Real, Philippines

My name "Anne' has significance in the history of our family. My grandmother, on mother's (Irish) side was 'Anne'' and, although I never saw her, I was named after her. We also have "Anne-Marie' in the next generation and one of my aunts also bore the name. It has become more significant to me also when I read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel Ch 1v1 through to Ch 2, which gives her thanksgiving prayer; God 'remembered her' ....a new initiative about to happen. This always inspires me. I am a UK citizen, with Irish/English heritage, living now in an international context in Asia. Most of my life has been marked by small family moves - London to Newcastle-on-Tyne to Sheffield to Bournemouth - thus South to North and back again. These last 16years in the Philippines mark the longest period I have lived anywhere and I sometimes wonder what the message is here! Maybe, that belonging is a matter of the heart, and I have discovered that it grows, this sense of human belonging, way beyond the national roots of origin. Living in a beautiful, but ecologically fragile, part of the Philippines, on the Pacific coastal region we, as a community are involved in trying to support the local people (especially women) in their struggles for day-to-day survival. In November 2004 the 3 towns in this area were flooded and the Sierra Madre mountain range, which is the access to this coastal area, suffered massive landslides. It is hard to imagine the devastation now, as nature repairs to a certain extent. However, when the rains are persistent, the mountains are still very vulnerable to collapse; there is very little forest covering left. People survive as best they can - some fishing, planting etc. For me, personally, it means working alongside an emerging women producers' cooperative, making handmade paper, handicrafts and soap. It is a long process in which small steps are necessary. Marketing skills are a key area of need. The other area of involvement is a Grameen Bank replica, again involving women who receive small loans for their own projects; here in this rural area, that might mean pig-rearing, chickens, small store, buy and sell etc. Presently we are 3 - I am joined by 2 women having a community experience. One of them already has experience with a micro-finance in Manila so it will be a big help to share this with the members and staff here. As a small community we are also involved in leading recollections for the women in preparation for the feast of Christmas. This is a very festive season here in the Philippines, with special early morning masses and lots of parties. So we will all (6) be together here in Kiloloron for Christmas. There is a tradition of the young children coming around to visit their relatives on Christmas morning to greet and receive a small gift. Many children also come to our house; we have become part of the local scene!