Mr. Minguez hosted lunch for us in the island and we had fresh seafood caught by the fishermen! How can you get any fresher than this? This is the FRESHEST seafood buffet I have ever had 🙂
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I came to represent my Dad’s boat. I turned over the boat to Jurly Minguez. He told me that he is not a fisherman. He instead is a merchant and uses the boat to transport goods from the port to the island – he brings the catch from the fishermen and sells them in the Port of Estancia and he also brings goods to the island for his sari sari store! And just like my dad who is a merchant/businessman! This is the fourth story that The Peter Project has witnessed wherein the beneficiary matches the donor! Boats are assigned randomly and it’s amazing how fate happens. Tita Mariel told us 3 more stories before this one:
1.) Tita Ruby Gonzales who is in a wheelchair turned over to a fisherman who is also in a wheelchair
2.) A Marine Biologist who lost an arm due to a shark bite turned over a boat to a fisherman who lost his arm through dynamite fishing 3.) A group of girls who donated a boat dedicated to their friend who died while scuba diving, the recipient was a fisherwoman. The name of the boat was “Ria Forever with Us”
I asked Jurly to send a message to my Dad and speak in their dialect since I know my Dad will understand since he is from Iloilo too 🙂
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He took me to his house!! I told him that it looked like he had the biggest house in the island! 🙂 Well, being an entrepreneur, I would assume he is very good in business just like my dad 🙂
This was his old boat which he named after his daughter Jamailyn
His family who I met – wife, Jobelyn and daughter Jamailyn
He showed me photos of the island after Yolanda
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Our main purpose of our visit to Iloilo was to turnover boats to the fishermen at Carles Iloilo. Previous entry: The Peter Project by the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc December 3, 2013
On the same day, February 15, NVC did simultaneous turnovers in Tacloban and Tanauan, Leyte, Cadiz, Negros Occidental and 2 locations in Cebu for a total of 230 boats turned over that weekend
Thank you Tita Mariel who is a Board of Trustee of Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc. Thank you for your dedication and generosity in giving your heart and soul, your time and your efforts in helping our countrymen
This was our delegation that weekend
My best friend Eds turning over the boat of Liza Fo, a friend of her sister, Trina, who passed away a few months ago
Viboy and Camille’s family bought two boats in place of their usual kris kringle – all the family members donated the money instead to the Peter Project
Clarissa bought several and this is just one of them, Chibby
The Syquia family donated many boats!! Marty surprised Trisha and donated a bought under the name Sylvia so as not to spoil the surprise 🙂
Tricia representing her batch from Woodrose
Triccie Syquia
Dr. Adam Steinberg who has left his practice to dedicate his life to helping countries in need. He is part of the Joint Jewish American Distribution Committee ( JDC ) . He wanted to see what the NVC does so he was with our delegation as well. We just got word today that Adam and JDC will be donating US$ 20,000 for fiberglass boats!! Thank you Dr. Adam!!!
So happy to meet Lizza and Rachel who represented SYA ( San Antonio Young Adults of Santuario de San Antonio Parish ) and friends – for a total of 10 boats! WOW!!
Maxine and Marbles is a boat donated by Chary who we missed the whole trip! She had to go to the hospital as soon as we arrived. So her Happy to Help beautiful and sexy 🙂 pink ladies turned it over for her
Happy beneficiaries!!
Friends of Pauli from Lebanon heard about the donation in Carles – their home and they sent words of Thanks to the NVC!!
Due to the scarcity of wood and to protect the environment, the NVC are moving towards building fiberglass boats. Tito Noel is the one in charge of this 🙂 They have around 2,000 donated boats and have built 400 of that. Read more below
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In the island of Carles it was nice to see many children – even nicer to see children taking care of (I would assume) their younger siblings, carrying them in their arms
Camille Tolentino Geuino introduced Mingo to the community and donates enough Mingo good for two months It’s not only feeding them but providing the needed nutrition they need
Previous entry: Start Right Live Right Nutrition Program by NVC December 3, 2013
Preparing Mingo for the feeding
Just pour contents in a cup with water and mix
So nice to see these kids, Alfonso and Triccie Syquia, joining us and helping out
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We arrived at around 530am in Iloilo Airport. It’s only 50 minutes to get to Iloilo from Manila!! And wow, what a beautiful airport!! Thanks to Tito Frank Drilon for building such a nice airport! I was a bit sleepy so I was not able to take photos so I had to borrow this photo.
