SOUNDING BOARD is an outlet for opinions on good and crazy things going on at home (wherever I may be). All are welcome. You are not expected to bring anything except your common sense & sense of humor.
'If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.'
-Robert X. Cringely (from geek wisdom)
I will be leaving Phnom Penh in a few days. I am not sure how I feel about leaving Phnom Penh.
Part of me wants to go home at once. I need a break from my stressful life at work. I really could use a rest. If you have been reading the few accounts of my work here, youll know that things progressed to hectic-crazy (with lots of unnecessary pressure from a source I'd rather not mention). I do enjoy my work though, save for that. And I believe in what I do.
Yet part of me (somehow, a bigger part of me) feels sad that I will be away from this city, even with all its drive-anywhere motorists that makes you grab your seatbelt or hold on to your seat (in case you ride 'motodup' everyday, like me).
I guess I fell in love with this city. I felt home, actually. I have only managed to throw in a phrase or two, but I felt a deeper sense of belongingness. Cambodians are a bunch of warm, hospitable people, always ready to smile back at you. And when they do, you feel the warmth in the midst of the difficulties they have. For a few hundred riels (1USD = 4,000 riels), you can make a boy or girl happy by buying fruits or delicacy that he/she sells, or just by letting him shine your pair of shoes. For a dollar in exchange of a native delicacy, you can help an old woman get through the day. For a few dollars per week in excess of the regular motodup fee, my driver beams with a smile as he will have extra money for his children's day-to-day educational expenses. And when you feel the day is going too fast, you can sit back, have coffee and read a book along the riverside. No fuss.
Somehow, I stopped dreaming about home after a month or two. And it is probably because I felt happy being here. There is an inexplicable joy in my heart whenever I manage to bring out a smile from a friend, colleague, or from just anyone here. It's the warmth of the smile and the place that lifts my spirit up every single day of my life in Phnom Penh. And even as I get ready to go home, I look forward to my next mission here. I love Phnom Penh.
SOUNDING BOARD
Saturday, August 07, 2004
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Interest group politics through text messages (again)
The Arroyo government seems to be running out of ideas as it plans to impose a tax on text messages. The anti-tax coalition Txt Power threatened legislators on Saturday with a barrage of text messages on Monday to pressure Congress not to pass the government’s plan to tax text messages (INQ7.net, 7 August 2004). I'm totally against this proposed tax. People back home are already spending 15 Pesos (almost US$ .30) per text when they send me messages. I wonder what's the next in the Arroyo government's list? Filipinos are neat freaks - we take a bath everyday, sometimes more than twice a day during summer. Why not impose a tax on that, anyway the government seems to prefer additional tax measures than improving the efficiency of tax collection. I'm being sarcastic now.
It's now time for nasty tax measures because elections are over. Gloria Arroyo can afford to be unpopular now. She may have already forgotten about the role of text messaging during EDSA 2. EDSA 4 (or 3, I lost count already) will not happen. Most organized interest groups are too busy on other things to join this crusade against tax on text (no pun intended). The issue is less earthshaking than corruption, plunder and abuse of human rights.
It's all numbers game in interest group politics. If Txt Power can demonstrate they are a huge bloc of protesters (assuming legislators care about their image to the public especially if they'll seek re-election), then we can all say goodbye to this proposed measure. Txt Power's problem is that the next elections are way too far to be considered by politicians. And these politicians know that Filipinos easily forget.
SOUNDING BOARD
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
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This one is from a movie billboard. It shows how funny and action-oriented men are... note that there was only one woman in the picture. And she was naked drinking with a man!
posted by Allan at 11:46 PM (GMT+8)
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I took a number of photos earlier from the main roads of Phnom Penh - pictures I can use for the gender and culture session of my training next week. This is my favorite so far. Angkor beer. My country. My beer. *laugh*
posted by Allan at 11:42 PM (GMT+8)
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Absolutely breathtaking. Dara took off his shirt and pants right after we set foot in here. The place is hidden, very far from the main road. When we got there, the place is packed with local and foreign tourists.
