Our Local Staff and Transportation

Hiring local people to help run Project Leyte is one of the elements of the All Hands organization that sets it apart from other relief agencies. Several of the Project's administrative staff were hired from the Philippines with knowledge of the language and skills in organizing work projects, finances, and people.  Our base also had two lovely laundry ladies, two fantastic cooks in the kitchen, and four jeepneys and drivers who all came from Ormoc every day to take care of us with their special skills.

While I was painting in the hospital, I met Jr, the four year old son of one of he laundry ladies. He didn't speak much English, but was certainly fun to play peek-a-boo with and share a smile with. I painted a dot on my nose which he thought was hilarious, followed by one on my forehead. However, when I tried to give him a painted nose, he always ran away!

Our drivers were hired to make sure we had transportation from work and back each day. Sometimes they also stayed a little late to bring us to a special event, or to take a whole group of us to Ormoc on the weekend.

The jeepneys were originally born of US Jeeps that were sold or given to the Filipino people after World War II. They were retrofitted, decorated, and flared out to be used generally a public utility vehicles. Since then, several other vehicle models have been adapted into the family of jeepneys. What remains the same is the outrageous colors, decorations and the route of service painted on the sides. Each jeepney drives a specified return trip or circuit and will make as many stops as there are people on board - which can be quite a few when the top is loaded up as well!

The best part of the day for me was riding home on the top of a jeepney. The temperature was just a little cooler, the sun would sink, the children would call out and wave to us, and I could see the rice paddies, mountains, palm trees, and people perfectly from the higher vantage point. It was also a great time catch up with a team mate or to reflect and process the day's work.