day 1

Day 1 (YMCA hostel, Cebu City) "Checking in"

When we touched down at Mactan International Airport, we were welcomed with a banner and the warm locals. We checked in at a budget tourist inn - YMCA Hostel. I guessed many of the footprinters were aghast at the living conditions in the hostel. The extremely cramped living quarters, the dim ceiling lights and the whole overall feel of the hostel as if, a remnant of the world war proved to be the first shock to the footprinters.

Pace of things picked up very quickly as the respective project I/Cs were tasked to discuss the project details over breakfast. I met my pastor in charge of the Lapu Lapu project - Pastor Alex. To be frank, until now I still have not a clear character judge of him. However throughout the whole trip, he was like a mentor to me guiding and watching every single detail that can possibly go awry. On the other hand, the other trippers have an impression that PA is taking advantage of us. Whatever is the case, I guess as long as our primary objective is fufilled - to feed the people on hand and assist in the construction, everything has worked through.

Sitting in the rear of the mini cab was as though sitting in a lorry in Singapore just that i felt the air in Cebu was more polluted. In the afternoon, we proceeded to purchase the raw materials required for our feeding programme and construction project. Everything was falling into place from the planning that started about a month ago and i was glad no major hiccups occured thus far. My other team members and i went to the actual site to do a reccee. The undulating terrain, the slippery descendings from rocks and what not - all were part of the path that my entire team had to trek through for the construction project tomorrow.

Sunset in Cebu was something that took us a while to get used. At around 1730h, the sun was already setting. And at 1800h, the skies were as dark as what we have at 2000h in Singapore. After clarifying any other doubts with PA with regards to the construction project, we dragged our fatigue selves back to YMCA Hostel. Following which, i did a project briefing to my group members on what to expect the following day. An early rest for two days of toiling was certainly warranted.