- I've heard it said
00:00:01.16\00:00:02.43
that when you get
to the end of the road,
00:00:02.43\00:00:04.03
there's a good chance that
you'll find an ADRA project.
00:00:04.03\00:00:07.97
- And we are
literally at the end of the road
00:00:07.97\00:00:10.24
and we're still not there.
00:00:10.24\00:00:11.67
We've still got
another two hours to go.
00:00:11.67\00:00:13.64
We're gonna get on a
watercraft called a bangka boat
00:00:13.64\00:00:16.91
and get to our next
project, our ADRA project,
00:00:16.91\00:00:20.75
which is on a remote island.
00:00:20.75\00:00:23.05
- So come and
join us as we discover
00:00:23.05\00:00:25.75
how ADRA Canada is
changing lives in a small,
00:00:25.75\00:00:30.23
little remote fishing
village in the Philippines.
00:00:30.23\00:00:33.70
Let's go. - Let's go.
00:00:33.70\00:00:35.50
(soft guitar music)
00:00:35.50\00:00:38.43
(gentle music)
00:00:45.84\00:00:48.41
(gentle music continues)
00:00:55.38\00:00:58.79
(gentle music continues)
00:01:05.46\00:01:08.86
(gentle music continues)
00:01:15.90\00:01:19.34
(water rushing)
(indistinct chattering)
00:01:21.44\00:01:26.45
(gentle music)
00:01:27.05\00:01:29.28
(gentle music continues)
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(gentle music continues)
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Welcome back to
"It Is Written Canada."
00:01:56.71\00:01:58.98
We made it here after that
amazing crossing of the ocean
00:01:58.98\00:02:02.58
to Sumaoy, this little
barangay on this island.
00:02:02.58\00:02:07.12
And we are here with Steve
Matthews, who is the CEO of
00:02:08.56\00:02:11.63
ADRA Canada, and
also Teresa Ferrera,
00:02:11.63\00:02:15.40
who's with philanthropy
and marketing at ADRA Canada.
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And you've brought
us all the way over here
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to show us around
and show us the projects
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that you are doing in this area.
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- Steve and Teresa,
thank you so much for inviting
00:02:27.01\00:02:30.48
Mark and I with you
on this amazing trip
00:02:30.48\00:02:33.78
to see what ADRA Canada is
doing in this remote village.
00:02:33.78\00:02:37.99
- And thanks so much for taking
the time outta your schedule
00:02:37.99\00:02:40.49
to be able to join us as well.
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It's a real pleasure
to have both of you here
00:02:42.09\00:02:44.46
to see the work that
we're doing in the field.
00:02:44.46\00:02:46.90
- Steve, I guess
to begin with you,
00:02:46.90\00:02:48.90
tell us about what
has happened in this area.
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You've been here
for like a decade,
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like about more than 10 years.
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- Yeah, so this barangay
that we're working in here
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and a number of
other ones in the area
00:02:59.61\00:03:02.04
were first part of
our EMBRACE Project.
00:03:02.04\00:03:04.45
And the EMBRACE
Project was a four year project
00:03:04.45\00:03:07.15
where we basically focused
on a number of different things
00:03:07.15\00:03:09.42
from basically women and
children, maternal health,
00:03:09.42\00:03:13.32
helping to work with nutrition,
helping to ensure that,
00:03:13.32\00:03:17.69
you know, safe
deliveries of children,
00:03:17.69\00:03:20.06
making sure that women
could get to birthing facilities
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within time so they're
not having to have them in,
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you know, in the
village, that sort of thing.
00:03:26.37\00:03:28.44
So really trying to
work on that side of things.
00:03:28.44\00:03:31.51
And then just the importance
of that first thousand days
00:03:31.51\00:03:34.58
of life of a child
00:03:34.58\00:03:36.24
and why it's so important
to have good high nutrition
00:03:36.24\00:03:39.61
in an area where stunting
and, you know, malnutrition
00:03:39.61\00:03:44.62
was actually quite significant.
00:03:45.49\00:03:46.89
- So that's
starting with conception
00:03:46.89\00:03:50.19
all the way to
first three years?
00:03:50.19\00:03:51.86
- [Steve] Yes.
00:03:51.86\00:03:53.33
- Of life of the child,
making sure that that health
00:03:53.33\00:03:55.40
is taken care of.
00:03:55.40\00:03:56.36
- Absolutely.
00:03:56.36\00:03:57.83
And then now the project
that we're here visiting now
00:03:57.83\00:03:59.50
is the TOGETHER Project,
00:03:59.50\00:04:01.07
which is building on the
foundation of that project
00:04:01.07\00:04:04.11
of EMBRACE.
00:04:04.11\00:04:05.71
Both projects are funded
by the Canadian government
00:04:05.71\00:04:08.78
and they've, through
that support we've been able
00:04:08.78\00:04:12.15
to continue this work
here in the community.
00:04:12.15\00:04:14.28
- Teresa, could you
elaborate and explain to us more
00:04:14.28\00:04:18.32
about the TOGETHER Project?
