My final week of working for projects abroad in Bogo City (and surrounding areas) has arrived and it's time to say farewell to new friends. This week with no doctors at the city health office, yes that's right, no being ill this week.... No getting medication refills for hypertension or diabetes, etc. and no medical mission either. Not good planning to both be off the same time, but ats the laid back attitude a lot of people here seem to have. This week involv...

It's the weekend again and I've decided to come back to bantayan Island and the little town of Santa Fe. Having thought I'd managed to book back into Amihan, they contacted me, apparently they'd alraedy full but they booked me into somewhere nearby and I can still use their facilities and have breakfast there on Sunday morning - now that's customer service. Off the ferry and they are waiting to pick me up on their trike, and a welcome drink of diet coke waiting ...

Week 3 already. This week started with a manic Monday! A day at the city health office, on arrival all the staff are in a meeting and don't come out until about 9.30. The surge of people for the animal bite centre, only open Monday and Thursday morning was huge as everyone tried to hand their piece of pPer in - there seemed to be no process to it. Dr Palay (assistant medical officer) tells me he saw me in Cebu over the weekend - I didn't see him! As they get st...

Second weekend here and up early to catch the (thankfully air conditioned) bus to Cebu City. It's about a 3hr ride (cost 135 pesos, about £2.50). The countryside whizzed by as the bus driver negotiated the road quickly. From Cebu North bus terminal a quick taxi journey to the hotel and a check in. A change from what has become the norm - room is on the 21st floor. Most houses in Bogo are only one storey, some are 2, I think I've seen one or two three storeys but...

Week 2 volunteering, another busy week. We started by going to the elementary school in La Paz as they were starting their healthy eating/ feeding programme for the 5 and 6 year old - many are malnourished. Every Tuesday is medical mission to one of the rural districts, where the city health office basically ups sticks and relocates for the morning! Including dental and optical services. The OAPs are given a rice allowance, and they also give away seedlings for v...