Dara caught in the act. This is what usually happens when you're in a secluded place, had a few bottles of beer. The water closet (WC) always seems tooooo far.
My 'bodyguards' in a funny pose. They were classmates in grade school, and have been living in the same neigborhood since then. They're my best buddies here in Phnom Penh. Vong (right) was my classmate in Singapore.
Kep resort in Kampot. Dara and I ate 1 kilo of crabs while waiting for Vong to finish his site visits. Too bad, he had to work while Dara and I ate crabs and drank a few bottles of beer .
Sihanoukville, some 4-5 hours from Phnom Penh (depending on how many stops you need to take a leak). We had shrimps, peppered crabs, squid, and beer, as always.
SOUNDING BOARD
Saturday, June 19, 2004
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It has been a long time...
Oo nga naman. It has been a long time, thanks to AnP and Jo, probably the only two persons who have been visiting this blog *laughs* whatever.
I will be conducting the first of the five training programs on gender budgeting for ministries' staffs and NGOs. Preparing the draft modules and meeting with the stakeholders are and will be keeping me busy (still!) for the next few weeks. I feel good too that the budget for my project seems to be moving now (although is in a very slow pace), which means that we will be able to purchase some equipments for the office. I never like bringing my laptop at the office. I ride 'motodup' everyday especially when I have to go to the office (I can work at home, and I do that sometimes). People here warn me to be careful as some holduppers sometimes stop motodups and take the passengers' belongings. Worse, sometimes, they snatch whatever they can grab - and that causes injuries to passengers.
Ok, AnP, you got my attention. I'm interested to purchase that book (Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress) but I could not find it in bookstores here. I may have to ask a favor from a friend just to get a copy shipped to my place hehehehhe. Hey, it's cheaper than going to Bangkok (nearest) or Manila for a weekend getaway, errr... I mean to get a copy ;-)
I have not been keeping abreast of what's going on in Phnom Penh (I'm soooo bad), and even in Manila. I get the juicy details from my contacts here. My optimism with respect to the formation of the new government in Cambodia has been dampened a little bit. My source expressed disappointment (I haven't verified this yet) because it may take a longer time than we expect. Apparently, all three parties are now in disagreement on how to do the power sharing among them. Minorities (Funsinpec and Sam Rainsey Party) want 50-50 - a compromise which the majority party (Cambodian People's Party) may not be too happy with. Whatever the outcome, it is my personal wish that a new government be formed soon. My goodness, it has been almost a year since the last election.
I'm doing good, lost some weight (that's good), have totally adapted to Khmer food, but not to the level of corruption here. I get sense that what they have here is worse than what we have in Manila. We asked one of our counterparts to go the bank to make a transaction for the project. When he came back, we were informed that the bank personnel said that if we want a faster service, we should give him/her a small amount for coffee or snack. OMG! Talk about being blunt! Other than that, well, I really like it here. And *that* is the understatement of the year.
SOUNDING BOARD
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
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Busy... really busy
Things are picking up quite fast. I may need to have longer bonding sessions with my pc. Anyway, I am starting to upload some pictures and I'll post new ones from time to time. Go check out this link: Phnom Penh. Hmmm... for those who are curious what motodups are I've got one pic that shows motodup drivers in front of my place. And because Phnom Penh's roads are populated by motorcycles, you'll also see a lot of mobile petrol stations... yup, and this is how one looks like. Nothing but a drum, hose and that little thing that looks like a pitcher in between. And yes, they have trash on the streets, so akala nyo tayo lang pwede magkalat? Hmmm, yung bedsheet na pula at bulaklakin, don't ever think I bought that. The owner of the place bought it for me, nagmagandang loob. My goodness, sana hindi na lang :) joke lang. 'Di ko tuloy mapalitan kagad kasi sa sister nya ako nagpapalinis ng place ko twice a week. The rest of the pictures are here: http://photos.yahoo.com/whistle8912.
