This is a segment from a local TV episode at TV5 channel, where our Smokey Mountain Tour was displayed. Back then, we were still doing tours at Smokey Mountain, but now, 2020, we relocated to BASECO, where some of the people relocated. You can check more of the video here.
Melanie De la Peña is one of our freelance tour leaders who lives in Baseco and took part in our Talent Development Program (TDP) where she found her passion for photography. Smokey Tours sought to develop this passion by allowing her take photos of the daily life in Baseco which we are showcasing on this page. Melanie feels that poverty is not something to be embarrased about but rather something we must work on. Giving her this platform to show her talent in photography, we hope that someone will take notice and help her realize her dream to become a professional photographer.
As part of the tour experience and as citizens of a democratic country, we entertain the questions our guests have, and we do try to answer them with the best of our capabilities. In fact, we always hoped that the education we impart to our guests of how some of the Filipinos live will aide them (our guests and the Filipinos living in the area) to the road of enlightenment. In fact, one question most likely asked from the guests is "Why are the poor happy even if they live in such an impoverished area?"
Surprisingly, Melanie one of our tour leaders who lives at BASECO, had an excellent answer during our tour leader meeting last 30 October 2018. It is so excellent that we think it is deserving to be shared. We got so inspired that we hope you will too! 😊
4 March 2019
28 May 2019
Monica Gupta, a volunteer, teaching the residents in BASECO, Manila English, how to write resume, what to do in an interview and so much more!
10 September 2019
Monica led another series of the Talent Development Program
October 2018
Now Reporting: This is one of the community projects we do.
Garbage is one of the major problems of the world, and more so in the community of BASECO.
The garbage in the area came from other places. Some of them are washed ashore from the Pasig river, and some of them came from other places which were dumped there. But for the people living in BASECO, this is not good. The poor sanitation of the area presents problems like people being prone to diseases and the area sensitive to flooding. So in partnership with Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), we help them by trying to manage their waste in a sustainable way which benefits the environment and the people living there.
We also would like to thank those who continously support our advocacy in trying to help the people in BASECO, and those who book our tours. 100% of our income still goes to our community projects, and we will not be able to do this without you. A great round of applause is also in order to our tourleaders who continously try to enlighten people, and our selfless volunteers. Thank you very much!
7 June 2019
Our first batch finally saved up enough money for an e-trike! We got surprised and happy when they put up Smokey Tours at the end of their bike too!
LEFT TO RIGHT: Tes, our Community Liasion Officer, Juliette, ur Founder, and Mang Rodolfo
Mang Rodolfo with his E-Trike
17 December 2018. A group of volunteers and interns held a Christmas Program for children in BASECO. The program was organised by Natsuko Watanabe, and guided by our tour leader Tessie Reyes, and house owner Kuya Ramil. Volunteers Lucylle B.C. and Atsuki, with our interns Deanne Gonzales and Therese also helped made the event possible. They changed our Community Library tarpaulin, cleaned and decorated the library, repacked and gave away generous donations from NGO Thrive, taught Origami and how to colour, dance, sing and played games with the children. SO to everyone who helped gave donations (Jennifer Bacatio through Manila Women's Forum, Dutch Club Philippines, former guests, Rebie Ramoso from Quarkus, Non Iwanamoto through Zaan Japanese Tea House, delivered by Jay Yao Campos III and others), and to everyone who helped made the event possible, thank you!
During our slum tour in BASECO, we educate our guests on how people live and their means of surviving. One of those means is the Garlic Peeling industry where a sack or two sacks of garlic are delivered to a family to peel...
By making this video, we aim to enlighten people of their plight, their hardwork, and their perseverance. We also hope to help them by producing community programs which we get from every tour you book with us!
Special thank you too to our tourleader Nympha, and the residents of BASECO who personally gave us their permission to include them in this video. Thank you too to our volunteers, most especially Lucylle B.C. and the Boxless Society members for making this video!
