Eat All You Can Rice

Volunteerism alive amidst typhoon in Manila

2009-10-01T22:51:00.008+08:00

2009-07-06T17:41:00.004+08:00

I am a rocker.
I am a fan.
I am a lover.
I am like the sun.

Global Xchange Team 71

2008-10-04T19:50:00.010+08:00

It was around December 2007 when I first encountered half of the Global Xchange team who is going to Newham in the UK and Iligan in the Phililppines. Days after, I met three of the British volunteers on a supervision with Victoria. I had impressions both good and not-so-good. I felt I needed to control myself from judging people, so I was conscious for the next few months about making sure I have the right attitude for a bunch of young, very energetic people coming from two different sides of the globe.

There was Dee who I thought was a typical English girl who appeared to me as very young and outgoing. She's probably the most energetic in the team and I took some of the energy from her all throughout the six months. I liked her enthusiasm. I could not forget the day when she approached me and Victoria and complained about ants and the physical adjustments of heat and having a tiny room and with people staring at her because she is white, and everything she went through with her Filipino host home. She ended up loving them and missing Nanay Fely and the family now!

My first encounter of Ferg was surreal. I thought he was a happy man trying to please his Programme Supervisors about his interests on poverty and the peace situation in Mindanao. He was very interested about Mindanao social issues at the ITC to begin with and I had no clue if he was indeed real or probably just on a high with something. Ferg is the kindest and most polite individual I have met in this world. He is truly a superb man with a huge heart.

Catherine is somebody I considered very academic. I thought she was very like me when I just finished university. She has a very strong perspective in life and I envy her honesty to herself. She was probably responsible for making sure that all of the Filipinos including myself had opportunities of touring around London and the big places to see. And I look forward to her contributions at GCDs!

Dom for me is an adventurer. I thought he wasn't interested so much with Global Xchange and that he was in the programme to travel for free. But Dom has inspired me in a lot of ways. He has definitely influenced me with his very strong perspectives against American influences in the Philippines, which I found very interesting and sometimes, amusing. And he's in New York now. I'm missing his ways of making things easy for the team.

Rebecca is the Scottish girl who worked hard at her VP in the UK and equally in her work placement in the Philippines. I honestly told myself that in this programme, she'll probably get the first written warning. I don't know why I thought of that! Nevertheless, she ended up to be one of the most passionate individuals in the team. She is very dependable and her work ethic is very apparent in our MPR in Camiguin Island. She can be a very good PS, too!

Tom and sometimes I call him Tomas to make it sound more Filipino, is a combination of a serious and a funny face. I admired his way of approaching at a problem and his way of celebrating victories. He was very competitive during the programme and I liked him for that as it made the whole Team 71 journey more felt. He argued a lot and loved debating. He is a gay-charmer in the Philippines and you should see him react to all his gay-fans in Mindanao. See you soon, Tomas!

Hannah is a fun-loving person. She is very bubbly and she laughs at my corny jokes. She has certainly inspired me in so many different ways and I envy her kindness and her simplicity. Her view of the world is fresh and it gives me a wonderful sense of what is reality. She immersed so much in the Filipino culture and our way of living and the Philippines loved her for that!

Ruth is probably the most quiet but for me she can be a very good PS in the making. She puts her views on the table with so much confidence and when she talks, we listen. She helped us address some very challenging issues without necessarily putting people on the spot. She was our belly-dance entertainer and teacher.

One thing I will never forget about Becs is her rendition of Paa-Tuhod-Balikat-Ulo during the ICO in Streatley. She was paired with a Filipino male counterpart in the programme. She is a Club Zinc frequent and a total party girl but with a big heart for children who are hearing impaired. Iligan won't be the same without her vibrance and energy!

Last but not the least is my counterpart Victoria. She is a perfect example of kindness and goodness personified. She helped me with a lot of things and I consider her one of my most valued friends in the planet. I certainly miss her and I miss the person that I was because of her!

I hope to see all of you again soon and I want to let you know that you all have changed my life!

I am no good at one thing

2008-03-03T06:27:00.000+08:00

Today must have been the most difficult and most stressful day of my 2008, so far. And, I don't mean work or something about my professional aspirations. I came to office excited for something I don't know. I thought I just wanted to finish all the pending papers on my desk and feel relieved at the end of the day. Not until, a text from my mom.

I got all the answers I needed. I got all the explanations I wanted to get. But I think I'm not ready for them. Not ready to know the truth and not fully ready to accept that something is, and will be permanent from now on. Mom and dad broke up. Mom left. Dad is taking the responsibilities. Dad knew something after. Mom explained. Dad didn't want any word. Mom, has finally gave me the answers. She gave me answers I never wanted to hear.

I thought I was strong enough to handle pains in all shapes and forms. I thought so. I felt my super-powers went ahead of me and failed to save my day. I am no good at one thing. I am no good at saving my own family.

Wherever you are mom, I hate what you did but I will love you for the rest of my lifetime.

