Improvising YOUR skill to improve our society
Sun-ho Jeong, 24, Korea
Went to Asenso Project in The Philippines, ASIA ONE 2014
It was late arrival when I moved a first step in the Philippines. Totally different air hit my nose and I started to shiver because of excitement and worry. The guard who blocked me at the entrance seemed quite strict, suppose that is because Ebola is so notorious, and I managed to open my mouth to say “Hello”. Whoever you are if you remember the first moment of trip to abroad, you may understand the air.
The Philippines’ economy is consisted of more than 80% of micro entrepreneurs, or mere mothers in house that you can find in anywhere. They run their businesses such as ‘Sari-Sari’ store which is a kind of convenience store, but it is more likely to private house having open window toward street and selling basic items such as snack or dish-washing detergent. ‘Sari-Sari’ means in filipino ‘variety’ so literally they sell everything that you can find in market. How do they make profit
from the business? They add 1 or 2 peso to original price. Considering that 1 peso is equal to 25 own, it is pretty penny. Meanwhile, 90% of small businesses are preordained to fail since the vast majority of owners do not take proper education to act like a real businessman. They tend to impulsively start business after learning some ideas from the people around them and run their business without any market strategy. They do not do market research, which is one of the crucial parts of business as you might know, and more importantly, they do not know how to deal with those kinds of concepts. In addition, many people in the Philippines are in deep hole of depression, or aggression triggered by one of the most serious corruption in the world of their government.
With these circumstances, if you are a mere student who have studied a bunch of graphs composed of red and blue lines called supply and demand and do not have actual experience to tackle business, what would you do? I myself had no idea when I met local people and looked around their village that some people might call as slum.
So how was the trip aside from the programme?
Oh yeah. You may imagine the life I had with the information I will tell you below.
1 I lived with SIXTEEN people in one house who came from EIGHT different countries; Korea, China, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Indonesia, Estonia, India.
2 From December to February, it is coolest the season of the Philippines; it was very similar to early summer of Korea. The breeze I had was sweet. I had a pool that only cost 50 peso. It is equal to 1250 own. No time limit.
3 How do you feel when you think about the philippines? Have you heard about ‘bottomless Magarita’ that you can have with only about 7500 own?
4 I went to TAAL volcano. I took a boat to get there and the lake was the best scenery that I have ever had in my entire life.
5 Listen carefully ladies. You can buy amazingly delicious breads on the street . Of course is freakingly cheap. Palm-size bread costs around 250 own. How about Jelly milk tea? 750 own and it tastes beyond Gongcha. :)
6 Every night, once we all were in home, we gathered around and tried to find a fun. Eating pizza playing Uno, calling 3 taxis and went to downtown and whatever...
So many things right? I cannot tell all the beautiful memories but yeah I would proudly say it was unforgettable. The filipino that I met were so friendly and kind. One of the aiesecers invited all the Eps to her house and have BBQ party. Yeah pretty cool but if you ask me what is the best, I would say the people who lived with me! I found the indonesian friend who have same dream as mine. We cried when some of us left the country earlier over the taxi. I am not sympathetic but that scene was enough to melt my cold heart.
Sometimes I read more than 20 letters in my envelope and I cannot help but grin. One of our members jokingly said we should a middle part of the earth and it would be Russia. And the one who said it was Estonian who has problem with Russia. I became better to understand different cultural aspects and beyond that, I learnt how to become a friend without stereotype that had blocked me to see the world. I believed I am eligible to help the people in the village to inaugurate the actual business and it worked. I managed to make kids strive for their dream and ensure them that the dream that they have at the moment is not impossible mission but actually what we should not forget in any chance until accomplish. I learnt and changed a lot through this experience.
So, provided that that winter vacation was just before becoming senior, it was hard decision if you know what I mean but I think I can say it was truthfully and unequivocally right to choose it and I will never regret to go to the Philippines in this winter break.