00:04:18.32\00:04:20.29
- Sure.
00:04:20.29\00:04:21.46
So back in 2013,
00:04:21.46\00:04:22.99
we had an emergency response
here in the Philippines.
00:04:22.99\00:04:25.63
Through that emergency response,
00:04:25.63\00:04:27.20
it enabled us to
seek out remote areas
00:04:27.20\00:04:30.93
and the most
vulnerable in those areas,
00:04:30.93\00:04:33.34
and then to come alongside
00:04:33.34\00:04:34.77
and do actual community,
personal development programs
00:04:34.77\00:04:38.04
and projects.
00:04:38.04\00:04:39.57
With that, we were able
to start the EMBRACE project.
00:04:39.57\00:04:43.81
Beyond EMBRACE, we
have now gone into TOGETHER.
00:04:43.81\00:04:46.78
And this is a six year project.
00:04:46.78\00:04:48.82
TOGETHER in particular,
00:04:48.82\00:04:50.09
it focuses on
what we did in EMBRACE,
00:04:50.09\00:04:52.75
but then it goes a step further,
00:04:52.75\00:04:54.79
and actually
looks at adolescence
00:04:54.79\00:04:56.69
and desiring for them
to make positive changes
00:04:56.69\00:05:00.13
and choices in their lives.
00:05:00.13\00:05:01.76
Specifically connected to
preventing teen pregnancy,
00:05:01.76\00:05:05.50
preventing early marriage,
for the health of the girl,
00:05:05.50\00:05:09.17
as well as focusing
on gender-based violence.
00:05:09.17\00:05:12.91
And so we desire,
more than anything,
00:05:12.91\00:05:15.94
for them not to just
have the tools in their belt
00:05:15.94\00:05:18.11
to make these choices,
00:05:18.11\00:05:19.65
but to empower them that
these are wise, healthy choices
00:05:19.65\00:05:23.08
for them, as well as
the health of the community.
00:05:23.08\00:05:25.72
So that's TOGETHER.
00:05:25.72\00:05:27.52
- So I just have to ask, Steve,
why such a remote location?
00:05:27.52\00:05:31.96
Why does ADRA go to such
remote places on the planet?
00:05:31.96\00:05:36.30
- Well, typically
what we find are people
00:05:36.30\00:05:39.13
that live in those
remote communities are often
00:05:39.13\00:05:41.77
some of the most
vulnerable people in the world.
00:05:41.77\00:05:44.34
They don't have
access to services.
00:05:44.34\00:05:46.74
Oftentimes, governments aren't
even able to provide services
00:05:46.74\00:05:49.94
to people in those communities,
00:05:49.94\00:05:51.68
which results in that
vulnerability being there.
00:05:51.68\00:05:55.52
So that's where ADRA comes in,
00:05:55.52\00:05:57.12
is to really try to bridge
that gap and be able to help
00:05:57.12\00:05:59.95
in communities where services
may be a lot more limited
00:05:59.95\00:06:03.46
than you would have
in more major centers,
00:06:03.46\00:06:06.16
easier to get to regions.
00:06:06.16\00:06:08.06
So that's a real
big factor behind why we
00:06:08.06\00:06:10.73
select places like
this beautiful area
00:06:10.73\00:06:13.23
that we've traveled to two hours
beyond the end of the road.
00:06:13.23\00:06:17.57
- Yeah, and it's quite
a close-knit community,
00:06:17.57\00:06:19.34
I could see that, just
from when we got off the boat,
00:06:19.34\00:06:21.51
they were there with signs and
saying, "Welcome ADRA Canada"
00:06:21.51\00:06:25.21
and just, you
know, embracing us.
00:06:25.21\00:06:28.22
- Yeah, absolutely.
00:06:28.22\00:06:29.32
- So they're
obviously so grateful
00:06:29.32\00:06:31.29
for the work that
you are doing over here.
00:06:31.29\00:06:33.29
If you have the whole village
with these beautiful signs,
00:06:33.29\00:06:36.89
welcoming you to come onto,
you know, welcoming you, yeah.
00:06:36.89\00:06:41.86
- And when you
talk to the people,
00:06:42.96\00:06:44.40
you're gonna see such an
authentic appreciation, right?
00:06:44.40\00:06:47.27
That they see a difference,
they feel a difference,
00:06:47.27\00:06:50.51
and they desire
more than anything
00:06:50.51\00:06:53.71
for us to continue, right?
00:06:53.71\00:06:55.81
To be here with
them, but at the same time,
00:06:55.81\00:06:58.21
we see them own it,
it becomes theirs, right?
00:06:58.21\00:07:01.05
And so, it's beautiful.
00:07:01.05\00:07:02.75
- And that's where it really
comes down to a partnership.
00:07:02.75\00:07:05.25
Because we're able to partner
with the local communities.
00:07:05.25\00:07:08.96
Not just with the
community members,
00:07:08.96\00:07:10.43
but also with, you
know, the local governments
00:07:10.43\00:07:13.03
and really come
together to help make
00:07:13.03\00:07:15.50
a real positive change in
the communities we work in.
