*Blogs from 6/11/2019 – 6/26/2019 can be found below*
6/26/2019
2:13 p.m.
I think what has made me the most happy here at this internship is learning about everyone and their life. I haven’t felt welcomed like this in a while and every staff member no matter what division has approached me with the same kindness and hospitality as the previous person would. I truly appreciate the attempt to make small talk even when there is nothing to talk about. I appreciate their need to translate things into English even when we request that it be alright if they kept it in Filipino. To make jokes and take pictures with us is something I’ve grown accustomed to even with my skepticism with meeting new people. I feel genuinely cared about and loved here even though I’ve only been here for approximately 15 days. I knew that this felt like family when one of the women whom I haven’t seen in 5 days came back to work. A simple “good morning po” made me feel so happy, it felt like I was greeting my grandmother from another side of family. This family being from a different continent, a different language, and a different lifestyle. I am genuinely happy to come to this internship some days to see these amazing people. Sometimes I sit back and see the chaotic movement of transferring papers, answering phone calls and calling people to the phone, joking around, side talk, and more enjoyable moments. I understand how amazing a workplace could be: people who love and trust each other.
Bio-Lab tour with trainees 
Me and Michael at Sienna Park 
Me and Dilyetna Hiking 
Me and Anaol on Mount Taal 
Bio-lab tour with trainees 
Trainees at “Oh My Gulay sa FNRI”
6/24/2019
9:05 a.m.
Today we went to Mount Taal for a hiking trip. The boat ride from Batangas to Taal was amazing. The scenery was something I’ve never experienced before similar to something from a movie. The mountains surrounding this large lake with you on a boat riding along subtle waves and the sun shining on your skin. The energy was phenomenal and left me speechless for the ride. When we landed on this island, everything looked different from where we just came from. It was wooden shacks and small shops with drinks. There was a court where kids were playing basketball in slippers and some even with bare feet in the hot sun. As we’re going up the trail, the view was beautiful something that pictures couldn’t justify. I did two things I enjoy the most out of life; listening to music and enjoying a natural view of the Philippines. What really concerned me was the fact that our tour guide was pregnant and still has to work in order to make ends meet. She needs money so she still manages under blaring heat to walk 4 miles worth of hiking up and down a steep mountain. She doesn’t get paid directly, we had to pay the company that provided us this opportunity. She was patient and never complained about her work conditions even if it meant she had to wait 2 extra hours for us to take pictures and enjoy the view. Another woman who guided the horse of one of the interns, has never left this island and she is 20 years old. Her parents never allowed her to leave this island due to the need for working and money. She is 20, just like me, who wants an education and opportunity to provide for herself and her family, but with a position like this she cannot make a way for herself if she left the island. Its sad to think about how she sees so many people come in and out of the island by boat and can never leave herself. Its fun to enjoy these tourist attractions, but to really understand the lifestyle of these genuine people is what I’ve really wanted. Her story conveys thousands of lives just through hearing hers. I cannot emphasize the amount of privilege it is to have to be of the same age and with an education. It’s something we take for granted yet people would die for an opportunity like this. It makes you feel so insignificant in a world of greed.
6/21/2019
Climbing up Mount Taal 
Mount Taal (extended-view) 
Boat ride from Batangas to Taal 
Mount Taal 
Taal Volcano inner-view 
Mount Taal hiking trail
9:52 a.m.
I think one of the most impactful things that has occurred to me here was the fact of learning the lifestyle of a third world country. It is not glamourous, and I somehow seem to tell myself how America is not better than countries elsewhere especially such a fine country like the Philippines. I understand how natives dream and aspire to come to America seeking opportunity. I somehow didn’t understand why somebody would come to a country filled with so many cons that outweighed the pros. The first understanding of this country’s economy was during lunch time when somebody in our group said the rice was really cheap. However, to the natives, it is expensive even for members in higher positions. “To you” were the words of that native and it filled these gaps of why a country like this struggle every day. I played basketball the other day, a kid named Yohan touched my heart. He was only 9 years old and I asked him “what is your favorite shoe brand?” It took him a minute to gather his thoughts and answered, “I don’t have a favorite shoe brand, I am grateful for whatever I get.” This answer was something I would never expect to come from a child. They asked me what shoes I was wearing; they were Kobe Bryant’s Nike shoes something they’ve never seen before but common to us. Another experience came from men who were working on a government building. I was joking around saying that “it looks like they’ve been working on the same spot for a week.” Anaol, an intern told me “you really don’t know how a third world country works do you? The same building in America would take 3 months to build, this building looks like it has been started a year and a half ago.” I can sense how spoiled I am living in a country like America, where lifestyle is far more advanced, and economy is stronger. I can sometimes tell myself why I miss America and wish I was back, but this is the lifestyle these people actually live and it’s sad to know that there are other people in the world who experience these things to a larger degree. I am grateful to meet people who are accepting the arrogance of a group who thinks everything is cheap, who would rather take a uber than to walk 25-30 minutes and take a bus, to throw pesos around like its monopoly money, and more. I am sad to say that this experience is more of a culture shock than a vacation. I didn’t come here to just enjoy myself; I came here to learn about another part of the world and why it’s different. I am certainly more grateful for everything because I’ve realized what I have been complaining about this whole time, they’ve never even had to begin with.
