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renjie says...

Nov 23, 2009

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Efren Peñaflorida named CNN Hero of the Year

Efren Peñaflorida of the Philippines was named CNN Hero of the Year 2009 last night, at a gala event taped before an audience of 3,000 people at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

In his acceptance speech, Peñaflorida acknowledged the work that his co-volunteers put into the Dynamic Teen Company, an organization that provides Filipino youth in slum areas an alternative to gang membership, through education programs. Peñaflorida will receive a $100,000 grant to continue his work with the Dynamic Teen Company.

"Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream, as I am the change that I dream, and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be. Mabuhay."

Sincere congratulations to Peñaflorida, as well as to everyone who made it to the CNN Heroes top 10 from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations.

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renjie says...

Oct 13, 2009

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A Return to the Philippines

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A_Return_to_the_Philippines.zip (5780 KB)

(The above photos are courtesy of my friend Dyan Pascual, Boston: The Big Picture, Flickr, BBC and the Definitely Filipino group on Facebook)

I came across the first picture in the above photo gallery a couple of weeks ago when my friend Dyan Pascual in the Philippines posted it on Facebook in the direct aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana (also known as Ondoy in the Philippines). And since then, I have not been able to stop thinking about what happened to the little boy attempting to float in a bucket in the flooded waters.

In case you missed it, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Ketsana towards the end of September, and no sooner had the rains cleared leaving a warpath of large flooded areas, destroyed homes, thousands stranded, hundreds dead and millions of dollars worth of damage, did Typhoon Parma make its way to the Philippines shortly thereafter. Entire villages were flooded triggering deadly landslides, the worst it has ever been in the Philippines in over forty years. In total, over 600 people have been killed and according to government officials, an estimated 300,000 people remain displaced or in shelters. It seems that in the weeks following the floods, fears of water-borne diseases are growing due to the stagnant, rancid and infested water left behind.

The use of social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Youtube played a big role in keeping communication lines open, as communication by telephone was rendered impossible due to the floods. Google has set up a resource page for the victims of Typhoon Ketsana, and students from Ateneo de Manila University have set up a Wiki allowing people to post information on missing persons as well. Suffice to say, social media has played a critical role in documenting the impact and extent of the floods and landslides, as well as helping to rally people together to help their fellow countrymen affected by Mother Nature's fury.

It seems that parts of Asia and the South Pacific were not spared either, as an earthquake rocked Indonesia around the same time period, a tsunami devastated American Samoa, and southern India saw the worst rain and floods in more than a century.

A return to the Philippines. But what would it take?

There is a reason why I decided to write a blog post on the state of calamity in the Philippines. A part of it has to do with the sympathy vote. Of course, if you are moved and are able, please feel free to donate both online as well as in-kind using the resources page listed on Google.

However, a larger part of it has to do with my wrestling with the notion of returning to the Philippines. With the advent of Typhoons Ketsana and Parma in recent weeks, I am beginning to seriously consider taking the leap and moving to the Philippines within the next year or so. And yet, the sticking point always revolves around the notion of impact, and what "good" can I really do for the Philippines when I am there?

I have friends who upon graduating from university in Canada as recently as this past year, decided to move to Hong Kong or mainland China to live and work, as a result of lower costs of living, a surging economy and to pursue opportunities that were simply not found in North America. And many of them were of Chinese descent as well.

Given all of this, the one question that comes to mind when put into context is,

"What would it take for young Filipino graduates/professionals who grew up and studied abroad, to go back to the Philippines to contribute to ensuring a robust economy and a resilient society?"

It certainly may be a lack of perceived opportunities in the country. However, there is the example of Filipino social entrepreneur, Efren Penaflorida, recently recognized by CNN Heroes for his work with Dynamic Teen Company in providing Filipino youth in slum areas an alternative to gang membership through education programs, that has convinced me that there is no shortage of opportunities in the country to make a difference.

On a side note, please take a moment to vote for Efren Penaflorida for the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year

But is making a difference enough? What about the practical and financial aspects of moving to the Philippines?

Sadly, I don't have the answers to the questions posed above just yet. However, I have always imagined what it would be like if my fellow (young) Filipino peers, who lived, grew up and studied abroad as a result of the Filipino Diaspora, and are now young professionals in a wide range of sectors and industries, returned in massive numbers to the country of our parents' homeland.

I know that this is not as simple as it may seem, given the economics of the situation as outlined by Bong Amora in his brilliant blog post on the Filipino Diaspora (the blog post is a bit dated, but still brilliant nonetheless)

I know that there has to be a solution.

