ICA Japan - Philippines 1995

Study Tour in the Philippines

August 1995
Northern Luson Island, The Philippines

MOFA
Implemented by: AIESEC, ICA Japan, and ICA Cabanatuan

PROJECT OVERVIEW
This annual study tour to the Philippines introduced Japanese students to the wonderful realities of life in the Philippines.

1. With the local people in Banaue.

2. In the office of the president of Wesleyan University, in Cabanatuan City. In the middle is the president. The lady standing on the right is Mrs. Wanda Holcombe, who is the coordinator for this tour.

3. Students planted about 20 Mango trees in the experimental farm of the Wesleyan University. It takes more than 5 years before they bear fruit.

4. With the Wesleyan students and staff on the experimental farm.

5. At the reception planned by the university. Students gave us wonderful persents, presented songs in Tagalog and traditional dances. In turn, we sang a Japanese traditional song "momiji."

6. Rice field in the Barangay (Rio Chico). Direct seeding is done here because they lack sufficient money and labour.

7. With Barangay staff and Wesleyan students. The man standing in the middle is the Barangay captain. We did a general survey of the living standard, property, the way of living and so on. These information will be used for the reforestation project in future.

8. The upper part of the Pantabangan Dam. The rocky part must be filled with water; they have a serious problem of lack of water all year, because the soil cannot retain water due to illegal logging.

9. The lower part of the Dam. The forest on the left side is the result of reforestation project. Trees can supply water for the Dam, and the Dam can distribute water for those trees; this multi-effect is expected.

10. Pantabangan dam. It has the road to cross to the other side.

11. On the way to Banaue. We observed several areas without trees because of illegal logging.

12. Trees have disappeared from this mountain because of the same reason.

13. 'The eighth wonder of the world' - Rice Terraces in Banaue.

14. These terraces spread over slopes of the mountains. Each terrace has a small ditch to receive water. This huge irrigation system was created over hundreds of years.

15. Experimental farm managed by the Federation of Cooperatives in Conception, Zambales. The eruption of the Pinatubo mountain destroyed half the crops due to ash. On this farm, they are trying to figure out what combination of manure is the best for this soil.

16. Rice fields on the same farm. A pump is taking water from under the ground. Before the eruption, they didn't need to use this pump in the rainy season; they do now, because the ash-laden soil cannot retain water.

17. Briefing on the effects of the eruption, by the Vice-Mayor of Zambales.

18. Planting trees in the Barangay Cabangan. The man in the middle is Mr. Magsaysay, who is also the coordinator for this tour.

19. At the Barangay hall of the Cabangan Barangay.

20. Lahar area in Zambales. After the eruption, huge areas were covered by the lahar. There was a Barangay here before, and also extensive orange farms. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to move.

21. Lahar area in Zambales. A part of the dike, which is preventing the lahar; but the lahar is already at the upper level of the dike.

22. In the resettlement in Castillejos, Zambales; this was constructed for the refugees of the lahar. The resettlement manager gave us some insights.

23. In front of the office of the resettlement in Castillejos, with the staff of this area.

24. Lahar area in Zambales. One aspect of the effects of the Lahar; a church was almost completely buried by the lahar.

25. At the University of Asia and the Pacific.

26. After the presentation about the economic effect of the eruption, in the CRC of the University of Asia and the Pacific. We had the chance to discuss issues with the students.

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