2007-11-03T15:43:00.000+08:00

2007-02-16T17:25:00.000+08:00

My first time in the UK wasn't really as surprising as I thought it to be. Europe is a fab place to enjoy and spend money but with all the jaw-dropping sceneries, I couldn't help taking photos and saving money for home.

Let doing good be our religion!

2007-02-16T17:14:00.000+08:00

Here's a post about my beloved Global Xchange volunteers and their fundraising efforts. For more information, please check out http://thekindnessrevolution.blogspot.com.

"The best things in life are those that don't come with a price tag, but in an effort to raise funds, we would like to match every donation (coupons come in P100, P300, P500, and P1000 denominations) with a good deed. Wash a stranger's car, sing someone a song, feed a hungry soul on the street, take you out for a walk, send a snail mail of thanks, say a prayer for the world. It's up to you, really. We could solicit and ask the bigwigs, corporate sectors, etc for money but we would rather appeal to the longing in everyday people's hearts to open the door to those who come knocking. We promise to repay your generosity with kindness, and hey, you get to choose what good deed it is we do. This project will benefit and is an initiative by a group of multicultural youth volunteers that aims to make a real difference, make concrete contributions to developing communities, and fight multi-faceted global poverty. Your help will help us help others. Let us unite and rock this kindness revolution!"

For events where you're sure to find a volunteer with Kindness Revolution coupons, waiting for your good deed task, please contact Jay Neil Ancheta at +639177878887."

New Work. New House. New Life.

2006-11-07T15:39:00.000+08:00

Four years in my previous job and all it took me to leave was a chance to live my dream in volunteering and joining VSO Bahaginan. I met VSO some years back when I managed a Ayala Foundation's volunteerism program in Visayas and Mindanao. I thought it was just a casual meeting. I thought it will be a plain and a simple opportunity of knowing the organization and what it does for volunteering and in fighting global poverty, but I was wrong. The chance to meet them and to know their advocacies was my best time to stop and to just think about my direction.

I finally joined VSO Bahaginan as GXP Supervisor last October 16. GXP stands for Global Xchange Programme and like in my previous entries below, GXP is an interesting youth programme that promotes volunteerism among young people. It is an interesting feat for me as I am passionate about youth volunteering and in finding other creative ways to make the youth more involved. I am a youth myself and knowing the potentials of GXP in harnessing the youth and contributing to communities, I am sure we will go a long way!

Part of my movement to VSO is creating a new home. Not the work home, but the literal home where I can stay in Manila. I actually just live nearby like P6.00-away from jeepney. My house-hunting took me almost a week and I could not complain for more because I admit, I am choosy. Not so because I was looking for something grand, but because I suffer from a terrible disorder - obssesion-compulsion.

Well, life has to move on and I am happy that my moving on manifests all the positive energies, so far. I apologize if the title gets overly-dramatic but I cannot think of any. This is surely not just about having a new life.

I will then update you, once my life-batteries fail. I certainly hope not.

Global Xchange Programme

2006-10-25T13:04:00.000+08:00

Free Hugs

2006-09-28T15:34:00.000+08:00

Inspired by the message of this campaign. If only I could do something similar in my own town. But why not?

Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann. A man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug strangers to brighten up their lives. In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs Campaign became phenomenal. As this symbol of human hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs Campaign banned. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the spirit of the Free Hugs Campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person, IT WILL CERTAINLY DO A LOT!

Check them out at http://www.freehugscampaign.org.

My Peanut Butter Society

2006-09-14T16:45:00.000+08:00

This is not a typical society nor only about food and the craving for nuts. This has something to do with homemade Peanut Butter, though.

Some years back when I came to decide for a work in Cebu, life was a little crazy. I started getting fat and becoming lazy. I was on bed most of the time trying to get that much needed sleep. This is the time when I met my jar of Peanut Butter.

Peanut Butter today is remarkably like that made 100 years ago. It contains, by law, a minimum of 90% peanuts, with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives. Some brands add about 7% natural sweeteners and 1% salt for taste, plus a stabilizer to keep the Peanut Butter fresh and the oil from separating. Old-fashioned or natural Peanut Butter does not have the stabilizer, thus, the oil will separate and should be stirred back in before using. Peanut butter does not need to be refrigerated.

This is when it all started. This is when I met friends who I treasure like siblings and like sandwich and like Peanut Butter. They have made my life gummy and nuts. My Peanut Butter Society is composed of people who are blessed with kindness and the spirit to just be there when you need them the most.

Lalai is a youthful little girl who is the future attorney-at-law in the group. She embodies the uncommon government employee who is hated and envied by common government employees. All she does for spare time is read and buy shoes for her little feet. She is a certified-public-accountant, not to mention.

Lala is the common wise lass who laughs and giggles like every funny character in Sex and the City. She has a brave persona but has lost romanticism, as far as I could relate. She hoards money and rubber shoes. Her predictable night life is spent with officemates and friends from her undergraduate. With her around, society never ceases to laugh.