00:07:15.50\00:07:18.37
- Well, Steve and Teresa,
we are really looking forward
00:07:19.93\00:07:22.77
to meeting some of these
people and just talking to them
00:07:22.77\00:07:26.24
and visiting with them.
00:07:26.24\00:07:27.48
So thank you once again
00:07:27.48\00:07:29.38
for this amazing opportunity
you've given us here.
00:07:29.38\00:07:32.68
- We are honored to be here
00:07:32.68\00:07:34.28
with one of the
community partners, Metos.
00:07:34.28\00:07:38.55
Metos, thank you so much
00:07:38.55\00:07:40.16
for joining us on
"It Is Written Canada."
00:07:40.16\00:07:43.12
- Thank you for being here
00:07:43.12\00:07:44.59
and thank you for
visiting our barangay, Sumaoy.
00:07:44.59\00:07:47.30
- So Metos, what is
your role that you play
00:07:47.30\00:07:52.23
as a partner with, a community
partner here at With ADRA?
00:07:53.64\00:07:56.10
- Currently, I am a member
of the [Indistinct] Committee
00:07:57.51\00:08:00.84
of ADRA here in Somoay.
00:08:00.84\00:08:02.41
The [Indistinct]
Committee conducts data
00:08:02.41\00:08:04.11
gathering through surveys.
00:08:04.11\00:08:05.98
We analyze all this data
00:08:05.98\00:08:08.08
so that we can have a
more informed understanding
00:08:08.08\00:08:10.79
of the issues
facing the barangay.
00:08:10.79\00:08:13.32
- Metos, tell us
about your family.
00:08:13.32\00:08:15.72
- I have four children.
00:08:18.49\00:08:20.60
I'm a single parent,
00:08:20.60\00:08:22.06
so it is a struggle to
raise these children by myself.
00:08:22.06\00:08:25.80
I have no idea
where my husband is.
00:08:25.80\00:08:29.00
He went to find work in Manila
00:08:29.00\00:08:31.11
and no one has heard anything
from him since that day.
00:08:31.11\00:08:34.14
- So Metos, you have no
idea where your husband is?
00:08:35.54\00:08:39.88
How long has he been away for?
00:08:39.88\00:08:42.52
- I have no idea
where my husband is.
00:08:43.65\00:08:46.09
He just literally disappeared.
00:08:46.09\00:08:48.69
No one has heard from
him for six years now.
00:08:48.69\00:08:51.69
- That's awful.
00:08:53.09\00:08:54.83
- So no communication.
00:08:54.83\00:08:56.26
What do you
think happened to him?
00:08:56.26\00:08:58.47
- We don't have an
inkling of what happened to him.
00:09:00.74\00:09:03.47
No one has heard from him,
not even his own family members.
00:09:04.94\00:09:08.94
- Okay. - That's terrible.
00:09:10.25\00:09:11.48
- So you must, so
you have four children?
00:09:11.48\00:09:15.45
What ages are they?
00:09:15.45\00:09:16.85
- 19 and 15 and
then nine and then seven.
00:09:16.85\00:09:21.86
- That is a big
responsibility for you,
00:09:22.92\00:09:24.53
to have to raise these children,
00:09:24.53\00:09:27.60
four young children on your own.
00:09:27.60\00:09:29.96
You don't know
where your husband is.
00:09:29.96\00:09:31.80
- It is a really
big responsibility
00:09:34.37\00:09:36.77
to raise these four children,
technically as a single mom,
00:09:36.77\00:09:40.61
but I have no other choice.
00:09:41.54\00:09:43.14
- So you're very
involved in your community here.
00:09:45.08\00:09:48.25
What do you do for work?
00:09:48.25\00:09:50.42
How do you gain an income?
00:09:50.42\00:09:52.65
- I grow seaweed for market
00:09:56.83\00:09:58.46
and I also help my
uncle and his business,
00:09:58.46\00:10:00.96
making fishing nets.
00:10:00.96\00:10:02.36
- Metos, can you tell us about
00:10:03.87\00:10:05.53
how has ADRA helped you
personally over the years?
00:10:05.53\00:10:09.80
Have you been a part
of the EMBRACE Project?
00:10:09.80\00:10:12.11
- ADRA has been a
wonderful help to me.
00:10:16.24\00:10:19.01
The EMBRACE Project
taught us many things
00:10:19.01\00:10:21.22
about how to raise our children,
00:10:21.22\00:10:23.22
how to play with our children,
00:10:23.22\00:10:25.32
how to have patience,
00:10:25.32\00:10:26.72
and develop good
relationships with our children.
00:10:26.72\00:10:29.86
The big thing
that EMBRACE taught us
00:10:29.86\00:10:32.23
was the importance
of providing a balanced,
00:10:32.23\00:10:34.56
nutritional diet.
00:10:34.56\00:10:35.86
- So Metos, can you
tell us a little bit about
00:10:37.53\00:10:40.80
your kitchen garden
and how that has helped
00:10:40.80\00:10:43.41
with the
nutrition for your children.
