Born and bred in Manila, lived a fast paced life until the millennium when I moved to work in developing countries, where life stops at sunset and it's up to you to create your "own fun". An Aquarian - the water bearer, described as philosopher, thinker and teacher and a believer that there is GOOD in everyone.
In my family we love to read, I grew up with books and have love affairs with both fiction - classic, historical, thriller and short stories and non-fiction - biographies and self-help, and have a share of my own literary compositions - poems and short stories too. I like watching movies and TV series, in fact I am currently watching Perception - a crime drama series fitting to my current Coursera course. I love to eat and experiment in the kitchen, so you can say I also devour cookbooks and a big fan of Gordon Ramsay except for his swearing. When not at home reading, watching, eating or cooking, I travel both for pleasure and work, it allows me to experience other cultures, meet new people and contemplate my purpose in life, and I sometimes write about it. I also tried my hand in being an entrepreneur and trying to build on my retirement prospects.
I do consultancy work on project design, development and management with focus on inclusive development for vulnerable groups and capacity building when not being employed in similar capacity. My advocacy evolve around health, education, disability, human rights and equal access - believing that no one should be left behind towards a progressive life especially women and children. My way of helping, I provide support and guidance to local organizations and doing yearly feeding activity within my village with my family, our way of thanksgiving - sharing our blessings.
With my work as a humanitarian aid worker, developed in me keen interest in social behaviors and relationships, simply because I work with people. People that comes from all walks of life - from cultures different from mine, those who experience unimaginable grief, those that are trying to rebuild their lives and those that are there like me trying to help in whatever ways we can. I want to learn and understand more about relationship and communication, to convey my thoughts without barrier, that transcend beyond language and culture, that is both healthy and loving.
Making sense of what I am here for, everyday I always say I'll try to do what I can when I can and I liken it to building a foundation - - one brick at a time.
In my family we love to read, I grew up with books and have love affairs with both fiction - classic, historical, thriller and short stories and non-fiction - biographies and self-help, and have a share of my own literary compositions - poems and short stories too. I like watching movies and TV series, in fact I am currently watching Perception - a crime drama series fitting to my current Coursera course. I love to eat and experiment in the kitchen, so you can say I also devour cookbooks and a big fan of Gordon Ramsay except for his swearing. When not at home reading, watching, eating or cooking, I travel both for pleasure and work, it allows me to experience other cultures, meet new people and contemplate my purpose in life, and I sometimes write about it. I also tried my hand in being an entrepreneur and trying to build on my retirement prospects.
I do consultancy work on project design, development and management with focus on inclusive development for vulnerable groups and capacity building when not being employed in similar capacity. My advocacy evolve around health, education, disability, human rights and equal access - believing that no one should be left behind towards a progressive life especially women and children. My way of helping, I provide support and guidance to local organizations and doing yearly feeding activity within my village with my family, our way of thanksgiving - sharing our blessings.
With my work as a humanitarian aid worker, developed in me keen interest in social behaviors and relationships, simply because I work with people. People that comes from all walks of life - from cultures different from mine, those who experience unimaginable grief, those that are trying to rebuild their lives and those that are there like me trying to help in whatever ways we can. I want to learn and understand more about relationship and communication, to convey my thoughts without barrier, that transcend beyond language and culture, that is both healthy and loving.
Making sense of what I am here for, everyday I always say I'll try to do what I can when I can and I liken it to building a foundation - - one brick at a time.
Meet the Bandalan Family
Meet my family.
My Mom we fondly called Nanay Pepay had me on her lap. She passed away in 2010 after battling Pancreatic cancer for 6 months. She loves to bake, sew and crotchet, she made one bed cover and one set of curtains when she was pregnant with my siblings, me was a doily.
My Dad, Tatay Mike is turning 80 this year, he has dry humor and very funny, you cannot be "onion skinned" around him. He worked overseas when I was growing up and now he's happy hanging around the house and minding his garden especially now that Nanay is already in heaven.
Then there's my Kuya Koko standing next to Nanay, Ate Paz in between the parents and Kuya Mart next to Tatay. In my next blogs I will introduce the rest of my siblings and the rest of the extended family including our four Askals (Asong Kalye).
My Mom we fondly called Nanay Pepay had me on her lap. She passed away in 2010 after battling Pancreatic cancer for 6 months. She loves to bake, sew and crotchet, she made one bed cover and one set of curtains when she was pregnant with my siblings, me was a doily.
My Dad, Tatay Mike is turning 80 this year, he has dry humor and very funny, you cannot be "onion skinned" around him. He worked overseas when I was growing up and now he's happy hanging around the house and minding his garden especially now that Nanay is already in heaven.
Then there's my Kuya Koko standing next to Nanay, Ate Paz in between the parents and Kuya Mart next to Tatay. In my next blogs I will introduce the rest of my siblings and the rest of the extended family including our four Askals (Asong Kalye).