DAY ONE - Malate, Manila - Arrived Safely

The IC for today is Terence. He will asist Nisha and Gibryon. He is an excellent leader who does headcounts at all stops.

We arrived safely and is safely parked at the College of Saint Benilde International Conference Hotel. The flight was on time and we were met by the hotel bus. So the air and land transfer was smooth and safe. The entire expedition team had a late lunch at 3pm. Today's programme was basically more low key. We will be preparing questions to ask the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency and Overseas Workers Administration representatives tomorrow. We will also be graced by the Asia Foundation representatives as well as three NGOs who specialised in Human Trafficking.

The students are charged and seemingly excited. Will see how the ten day progress. I am sure they will do well.

Thus far, instuted an daily I/C system where head counts will be done at each stop so that no one gets left behind.

Sofyan will be posting some pictures that he took today as part of the expedition pictorial documentation. I am hoping that he has those pictures up by tonight latest. We will be in Manila all day tomorrow and will leave for Laoag City at 0530hrs on Wednesday.

Two near miss served as excellent learning points for the expedition team. First a camera was left behind in the transfer coach, second a wallet was presumed lost but found in a bag later. These became good briefing examples that all must check their personal belongings at all times.

After dinner, we went to the grocery store round the corner to buy some drinking water. All in all a slow pace day.

Till tomorrow.