00:10:43.41\00:10:45.44
- It has been a really
big advantage for our family
00:10:48.41\00:10:51.31
to have a kitchen garden.
00:10:51.31\00:10:52.98
We don't have to
worry about food,
00:10:52.98\00:10:55.18
we just get our food
every day from the garden.
00:10:55.18\00:10:58.62
And the nice thing
00:10:58.62\00:11:00.12
is that we know that our
vegetables are safe to consume,
00:11:00.12\00:11:02.42
because we don't use
any chemical fertilizers.
00:11:02.42\00:11:05.86
I have even taught my
children how to grow vegetables.
00:11:05.86\00:11:08.90
I made sure that they
understood how important
00:11:08.90\00:11:11.50
vegetables are
for a healthy life.
00:11:11.50\00:11:13.67
- Metos, how has ADRA helped
you and some of your neighbors
00:11:15.84\00:11:20.84
in, concerning
savings and loans?
00:11:21.98\00:11:24.91
How have they helped you?
00:11:24.91\00:11:26.15
- ADRA's Savings and Loans
Program, BOLSA as it is called,
00:11:28.42\00:11:32.69
is really a great idea.
00:11:32.69\00:11:34.89
We have learned
how to save money
00:11:34.89\00:11:36.99
and when there is an emergency,
00:11:36.99\00:11:38.79
we now have a place we
can go to get a small loan.
00:11:38.79\00:11:41.90
- Metos, you were
very involved with the ADRA
00:11:43.23\00:11:46.87
Embrace Project, when
they brought it here to Sumaoy
00:11:46.87\00:11:51.71
Village and now the
TOGETHER Project is here.
00:11:51.71\00:11:55.11
Why did you choose to be
involved in that project too?
00:11:55.11\00:11:59.25
- The TOGETHER Project
is the perfect follow-up
00:12:04.59\00:12:06.92
to the EMBRACE project.
00:12:06.92\00:12:08.79
TOGETHER is
teaching us strategies on how
00:12:08.79\00:12:11.33
to raise our teenage children.
00:12:11.33\00:12:13.53
I have two teens right
now, and so the information
00:12:13.53\00:12:16.36
that I am learning
has been very helpful,
00:12:16.36\00:12:18.97
but it's not
just for the parents.
00:12:18.97\00:12:21.27
ADRA has formed the
young people of our barangay
00:12:21.27\00:12:23.84
into small groups, where they
discuss all of the challenges
00:12:23.84\00:12:27.34
of going through adolescence.
00:12:27.34\00:12:29.38
There are boys
groups and girls groups.
00:12:29.38\00:12:32.01
They talk about
everything from good hygiene
00:12:32.01\00:12:34.75
to having respect for others
00:12:34.75\00:12:37.32
to avoiding teenage
pregnancy and early marriage.
00:12:37.32\00:12:40.76
As a single
mother raising teenagers,
00:12:41.96\00:12:44.93
I have often
prayed to God for help.
00:12:44.93\00:12:48.16
I believe that he cares
for us all, that he listens,
00:12:48.16\00:12:51.83
and he provides help
when we need it most.
00:12:51.83\00:12:54.70
In many ways, ADRA has
been the answer to my prayers.
00:12:54.70\00:12:58.74
I cannot tell you how
thankful I am for ADRA
00:12:58.74\00:13:01.94
and the TOGETHER Project.
00:13:01.94\00:13:03.85
Thank you, ADRA.
00:13:03.85\00:13:05.01
- Metos, I can tell that you
and the village are so grateful
00:13:06.82\00:13:11.05
for everything that
ADRA has done for you,
00:13:11.05\00:13:14.46
because we had
such a warm welcome
00:13:14.46\00:13:16.83
when we came in on our boats.
00:13:16.83\00:13:18.56
The whole
village with was there,
00:13:18.56\00:13:20.86
with these
beautiful signs welcoming us.
00:13:20.86\00:13:23.47
And so it's been an honor
for "It Is Written Canada"
00:13:23.47\00:13:26.74
to join you
today at your village.
00:13:26.74\00:13:29.20
Thank you for having us.
00:13:29.20\00:13:31.21
- And thank you
also for being here.
00:13:31.21\00:13:33.91
Thank you for visiting
our barangay. Thank you.
00:13:33.91\00:13:37.41
God bless.
00:13:37.41\00:13:38.45
- Okay, so here's a lady
that I would like you to meet.
00:13:39.85\00:13:42.82
This is Mary Ann.
00:13:42.82\00:13:44.25
She is involved both in
EMBRACE and TOGETHER project.
00:13:44.25\00:13:47.22
- Hi, Mary Ann. My name is Mike.
00:13:47.22\00:13:49.56
- I'm Mary Ann [Indistinct]
00:13:49.56\00:13:52.36
- And I'm Rene. Nice
to meet you, Mary Ann.
00:13:52.36\00:13:54.93
Thank you so much
for having us here.
00:13:54.93\00:13:57.17
- I was born in this
part of the Philippines
00:14:00.04\00:14:02.30
on an island near here.