Jose Rizal execution sight 
Intramuros street with real bullet-holes in wall 
St. Augustine church (457 years old ) 
Metro Manila overview 
Jose Rizal Monument 
Street in Intramuros
6/20/2019
7:22 a.m.
The work here is decent, but it makes me realize I don’t want to work a 9-5 job in an office. I don’t like the concept of sitting in a chair all day and doing work. Nothing too major happened yesterday, just a normal day of work. The time to wake up for work and the time it takes to get back home makes it difficult too want to do anything after. Me, Michael, and Anaol have just been chilling in our apartment. I bought ingredients from SM market and cooked fried rice which was delicious. I’m learning to use proper greetings in the Filipino culture, America is so accustomed to calling people by their first or last name. Here if someone is older you must say “po” for example, “goodmorning po” is a sign of respect and if you don’t say that it is very disrespectful.
Preparing fried rice 
View from Sienna Park 
Fried rice finished
6/19/2019
7:56 a.m.
Today marks José Rizal’s 158th birthday. He resembles the start of a freedom revolution from the Spaniards from 300 years ago in the Philippines. When I think about this culture, they are an embodiment of each other. They respect each other to the furthest extent, help each other through tough times, and will never back down from hardships and adversities. When I see the flag, it resembles their pride and happiness. To see that they have rallied every Monday and Friday here at DOST-FNRI to celebrate the flag raising singing the national anthem and swearing as a civilian to embark on the responsibilities to be a great person is astounding. I enjoy the experience to see a country who coincides with the cultures that they have been harmed by. They are a loving culture whose past does not define them but a future that awaits great success. These people are truly a gift for me to meet and I hope to see what they can teach me by the end of this journey. I played basketball yesterday, not up to my competition standards, but they are decent. With that being said, this was the hottest court I have ever played on in my life. I can not emphasize the heat that was causing fatigue. I played with a group and won, they were impressed with my jumping abilities and made me play center. I am literally 5’11 so that goes to show how height is here.
Native Filipino tree 
Knowledge and diffusion workplace 
“King of all flowering plants“
6/17/2019
10:13 a.m.
The weekend was packed with moving luggage to the apartments and moving-in. The overall community is welcoming, and I got to play basketball with some locals. It was something I wanted to do when I first found out I was studying abroad. The culture here is far more familiar than something foreign. With my values being taught at home, it is very similar to what I’ve been taught as a child from my parents. The culture is fast-paced and quiet in a sense that is too familiar to me at home. When we are traveling as a group, we are noticed instantly due to our diversity, but also our loudness, which is something that I knew coming into this culture. It’s amazing to see how much our group has learned over this past week with the usage of Tagalog, the swiftness in the way we travel, and the informal norms that we learned through the course of engaging with locals and learning new concepts. The adjustment is getting better, and I am feeling more comfortable to be here. The one thing I love about this trip is the enjoyment of our group. Learning new foods and things that they once didn’t know, or thought was disgusting. I think it’s really nice to see the enjoyment of our group and teaching stuff that I was once taught as a child as normal and not exotic.
Pick-up Basketball in Sienna Park 
Flag raising ceremony 
Marcia & I 
Quentin Jackson posing as a fly on the wall 
Flowers at DOST-FNRI 
McKenzie & I
6/13/2019
9:52 p.m.
Today we went through orientation at FNRI (Food and Nutrition Research Institute). We met many of the directors of different divisions those being laboratory, government, etc. I got to see the products that they have developed as a way to help combat malnutrition in the community. I am still trying to adjust to the sleep schedule. Me and the other interns are waking up at 3:00 a.m. the time that it would be 2:00 p.m. U.S. central time. The jetlag and the fatigue are making it harder to bear the weather and working is decent at the moment. Just to provide a glimpse into the weather, umbrellas are a norm here due to the severity of the heat and humidity which are used to walk every day. The overall goal of this organization is to disseminate information that other mandates and companies can utilize for the betterment of the community. FNRI is not the member to produce and sell, the goal is to advocate and spread that information through various forms of communication so that other agencies can utilize in return for benefits to the nutrition of the community. I am in no rush to learn everything because it is a slow and patient task. The members of my division are welcoming, and I understand the culture provides a huge form of hospitality and support. What I’ve noticed this past week is that the Filipino community is a hardworking and determined community. When I wake up by 4 a.m., I can hear the city already moving the same way it was in the afternoon yesterday. Members wake up 6:00 a.m.; walk 20 minutes and take numerous forms of transportation to get to work which is humbling to me. One of the staff members takes two jeepneys in order to get to work and will stay overtime if she has to. The staff have other means of busy work and to spend a little time introducing themselves and developing this orientation is humbling. To see how they move, how respectful they are of each other, and the helpfulness of their culture makes me wonder how our culture has made these things less salient than they should be.