Hah! Another power failure in Phnom Penh (right now). Perfect timing. I wish I know how to type properly without having to look at the keypad from time to time. Argh.
There are some exciting stuffs around here like World Bank being investigated by US on alleged corruption in demobilization and forestry projects. I'll probably spare a short space on that soon.
As I have intentionally detached myself from the ballot counting issues at home, and I have been feeling under the weather lately, I didn't realize that things have gone crazier back home. But between that and some freaking insects crawling on my screen as I type, I'd rather stop here for now.
posted by Allan at 7:55 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Thursday, May 20, 2004
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Not feeling well today
Must be the dust, the heat, whatever. I'm have colds and a little bit under the weather this morning until now.
My contacts at the UN are requesting me to accomplish a monthly time sheet with spaces for outputs per day. Per day! Sensing that this kind of monthly sheet may not be applicable to me and my work, I submitted it only for the reason that they can process my first monthly payment. I left the spaces for outputs blank because we're only starting the project. In addition, as a consultant, I do not have fixed work-schedules and work-days. Hence, I work even during the night (at home), and even during weekdends whenever I need to and whenever I feel like working. I really got annoyed when I was requested to fill in spaces for dates and outputs. Somehow, I expected that UN agencies should have a more sensible tracking system for output-based consultants who do not have to report on a daily basis, and hence do not have fixed work-schedules and work-days. This monthly sheets are best applied to people who are required to report for work every working day. Argh. My goodness.
posted by Allan at 8:21 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
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I've been here for a month?!
Time flies.
After a month, I now have a thick pack of name cards from people I've met, work-related or otherwise; a few Khmer phrases to get me through my daily motodup rides, dinner, grocery purchases, etc; and a bit of familiarization with the routes (quite an accomplishment for someone who knows the ins and outs of Singapore better than Makati or Manila). I'm still adjusting, and will probably be in this stage for quite some time.
Brownouts seem to be becoming more frequent. It's now an everynight thing. I experienced power interruption twice last night, probably one hour for the first, and 30 minutes after the first one (with only 10 minutes interval). Terrible. It's not hot and humid though because there was breeze coming from the riverfront. But being alone with nothing to do... argh.
I wonder why small red ants here like toothpaste and mouthwash so much. Duh. I guess Cambodian ants have different appetite than their counterparts in Manila? I just wonder if German ants like toothpaste and mouthwash too? Hehehee...
Well, one month down, 3 more to go. I will submit my first monthly report to UNIFEM on the progress of project implementation so far. And of course hehehe, I'll get my first monthly professional fee in a few days. Yey.
posted by Allan at 5:25 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
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Gender-responsive budgeting 101 for mom
Mom emailed me earlier and asked what I am doing here, my position and where I am based. No this isn't a usual "how are you" which is too often abused by some (some don't even care what your response is). Anyway, I was taken aback when mommy asked me that, not because I haven't been emailing her but because she asked me specifically what I am doing here. My work is quite technical and I work with planning and budget officers with different ministries here, some people from NGOs and international donor agencies. However, it has always been a challenge to get people outside the usual circle to appreciate gender-responsive budgeting (even in Manila). So this is how my reply (on that portion only) looked like:
Member ako ng project team implementing the "Gender-sensitive monitoring, planning and budgeting for the implementation of the poverty reduction strategy". World Bank ang nag pondo ng project pero WB tapped United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for one component, kaya yung contract ko is under UNIFEM. Ako ang International Gender Budgeting Consultant ng project team. Yung isang member ay Canadian married to a Cambodian and she's the team leader. The rest (3 people) are locals working for the ministry. Tuturuan ko sila (budget and planning people in different ministries, with some NGOs) mag analyze ng mga programs ng gobyerno at kung pano malaman kung ano effect ng mga programa to the women of Cambodia. After that, tuturuan ko sila mag plano para ma-address mga problema ng kababaihan na lumabas sa analysis. Yung budget para ma implement ang mga programa sa plano nila will either come from the government budget or from international donors. Tapos tuturuan ko rin sila i-monitor kung nai-implement nga ba ng tama ang mga programa... pag hindi, aalamin namin mga problema at ipapasok naman sa susunod na analysis next year para mapasama sa susunod na budget year. 'Di pa nagsisimula mga training na i-ko conduct ko for them, ginagwa ko pa ang module (like syllabus for teachers). Baka sa July and August ang first 2 training programs. May study tour din sila (5 of them, plus the project team) to either Vietnam or Manila next year. Gagawan ko rin ng module yun kung pano i-conduct at paano ma-i apply ang matutuhan nila sa study tour in their work.