00:14:02.30\00:14:04.07
I finished high school
00:14:04.07\00:14:06.07
and went to work at
a store on the mainland
00:14:06.07\00:14:08.51
after I graduated.
00:14:08.51\00:14:10.51
It was here that
I met my husband.
00:14:10.51\00:14:13.48
We dated for three years
00:14:13.48\00:14:15.42
and then we were
married when I was 24.
00:14:15.42\00:14:18.52
We now have four kids,
two boys and two girls.
00:14:18.52\00:14:22.79
When we got pregnant
with our first child,
00:14:22.79\00:14:25.63
we needed to make a decision
about where we would live
00:14:25.63\00:14:28.36
and raise our children.
00:14:28.36\00:14:29.86
The cost of living is
much higher on the mainland,
00:14:31.30\00:14:34.24
so we decided to
move back here to Sumaoy,
00:14:34.24\00:14:36.84
where my husband grew
up and has his family home.
00:14:36.84\00:14:40.48
Here, there would be no rent
00:14:40.48\00:14:43.35
and we would be able to find
much of our food from the sea.
00:14:43.35\00:14:46.55
I have to say that I really
like living here in Sumaoy.
00:14:50.09\00:14:53.15
It is a very
beautiful place to live.
00:14:54.22\00:14:56.56
It is peaceful,
quiet, with no pollution.
00:14:57.69\00:15:01.76
You can breathe fresh air here.
00:15:01.76\00:15:04.10
But on the downside, it is
difficult to make a living here.
00:15:06.70\00:15:11.41
My husband is a fisherman.
00:15:12.47\00:15:14.78
He and a friend of
his go out together,
00:15:14.78\00:15:17.28
because it is not safe to
try and put out the nets alone.
00:15:17.28\00:15:21.75
The two of them are
often out most of the night.
00:15:21.75\00:15:25.15
In the morning when they return,
00:15:25.15\00:15:27.62
they remove the fish and
other creatures from the nets
00:15:27.62\00:15:30.83
and divide up the catch.
00:15:30.83\00:15:32.49
The old saying is still true.
00:15:33.53\00:15:36.03
Sometimes you are lucky and
sometimes you are not so lucky.
00:15:36.03\00:15:41.00
On a good night, the
nets have lots of fish.
00:15:42.14\00:15:45.01
On other nights,
there is only enough
00:15:45.01\00:15:47.48
to make a small
meal for the family.
00:15:47.48\00:15:50.55
Sometimes they
return empty-handed.
00:15:50.55\00:15:54.02
After expenses, we would
make about 2000 pesos a month
00:15:55.38\00:15:59.49
from fishing.
00:15:59.49\00:16:01.09
Sometimes I would tell my
husband he should go to Manila
00:16:01.09\00:16:03.96
to find work to make more money,
00:16:03.96\00:16:06.13
but he prefers to stay
here to be with the family.
00:16:06.13\00:16:09.20
(gentle music)
00:16:11.43\00:16:14.07
ADRA has been a big
help for our family.
00:16:16.67\00:16:20.08
During the EMBRACE Project,
00:16:20.08\00:16:22.38
ADRA gave us
training on organic gardening
00:16:22.38\00:16:24.91
and provided us
with seeds and tools.
00:16:24.91\00:16:27.48
I started growing
eggplant, mung beans, tomatoes,
00:16:28.85\00:16:32.65
squash, papaya, and
cassava on a small hillside farm
00:16:32.65\00:16:36.96
above the flood zone of the sea.
00:16:36.96\00:16:38.86
What started out as
a small kitchen garden
00:16:40.03\00:16:43.23
has grown into a market garden.
00:16:43.23\00:16:46.07
I am now making a good
income from the garden.
00:16:46.07\00:16:50.14
With the profits, I am
able to buy milk for the baby
00:16:50.14\00:16:53.91
and things we need for our home.
00:16:53.91\00:16:55.88
With the business
training that we got from ADRA
00:16:57.81\00:17:00.55
and a small loan, I was
able to start a small bakery
00:17:00.55\00:17:04.12
that brings in a steady income.
00:17:04.12\00:17:06.32
One aspect of
the EMBRACE training
00:17:08.46\00:17:10.73
that has had a
big impact in our home
00:17:10.73\00:17:13.46
was the information we
were given on gender equality
00:17:13.46\00:17:16.77
and the sharing
of household rules.
00:17:16.77\00:17:19.47
We learned that
when couples share tasks
00:17:19.47\00:17:21.77
and
responsibilities in the home,
00:17:21.77\00:17:23.97
that it can really
help the family and marriage
00:17:23.97\00:17:26.41
to grow stronger.
00:17:26.41\00:17:28.34
We gave it a try
and found it to be true.
00:17:28.34\00:17:31.21
My husband now helps out
with things like washing clothes
00:17:33.01\00:17:37.15
and I am helping him
mend his fishing nets.
00:17:37.15\00:17:39.85
Working together
and sharing tasks
00:17:41.02\00:17:43.22
really does help bring
people closer together.
