Butuan City Expats Information Resource for Butuan City | Butuan

02-15-10

Butuan Ramblings!

Greetings All!

Holidays are passed, the world turns and the river flows.

Butuan Ramblings (BR) has restarted and reshaped and refitted its design!  My thanks to all that have wondered where my weekly offerings had disappeared to, and wondered about my health/security. All is now well.

BR is going to ease off the pedal a bit because my honeydo list is rather top heavy at this time.  Freedom is being completely refitted, a construction project at the Marina is commencing, and a book I wrote about my solo horseback ride across the USA in 1996 is in editing phase.

My plan is to spook up an offering twice a month, and I continue to seek guest columnists-so if you want hang your butt out on a limb from this tree, you are most welcome!

We will wait until end of March, early April for the first yard sale of the year.  Current listing is attached.

We are offering a new transport service which features airport pickup, a tour of Butuan and a stop at each hotel to view accommodations.  See attached.

The airport kiosk continues to be well received.  Advertising rate is P500 per month, with the added bonus of free ad space on the www.butuanexpats.com website.

Our property in Sintos Subd. is for sale, with very attractive terms for a qualified buyer.  No bank financing needed!  See attached for a sample mortgage.

Want to live in Butuan for free??!!  See attached ‘2nd floor’ for details.

Congrats to friend Roy in the refitting and recent launching of Rosebud, a 30′ vessel outfitting for fishing.  Shakedown cruises are imminent!

Island Motor Tours is a new venture in our clime.  Wander by the new, well designed, Malvar Circle Commercial Center next to City Hall/Uncle Sam’s and look for the two beautiful motorcycles, and you have found friend Dan welcoming you to chat. www.islandmotortours.com provides info.  Welcome Dan!

Speaking of motorbikes, let’s try for next Sunday morning for our next ride?

In the coming weeks I will explore the following issues;

1. The rolling blackouts in our clime.

2. The current Butuan taxing structure.  For example, a business in San Vicente pays the same tax rate as a downtown biz, yet does receive the same quality of essential services. Can this be changed to reflect fairness?

3. Human trafficking/child prostitution in Butuan.  As some of you know, a consortium of agencies with which I am involved with has successfully encouraged three Expats involved in this crap to vacate these climes in the last year.  This year we ratchet up pressure as convictions are the goal.  Soon posters will be seen in all local ports and participating businesses, increasing the awareness that Butuan’s children are not for sale.  Two Expats residing in Butuan are currently under investigation by an international advocacy group.  The advent of Project Destiny Kids has been the keystone in this advocacy, as it provides a loving shelter in which prostituted children can heal, and more importantly, identify child rapists via photographs.

4. I have been exploring the feasibility of introducing a Hospice chapter in Butuan.  According to a prominent local physician, there is an abnormally high cancer rate in Butuan.

5. I hope to be able to report that Butuan City will be added to the list of Ports of Call in the Philippines before summer.  International cruising yachts are always looking for ports that have available integral services.  Once we have networked effectively so that these needs are available, Butuan can be added to the international list.  In addition, Butuan is perhaps the most effective and accessible typhoon shelter in the country.  The hurdle to overcome is the worldwide perception that Butuan, (as part of Mindanao), is not a safe harbor.  Imagine large cruising yachts laying up at the downtown PPA facility!

6. Riverside Marina has contracted with the gents who built the Balanghai boats to construct framing for two 16′ sailboats.  Friend Toby, who started his sailing career with Neptune, will oversee the ‘modernization’ of these frames and bring them to completion.  The prayer is that via the facilitations of friend Sid Calo, and Datu Andaya of the BAMATA tribal council, that we can collectively design these ‘day sailors’ with uniqueness substantive enough to warrant international classification.

The end product would be a floating piece of furniture whose features celebrate the heritage of the BAMATA Tribal members, whose logo will be on its sail.  The unique wood, design and representative history will be offered to the world via the internet.

7. Prior to the May elections, I hope to be able to explain to this readership exactly how much money enters the Butuan Government and the source of same.  In the interest of transparency, I wonder if the citizenry is able to quantify revenues and audit expenditures.  It seems that current leadership is criticized profusely for mismanagement of public funds, but I have never seen any supporting documentation.  I have always thought that any person serving the public trust would embrace such a review.

8. There is a dearth of community notices of upcoming events among the local media.  Let us find out why.  Cable provider’s interpretation of community access channels seems to be the allowance of advertising by a select few private businesses, as well as utility notices.  ABS-CBN is not much better, though they only have a 30 minute window for their evening news.  In many other climes, local TV Cable providers are mandated to provide such a community channel specifically for upcoming events and notices.  I wonder if that is true here.  This void of information was really evident when most of the citizenry was not informed about the arrival of the Balanghai boat, or its send-off.  These wonderful and uplifting events were missed by 90% of the citizenry.  That is a real shame.

9. Speaking of the Balanghai’s-currently sailing south of CDO-I will keep you updated periodically of their progress.  Construction of a third boat, designed to act as a tender, is scheduled to begin this week.

10. The institution of a Community Action Center.  This is basically a resource for citizens to voice their questions and concerns about issues that arise in both public and private relationships.  A sort of mediation center, but with teeth!  Hopefully a CAC can be absorbed with the Chamber of Commerce, when the Chamber attains viability.

To that end, please consider, (or reconsider), joining, (or rejoining), the Butuan Chamber of Commerce.  Past misdeeds are past.  Let them lie and serve as learning points of the future. There is little chance of growth if a business community is fractured.  A vibrant COC advocates on behalf of the private sector.  Without same, public sector interests can run amok.

Chamber President Alan Silor is a bright, humble and forward thinking gentleman.  Please give the man a chance to succeed on behalf of Butuan.

Thank you,

Greg May

www.butuanexpats.com

Popularity: 32% [?]

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!

g

Popularity: 100% [?]

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% [?]