It dawned on me that I need to prepare a similar version because gender-responsive budgeting is new here. In fact, I will have to start with the basics (defining "sex" and "gender" and move to gender analysis, logical framework analysis, planning, budgeting, monitoring and advocacy) even with the budget and planning people in ministries. It's even more critical to make it non-technical as the modules may have to be converted to Khmer! I may be looking into the possibility of using simulataneous translation facilities soon. The language barrier is really serious, and it's partly because the Cambodian members of the project team do not speak English other than the commonly spoken phrases. Oh my.
posted by Allan at 5:44 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Sunday, May 16, 2004
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Cocktails at K-West
When I go back home, remind me to gorge on my favorite hard drinks and cocktails. I had a nice time at K-West along the riverfront last Friday night. The place is beside the hotel where I previously stayed for a week before I moved in to my apartment. I'm not sure if I got tipsy from the margaritas or from the whopping US$3.60 price per glass! Hehehee... This is Phnom Penh for pete's sake.
posted by Allan at 5:48 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Saturday, May 15, 2004
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Copyright - the right to copy
There's a market here selling photocopied books, I forgot the name but it's somewhere near (as everything is, here in Phnom Penh). I got a chance to visit the copying center recently where bundles of of books are being reproduced. Feels like home, I whispered, where copyright seems to connote the right to copy. Singapore is quite strict on that (at least on paper). When I was there, we were only allowed to reproduce 10 percent of a book or 1 chapter (whichever is less). However, in practice, photocopying shops reproduce books like there's no tomorrow. The only page they do not copy is the copyright page. For what reason, I don't know. It's still a breach of copyright regulations. I'm not passing any judgment whatsoever. I don't have the moral ascendancy to do it anyway.
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Cambodia's new government to be formed soon
After 10 months of political deadlock, Cambodia may soon have a new government as major political parties engage in coalition talks.
The Cambodian Peoples' Party (CPP) gained majority seats based on last year's elections but failed to gain the required 2/3 majority. It has to form a coalition with either FUNCINPEC or Sam Rainsey Party (SRP). However, FUNCINPEC and SRP has formed a coalition among themselves, which poses a huge challenge to CPP in terms of forging a coalition with FUNCINPEC.
The details are amazing particularly how the deadlock is being resolved. Unfortunately, and because I don't want to get into trouble (heheheee), I will have restrain myself and keep my mouth shut (fingers folded, whatever). The modicum amount of information in the papers should be an indication of a temporary hush hush while things are being resolved.
If only it is possible to publish this process of high-level conflict resolution, the Cambodian political deadlock and its ultimate resolution will make a great case study for Public Policy graduate courses. The understatement of the year, as I find it even more exciting than the outcome of the Philippine elections.
posted by Allan at 3:27 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Thursday, May 13, 2004
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Start-up woes, etc., nth day at Phnom Penh
Somehow, I must really have underestimated the language barrier. I initially planned to conduct my training-workshops in English but as days passed, I am getting convinced of the difficulty in doing that. We had our regular meeting with our 2 counterparts from the ministry where we are stationed and as usual, my colleague (who speaks Khmer) ended up translating all the time. We have to translate our letters, agenda, powerpoint slides into the local language. Our project funds do not include an item for translation and we must look into the possibility of requesting for additional funds if we can't tap in-house talents. This is quite a setback for us, especially during the training-workshops as gender-responsive budgeting is quite a technical matter.
