AYAD Tim O'Mahony (New South Wales, represent!) is on a 12-month assignment with Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Inc. Now on his 6th month working as a Communications Officer, Tim shares with us his insights on volunteering, the Philippines, and more.

 
Q: Was it your first time to visit the Philippines? What was the first thing you did after knowing that you’d be assigned as a volunteer in the country?
A: This is my first time in the Philippines; and to be honest I knew very little about the Philippines before applying to be an AYAD! When I found out I was assigned to the Philippines I did a celebratory jig, and then went on a two month trip around the world, in the middle of most countries’ winters: New York City, Peru, Europe, and Beijing. I got my fair share of cold weather, because I knew I wouldn’t be getting it in the Philippines!

Q: Tell us about your assignment. How does it fit in your HO’s program?
A: I am a Communications Officer with Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Inc. In Filipino “Unlad” means “to prosper”, while “Kabayan” is what Filipinos call each other when overseas.

Unlad Kabayan works with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). 10% of the Filipino population are overseas as OFWs, and the money they send back to their family, called “remittances” make up more than 12% of the Philippines’ GDP. Many OFWs work overseas to pay for their children’s education or for healthcare for a sick relative. They often work in dirty, dangerous and degrading jobs, but have no job prospects in the Philippines, so they remain overseas for years at a time.
Unlad Kabayan encourages OFWs to save and invest some of their earnings. We use the investments in enterprise development in the Philippines, with guidance from OFWs. This means OFWs can have a job in their local community when they return.

We also have a micro-credit program, and our main activities are business incubation and enterprise development in some of the poorest communities in the country, found in Mindanao in the south.

In my role I am responsible for developing the communication strategies of the organization. I am updating and improving our website and publications, training staff members communication methods and techniques, and assisting in editing and fundraising.

Q: So far, what is the biggest challenge in the assignment? How are you dealing/how have you dealt with it?
A: There is a travel ban for Australian volunteers going to Mindanao, which is the site of two of the three offices for my organization. This is the biggest challenge I have faced, as I will not be able to conduct my training sessions in the region offices. I have overcome this problem by developing training modules that can be implemented by my colleagues, and I will use a “train the trainers” approach, and train staff when they visit our national office in Manila.

Q: If you were to sell Quezon City as a tourist destination, what 3 words should NOT be missing in your campaign?
A: Food: you name it, you’ve got it. Japanese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, vegetarian, Filipino, even Australian!

Nights: QC is party central, with live music, karaoke (of course), night clubs, international artists, and great bars.

Shopping: Quezon City is the largest city in the Philippines, and has the most, and best malls. All the brands you can think of, and plenty of ukay-ukay bargains!

Q: What’s your top 3 Pinoy food?
A: Kinilaw: refreshing, with the bite of chilli. If this dish is on the menu, then it will soon end up in my mouth.

Adobo: so versatile, easy to cook, and dependable. Worried about what to eat? Go adobo!

Halu-halo: this dessert has everything in it! Corn, ube, cheese (not so good), leche flan, ice, grass jelly.

Q: What do you do during your free time? (Assuming you even had any, haha)
A: During my free time I go to the gym, run, catch up with friends, learn Tagalog, travel around the Philippines, and visit the nightspots of Manila.

Q: What do you see yourself doing after AYAD?
A: I’ll be in Melbourne, working in a communications role, and hopefully studying development, politics, or a combination of the two. My backup plan is to live in a cave.

Q: What would be your most unforgettable AYAD moment?
A: The power of typhoons is my most unforgettable AYAD moment. I was about to go snorkelling with Whale Sharks in Donsol, but my flight was cancelled due to the weather. I took a 14 hour terrible bus ride (I wish I could forget it), then we ended up being trapped as a typhoon passed over us, leaving a six foot high flood across the main road. It gave us many chances to improve our conversation skills, repertoire of card games, karaoke prowess, and the size of our stomachs.

Q: How has the whole AYAD experience changed you?
A: Living in a developing country has made me much more aware of how easy life is in Australia. I have become much more tolerant of noise, smell, and less than perfect living standards. I can sleep anywhere, and I am much more patient. Tolerance and patience are vital attributes for being an AYAD.

Q: Any message for those who are still thinking twice about volunteering in the Philippines?
A: You probably haven’t heard much about the Philippines, but the country needs more skilled, passionate volunteers, and you will get a lot out of the experience. Plus, the Philippines is an awesome country to travel around, and Filipinos will always help you out during your time here.