Happy Birthday Ka Pulong!

Ka pulong, an architect by profession is one of the longest staying Filipino here in Zimbabwe. He is said to have been here in Zimbabwe for almost 28 years. He lives with his wife, Cora and all their children are living in Australia and the United States.

For the Filipinos here in Zimbabwe, Ka Pulong stands as the father of the community. He celebrated his birthday last 30 June '07 with a party at his house.

Muzarabani Field Mission

As part of the sustainable livelihoods intervention of the IOM, mobile and vulnerable households (mostly displaced ex-farm workers) are assisted with appropriate livelihood skills training to enable them to sustain themselves and increase their household food security level as well.

In the Muzarabani Valley, ex-farm workers are provided with training in proper ways of bee keeping. In my first visit to the area, I chanced upon ex-farmworkers undergoing a bee keeping training conducted under the shade of a Baobab Tree. This was the third batch (out of four batches) of ex-farmworkers identified to undergo the bee keeping training.

Despedida Dinner

For six months (January '07 to June '07) Joe Valdehuesa, a Filipino based in the United States, worked with a research program jointly implemented by the University of Southern California-San Fransisco and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). The research program was, I was told, about finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, the UZ counterpart somehow did not worked for the issuance of his Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) so he had to leave the program and go back to the States.

As it has been the custom of the Filipino community here, a farewell dinner was hosted for him. Joe was well loved by the community and he will surely be missed.

Fare thee well Joe! We will be meeting you again someday.

Harare City Center

Mukuvisi Sunday

Spent one Sunday with Joe, Nieves, Clive and Zeny at the Mukuvisi Woodland Park. The park is located close to the International Airport of Harare. Its amazing to know that despite Harare being a big city several areas have been preserved for wild animals like Zebras, Giraffes and Antelopes.

Aside from having a game park, the Mukuvisi Woodland Park also has sections for shops, dog shows, rummage sale, horse backriding for kids and more.

Father's Day

I celebrated Father's Day away from my family. I celebrated Father's Day by attending a birthday party of a mother.

Lake Chivero

More photos of Lake Chivero can be found in my Pbase Photo Gallery.

Independence Day Celebration

Celebrated Philippine Independence Day with the Filipino community in Zimbabwe (there is about a dozen of "Pinoys" here). The celebration was done a few days earlier than the actual day (June 12 was a work day). The Filipino community went for an overnight picnic in Lake Chivero (30 min drive away from the Harare City center).


More photos of the celebration here

Opening Shot Part 2

Shots taken on my first weekend in Harare. A colleague was kind enough to show me around some nice spots in the city. Since we made a quick stop at the office, I took a snapshot of the office from the parking lot.

Next set of photos were taken from the Chapungu Stone Sculpture Gallery. There are stone sculptures displayed in the big lawn outside and there is an indoor gallery as well.

Opening Shot

My first ever shot since I arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe. Arrived Harare (via Johannesburg) last 28 May 2007. Unfortunately, some mix-up happened so I was not picked-up from the airport. I took a cab and I was brought to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Harare. I was lucky enough to have been given a room that had a view of the hotel name. After taking about four or five frames, I realized that the shots I have just taken were my first since arriving in Zimbabwe.

Tagaytay

The last two days before I left for Harare, Zimbabwe were spent in Tagaytay City with my wife and mom. Photos taken of Sanctuario & Sonia's Garden.

Despedida

I got an offer to work in Harare, Zimbabwe with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Before leaving the Philippines, close friends from my swimming varsity days invited me to dinner and a few rounds of drinks at The SITE.