashion models for an evening, along with 28 other models, for an entertainment showcase at the 2007 Junior Delphic Games held in Baguio City. All of the clothes modeled were from Narda's fashion collection, and were designed to display the beauty and style of natural, eco-fashion in both casual and formal wear.

These photos of us were taken backstage as we waited for an earlier dance group to finish. Above, I'm dressed in Narda's abaca casual hoodie and simple cotton, drawstring shorts. Abaca is a a species of banana, and is harvested for its fiber (also known as Manila hemp) extracted from its large, oblong leaves and stems. On average, the plant grows to about 20 feet (6 meters) tall. Below, Alex is dressed in Narda's ikat casual top, a handkerchief from Mindanao and simple, drawstring cotton pants. Ikat is a style of weaving that uses a resist-dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft before the threads are woven to create a pattern or design.

Moment At Dusk - Simple Surprises

Baguio - Views, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

We stumbled across this particular mountain view as we explored the grounds of Baguio City's Convention Hall, one of the venues for the 2007 International Junior Delphic Games.

Almost anywhere you travel to in and around Baguio, nicknamed the "city of pines", it is common to come across breathtaking vistas that cause you to want to stop and appreciate what the present moment has to offer. It is those simple, instant surprise glances from nature that has caused me to re-assess where I am exactly in the world, and on what island (out of 7,000 or so) that I'm living on. As introspective as it sounds (and maybe even cliche), scenic views like these are special to the Philippines since the majority of the population live in the lowlands, and seeing that the highest concentration of mountains are on one island, ours; Luzon Island. It's truly a shame for anyone to come to Baguio and have their first impressions overshadowed by the pollution, trash and the unpleasing aesthetics of the concrete homes that have crept up what was once a city well-integrated with nature. The difference between the natural environment and the artificial is strikingly stark. The competing, unharmonious character of the two is one of the issues that Alex and I are basing our work on and striving to alleviate. Speaking to David, he reflected on his first experience coming and moving to Baguio some 20 odd years ago when it was still a small town in the mountains. Back then, he said, "I was able to go on my morning jogs around Burnham Park, with the morning mist and the fresh smell of pine in the air. If you were to do that now, you'd suffocate from all the pollution from jeepneys and taxis". Imagine if one day we were able to recreate this memory and feeling in Baguio, and any other decaying city in the world for that matter. This is our challenge, this is why we are here as students and designers, and this is why we feel that progressing in that direction is the most crucial effort one can make. This must happen now, or else vistas like this may never be seen again.

Acop Planning

Baguio - People, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Along with designing a bamboo home for the housing component of the Winaca eco-cultural village, there are plentiful design opportunities to be found on the Capuyan's Acop farm (the village building site). There are already a few structures built in vicinity to the three relocated traditional Cordilleran homes. The Capuyan's vision is to create an extensive restaurant complex which will serve as part of a conference facility, and to also serve as a venue for large social events and weddings. We discussed with Wilson some finishing ideas we have for the space adjacent to the already finished restaurant, as well as his concerns to where the comfort room will be strategically located. The challenge is to place it between the hall area, where the main seating area will be, and the entrance to the restaurant so that it will be hidden away and indiscreet to both. When finished, the space will be an open-air extension of the restaurant that will be roofed with 'creeping lady shoe' vines that bloom and dangle from above.

Extracurricular Activities

Baguio - Spaces, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

In our spare time, and when we are looking for a change in environment and mind-space, we occasionally drop down to one of the Narda's factory's three floors (just below our apartment) to work on a wallet that we have been designing. From choosing the colors, threads, dimensions, and the way that they are sewn, we truly get to be involved with the entire process. Unfortunately, working with Narda's is not part of our workplan, but when we live right next door, it's hard not to peek in on the workers to see what they're up to. It would be such a great internship on its own. Many possibilities are to be had here, especially since all their textiles are hand-dyed and loomed using many unique, indigenous fibers.

Here, Alex works on sewing a few wallet prototypes in Narda's factory sewing-floor. The industrial sewing machines are wild stallions and take a bit of practice to get used to them. When in need, we have quite a bit of assistance from the kind ladies of the factory. There is always someone around to help. Overall, it's fun for both us and them, and I'm sure they find us amusing being on their turf and all...in a good way.

