March 17, 2003 (cont) - It be idealistic to look upon the laid back lifesytle of the Filipino as a better way to live. But when the country is facing poverty?  Are Americans the happiest people in the world with all their material wealth? Happier than Filipinos?  

Life in the Philippines is difficult. There are homeless and street children all over the world. Being a street child in the Philippines is particularly tough. I read a book called Resiliency: Stories found in Philippine Streets by Cornelia Banaag. It detailed the lives of 15 children from the street. Abandoned by parents because they have 12 other children to care for and cannot afford to feed them. Amazingly, some of these children found a way to make it.  

I am affected by all that I see here. I see the disasterous consequences of development done wrong. It is horrible to behold. I learn from seeing the lack of good infrastructure and efficient business.

A bitter pill for me to swallow is the fact that my "Business Advising for Youth Development" assignment is a social work program. Many of the volunteers in our group will be working for social welfare offices. We are trained by a social worker. Most of the volunteers in this program have business/economic degrees. Does that make sense?
The 18 members of the Business Advising for Youth Development program, Group 261 (with our technical trainer Ambet). 
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