Hinagdanan Cave & Bohol Bee Farm

Since I was eager to explore popular tourist attractions closer to Tagbilaran City, RJane (Kiva Coordinator at CEVI) and I arranged for a little trip to the Hinagdanan Cave and Bohol Bee Farm one sunny Saturday.

The Hinagdanan Cave is located in Dauis, Bohol on Panglao Island. We were greeted by Ray, one of the cave tour guides (who also happens to be a camera expert!) who led us into the 1600 year old cavern. It took me a few moments to get acclimated – it was pitch black, hot and very humid. I tried my best to quell my paranoia about being surrounded by bats – the sound of flapping wings drumming in my ears. Ray, sensing that RJane and I were convinced we’d get attacked by bats reassured us that there were no bats in the cave, only sparrows (who’s nests are highly sought after to be used in bird’s nest soup – a delicacy). 

The next 45 minutes included a mini-hike/photo shoot over stalagmites and under stalactites. As Ray led us through the cave, he would direct us to prime photo spots, having us pose in the darkness while he fidgeted with our cameras to get the perfect shot. He made it up the limestone rocks so effortlessly, leaving RJane and myself feeling like we should’ve come better prepared with our sneakers.

After we explored the Hinagdanan Cave we learned that it's filled with various contaminants. We hope we didn't cause any permanent damage to ourselves!

 As we made it deeper into the cave, we noticed shafts of natural light from openings atop - swallows swooping in and out of the openings. The deep lagoon at the center of the cave where visitors commonly swim was empty, save the little fish we would occasionally see pop to the surface. 

With our fabulous tour guide, Ray.

After our guided tour, we thanked Ray and proceeded to our next destination - the Bohol Bee Farm.

The Bohol Bee Farm is a little haven for those who enjoy being surrounded by nature and eating organic food. We took a guided tour through the organic farm, learned more than we ever wanted to know about the mating patterns of bees, and enjoyed a wonderful lunch overlooking the ocean.

To Have a Servant’s Heart: The Essence of Customer Service

When you’re in the business of microfinance, you’re in the business of relationship building. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) must rely on a vast network of relationships between stakeholders - clients, lenders, donors, employees, etc – in order to provide financial services to the poor and fulfill their other objectives.

Pastor Boris Joaquin, World Vision’s Director of Publics in Ministry, shared his insight on how to exceed customers’ expectations with Community Economic Ventures, Inc (CEVI) during an intensive workshop. Forty-seven CEVI staff members, including branch managers, area managers, and top management, met at JJ’s Seafood in Tagbilaran City to discuss Customer Service 101.

To continue reading and see pictures from the event, check out my blog post on the Kiva Fellows Blog!

Kiva Update #1

Working at CEVI these past few weeks has been a delight. After familiarizing myself with the workflow and operations, I had the opportunity to initiate a conversation with the Marketing and Communications Department regarding their current processes and strategies for the CEVI-Kiva Partnership. Over the span of two days, we met to discuss and develop a strategic plan for fiscal year 2011.

Ruby Jane and Elvira focused on the topics at hand.

Jonar Dorado (Director of CEVI) noting targets and objectives.

Lunch break - time to refuel!  It's been a long morning and we need sustenance!

I also had the chance to attend two borrower cluster meetings in the town of Baclayon. The women entrepreneurs were warm and welcoming - they were excited by my presence and willing to share their stories with me.

I was able to interview five women and although some shared similar business interests, none of their stories were the same. Each woman invited me into her personal life, giving me a glimpse of her family, the challenges she faces, and her plans for the future.

Putting my interviewing skills to the test.

Group photo with the Taguihon Cluster.

Sharing some laughs!

Hut where the Santa Cruz Cluster meets.

Group photo with the Santa Cruz Cluster. And someone's dog!

Enjoy what you read?  If so, please support CEVI borrowers!

M-PESA Mobile Money Video

Really great video on how mobile banking is changing the face of banking in Kenya!

M-PESA Mobile Money Video

Lucky Number Seven

I can’t believe that it’s already been one week since I first set foot on the archipelago known as the Philippines. My orientation to Filipino culture has predominantly been through my interaction with staff from CEVI, people I have come to know as my friends.

7 days, 7 takeaways. I’ve come up with a few basic tips for myself that I hope will enable me to delve deeper into the Boholano¹ way of life.

1. Be open to a spiritual experience.
CEVI is distinct from other microfinance institutions in that it is a Christian organization – prayer, stewardship, and servant-hood are core values that staff members uphold. Saying grace before every meeting or meal and holding devotional sessions every morning is the norm. I am constantly reminded of how blessed I have been and why I am here.

2. Learn how to carry a tune.
Boholanos(as) absolutely love to sing! Whether they are walking down the street or sitting at their desk, it is common for them to just burst into song.

3. Be prepared for heavy downpour at all times of the day (or night).
Typhoon season in the Philippines lasts from June till December – fortunately, Bohol lies just south of “Typhoon Street” and therefore is hit by typhoons only on occasion. That being said, the weather can be extremely unpredictable and the clouds can burst open at any moment. Soon after, the mosquitoes come out to play!

4. Be ready to diversify my palette.
I came to the Philippines ready and excited to try some balut (more to follow in another post), but I decided that it would be best to slowly experiment with Filipino cuisine. I must say, that so far, the food here has been fantastic! Exotic fruits, plain sticky RICE, meats and fish prepared in various styles, breads of all kinds, sweet sticky RICE, vegetable dishes, desserts and pastries, and more RICE.

5. Malling is where it’s at.
What is ‘malling’ you may ask? Well, the concept is quite simple. Malling is the act of going to the mall, a very popular pastime for Filipinos. I have visited Bohol Quality (BQ) Mall and Island City Mall (ICM) six out of the seven days I have been here so far. I'm proud to say that I have this one down.
Clarification:  The malls have restaurants that are considered safe places for me to dine at - not to worry, I haven't been going on shopping sprees! 

6. Not only am I an ambassador for Kiva, but I am a cultural ambassador as well.
My coworkers are very eager to learn about my experiences and upbringing as an Indian-American, in addition to the expertise I bring with me as a Kiva Fellow. There are a few Indian nationals in Tagbilaran City yet I represent something quite different from my coworkers’ perceptions of Indian people – perceptions that are partially informed by Slum Dog Millionaire. On my first day at CEVI, we discussed arranged marriages in India (a tradition that would never fly with Filipinos) and I have already had the pleasure of introducing my coworkers to some Bollywood jams!

7. Befriend the locals aka the bugs and lizards.
This one is probably the most challenging for me but I think I’ve been pretty good so far. I’ve done my best to suppress the anxiety I feel when I see lizards hanging on my wall and to convince myself that baby lizards the size of my pinky are cute. I will admit that I don’t see myself warming up to any bugs anytime soon, but hopefully I'll become more tolerant.

¹ Boholano is a term used to describe a person who is from or lives on the island of Bohol.

Lightning Strikes Tagbilaran! Really short clip. It's literally 3 seconds long.

Mabuhay! Greetings from Tagbilaran City, Bohol!

Be sure to log on to Kiva.org to lend to borrowers from Community Economic Ventures (CEVI)!