Butuan City Expats Information Resource for Butuan City | Butuan

The velocity of the Agusan increased to 8 knots during low tide today.  Flood season is warming up for its typical 2 month obsession.  Methinks that some of its vigor has already been spent during the flooding of a few weeks ago, so perhaps we may expect a rather mild flood season.  To this end, we must acknowledge those whose forethought inspired the viaduct system completed 3 years ago, that divert flood waters from central Butuan.  If monitored and managed as designed, downtown Butuan should never be flooded again during normal seasonal increases.  This is not to say that the system is designed to alleviate ‘un’natural occurrences, but rather to ensure that our city systems are protected from normal tropical gully washers.  If one has been paying attention, the effects of pronounced rainfall have been greatly mitigated in the past few years as compared to previous times.  Storm water systems have been installed in the city in a requisite diameter to flush ‘gully washers’ in a timely manner, and the viaduct, (when managed appropriately), assists in the effort.  Many remember 2′ waters at the Gaisano intersection, as well as other locations, but please recognize that these conditions are now short-lived.  Connect the dots folks!  Whether via the City or other entity, the conditions are vastly improved!   Credit given to those responsible.

Under certain conditions, sometimes sea level relative to JC Aquino is less than a 2% grade, so storm systems don’t purge with a great deal of velocity.  At high tide, the outlying villages get swamped.  Next time Butuan experiences a deluge, check the tide chart-that will tell you how deep the ‘pools’ are.  Low tide means the pools are short lived, high tide-not so much!

GTS Auto Accessories is a great new shop located on T.Calo extension.  Drop in and let Gerry show you his wares, and they install stereos, horns, and other accessories.

The new Prince Hotel next to Santos hospital on Montilla is going through its birthing process as we speak.  Located in the old Carl Patrick structure, the new facade greatly enhances the downtown appearance.  I have not had the chance to drop in for a peek, but will do so during holiday week and report my findings.  A large new hotel in Butuan is big stuff, not only for appearance, but understanding that the ownership did due diligence and must have determined that continued growth qualified said investment.  What might they know???

Local and national TV news have aired segments detailing the dangers of fireworks.  Wonderful!  3-4 years ago TV news during the holidays was awash in video of entire neighborhoods burning and people displaced due to irresponsible use of fireworks.  Burning structures generate gobs of smoke and heat, and many don’t realize the nasty effects of a structure fire.  Our village banned aerial fireworks last year.  Can you imagine how many nearby structures would be melted if an unspent rocket landed in the native roof of our 2 story building?  The local fire department does not have a reputation for ‘quick response’, less so in an outlying area.  Here’s hoping that this holiday season does not bring despair to some homes due to some numbskull with a lighter and a bottle rocket!

I’ll be spending holiday week working on the butuanexpat website, hoping to make it more serviceable to visitors.  After the 1st, I would really appreciate comments on both its appearance and content.  The content is an ever-changing critter, and one person holding the strings is not appropriate.  I would also like to invite guest writers or topical writers.  The value of the website can be determined by remembering each of our personal struggles upon our first arrival, that being the acquisition of accurate information about the why’s and wherefores of the Butuan region.  Getting the information kiosk at the arrival terminal this year was a big step toward said goal.  The task next year is to unify the web presence of the public entities in Butuan so our City is presented to the world in a coordinated manner.

Next week we’ll chat about the year in review and prioritize our intents of civic service for 2010.  A community action center, a quantifiable transparent City annual report, and Navigational channel marker installation encouraging international cruising yachts to shelter and visit Butuan are a few items on my list.  Continued vigilance in participating in the protection of children from foreign abusers is a constant.

What is on your list?

I hope your holidays are wonderful!

Peace to all!

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Greetings All!

Not understanding the difference between ‘partly cloudy’ and ‘partly sunny’, dawn on the glassy Agusan River emerges under a crescent moon, on its way to slumber.  As we approach the holidays, river commerce is almost non-existent.  The large sawmills continue to thrive while the small contract operations merge into the banks of the river-only to be unearthed by some archeologist in a distant time.

One of the highlights of being allowed to hang around the Balanghai crew was to meet a gent who actually took part in the excavation of the remains in Libertad back in the 70’s.  Imagine his thoughts witnessing the rebirth of this vessel!  By the way, the expedition team is looking for an individual, group or company to sponsor the construction or a smaller companion craft, that will be motorized and able to assist the two sailing vessels should the need arise.  What a great advertising opportunity for comparatively low cost!

Before I forget, our last yard sale of the year is next Saturday, and the deals will be outstanding!  We have a solid inventory and really want to clean house, so come early!