00:17:43.22\00:17:46.70
I think we both now have
a much better understanding
00:17:48.13\00:17:50.87
of the rules that each of
us used to shoulder on our own.
00:17:50.87\00:17:54.77
It has made our
marriage stronger.
00:17:54.77\00:17:57.11
The education
that we are getting now
00:18:02.38\00:18:04.15
with the TOGETHER project
is all about raising teenagers.
00:18:04.15\00:18:08.18
That has been a
perfect timing for us.
00:18:10.35\00:18:13.25
As three of my children
right now are in their teens.
00:18:13.25\00:18:16.86
As parents, we have
learned a lot about how
00:18:16.86\00:18:19.86
to have good lines
of open communication
00:18:19.86\00:18:22.60
that develop mutual respect.
00:18:22.60\00:18:24.80
TOGETHER has special groups
just for the youth to meet,
00:18:26.23\00:18:29.57
where they learn
about all of the changes
00:18:29.57\00:18:31.71
that their
bodies are going through
00:18:31.71\00:18:33.81
and how to make positive
choices for a healthy life.
00:18:33.81\00:18:37.18
ADRA has taught us
a lot over the years
00:18:38.91\00:18:41.28
that has helped
us uplift our lives.
00:18:41.28\00:18:44.02
We no longer think about moving
away to find a better life.
00:18:44.02\00:18:47.86
We have found a better
life right here thanks to ADRA.
00:18:47.86\00:18:52.36
(gentle music)
00:18:54.20\00:18:56.73
(gentle music continues)
00:19:03.24\00:19:06.64
- We have just made our
way over to Alvin and Emmi's
00:19:16.48\00:19:20.02
little coconut
farm and Alvin and Emmi,
00:19:20.02\00:19:22.46
you have this coconut farm here.
00:19:22.46\00:19:24.89
You use every
part of the coconut.
00:19:24.89\00:19:27.23
You just cut some down from
the tree and gave them to us,
00:19:27.23\00:19:30.43
pulled them down
with your big hook,
00:19:30.43\00:19:32.90
very strong to
be able to do that.
00:19:32.90\00:19:35.47
And then you cut them open.
00:19:35.47\00:19:37.07
We drank some of the water
00:19:37.07\00:19:38.61
and ate some of the jelly,
flesh that's inside there.
00:19:38.61\00:19:43.28
What's the process?
What do you do here?
00:19:43.28\00:19:45.85
To get the
coconut all cut to pieces
00:19:45.85\00:19:49.72
and use every single
part of it, I understand?
00:19:49.72\00:19:52.02
- First, we pull the
coconuts down from the tree
00:19:58.03\00:20:01.43
with a hook.
00:20:01.43\00:20:02.96
Then, we gather the coconuts
and bring them to this shelter
00:20:02.96\00:20:06.40
by a sled pulled by a caribou.
00:20:06.40\00:20:08.90
It is here that
we start the process
00:20:10.24\00:20:12.41
of peeling the
husk from the shell.
00:20:12.41\00:20:15.04
We then crack them open
00:20:16.08\00:20:17.48
and cook the
coconuts to make it easier
00:20:17.48\00:20:20.35
to separate the
coconut meat from the husk.
00:20:20.35\00:20:23.89
Oil can be
extracted from the meat
00:20:23.89\00:20:26.42
and we are able to
sell the rest in the market.
00:20:26.42\00:20:29.82
It is used primarily
for feeding livestock.
00:20:29.82\00:20:33.73
The husks themselves can
be used to make charcoal.
00:20:35.16\00:20:38.03
We use some of this charcoal
in our own home for cooking
00:20:39.50\00:20:42.70
and sell the rest in the market.
00:20:42.70\00:20:45.24
- Okay, so Alvin,
this process is hard work,
00:20:45.24\00:20:49.48
but I can see that's
why you're so strong, right?
00:20:49.48\00:20:53.18
So, but this is a beautiful
place. It is so beautiful here.
00:20:53.18\00:20:57.09
You're right by the
ocean, there's coconut trees.
00:20:57.09\00:20:59.79
So much greenery.
00:20:59.79\00:21:01.39
So tell us what you love about
being here on this village.
00:21:01.39\00:21:06.39
- I love this place,
because it is home for me.
00:21:09.06\00:21:12.33
I was born here, I grew up here.
00:21:12.33\00:21:16.17
It is sometimes hard
to make a living here.
00:21:16.17\00:21:19.77
After our expenses, we are
making only about 3000 pesos
00:21:19.77\00:21:24.65
each month from
our coconut farm.
00:21:24.65\00:21:26.68
But this has been
the family business now
00:21:28.02\00:21:31.59
for three generations.
00:21:31.59\00:21:33.96
My grandfather was the one
to start working this land.
00:21:33.96\00:21:37.33
I tried working in Manila as
a security guard for a while,
00:21:38.76\00:21:43.40
but I missed my family.
00:21:43.40\00:21:45.00
When the
children would get sick,
00:21:46.17\00:21:47.74
they would keep
asking for their papa.