Maya is the conventional-type who enjoys marriage. She is the fragile but the athletic-type who loves the company of her room and pajamas, as I often see her. Her grace is beyond feminist ideologies.

Raffy is the audacious and foolhardy-member mixed with a little of ignorance or innocence or sometimes both. His self-assured character brought him close to jail once upon a time. He transforms complicated situations into something like we call effortless and unproblematic.

Pia Pie as we fondly call her is the absentee-member whom I admire for keeping good friendships and patiently sending forwarded messages that will leave me laughing until I probably cum. She amazes me with the impression that this world needs smiling people. She never fails to get in touch and will always do, whether online or as far as Manila.

This is my family of Peanut Butter. Membership is exclusive and limited to those who do not care about peanut calories and peanut oil and heart attacks. We are always on hospital-mode. Afterall, friendships are born not only because friends are different, but because we have one thing in common – we love Peanut Butter – and beyond that, we go to sleep and wake up understanding that even if we run out of the butter, we still have each other!

2006-09-12T14:27:00.000+08:00

Interview in Manila

2006-09-12T10:18:00.000+08:00

I didn't really feel okay going to work now. I just felt strange and wanting to just stay home and spend the whole day with tv and perhaps, a little chat with housemates. I didn't spend my weekend like others. Spending a Sunday in Manila and flying back to Cebu the next day is completely exhausting.

I was in Manila for an interview with VSO Bahaginan. VSO Bahaginan offers a unique opportunity for qualified and experienced Filipino professionals to share their skills with the disadvantaged people of other developing countries. And like in my previous experience with VSO, I was grounded and my humility soared like I had not been obnoxious at times. It was a fun-filled interview. I was scared, though and feeling I had to prove my worth. Afterall, it was for a job that I knew I was called for.

Global Xchange Project is a project under Connecting Futures that aims to build mutual respect and understanding between young people and to encourage attitudes that will enable them to become active citizens in an increasingly global world. The project was introduced in the Philippines in March 2005. A team of 8 young Filipinos have been chosen to take part in the exchange. They have been chosen to reflect diversity in terms of geography, ethnicity, ability, education and gender. Together with eight other young British counterparts from the UK, they lived in host homes and worked as volunteers in host communities.

My first-ever encounter with VSO granted me a scholarship to join the Volunteer Program Development and Management Course in the South East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute. I joined delegates from the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, South Africa and Vanuatu in last September in learning techniques on how to identify and manage community involvement structures in various settings. Recognizing the importance of the roles of volunteers in development, the training course was specifically designed to help organizations, volunteer managers and advocates to formulate systems and procedures necessary in managing volunteers and sustaining its contribution to the ongoing process of development. The course proved to be useful for participants who are in the process of developing a volunteer program; those who wish to work with volunteers directly and; those who would like to set up a formal structure and systems that would facilitate the processes of volunteering effectively and efficiently.

Going back to the job, I only hope for the best! Whatever happens, life has to go on whether I get the job or not!

2006-09-08T17:42:00.000+08:00

Did you just contribute to the dying of Mother Earth?

This interesting photo courtesy of Haribon Foundation

Precious Little Angels

2006-05-02T16:56:00.000+08:00

Something about these children inspires me to believe that afterall, this world is meant for them. I will forever treasure my experience with the kids of Bukidnon and their seemingly unproblematic smile, innocence and honesty.

You gave me the experience that will surely last a lifetime!

Will it take me forever to find you?

2006-04-28T18:46:00.000+08:00

Will it take me forever to find you? Been wondering lately.

Thinking... Imagining... Just that.

But whatever happens, whatever comes, I will embrace every daylight with a smile. I just have to keep on and say, "It might not be worth my time now, but soon it will be." Not a lame excuse, but the way I face it.

Desperate? No, not!

Will it take me forever to find you? I hope not!

What if people stop caring?

2006-04-28T18:21:00.000+08:00

Just today, I learned something strange - something very humanistic and thought provoking. Something I learned alongside grasping deep thoughts with a glass of orange juice and emptiness in mind. This is not advocacy. Perhaps just random thoughts with some need to translate beyond what this author can sense. You might want to add on and comment and like for most people now, ignore.

I had a sudden urge to write and decode this brain wave into something tangible and comprehensible. I knew I wasn’t going to convince anybody. My business is not wrath, it is humility. My intent reigns not in the future but now. I wanted you to know something about caring. Pretty deep and vague thought but you know what I mean.

My recent reviews and deleting of old emails brought my attention to a passage of an old Sufi saying, “Past the beggar and the suffering walk he who asks, ‘why, oh God, do you not do something for these people?’ To which God replied, ‘I did something, I made you.’”

The moment I read I knew I was on for some apprehension. Things might be ordinary just before this but who knows, this is the exact cause God wanted me to learn.

What if people stop caring? What if everyone just gets numb to the feeling of helping? What if we were just to keep on and become callous citizens, hardhearted and like spineless?

Do you see a world? Do you at least see a community? Stop caring and you’ll never see them again.