Cafe By The Ruins

Baguio - Interiors, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Located in front of Baguio's City Hall, this rustic cafe offers some of the best food (and healthy) in the city. Their lemon-grass tea, served with a slice of lemon and honey, has become an ordering tradition that we always look forward to on any given day.

Victory Liner - Cubao Terminal, Quezon City

Manila - Transportation, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

When finding yourself riding most bus liners in North America, whether it be by choice or not, a few dreaded thoughts come into mind: Greyhound, cramped, rock-hard seats, cheap, low-end, and "I hope I don't get stuck beside that over-sized person, or someone who is in desperate need of deodorant". In most cases, your left with only two choices: regular or express.

In the Philippines, buses are the most common and affordable way to travel long distances, excluding jeepneys. There are a multitude of choices when it comes down it. From choosing the company, to whether it has air-conditioning, windows, deluxe (includes a restroom and stewardess who serves you a snack and water), and regular or express. The cost of our deluxe trip from Manila to Baguio one-way (express is a 4-5 hour trip with little traffic, regular is a 6-7 hours or more with traffic) costs about 600 pesos (about 14 canadian dollars). Upgrading to deluxe from regular is about 200 pesos more, and as a bonus you get to wait in a separate, air-conditioned room with a television on the second floor. So that's what we did as we happily waited for our bus back to Baguio. We entertained ourselves by perching on the balcony observing the bus depot happenings and people below us.

The ride back was the most comfortable bus ride we've both ever experienced. The seats were wide, extra-padded, with far-reclining backs, and adjustable leg rests that allowed perfect positioning for relaxation and sleeping. I don't think I could ever go back to the regular bus, or worse, a Greyhound bus after this experience.

Note: the picture above is of a regular bus.

Manila F.A.M.E. International

Manila - Show, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Launched in 1983, Manila F.A.M.E. International is the longest-running trade show of its kind in Asia-Pacific. It attracts thousands of buyers from all over the world interested in giftware and home furnishings in organic and natural materials designed for today's lifestyle. The show is recognized as the main source of contemporary Philippine-made products with a distinct global appeal.

We extended our stay in Manila a few days just to attend, and were fortunate to have attended on industry day as "buyers" with the help of our bamboo trip contacts, Mely and Carina. In the featured designer section, we encountered an impressive collection of work by some of Manila's up-and-coming designers working with indigenous materials such as, abaca, vines, grasses, and natural-fibers, to create light fixtures and furniture. Sadly enough, pictures were not allowed in the five massive showroom halls. As you enter the lobby of Manila's World Trade Center you first encounter a women dressed in traditional Cordillera wear looming back-strap style, surrounded by examples of ethnic Filipino textiles/motifs. This first impression represents only a slice of the wealth and diversity of traditional Filipino craft.

Sun Sets On Payatas Dump

Payatas Sun Set, originally uploaded by suvajack.

In July of 2000, a massive typhoon hit Quezon City, Philippines. It triggered an avalanche from a mammoth garbage mountain that toppled many homes and took the lives of over 2000 people. You might wonder what so many people were doing living in a dump. It turns out that the Filipinos who scavenge Manila’s 7,500 tons of household waste salvage and sell our scraps and recyclables for around 150 - 300 php pesos a day. Thats about 3 - 6 Canadian dollars a day. Ironically 300 php is close to the national average wage.

After hearing about the dump from a friend back home we thought we would search it out next time we were in Manila. Turns out as we had a free day as we awaited the Manila F.A.M.E. show. It would be interesting and a great opportunity to see the contrast from a high-end furniture and design fair to a trip to one of Manila's largest most historic landfills.

Exploring Payatas

Payatas dumpsite is one of the largest landfills and poorest areas of metro Manila where many families make a living by scavenging and recycling from tons and tons of garbage. Alex and I decided to check out the dumpsite to get a good glimpse of the action, but unfortunately, we had to have a letter stating our purpose. So instead, we wandered the surrounding neighborhoods on our own. There, we encountered some of the poorest yet most caring, loving people truly living a simple life. The fun and adorable children were so great to us. They made it a heartfelt afternoon I will never forget. Looking at the pictures of that single afternoon always makes me smile. We plan to return soon to give them the photos we took of them.

Occupation - Recycler

Payatas Dump - Plastic Recycler, originally uploaded by suvajack.