This is the reason we had to be ready to rough it out 🙂 We took an hour land ride to Port of Estancia
Eds told me that after Yolanda, this place was full of dead bodies lying on the ground 🙁
We went together with the Negrense Volunteers for Change ( NVC ) headed by Tito Noel and Tita Mariel Tolentino, Camille Tolentino Genuino, Giselle Tolentino, Benger and Toni Ben and our Iloilo based hosts Allan and Allen. Everything was planned so well and went smoothly
Full force attendance by the Syquia family!
More photos of the port. This is where they trade their catch
Working our way towards our bangka
On the way to Carles – A boat hit by Yolanda
Around 45 minutes we arrived at Carles
Because it was high tide, we could not go too near the shore so we had to walk! Which explains why Camille told us to wear shorts or capri pants – I think it had to be short shorts 🙂 This is Clarissa in her long jeans which she had to fold and still got wet
Tita Mariel roughing it out just like all of us
Traps being built and used for fishing
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In preparation for our trip to Iloilo, Camille sent out a memo on guidelines and everything that was going to transpire. One of the first things on the memo were guidelines on what to wear and what to bring. This is a funny story I want to share because it goes to show you how each one interprets a memo and how each one is really unique in their ways.
Eds and Clarissa picked me up at 245am and Eds saw me and asked if I was going to Hong Kong! haha!! I explained to her that I hardly have anything white as a top so I had to wear whatever white blouse I had. 
I also cannot wear flip flops on the plane since I am “malamigin “and that I had brought my flip flops in the bag and would change when we got there
Hmmm… Leah looked more like she was going to Hong Kong 🙂
My best friend, Eds, came perfect! Her shoe was perfect for what we were going to do and she came so prepared with that big blue bag of snacks 🙂
We were all laughing at Clarissa because she was wearing long pants and boots! They were rain boots actually and we were also wondering why she was in a raincoat! Apparently, she was the smartest one of all! The raincoat came in handy in the boat and there were many times it was cool or you just needed to protect your body. Closed shoes were good in some of the places we went to but not in the water though she also had her flip flops which she used eventually
Pauli, who is always so prim and proper and knows what to do in every situation 🙂 , came so fashionable. Her shoe was perfect too. And she told us she put socks temporarily for the plane because of the aircon in the plane – same reason I wear closed shoes 🙂
Our boss for the trip, Camille, wore this 🙂
The Happy2Help gang totally disregarded the colour and just all came in pink! 🙂
We were so happy they put us in the front of the plane – so we had a lot of legroom – we felt we were in Business Class! God is good to us 🙂
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And since we were in the hotel already, we heard about this restaurant which is the restaurant of the hotel
Asian food at very reasonable prices
Again the restaurant is well maintained. Very decent and clean
Step out into the balcony of the restaurant and get a very beautiful view of Manila Bay
They have a head chef but each station/cuisine has its own chef specialising in each cuisine. They have a very extensive menu with around 150 dishes, so I am sure there is something for everyone. James and I ordered quite a lot of dishes and we spent P 1,400.00 for the two of us.
The concept is street food and their specialty is Singaporean – I would assume because the owner of the hotel is Singaporean 🙂 and the chefs were trained by Chef KF Seetoh from Singapore
Yummy Laksa!!! A bit spicy for me but I enjoyed it, though its my first time to try the soup
Some Chinese dim sum – Hakaw for James
Sauteed squid and shrimp with broccoli flower in XO sauce
I liked the very refreshing lemon barley drink and Kopi for James
Click below to go to their website
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