00:21:47.74\00:21:49.90
Sometimes life
is difficult here,
00:21:51.24\00:21:55.24
but through the grace of God,
00:21:55.24\00:21:57.75
we are still eating
00:21:57.75\00:21:59.71
and getting what we
need for our daily life.
00:21:59.71\00:22:03.22
I have no plans of
going back to Manila.
00:22:03.22\00:22:07.09
I see myself growing old here.
00:22:07.09\00:22:10.83
- You know what, Alvin,
00:22:10.83\00:22:11.99
I wouldn't mind
growing old here, either.
00:22:11.99\00:22:14.23
It is so beautiful over here
with the sunshine and the ocean
00:22:14.23\00:22:18.40
and so, it's beautiful.
00:22:18.40\00:22:19.63
What about you, Emmi?
00:22:19.63\00:22:21.17
What do you love about
being here on this island?
00:22:21.17\00:22:24.37
- When I first moved here,
00:22:29.38\00:22:30.91
I was not sure that I
would be able to survive here.
00:22:30.91\00:22:34.05
I was not born here.
00:22:34.05\00:22:35.68
I grew up in a place that
was quite a bit different,
00:22:35.68\00:22:38.69
but because this is
where my husband is from,
00:22:38.69\00:22:41.69
I decided that I would move
here and raise our family here.
00:22:41.69\00:22:45.39
But through the years,
00:22:46.29\00:22:47.60
I have really
grown to love this place.
00:22:47.60\00:22:50.53
One of the things
that I really like here
00:22:50.53\00:22:52.53
is that the fish that we
catch here is always so fresh.
00:22:52.53\00:22:56.54
- Emmi, I can relate to you,
00:22:57.74\00:22:59.27
because I followed my
husband all the way to Canada
00:22:59.27\00:23:03.38
and it's become home for
me too, with my children.
00:23:03.38\00:23:06.72
So I know how you feel.
00:23:06.72\00:23:08.18
In the beginning
it was really hard,
00:23:08.18\00:23:10.02
but I followed you, didn't I?
00:23:10.02\00:23:12.15
- You did.
00:23:12.15\00:23:13.09
- All the way from South Africa.
00:23:13.09\00:23:14.26
- That's right. To Canada.
00:23:14.26\00:23:15.66
Not to this
beautiful village here
00:23:15.66\00:23:17.59
in the Philippines, though.
00:23:17.59\00:23:19.03
Yeah, this is very nice.
00:23:19.03\00:23:20.66
So tell us about how
ADRA has affected your life.
00:23:20.66\00:23:24.23
How has ADRA helped you as
a farmer, a coconut farmer?
00:23:24.23\00:23:27.64
- ADRA has been a
huge help to our family
00:23:35.01\00:23:38.45
and the whole Barangay.
00:23:38.45\00:23:40.32
We make a point of
applying everything
00:23:41.48\00:23:43.45
that ADRA has taught us
into everything that we do.
00:23:43.45\00:23:46.72
In particular, the
education of kitchen gardening
00:23:48.06\00:23:52.39
has been very helpful.
00:23:52.39\00:23:54.56
We no longer have
to buy vegetables.
00:23:54.56\00:23:57.53
We have a ready supply.
00:23:57.53\00:23:59.27
We are also very
thankful for the comfort room
00:24:00.70\00:24:03.47
that ADRA helped us build.
00:24:03.47\00:24:05.14
- In addition, we are very
thankful for the gardening tools
00:24:08.74\00:24:11.58
and seeds that we
received from ADRA.
00:24:11.58\00:24:14.65
Of all of the training
that ADRA has given us,
00:24:14.65\00:24:17.89
the sessions that I
have appreciated the most
00:24:17.89\00:24:20.82
are the ones that
dealt with raising children.
00:24:20.82\00:24:24.03
The EMRBACE Project
started with conception,
00:24:24.03\00:24:27.36
teaching us about the
importance of good nutrition
00:24:27.36\00:24:30.17
for the first 1000
days, starting with the mother
00:24:30.17\00:24:34.27
through
pregnancy, right after birth,
00:24:34.27\00:24:37.21
and through early childhood.
00:24:37.21\00:24:39.57
And now, the TOGETHER
Project is teaching us how
00:24:39.57\00:24:43.04
to bring our children
through puberty and adolescence.
00:24:43.04\00:24:47.18
In our groups, we learn
00:24:47.18\00:24:49.45
how to nurture
positive relationships
00:24:49.45\00:24:51.75
with our children
through the teenage years.
00:24:51.75\00:24:54.86
- So Emmi and Alvin, it's
so great that you have really
00:24:56.36\00:25:01.26
embraced and
you've taken everything
00:25:01.26\00:25:03.90
that ADRA has
brought to you, yeah,
00:25:03.90\00:25:05.80
especially with
the TOGETHER Project.
00:25:05.80\00:25:07.94
And they've come
to this remote village
00:25:07.94\00:25:10.77
and helped you to learn
so much and to educate you.