Scattered around the dump you can find many spots focusing on recycling a particular garbaged commodity. Here, this girl sorts through different types of plastic. It's a strange place filled with recyclers working in a place filled with buildings that both resemble and function as a business and home.

This man takes sorted garbage and soaks and washes the plastic. It's a long, hard day to earn is few dollars. Sorting, sifting, sorting, sifting.

Amazing how one man's waste is another man's meal ticket.

A Modern Filipino Home

Manila - Homes, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

We were grateful to visit the home of Mausen and Davig Ong with MM, an artist whom we first met at an art opening at Mo_space Gallery, to have dinner and spend the evening with them and conversing over wine and lounge music. Their home is seamlessly perched on the edge of a plateau that overlooks northeastern Manila's - offering panoramic views galore. Their "open" home features a three-story porch constructed out of aged timber that was saved from old houses intended for demolition. At first sight it looks like an oversized gazebo. The structure blends perfectly with it's surrounding, lush, tropical gardens allowing nature to become part of the wooden abode. Benjie Reyes, a Filipino artist, designed their home in a distinctly modern architectural style. Discreet from the outside, one cannot fully appreciate it's entire ambiance until you enter. We instantly felt the warmness of the home with it's interior done in beautiful dark wood that displays Benjie's mastery of the medium. The interior decor is composed of a mixture of antiques, traditional crafts, and works by contemporary Filipino artists. Mausen and David's home is a beautiful example of a modern Filipino home, and the evening inspired us in many ways.

Fort Bonifacio Global City

Manila - Spaces, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Fort Bonifacio is an urban development in Taguig City, Metro Manila. Originally known as Fort McKinley, it was a property acquired by the U.S. government during the American colonial period. Today it is the home to upscale residential condominiums, trendy restaurants, bars, clubs, and many retail outlets.

We frequent this shopping center quite a bit as there is a great book store called Fully Booked (they have a great selection of architecture and design books), free internet at Starbucks, expensive but good food, a few galleries (Mo_Space is one), and a few high-end furniture stores (Bo Concept, Natruzzi and the soon to be open Vitra, which we got a special sneak preview of with the owner, Mausen Ong).

Back In Manila

Manila - Objects, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

After a week touring bamboo hot spots in the Visayas, we met with Mely, our bamboo trip coordinator, at what seemed like an unoccupied, empty mansion in Manila. Mely uses a single room of the residence as an office away from her home-base in Abra. The most spacious room of the home displays a number of furniture prototypes (mostly chairs) made by a few designers working for her. Their furniture is mostly constructed out of bamboo, using plywood-bending and molding techniques to create their forms. It's great to see them experiment with bamboo furniture in a modern approach, but they use a lot of toxic resins and lacquers, which we look down upon. Unfortunately, we are not able to post any photos of the furniture as they are still prototypes, but we did find this beautifully woven suitcase among a shelf of other fine bamboo products.

Argao - Skimboarding Capital Of The Philippines

There seems to be talent here in the Philippines everywhere we go and Argao was no exception. We met these boys the night before trying to find lodging; their dad's beach cabin didn't quite work out but our plans to meet up for some skimming the next day did. Turns out these kids are some of Argao's finest when it comes to skimboarding and surfing. They said the surf gets really good when a typhoon rolls into town. We didn't want to wait around for that but we did enjoy a little fun in the sun. Check the footage. Also check out Argao's Mahayhay Beach and the boys' on a big day in this YouTube video.

Argao - Skimboarding Capital of the Philippines

We took a day off from our intense, non-stop traveling to relax and hit the beach for some sun and swimming in Argao, a small town an hour south of Cebu. Turned out that Argao was absolutely dead (which was good and bad). Fortunately, we met these local skimboarders of Mahayhay Beach, a well-known spot for skimboarding, and took our turns skimming the beach shores (or in my case, attempting to learn in not the easiest of conditions). I figured if I could learn here I could it pick it up elsewhere easily. Anyway, these young guns were busting out moves effortlessly, making it an entertaining afternoon in the sun and splash. I guess that's the product of having miles of beautiful beaches and nothing else to do.

What Makes Good Furniture?

Toxic Beauty, originally uploaded by suvajack.

