Returned to Sydney on Saturday at noon after Monday-Friday in Manila and surrounding communities. Manila is like many cities in beautiful countries, Johannesburg in South Africa, Casablanca in Morocco to name two, that are best used as transit points to more beautiful parts of the country. I am told that the beaches in the Philippines are some of the best in the world but tourism won't really take off until they build up their infrastructure, airports and roads are pretty poor. But my traveling companion, a LeapFrog partner and I were focused on business and stayed in Manila the entire time. It is a dirty, crowded city with huge disparities of wealth. One of the business people we called on described the Philippines as a country that spent 400 years in a convent and 40 years in Hollywood, summarizing the Spanish occupation of 400 years and the 40 years of pre-WWII US occupation. As dirty and uninspiring as Manila is, I'm not sure I have ever met nicer people. Everyone was friendly, warm and engaging. Made me want to like Manila despite the lack of physical charm.
I had a strong case of deja vu on the trip. Scenes from my travels to Africa in the 1980s came rushing back. Big hotel, cool rooms but the air conditioning not quite reaching the halls. Abundant food at the hotel buffet and instead of Africa and European dishes, substitute more Asian food. Men walking around with guns. I guess guarding, but they were either too young or too bored to give one much comfort. But I never felt unsafe. I think the bus hostage situation last year and the armed struggle in the southern part of the Philippines are driving the security. Lots of security, at the entrance to the hotel, checking under cars with mirrors, entering the very upscale mall next to the hotel, and in all office buildings. Instead of British, French and Americans in the hotels in Africa, there were Chinese, British, Americans and did I mention Chinese? Very strong ties between China and the Philippines. One can really feel the pull and presence of China through out Asia and Australia.
My Facebook has lots of pictures from the week, from Harold the eager bomb sniffing dog to the amazing women who run Sari Sari stores. The Holy Grail of micro insurance is finding a distribution channel that reaches the poor and costs very little. We spent much of the week thinking and exploring different options. We met amazing people, who are working very hard to alleviate poverty in the Philippines. One man, attended UVA, and was back home running micro finance companies among other initiatives. He said, "I have studied poverty for many years." And he had good insights into the causes. The migration from rural villages to Manila was at the root of much of the poverty and politicians who seemed to encourage squatters and this migration to build a power base are also at fault.
Particularly impressive in Manila were the number of senior women we called on. Executive Vice Presidents, Senior VPs, leaders of companies. I can't remember ever calling on this many women, in the US or other countries. Women with real power and authority. It was a joy to call on them. The real joy came though in seeing the owners of the Sari Sari stores. All women who wanted to be their own boss and add to their families' income. The photos on my facebook page shows their stores and a bit of their lives. The importance of OFWs (overseas foreign workers) for the Philippines can not be over stated. They contribute about 10% of GDP. Sending home remittances to support large families. They are in the US, Canada, Middle East, almost everywhere. The TV had images of the slowness of the evacuation of Philippine OFWs from Libya. The country is too poor to send special boats or planes to bring home their citizens as other countries did.
The Philippines is also replacing India as the call center capital for the US . Their English is much closer to our English. On the way to dinner one night we drove by huge buildings of JPMorgan Chase and other banks where the call center workers answer phones.
On returning back to Sydney, Saturday was a quiet day, although I was in business class on the trip back, changing planes in Hong Kong, the little bed in Cathay Pacific wasn't as good as a real bed. I did get to see The King's Speech, which was on my list to see. Bought some food, did some laundry and watched the boats in the harbor. Today I took a very long hike through Double Bay, Rose Bay, Watson Bay and ending up at the Tasman Sea. Swam in Shark Cove (there is a big net barrier up so it doesn't attract its name sake), walked through a native bush area and another swim at Camp Cove before seeing the light house at the end of the hike. Pictures on facebook. I took the ferry back from Watson Bay to Double Bay and walked up the hill to my apartment. Lots of walking and exploring. Weather is now overcast and feels a little like the end of summer.
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