The Oarhouse: April 2007

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Two Irish Gentlemen at the Oar and Nightfall at Vito Cruz, Malate

Even if the video isn't so clear, the sound certainly was for this musical treat last night from two irish gentlemen musicians who gave the oarhouse and its patrons a great acoustic mandolin and guitar set of songs over ice cold beers. i think they'll be back. i wanted to add a special thanks to rolex and vina de la pena and especially to vina who also joined the set and graced our gathering with her own inimitable voice for our friends last night.

Nightfall over Vito Cruz

On the way to a shoot at Century Park Hotel along Vito Cruz St. in the early evening hours of 7 p.m. last monday, one finds the queue for the 'cultural center' jeepneys that traverse the length of this street in Manila from the corner of Taft Avenue all the way across Roxas Boulevard and to the famed monuments of former first lady Imelda Marcos' paeans to the 'filipino spirit' in the near-forgotten decade of the 70s and her idea of what comprised of 'culture'. But the images that any cellphone with a camera can capture today about the look of this street and its environs speak more of the real Manila and the people who inhabit it. You wait for the jeepney to fill up with passengers, and they are more often the father and daughter who just came from a Jollibee restaurant and bringing extra food for those who got left behind at home. It's the anonymity of reality in this city of countless numbers on this short but literal route where the people congregate around. The graininess you see in the image is exactly what you see in real life from a non-editing eye.

Monday, April 23, 2007

From the family of Julia Campbell

The following statement is being released on behalf of the family of Julia Campbell, as posted on the U.S. Peace Corps website on April 18, 2007:

Today, we learned the news that our Julia was found. We are so very grateful to the workers and searchers who worked diligently to look for and find our daughter, sister and friend. In addition to the Peace Corps, we would like to thank the Philippine National Police, the Philippine government and the people of the Philippines, especially those in Barangay Batad, Banaue for the outpouring of support and assistance in the search.

The U.S. Peace Corps and our U.S. Embassy leadership, personnel and especially the Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippines have been of great comfort to our family during this difficult time. Director Ron Tschetter and his team exemplify the sense of community Julia loved about the Peace Corps; they have and continue to show great concern for Julia and our family.

During the past two years Julia has been on assignment in the Philippines, she served in various roles in the village of Donsol (province of Sorsogon) where she worked with the local school there to rebuild and stock the school library. Since childhood, Julia was an avid reader who enjoyed great literary works; “Sophie’s Choice” was one of her favorites. Many of her friends and family helped her in a campaign she created to provide age-appropriate reading materials to the library in a project she called "A Book and A Buck". Through her efforts, she collected more than 500 titles. Julia, a passionate yoga instructor and vegetarian, also worked with the local community to launch an ecology awareness campaign and was instrumental in building an Eco Center in Donsol. Most recently, she served as a teacher at the Divine Word College in Legaspi city, where she taught English.

In her forty years, Julia lived a very full life. She loved her family and friends and is much loved. She was passionate in her journalism reporting especially the stories involving people who were able to stand and address adversity or adverse situations.

We have every confidence that the U.S. and Philippine authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into Julia’s untimely death.

Plans are still in development for a memorial service in Fairfax County, Virginia where our family lives.

--

Peace Corps Continues to Mourn the Loss of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell.

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 20, 2007 - U.S. Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter returned last evening from the Philippines where he met with officials, including President of Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, concerning the investigation of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell.

Search parties discovered Ms. Campbell’s body near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 18. Ms. Campbell disappeared on April 8 while hiking in Banaue, Ifugao Province, Northern Luzon. Her body has been flown to Manila where an autopsy will be performed by Philippine authorities in cooperation with specialists from the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Officials are also continuing to investigate the discovery site.

Director Tschetter, along with the entire Peace Corps family, continues to mourn the loss of Volunteer Julia Campbell. He said, “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. “The U.S. Peace Corps is saddened by the loss of such a dedicated and vibrant Volunteer, who so loved this country. Our hearts go out to her family and friends in the United States.”

Ms. Campbell was reported missing on April 11 after failing to show up for several appointments. She was last seen on Sunday, April 8 in the Banaue area. She reportedly intended to hike in a hilly area near Batad, 1.5 kilometers east of Banaue town, and was unaccompanied.

Ms. Campbell served in ecological and educational projects in Southern Luzon since she began her Peace Corps service in the Philippines in March 2005.

There are 136 Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the country. More than 8,000 Volunteers have served in the Philippines since 1961, making it the second oldest Peace Corps program in the world.

Contact
Press Office