Day 14

The first place we visit is Meerlanden. It is a landfill, but it totally doesn't look like the landfill we have in Inayawan, Cebu. It's more like a factory. There advance equipments that help manage garbage and produce green gas or biogas from them.

This project was once implemented in the Philippines, but it failed.

Just to be safe, we wear neon orange vests

We go to AM Groep. They are an institution that provides opportunities to those unemployed because of physical or psychological adversities. I wonder why there are companies who hire the disabled until I learn that private companies gain benefits if they hire disabled employees. We go to the food bank where they distribute goods to the poor and at the same time encourage them to find work.

The food bank distributes the goods equally in these yellow baskets.

We visit the second hand shop. A lot of people buy books and toys that they get for a very cheap price. Worried about my luggage, I don't buy anything.

These bicycles are trash to their previous owners, but they could be treasures to others. I'm tempted to buy a bike because they are still functional, but I'm already concern about the luggage.

Then, we prepare ourselves for the courtesy call with the city officials of Haarlemermeyer. We all change to our flag shirts.

In the city hall, the officials welcome us. They lead us into their conference hall where we sit alternating each other. After they present to us a backgrounder of the city of Haarlemermeyer, they open themselves for our questions. I ask questions about urban planning in the context of MegaCebu and on how they develop a strategic urban plan. They promise to sit down with us at one point to discuss urban planning.

The city officials of Haarlemermeyer welcome us warmly.

The Mayor and the delegates discussing about Queen's day. Impulsively, Russel points out to the mayor his orange tie in a melodic tone, "Orange."

Faith follows up my question on City Development and Urban Planning.

We have dinner with the Filipino community in Netherlands. (Yes, Pinoy food again, which means Rice will be served.) After stuffing ourselves with nostalgic Pinoy food, a Holland trivia game is conducted that for every question you get correctly, you get prices.

Some of the things I remember about Holland after the game.

- A part of Amsterdam is built on poles.
- Some part of Holland is 5 meters below sea level.
- Rotterdam has once the biggest port in the world. Now, it ranks third.
- Keukenhof is the largest tulip garden in the world.

J.Lo claiming her price from Arlene, the game master.

A Filipino-Dutch points out that Sean looks like the famous Jed Madela. We all make fun of him for it.

I ask the Filipino-Dutch if they still point with their lips, a distinct mannerism of Filipinos. Everyone burst out laughing at my question. The Filipino-Dutch confirms that they still do so. They may be born and raised in Holland, but they are still innately Pinoy.