As some of you may know, I have been intimately involved for the past few months is a court case involving friend Bob Dupras, he of 80 years young.  While not getting into the particulars of his case, suffice to say that he was kicked out of his house and abandoned with $40 in his pocket, and in frail medical condition.  Over the past few months there have been court cases involving Expats in our region and discussed on the internet.  The knee-jerk reaction among Expats has typically been that Expats never get a fair shake in Philippine courts.  This mindset is often enflamed with the knowledge that the Philippines actively recruits foreigners to visit and reside in this country, but can never achieve basic rights associated with other democracies.

To many Expats, fluctuating immigration policies is just another Filipino scam, which the international travel guides warn all visitors about.  In conjunction with this mindset are the recent upheavals in Mindanao, so much so that I see Butuanons living outside this country are writing to the USA Ambassador asking whether it is safe to visit Butuan!  Do they feel that getting an honest appraisal from local officials is unattainable, or am I reading too much into the situation?   Hmmmm.

Back to Bob; his court process has been a drawn out affair, but that is no different than anywhere.  Bottom line is that he has been treated with respect and honor by both his court appointed attorney, and the presiding judge.  He did not win, nor did he lose-his case was adjudicated in a fair manner, regardless of the nationalities involved.  This should be noted by every Expat in this clime, especially those that spew ignorant verbiage demeaning this country and its people.  In my experience, the greater percentage of those in public service are proud and honest people, who work at insidiously low compensation in the effort to improve the condition for all.

Wishing here that the judiciary had some real ‘teeth’, but that is an issue for another day!

Bob is doing well and would like visits from his old friends, noting that he has resided in Butuan for more than 27 years!

I was pondering this dawn at the low tide-lowest all year!  Last year at this and time we were flooded, and now the boats lay massaged in the muck awaiting a higher tide release.  Such is life!

See you next Saturday beginning at 8am, at the yard sale, and Wednesday at Café Caliente at 11am!

Peace to all!

g

Popularity: 35% [?]

Dawn finds the Agusan peacefully flowing to sea-basking in the quiet mirth a successful weekend surrounded by friends and family.  The Agusan prepared herself gloriously and her conduct in accommodating an ancient relative by suddenly calming her ferocity allowed for a safe receiving of the ancient one.

In some places around the world, the past few days have been the holiday of Thanksgiving.  This holiday celebrates the meeting of cultures symbolized by a feast for all, and the welcoming of family and old friends.

And so it was on Saturday, that a long lost loved one appeared out of the sunlit haze from far asea.  As her brightly colored sunlit sails paralleled the coast, we wondered if she would pass us by in a rebuke for keeping her away from the remains of her forefathers home for so long.  Alas, she tacked to port and headed into the loving and welcoming arms of a people starved for a touch of her most valuable cargo-heroes who brought the message of nationalistic pride borne out of hard work, persistence and faith, with every wave and smile.  As she glided along toward the PPA in the center of town, brightly decorated vessels of every size motored of paddled along side, and those on shore waved flags of wonderment and pride.  Upon approaching the pier, hats were waved, tears flowed and eyes were wide.  Countrymen, who had voyaged to the top of the world, brought a long lost child back to the womb.

The Balanghai will rest and repair for a while in Bading, where a sister ship is under construction.  Today the crew will put her in the dry to inspect and prepare for her next journey.  As you may know, the intent is to sail throughout Asia and eventually the world.  ‘Sail the world’ and ‘climb Mt Everest’-two phrases of three simple words!!

After witnessing the reception in Butuan, and given the current economic/cultural/humanistic climate in this country, I wonder if the significance brought is better served in her circumnavigating this country prior to attempting a global first.  I certainly understand the reasoning, but perhaps the cargo of inspiration has its highest value in the Philippines.

Our next yardsale is Dec. 19 and we are loading up with new stuff.  All is on display inside the restaurant building at Riverside.  The restaurant is closed to the public for the month of December as we transition to a membership clientele while emphasizing charters, marina biz and private gatherings.  We always enjoy and appreciate visitors, but please text prior to entering the facility.  We expect one or two boat launchings next month, floodwaters being the determining factor, so I hope all will come by for those celebrations.

Have you visited the landslides on the Mt. Mayapay road?  This is a road our Expat motorbike club has frequented often.  The Mt. Mayapay environmental watchdog group has been critical of the conduct of some local politicos for allowing operations involving heavy equipment in that clime, and it now seems that the group’s fears are coming to fruition.  One wonders of the happenings there as rain season approaches.

See you at Café Caliente at 11am this Wednesday!

Peace to all!

g

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