Overpass over Manila highway 
Various forms of transportation 
“King of all flowering plants” 
The type of driving style and traffic 
Overview of FNRI 
Korean Barbecue with the group
6/13/2019
9:25 p.m.
Today was more of traveling to our worksite, we went from Los Baños to Manila to finally meet with our divisions at FNRI (Food and Nutrition Research Institute). The division I work with is knowledge and diffusion. What I am currently working on is looking through previous research papers and disseminating it for the public use. I plan on finding research papers that are interesting and creating info-bits that will be attached to articles. I hope to learn many vital skills needed to be more efficient and impactful. I plan to learn how to do info-graphs to become an overall progressive intern. I also want to develop interviewing skills and videotaping capabilities. I will be assisting throughout my duration here with preparing seminars and manning with supervisors at different events. I hope to learn the value of nutritional information and how it applies to the Filipino community. I have been feeling sick lately with fatigue from the transition and catching a minor cold. The weather is extremely humid and learning to adapt to the form of transportation will take time. I haven’t taken that many pictures today due to the busy schedule and the feeling of being sick.
Sienna park w/ amazing pool 
SM Market’s fruit selection 
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)
6/12/2019
10:03 p.m.
Today was orientation for the Freeman Asia interns in the Philippines. We met Kuya Al who is a high school professor and Tita Vicky who is a professor at The University of the Philippines at Los Baños who taught us the basic history of the Philippines and the language Tagalog. The history is so rich with a fascinating mixture of cultures. Through colonialization of Spain 300 years ago, trading between Chinese and Muslims, and the temporary control of the Japanese during world war II. The culture is a melting pot of meaningful practices that are prominent in everyday life. I notice the influence of Spanish and Japanese along the Tagalog language, I have seen very similar dishes to what Vietnamese cuisine provides, and I can also see the norms and values of what Asian families hold dearly here. I noticed the amount of respect for the elders and how each person has value to their name no matter what identity you hold. They value gender equality, support the LBTQIA+ community in some ways, and believe in many values that we as Americans hold to a different standard. With each family here, there are extended families in which everyone is a big support system. I notice how much Dr. Amoloza’s family matter to her in ways that fosters growth. With her brother, nephew, and sister helping us transition here, I can truly say how much the value of family means to them. One of the interns Michael O’Neill noticed something that was interesting, he told me how Tita Vicky and I reminded him of a Grandmother and a grandchild. It is something that surprised me because I have a disconnect with my real grandmother due to a language barrier. To see how one person can impact my life in just a few hours shows the meaningfulness of Filipino culture and their expressive hospitality.
Kamayan at Palaisdaan Resto Hotel 
Traditional Filipino food 
View of Los Baños 
(From left to right) Dr. Amoloza’s sister’s husband, Kuya Al, Tita Vicky, Dr. Amoloza’s sister, Tito Ramon 
Kamayan restaurant view 
Los Baños street view
06/11/2019
8:19 p.m.
The 15-hour flight to Taiwan wasn’t as bad as I expected, only a minor nosebleed and nausea from constant turbulence. The flight staff was super welcoming and when the nosebleed incident occurred, they were very attentive. What I found significant is the amount of engagement to a problem like this. While it may have been something of procedure to do, they went out of their way to engage and ask about my age, where I’m from, and if I needed anything after the fact. After I left the bathroom, the flight attendants were impatiently waiting outside with ice packs and tissues telling me what I should do and how to apply the ice pack. What I found interesting was that not only the two who saw, but other attendants whom I never spoken to continued to ask about my status hours after. As I collected my baggage from the Taiwan to Philippines flight, I felt very uneasy about traveling especially going somewhere internationally for a long period of time. International flying is overwhelming and my first encounter with being uncomfortable this trip became something more significant than just adjusting to standards, it became an experience that showed how being positive in situations can turn into new realizations with new people in different environments. As I went from Manila to Los Baños, I was overwhelmed from their hospitality and engagement. It made me feel welcomed in a foreign area that is new to me. The scenery made me forget about all my worries at the time. What I saw was more thrilling than anything I’ve ever experienced in America. The traffic more hectic, the movement of pedestrians across the street, and new buildings and infrastructure embedded with family owned businesses who sold chocolate cake next to denim jackets. What really stood out to me was the pride they have in their country. In every corner, I can spot a Filipino flag in the distance. I saw several kids waving this flag so proudly which took me be surprise. I am surprised because instilled within me are the norms of traditional American ways and actions. How we seem to hold things to standards creates a perception even before we experience the unknown. As I write this, I am cautiously learning to make new opportunities for understanding new culture.
Manila Airport 
UPLB 
UPLB 
UPLB 
Los Baños mountain 
Los Baños mountain
Freeman Asia Summer 2019 