Design? Function? Cost? Materials? How it matches your decor? What it does to your indoor air quality? I think all of these things are important. The problem is the latter is nearly never an issue for the average buyer, not unless your child has serious allergies and can be immediately affected by the off-gases that only slowly poison the rest of us.

Some of the factories we visited on our Cebu trip, which I won't mention, made the both of us feel like our heads were in a vice grip from all the fumes. We hope these companies will find a non-toxic alternative for both their workers and end-clients. In just a few clicks I found these solutions on the net, Aquaresin and Bioresin. I'll be sure to pass it on. It's our job as consumers and healthy beings to request and expect only ecologically and health friendly products and materials as the only option. Hopefully one day furniture stores and building supply shops will only be allowed to carry non-toxic products. That way everyone can afford a healthy home and we can return to thoughtless shopping. Until then, be eco and health conscious.

Here is a great site and a one stop shop to start getting the info you need to go green.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 6

Cebu - Interiors, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Accessoria Inc. is a company founded by Lorelei Rodriquez and Luisa Robinson, an active member of Movement 8. They are known worldwide for their mastery and innovation in the use of snake skin, leather, stone, vine, tobacco leaves, shells, and other indigenous materials for home decor furnishings. We visited their showroom/factory outside of Cebu City which housed a small, yet impressive collection of items. Their attention to color, form and texture truly reflect the land and resources found on the islands which easily appeal to an international audience with modern, organic tastes.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 5

Cebu - Factories, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

We arrive in Cebu excited to see what this metropolitan area of 3.5 million-plus has to offer. Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the country and the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the central and southern parts of the archipelago. The tropical island attracts international attention for its white sand beaches, world-class golf courses, casinos, and in our case, furniture designers. Cebu is the largest exporter of furniture in the Philippines and home to hundreds of furniture factories (the majority of them are foreign based).

Another product Cebu is known for is its guitar. We visited Alegre Guitars in Lapu-Lapu City to check out their factory and showroom to see some examples of their finely crafted, handmade guitars.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 5

Cedu - Mangroves and bamboo huts, originally uploaded by suvajack.

These houses on the sea are the traditional dwellings of some of the old local tribes. Most coastal tribes made there livings on the water; some would either sleep on their boats or opted for more stable accommodations on water houses such as these. The simple dwellings are constructed a little like that of a nipa hut but serves a much different purpose as of a place out of the sun to rest and attach a boat while drying out the catch of the day. This particular house is constructed in shallow sea waters protected behind mangroves. Mangroves are trees that grow in the saline coastal habitats of the tropics and subtropics, creating a unique eco-system teaming with sea life.

Bamboo Dust to Cooking Fuel

Iloilo - Bamboo dust to charcoal, originally uploaded by suvajack.

Bamboo charcoal has many known advantages. Its porosity makes it excellent for use in water filtration systems, but better yet its use as burning fuel can have huge positive implications in areas around the world where there is a major need for a natural cooking fuel. Bamboo briquettes utilize the waste from either cutting-dust or mulched scrap pieces. This allows the structural advantages of harvested bamboo to be utilized for things like building and designed materials while putting any and all waste to good use.

Amy Smith from MIT looks at the issue of utilizing waste to meet the need for cleaner-burning fuel in the rural areas of Haiti in this insightful TED Talks video. After watching this video I can't help but think of this country among many others that could benefit from the plantation of bamboo for the reforestation of hillsides. A plantation could create both livelihood of the people with bamboo briquettes as one of the many bonus that come with it. Other possibilities for unused bamboo is fabric and paper making.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 4

Iloilo - Tools, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

This bamboo splitter tool stood out for me as one of the most functional and efficient tools I've seen on the bamboo trip. Similar to how an apple corer/slicer works, this heavy duty, one piece cast iron tool requires little force for maximum output. The resulting strips are used for baskets, garden fences, etc. These gentlemen were seen working just outside the mayor's home in Maasin.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 4

Iloilo - Bamboo, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

Bamboo supply.

Bamboo Immersion Trip - Day 4

Iloilo - People, originally uploaded by jsigharas.

The next stop of the day was to Maasin municipality's naturally growing bamboo forest. This viewpoint overlooks part of Maasin's 10,000 hectares of bamboo-filled hillsides.

The 30-minute dirt road drive through the barangays gave us a interesting and amusing look at life outside the city. These rural areas are where you see how the majority of Filipinos truly live, and in this case, how they commute.