YSEALI Professional Fellows Program

I am writing this first blog while waiting in Incheon International Airport, Korea to catch up my next flight to Washington D.C. This is my first time to America - the country I have always wanted to visit. I feel very lucky to be selected as one of many other Southeast Asian fellows to participate … Continue reading Let the Journey Begin

This spring, three emerging leaders from the Philippines, namely: Juvelyn Boniba-Pamonag (National Economic and Development Authority, Region-VI), Jerico Roy Germar (Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office), and Cirilo Lagnason, Jr. (Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XII), head to the United States of America to participate in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders … Continue reading Developing Youth Leadership for a More Sustainable Environment

Staff from the Department of Environment, Parks, & Recreation hand sorting finished compost.Compost takes 4-5 months and requires protection from too much precipitation. This valuable finished product is starting to be used in gardens such as this one - The Food Jungle, a 10 acre organic garden in Tutong run by only three government workers. … Continue reading Compost and Organic Gardening in Brunei

I was very excited to process my visa for the ICMA YSEALY Professional Fellows Program. This means, my dream comes true. I remember when I was 10 years old, back in my home village, which is 100 miles away from the town city. Once in a while there was an airplane flying over our house. … Continue reading What it looks like when the first time receiving a U.S. visa

Finally arrived after an inconvenient snowstorm in hometown Denver delayed us before we ever got off the ground; just enough to miss the connection to Hong Kong and then Brunei. Delays long forgotten after being warmly welcomed by Nabilah and with each successive meeting here. A morning meeting with the Department of Environment, Parks and … Continue reading Brunei: small in land, but big-hearted people

On Friday morning, March 4th, Aprianto and I visited the Merauke Regency Government office that handles infrastructure planning.  We met with two planners, Samuel and James, and their manager.  I shared information about Charles County and our government structure.  We discussed enforcement challenges experienced in the Merauke region when multiple provinces share resources and have … Continue reading A week in Merauke, the eastern most city in Indonesia

Myinmu’s Administrator Let me first profess my love for the people of Myanmar! Everyone I have met is kind, welcoming, and genuinely friendly! Meeting with local officials in Myanmar has been both a pleasure and an honor. The nation is a very young democracy. As we know, the business of building consensus and moving forward … Continue reading Different Continents; Similar Challenges!

The last few days I’ve met many people from government directorates and NGOs throughout Jakarta. I’ve shared about Charles County, our government, the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (WPRP) functions, the Chesapeake Bay Program and the restoration effort in the Bay watershed. I’ve learned about the current goals of the Directorates of Forestry and Conservation, … Continue reading From Jakarta to Merauke

My journey to Indonesia began on a red eye flight bound for Hong Kong at 12:15am on Friday, February 22nd.    Two flights, multiple time zone crossings, and twenty-four hours later I arrived in Jakarta at 1:30pm local time on Saturday.  After a quick taxi ride, I arrived at my hotel in Central Jakarta.  I spent … Continue reading Hello Jakarta, the first few days…