I saw one taxi earlier on my way to work. I was told that taxis are not allowed to enter Phnom Penh and they are mostly used (with mini-busses) for travelling outside Phnom Penh. Apparently, there is great concern that the motodup business will be adversely affected and/or traffic will worsen in the capital if these taxis are allowed to extend its route here. Oh well.
Gloria Arroyo is ahead as of tonight based on the unofficial quickcount, overtaking FPJ, and the rest are way too far behind. I wasn't able to vote as I wasn't able to register here. I could have casted my vote had I been in Manila 3 days ago. Nevertheless, I never intended to vote for Arroyo. But as things are beginning to shape up, between her and FPJ... arrggh... I wish we had more choices available as if looking from a thick restaurant menu or something.
posted by Allan at 6:51 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Friday, May 07, 2004
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First hand experience of petty crime in Phnom Penh
Yup, that's right. And to be specific, my phone was stolen earlier around 900 hrs GMT+7 while I was watching the ceremonies (Royal Plowing Day) marking the start of the rainy season. I didn't even feel it, next time I know, the front pocket of my pants was already empty. That totally sucks. So I had to call the phone company and report it. Fortunately (damn it, I'm just looking at the bright side), after blocking it temporarily, it is still possible for me to use the same number. So I had to buy a new phone. Gheez.
SOUNDING BOARD
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
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Day whatever... I lost track and I don't want to count anymore
Probably day 14 or 15, I think I'll stop counting. I don't want to see future posts with Day 100+, that's going to be annoying (at least for me). Hmmm, so I've been here for 2 weeks more or less... that means Vong, Polla and Sok will be picking me up again this weekend for a few rounds of beer! Yey!
I corrected a spelling error - it's Phnom 'Penh', not Phnom 'Phen'. And now I know the reason why. I got mixed up with the 'Phen' in Phen card. For fellow Midgard citizens, you know what I'm talking about. It's that card that lets you cast magic spells in Ragnarok without getting interrupted. Oh well, it seems like I miss the game after all.
I've been cooking in my new apartment for days now. I find it quite relaxing to spend some time in my kitchen after work (I mean after 5 pm at weekdays, because I still work at home even on holidays and weekends. Consultants do not have official working schedules, so go figure.).
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The Cambodian government is still doing line budgeting although it will be moving forward with results-based budgeting in a few years. We just had a meeting earlier with the MInistry of Economy and Finance and Dr. H N confirmed this. It will be a huge challenge on my part because gender-responsive budgeting is best implemented on a platform of results-based budgeting - linking goals, purpose, outputs and activities/inputs. It's good to verify this challenge at this early stage to give me ample time to re-strategize on the specific activities. There goes my evening, perhaps even a couple of evenings.
posted by Allan at 5:33 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Friday, April 30, 2004
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Day 10: Found a big mall and a night full of insects (turn off the lights!!!)
Eureka! They have a mall after all (God bless Cambodia!!). It's not your Glorietta or Shangri-la type of malls but hey, they have one. With 35C during evenings, it is indeed a timely discovery. It has a big sony center on the topmost floor (yipeeee!!), a big supermarket downstairs, lots of European RTWs, and a whole bunch of cheap RTWs - ala MBK in Bangkok. One big mall is better than nothing.
During that night when we had a brownout (previous post), I experienced the first rainfall (people here said it has been some time since the last one). So as a result, last night, all sorts of small insects flocked to every single source of light in the area. It's not the usual 'gamu-gamo' but I hate insects nevertheless. So I had to turn off the lights and lock myself inside my room. I have screens but these things keep crawling under my door and every other bit of small space that they could fit themselves into.
