Day 3

Dear Parents & Friends

Today we woke up at 6:15 and we packed all of our bags and headed to Maccas for some breakfast. From there we headed from Bacolod to Sagay on 2 separate local buses. We had around a 2 hour bus ride and then arrived at our hotel; we then got dressed and went out to see the Mayor of Sagay. We sung to him the classical Aussie song; Waltzing Matilda and three of the worship leaders from the His Life Church sung to us the Hymn of Sagay. 

After leaving the Mayor’s office, we headed to a local restaurant to have a lunch of Inasal chicken (chicken on a stick) and barbecued pork with rice.  After tasting the local delicacy we headed off to the local value store (shopping centre) and were given 400 pesos (approximately $10) and were given the task of buying our breakfast/ morning and afternoon tea for the following 3 days. 

We travelled back to our hotel and pack our bags to head off to the IRC (Ikthus Redeemed Community) where we met the local people and were given a tour around the community.  We saw where they had built a new toilet and shower block, the first flushing and working shower in their community.  We saw where they fish, farm and the boats they use.  We saw a couple of Brahman cows they use to help them farm. We connected with the local kids immediately and watched a performance they put on for us. We heard about the and projects completed over the previous 6 months and we were then given the task of packing 300 bags filled with rice, sardines and noodles ready for tomorrow when we give them out to the community.

We travelled back on 1 single bus with few seats to occupy our crew and went back to the hotel. We were given an hour and a half to rest and shower.  After the break we were taken on a joyride around the city on a local Pedicab (motorbike and carriage) for a feel on how the local people travel around each and every day.  The evening finished with a banquet hosted by the mayor of Sagay.  It was a beautifully decorated venue with allot of food and soft drink.  The local high dance troop treated us to a performance of some local folk dances.  The festivities finished with all of the students trying a local dance called the bamboo stick dance, which was lots of fun even though it was more difficult than it looked.

We are heading off to bed now for a good night’s sleep.  Tomorrow we get to wake up at the decent time of 7:00am.

Sam B, Nina, Andrew W