The Linden Suites, Manila, The Philippines
Monday 2/17/14
I'm just back from meeting with the Philippine Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI). They loved the two mirrors I brought to show them (Prandy's Gecko Mirror and the Mathru Mirror Judy bought), are interested in offering mosaics-as-marketable-craft-skill training here, and I think if they can pull the funding together I'll be back to teach my mosaic technique in the not-too-distant future.
Their main focus is providing blind skills training to young children and support and encouragement for the parents to help pursue the same opportunities as for sighted children. They also have adult clients dealing with progressive blindness from RP and other causes, and offer counseling, adaptive skills training and employment rehabilitation. That is the group of clients I'd be working with.
RBI is a non-denominational Christian program, and it turns out that some of the staff are members of Prandy's church. He and Chiqui were constructive participants throughout our discussion, and we all felt it was a good meeting and worth the morning rush-hour traffic hassle to get there.
Prandy and Chiqui recently moved from Manila up to the hills (Ortigas), about an hour away from my hotel. The RBI office is only about 7 miles from my hotel but took us about an hour to get there. Their drive back home after dropping me off won't take so long as this morning, but still, it was a lot of driving for them today.
They've both been the most gracious hosts I could ever ask for, and I wish I'd made them two mosaic mirrors instead of just one. I was glad to hand them the Gecko Mirror to take home after the meeting today. I've had to work at saving it for them. I used it as a teaching example and demonstration piece in India, Hong Kong and here, and almost everyone who saw it would have liked to keep it. In fact I suspect Muktha and the Mathru staff were a little disappointed they didn't get to keep it along with the other mosaics I brought from home to give them.
The same goes for the Mathru Mirror Judy bought. I had a little panic moment today when one of the RBI staff said, "Oh this is lovely, thank you so much for giving us this sample to keep."
I blurted out, "Oh no, no, I am so sorry, but I only brought it to show you, not for you to keep!" I explained that it had already been purchased by one of my friends and the only reason I had it to show them was that I was taking it home to deliver to her.
New foods today: a nice bottled grapefruit drink that was quite refreshing, a custard-filled soft bun that was pure comfort food, and some kind of seafood noodle dish I disremember the name of that was very tasty.
The RBI staff brought in Kentucky Fried Chcken (yes! shudder), sodas, and some traditional Filipino food for lunch during our meeting. I ate one piece of the KFC, eschewed the gravy and macaroni salad, and savored the seafood noodle stuff. The RBI folks seemed surprised that I liked it. It had a strong fish sauce flavor, but I thought it was good, way better than KFC macaroni salad.
It's flake-out agenda for the rest of the day. First I'm going to take a nice long bubble bath, and then a nice short nap. Then I'm going to treat myself to room service. They make the most heavenly creme brûlée here.
Monday 2/17/14
I'm just back from meeting with the Philippine Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI). They loved the two mirrors I brought to show them (Prandy's Gecko Mirror and the Mathru Mirror Judy bought), are interested in offering mosaics-as-marketable-craft-skill training here, and I think if they can pull the funding together I'll be back to teach my mosaic technique in the not-too-distant future.
Their main focus is providing blind skills training to young children and support and encouragement for the parents to help pursue the same opportunities as for sighted children. They also have adult clients dealing with progressive blindness from RP and other causes, and offer counseling, adaptive skills training and employment rehabilitation. That is the group of clients I'd be working with.
RBI is a non-denominational Christian program, and it turns out that some of the staff are members of Prandy's church. He and Chiqui were constructive participants throughout our discussion, and we all felt it was a good meeting and worth the morning rush-hour traffic hassle to get there.
Prandy and Chiqui recently moved from Manila up to the hills (Ortigas), about an hour away from my hotel. The RBI office is only about 7 miles from my hotel but took us about an hour to get there. Their drive back home after dropping me off won't take so long as this morning, but still, it was a lot of driving for them today.
They've both been the most gracious hosts I could ever ask for, and I wish I'd made them two mosaic mirrors instead of just one. I was glad to hand them the Gecko Mirror to take home after the meeting today. I've had to work at saving it for them. I used it as a teaching example and demonstration piece in India, Hong Kong and here, and almost everyone who saw it would have liked to keep it. In fact I suspect Muktha and the Mathru staff were a little disappointed they didn't get to keep it along with the other mosaics I brought from home to give them.
The same goes for the Mathru Mirror Judy bought. I had a little panic moment today when one of the RBI staff said, "Oh this is lovely, thank you so much for giving us this sample to keep."
I blurted out, "Oh no, no, I am so sorry, but I only brought it to show you, not for you to keep!" I explained that it had already been purchased by one of my friends and the only reason I had it to show them was that I was taking it home to deliver to her.
New foods today: a nice bottled grapefruit drink that was quite refreshing, a custard-filled soft bun that was pure comfort food, and some kind of seafood noodle dish I disremember the name of that was very tasty.
The RBI staff brought in Kentucky Fried Chcken (yes! shudder), sodas, and some traditional Filipino food for lunch during our meeting. I ate one piece of the KFC, eschewed the gravy and macaroni salad, and savored the seafood noodle stuff. The RBI folks seemed surprised that I liked it. It had a strong fish sauce flavor, but I thought it was good, way better than KFC macaroni salad.
It's flake-out agenda for the rest of the day. First I'm going to take a nice long bubble bath, and then a nice short nap. Then I'm going to treat myself to room service. They make the most heavenly creme brûlée here.
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