Friends of Mindanao

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The FOM meeting held on 15th Feb and chaired again by Reg Newport.  It was well attended although our regular number of attendees was slightly down due to various members being on vacation.  We were pleased to welcome back Jeffery Gilbert and his lovely wife Ida who recently returned from their Australian visit. Magdalena Hook brought her niece and American husband Robert to the meeting for the first time, they live here in Davao now.

JoJo put on some very tasty meat patties and when placed inside a bread bun with lettuce and tomato made a delicious hamburger for want of a better name.  The fruit bowl was again a refreshing treat.  We are indeed lucky to have such a delightful venue to hold our meetings in.

Our guest speaker was Stacey Baird who spoke about being the Voluntary US warden for the Davao area.  Wardens serve a vital role in the American citizen community by maintaining the lines of communication between the US Embassy in Manila and local Americans and also providing critical support for non-routine consular issues.

Stacey described his duties in some detail and outlined a few of the matters he has to deal with related to US citizens.  The Black Hawk helicopter story would have been amusing if the underlying stupidity of the American in question had not been so alarming. Regular warden duties include relaying messages and information to American citizens in the community, raising awareness of emergency preparedness strategies, and helping the U.S. Embassy coordinate outreach events in the Davao area. It is a totally unpaid position and frequently requires Stacey to put his hand into his own pocket to give assistance to a US citizen in urgent need.

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A couple of dozen FOMers made their way to the Ranch & Reef restaurant on the top floor of Abreeza Mall for an “all you can eat” Sunday lunch. They have a branch on F. Torres but that is currently closed while they renovate the place.

Lunch is served buffet style – the food was actually quite good, but the replenishment of the containers was slow and at times people were waiting. Clearing of tables was left to the diners in the main. Just the usual poor service, sorry to say.

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Despite a terrific downpour last Thursday evening, a few intrepid FOMers made their way to The Farm. As usual, solving the world’s problems proved an easy task, lubrication seemed to be the common ingredient for solving most issues. Lubrication of the liquid kind of course!

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The meeting was again well attended despite the late arrival of a couple of members due to traffic congestion caused by a fuel tanker making a right hand turn into a petrol station. It appeared the tanker driver miscalculated his entry point into the service station and the front end of the truck crossed into a muddy patch of the road which collapsed. The front wheels of the truck were buried up to the axle. Traffic chaos ensued!

There were 4 new members this week. A couple from Adelaide and 2 new guys from North Carolina and California. A very warm welcome was extended to them.

Reg Newport continued his excellent work and introduced our guest speaker Arnold Vandenbroeck. Arnold is a member of the Environmental Watch Committee of Barangay Ma-a Federation of Homeowner Associations. He spoke about the City’s progress with plans for the Greening of Davao, plus flash flooding and landslide prevention. Arnold has resided in the Philippines for around 30 years and he has a keen interest in most issues related to social welfare.

Arnold provided a Powerpoint Presentation on Davao Environmental Dangers and actions needed to promote the sustainable growth of Davao as a tourist destination and economic hub while retaining and increasing its amenities and the quality of life needed to allow Davao to retain its title as “The Most Livable City” in South East Asia. Actions are needed to prevent Davao from becoming a Cement Jungle like Manila. Actions are also needed to prevent killer mass flash flooding, landslide and tragedy in Davao as in Cagayan De Oro, Iligan, Matina Pangi and other places in Mindanao as the climate changes and alternates ever more severely between drought and tropical rain storms.

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In our usual friendly manner Friends of Mindanao welcomed our regular members and new guests. There were 27 members and their friends in attendance. The membership is still strong and keen to see the group grow from strength to strength.

Reg Newport assumed the role of the chairperson and once again handled the task in his usual efficient manner.

Pay attention at the back of the class!

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A poolside party in our compound on a warm Xmas Eve with a cool breeze blowing, meant the usual hard preparatory work for JJ in the kitchen!

Sharp knives and fast work ... get out of my kitchen guys!

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Allan (Al) Barnett, aged 63, died 16th December 2011 in Davao City after a long battle against heart disease.

Several Members of FoM attended the final farewell for Al at Davao Memorial Park crematorium on 23rd December.  Al had been unwell for some time and had recently been treated for serious cardiac issues.  Unfortunately the interventions were not successful.

Al had set up a successful IT business in the UK in the early 1980s, providing computer payroll services to companies. This was in the days when most companies used calculators and carbon paper to do the payroll and issue payslips! He sold that business and went into semi-retirement in Florida. Always quick to spot an opportunity he noticed that there was huge potential in offering top class home cleaning services to the prosperous community in which he lived. So his “English Maids” service was born and he flew in some hand-picked people from the UK to help brand and launch the business.

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The usual group of suspects gathered for lunch once again at Picabellos, super food at a super price. This is a venue we keep returning to as it’s hard to beat the ambiance and consistent standard of food.

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The 30th Sept saw the soft opening of Reg and Liz Newport’s new venture – the Wee Twins Sports Bar on Rizal Street, right next to Chico’s Bar. A few FOM members helped launch the new ship – but being mainly old folk, maybe felt this was a youngsters venue!  Here are a few photos from the event.

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Dear Friends of Mindanao,

First, I would like to thank you all for the support and great friendship you have shown me and my family.

As I step down as Chairman and prepare to leave the Philippines, I can’t help but reminisce a bit. We (FOM) have accomplished a lot in the past year.

- We developed a partnership and grew some real friendships with the inmates of the “Ray of Hope Village” in Ma-a Jail, Davao.

- We provided school supplies to local schools.

- We helped purchase and replace items in a school badly hit by flood damage.

- We are providing scholarship monies to the children’s fund at “Ray of Hope Village”

- We have enjoyed many evenings dining in Davao’s best (and worst) restaurants.

- We have celebrated birthdays, said hello and goodbye, to some members and made some lifelong friends.

And that’s just a few of our accomplishments.

Thanks and good luck with the future of Friends of Mindanao!

Steve Baker