00:25:10.77\00:25:14.68
And so I know that you
are very grateful to ADRA
00:25:14.68\00:25:18.55
and the work that
they've done over here
00:25:18.55\00:25:20.52
for you in your
village and your community.
00:25:20.52\00:25:23.82
- Alvin and Emmi, thank you
so much for welcoming us here
00:25:25.25\00:25:27.79
to your coconut farm
and also for sharing with us
00:25:27.79\00:25:32.79
what ADRA has done for you.
00:25:33.66\00:25:35.26
- Thank you very much,
Mike and Rene for visiting
00:25:35.26\00:25:38.67
our beautiful
base barangay, Sumaoy.
00:25:38.67\00:25:41.90
- Thank you very much.
00:25:41.90\00:25:44.51
- Steve and Teresa, thank
you so much for bringing us
00:25:44.51\00:25:47.88
to this beautiful, pristine
island, beautiful location.
00:25:47.88\00:25:51.38
I mean, I'm standing
out here on the beach
00:25:51.38\00:25:53.01
and I'm thinking to myself,
"Wow, I can't believe I'm here.
00:25:53.01\00:25:55.75
This is like a
picture, I'm living in this."
00:25:55.75\00:25:58.79
- The big question I have is
why does ADRA do what it does?
00:25:58.79\00:26:03.79
What is your mission in ADRA?
00:26:04.66\00:26:07.60
- Well, I can answer by sharing
00:26:08.56\00:26:11.10
what our purpose statement is.
00:26:11.10\00:26:12.90
Our purpose is to serve humanity
00:26:12.90\00:26:15.04
so all may live as God intended.
00:26:15.04\00:26:17.07
And that's really why
we do the work that we do,
00:26:17.07\00:26:19.07
is when you look
around this world, you know,
00:26:19.07\00:26:21.94
God didn't intend for people
to be suffering in poverty
00:26:21.94\00:26:26.15
or dealing with the
many struggles, the wars,
00:26:26.15\00:26:29.45
the conflicts
that people go through.
00:26:29.45\00:26:32.05
So ADRA is there
to kind of be that,
00:26:32.05\00:26:37.06
those hands and feet of Christ,
00:26:37.93\00:26:39.39
to be able to meet
people in their time of need.
00:26:39.39\00:26:42.23
Our motto is
"Justice, compassion, love."
00:26:42.23\00:26:44.77
And I just think
that's just such a great way
00:26:44.77\00:26:47.84
to go about the
purpose of why we're here.
00:26:47.84\00:26:52.14
- Thank you
both, Steve and Teresa.
00:26:52.14\00:26:53.88
Next time that we are
going to have an ADRA episode,
00:26:53.88\00:26:56.51
which we'll probably air
in about two months time,
00:26:57.95\00:26:59.18
tell us where we're
going to be going to.
00:26:59.18\00:27:01.78
- Yeah, so we're going
to the mystery village,
00:27:01.78\00:27:04.25
so we're gonna
have to wait and see
00:27:04.25\00:27:06.62
what that's gonna be about,
00:27:06.62\00:27:08.09
but I do know that there's
going to be a boat ride again.
00:27:08.09\00:27:10.69
Looking forward to that.
00:27:10.69\00:27:11.89
Get going to the next location.
00:27:11.89\00:27:13.63
- Awesome.
00:27:13.63\00:27:15.06
- Friends, if you have
been inspired by the mission
00:27:15.06\00:27:17.73
and passion of ADRA Canada,
00:27:17.73\00:27:19.53
and would like to
contribute to their work
00:27:19.53\00:27:22.07
in the Philippines
and around the world,
00:27:22.07\00:27:25.17
then here's the
information you need.
00:27:25.17\00:27:27.74
- Before you go, we
would also like to invite you
00:27:32.31\00:27:34.52
to follow us on
Instagram and Facebook
00:27:34.52\00:27:36.85
and subscribe to
our YouTube channel,
00:27:36.85\00:27:38.99
and also listen to our podcasts.
00:27:38.99\00:27:40.99
And if you go to our website,
00:27:40.99\00:27:42.76
you can see our latest programs.
00:27:42.76\00:27:45.79
- You too can
experience the fullness of life
00:27:45.79\00:27:48.76
found in the words
of Jesus when he said,
00:27:48.76\00:27:51.40
"It is written, man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:51.40\00:27:55.30
but by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God."
00:27:55.30\00:27:59.37
(gentle music)
00:28:02.14\00:28:04.81
(water rushing)
00:28:14.56\00:28:17.23
(gentle music)
00:28:18.26\00:28:20.83
(gentle music continues)
00:28:27.50\00:28:30.94
(gentle music continues)
00:28:36.61\00:28:40.02
(children laughing)
00:28:43.15\00:28:46.15
- This is a
drink that doesn't need
00:28:47.36\00:28:49.06
to be cold to be refreshing.
00:28:49.06\00:28:50.63
It's refreshing as it is.
00:28:50.63\00:28:51.89
(gentle music)
00:28:53.60\00:28:56.16