In the past 4 months, I have been around Southeast Asia in line with my GIST project to visit the bamboo schools and green schools in the region and learn their best practices and challenges. It has been an amazing and enriching journey. I thank the East West Center and Asia Pacific Leadership Program for giving me the opportunity to explore cultures, and heritage while I continue to unravel the roads that will shape my future and my community. My deepest mahalo! |
Exploring Southeast Asian Cultures
When I started my GIST journey in Myanmar, I was so hesitant and afraid for I am devoured by my fears of traveling solo, an escapade that is not culturally common among Filipinos. However, as I began my sojourn in exploring the 11th-13th century temples in Bagan, the old civilization of Mandalay and the exotic, but alluring cultures of Inlay, my emotional state and mind started to be at ease. In the past 4 months with my stroller, pack bag I unraveled the roads of Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. The cultural exchanges with locals and tourists from around the world were so enriching, the cultural visits were so captivating and the experiences were so liberating. The journey deepened my self-awareness, cultural understanding, diversity sensitivity and leadership adaptability. Now, I am more courageous, determined, confident, more energized to take actions, adaptive to changes and resilient to the challenges. Visiting the Bamboo Schools | My GIST fieldwork focus was to visit the bamboo and green schools in Southeast Asia and learn from their best practices and challenges. In my visit to Bali Green School, Indonesia, Mechai Pattana Bamboo School and Panyaden School in Thailand, my eyes glowed and my lips unceasingly wowed as I was gazing into their beautiful architectural design. The cool breeze and the fresh air whipping in my skin were so refreshing. The poles, the roofs, the broadcasts, the windowpanes, the doorways, the boards, the chairs, the lockers, the trash bins that were entirely built up of bamboo were all such an enchanting picturesque. These schools were built with different visions and missions, but one matter was common; they value the need to create chances for innovation and outside the box thinking while fully optimizing the natural resources the earth has bestowed us. My visit to the bamboo schools loaded me with dozens of thoughts and reflections.Above all, the personal meetings with the founders were deeply enriching and inspiring. |
Environmental Mindfulness and Sustainability
Environmental mindfulness and sustainability were the primary drivers of the bamboo schools.The schools’ key goals are to produce generations of green leaders and to help reduce the carbon footprint of the world. I was so moved by the noble goals of the founders of the bamboo schools that I really want to make those drivers the push for the Philippine BlaanSchool. If I may quote Kun MechaiViravaidya, founder of the MechaiPattana Bamboo School, he said, “Many schools highly focus on teaching concepts that are not directly applicable and useful to the future of the students which he referred as junk. He added that this imbalance will lead to the unsustainable future in our communities which I totally agree with. Taking note of their best practices, I will ensure that the Philippine Blaan School will also rally environmental mindfulness and sustainability in our country. It will also serve as a life-long learning center for our entire community, where everyone is welcome to use the school to improve their agricultural, business and general vocational skills and above all their traditional skills. |