I had a chance to have lunch with some Cambodian friends who also attended the March 2003 training-workshop on using statistics for gender-responsive policy analysis and advocacy in Bangkok. It was a very happy get-together courtesy of Elaine (who generously shares her office with us). We were about to order when the Minister for Women's and Veterans' Affairs walked in with her daughter. Then after a while Lorraine (the person who requested me to join this team) called Elaine. She talked to Elaine, the Minister and me. She was very delighted to know we were having that lunch get-together. She was after all part of the training team in Bangkok.
posted by Allan at 6:54 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Thursday, April 29, 2004
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Day 9: First night at my new place (who turned off the lights?!!)
So I moved in. My Cambodian friend and former colleague in graduate school helped me, by taking me to my place through his car. We had dinner at a Thai restaurant nearby and dropped me off in front of my place. My excitement was gone as soon as a realized that there was a brownout in some of the blocks including where my apartment is. So there goes first night at my place, I thought. I hope it wasn't an omen or something. It was after an hour or so that I got a good look at my place. The good news is that brownouts are not common here. It's summer, and everybody must have been using electric appliances to the max, maybe.
posted by Allan at 3:13 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
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Day 8: Moving from hotel to my new place
In a few hours, I will be moving to my new place. It's an apartment on the second floor of a building near my hotel. It has a balcony overlooking the usually populated bars and restaurants within the vicinity. I have my own kitchen, a big living room, a nice bed room with my own restroom, and I dunno what for, but I have another restroom in the kitchen area hehehee.
I hope it doesn't take a long time for the phone company to install my phone so I can connect to the internet from my place.
One of the biggest challenges to my work here is the language barrier. It's a good thing the daughther of the apartment owner knows a bit of english (she's studying english language), otherwise I would have dragged my cambodian friends for a simple apartment hunting. But not all people here speaks english. At work, whenever we have meetings, we find it often necessary to translate a couple of times to enable some of our partners to understand what we are saying. Nevertheless, that is not their fault. We at the project team, need to adjust to this situation and build their capacities.
posted by Allan at 1:17 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, April 26, 2004
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Day 6: Going deeper into my work in the ministry
Work has really started. K and I are the only 2 full time members of the team. We will soon be joined by two people from the ministry who will be involved in the project on a part time basis. On paper, they are supposed to be working with us on full time capacity but because of the low wages here, we were told not to expect them to work full time for us. Even on their job in the ministry, that is the case. The reason is that most of these public servants have second jobs to cope up. I was told that at times, people leave work early to go and work on their second or even third jobs. And therefore, K and I will be sharing most of the work of the team.
Basically, the work of the team focuses around 2 things: (1) pilot test an approach on how to integrate results-based gender-responsive budgeting to mainstream budgeting; and (2) build capacity of the ministry and women's organizations... it's amazing how my work can be captured by 2 numbers when in fact there are a lot of sub-clauses, if you will, under each item. Anyway, because there is so much flexibilty and also because there is not much to build on, the work is so exciting.
I seem to be getting comfortable riding the motodup now. I now have regular drivers and they're quite nice and friendly (as most people here are).
I hope I won't forget to check out some apartments nearby tomorrow. I should have done that earlier. Argh.
SOUNDING BOARD
Friday, April 23, 2004
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Phnom Phen Day 1-3: Totally unexpected (ride my 2-wheeled taxi city boy)
It must have been all those getting used to Manila and other Asian cities that shook me a bit when I arrived here at Phnom Phen 2 days ago. I imagine it will take a while before I really get used to living here.
From the plane, I saw large tracks of brown land and a few small packets of greens with little settlements. When I arrived, I wasn't greeted with a heavy traffic from the airport to my hotel as what any Asian city would have. It was extremely humid, probably a few degrees warmer than Manila. Oh no.
I didn't have to change my dollars to riel. I was planning to change some, but because I was so tired from the sleepless night I had in Bangkok (had a meeting/briefing there, vaccination the day before going to Phnom Phen), I totally forgot to pass by those banks in the airport. No worries. Almost all establishments accept US dollars, from supermarkets to internet cafes, etc...
What really shook my senses was the fact that there aren't any taxi cabs, as in the usual taxis. What they have here are the so-called motordup (hope I got that right). It's a small motorcycle and you gotta hop in at the back... that's it. That's taxi for you city boy, I said to myself. It's gonna take a while before I get used to this. And I'm gonna have my hair cut really short so that I won't have to arrive at the office like some scared animal or something.
No "malls" either. What they have are supermarkets and some shops that may have been the predecessor of the so-called malls.
Don't ever try to go around looking for starbucks either.
SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, April 12, 2004
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The holidays are over...
It's 8:00 am. I just woke up and still feeling sleepy. Actually, I was staring at my pc's screen a couple of minutes ago. Anyway, my brainwaves still seem to be on a holiday so I just wish everyone (who can relate to the commemoration of lent all the way to easter) had a good one recently. I can't believe it has taken me so long to write such a short entry. Argh.
posted by Allan at 7:13 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, April 05, 2004
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On holiday economics
It will be a special non-working holiday on Wednesday, 7 April 2004, in observance of lent and in addition to the annual holidays during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Call me 'KJ' but I really think we have a lot of non-working holidays. The government justifies this by invoking 'holiday economics', where supposedly, people would be spending during these times and this consumer spending will help fuel the economy. I hope they did their homework on this one because beginning to doubt whether or not people are indeed spending during the additional non-working holidays given the state of the country's economy.
My spending, for one, is not affected at all whether today is a non-working holiday or not. In fact, I spend more during work-days. However, I've always considered myself an 'outlier' in more ways than one.
Maybe some students should work on this topic for their thesis. How much change in consumer spending can be attributed to the increased holidays? Of course, we're assuming that consumer spending indeed has a significant effect on the economy. Then maybe balance it with the corrollary question: do the benefits of holiday economics more than offset the loss in productivity?
Hawkish election disqualification tactic vs alleged CPP front organizations
INQ7.net reports, 'WHILE THE government wants the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to lay down its arms in favor of electoral struggle, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales is seeking the disqualification from the May 10 elections of six party-list groups he considers CPP front organizations' (INQ7.net, 5 April 2004).
Gonzales specifically identified the party-list groups as Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Anak ng Bayan, Migrante and Suara Bangsamoro. In the 2 April 2004 meeting of the National Security Council, Gonzales mentioned he has strong suspicion that 'the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) amounting to more than 500 million pesos was used to aid and abet the armed struggle of the NPA (New People's Army, the armed wing of the CPP)'.
Here is where an honest to goodness government audit comes in (and should also include other pork barrel funds!). If Mr. Gonzales has evidences supporting his 'suspicion', by all means disqualify them. Evidences please, but even if these political parties are 'CPP front organizations' CPP is not an illegal organization. We're not going to get anywhere if we base it in mere suspision.
However, this may just be a mere political strategy to send a message that 'NSC will be watching you'. And in times when the campaign fever is currently afflicting both the administration and the opposition, 'suspicions' will never run out. Give the people solid evidences and you'll be doing us a great public service rather than venting suspicions to the media.
posted by Allan at 11:37 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
_____________________________________________
Since you asked for it
Oh my. I thought nobody cares. Alright, here's a bit of an update.
I will be going to Cambodia for 5 months this year and another 4 months next year. I will be doing a short-term consulting work broken down in 2 phases, and will require me to be based in Phnom Phen for duration of my work. I will be going back in late August this year when the first phase ends.
If I can take a 2-week break from my work in Cambodia, I may be able to fly to Utah for a conference at the University of Utah some time in June this year, then back to Phnom Phen.
So that means I will be on leave from my full-time work here for the whole 9 months spread over 2 years.
Anyway, I think sounding board will be active once again as soon as I set my foot in Phnom Phen. Things will be pretty exciting over there. :-)
posted by Allan at 6:40 PM (GMT+8)
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