Returning to the Philippines.

What would it take? Hmm...

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims affected by the natural disasters, not only in the Philippines, but across Asia and the south pacific as well.

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Pt (mind the capital "P") says...

Sep 28, 2009

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‘Ondoy’ death toll reaches 100: NDCC - More help required...

MANILA, Philippines - The official death toll from tropical storm "Ondoy" climbed to a hundred on Monday as the National Disaster Coordinating Council shifted its efforts to "massive" relief operations, making sure food was delivered to relief centers close to areas in the capital worst hit by the storm.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. announced that while rescue efforts were still ongoing, the NDCC started delivering food and other goods early Monday morning to relief centers for distribution by local government units to flood victims.

In an earlier briefing Monday, Dr. Anthony Golez Jr., officer-in-charge of the Office of the Civil Defense, said the number of residents in "life and death" situation needed to be rescued may have dropped as floodwaters continued to subside.

Golez also said that some did not want rescue but merely relief goods. "Many of them don't want to leave their houses because they might lose their things,� he said.

Teodoro said the challenge now confronting the NDCC was how to dispense food to residents who still refuse to leave their homes submerged in mud and floodwaters.

Many survivors fumed in anger when no government help came as they hung on for dear life while water and mud swallowed up their homes on Saturday.

"We feel their pain and anger but it is physically impossible to reach everyone but we will help them as soon as we can,� Teodoro told reporters in an interview Monday.

Two days after Ondoy dumped heavy rains on Metro Manila, 100 people were reported dead, 32 missing, five injured and 115,990 sent to 205 evacuation centers.

The NDCC also pegged initial cost of damages suffered by the capital and its neighboring provinces at P108.9 million. But Defense Undersecretary Antonio Romero II said the figure would drastically increase when private properties have already been accounted for.

Starting Monday morning, helicopters dispatched for the distribution of goods to relief centers continuously flew in and out of Camp Aguinaldo.

To fast track the distribution of relief goods to worst hit areas, specifically Cainta and Pasig City, Teodoro has also established an advanced command center in Ever Gotesco mall in Cainta, which will serve as drop-off point for relief goods.

The advanced command center at the Ever Gotesco mall was the nearest to flood victims in Cainta and Pasig City.

So far, the NDCC and the Department of Social Welfare and Development have spent P4.67 million worth of rice, family packs and other relief items. Teodoro said the DSWD has set aside another P20 million for relief efforts.

"But there is going to be probably more needed as it is," said Teodoro, adding that the government has not yet tapped international help for lack of "accurate basis" for doing so.

The NDCC has dispatched across Metro Manila two rapid assessment teams to evaluate whether the government could shoulder further costs for relief goods and other rehabilitation efforts.

"The teams have been dispatched to find out what the government should do about water and sanitation, health, and food and non-food items and if the government has the capability to address these things," said Golez.

The teams were composed of the OCD, the DSWD, the Department of Health and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

via newsinfo.inquirer.net

For International Donors, go straight to Red Cross PH through Paypal http://bit.ly/3PKdUM. Here are other sites where you can also easily donate http://bit.ly/wDbJj , http://bit.ly/2OzLZ0 , http:/.../bit.ly/4bjCsW and MyAyala http://bit.ly/3zH5Tu

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Pt (mind the capital "P") says...

Sep 28, 2009

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Help us help others...: Request for Aid and Donations for Filipino Flooding Victims

A typhoon - codenamed Ondoy/Ketsana - has left millions of people in Manila across all demographic/socio-economic classes homeless. The flashfloods which inundated the Metro Manila area and nearby provinces in the Central Luzon, our main island, is the worst that flooding in the last half-century. In less than 6 hours, more than 24 hours' worth of continuous rain poured.

Cars were helpless - and in some areas of Manila, three-storey houses went underwater. Even the landed middle class and actors reportedly needed to be rescued by helicopters and speed boats.

But more than that, we are very much concerned about those who live in the slums and who call the streets their home. Street kids and families who live on 'karitons' (carts) are a grave concern, too.

In behalf of my Filipino brothers and sisters, I would like to request for your kindness to please help these victims.

International Donors can easily donate at http://bit.ly/wDbJj , http://bit.ly/2OzLZ0 , http://bit.ly/4bjCsW , MyAyala http://bit.ly/3zH5Tu or Paypal http://bit.ly/3PKdUM

Other alternatives which you may consider:

The Red Cross offices in your respective countries would also be able to help should you wish to donate through them.

Catholic and Christian Churches, and Buddhist associations may have their respective activities aimed at helping the victims of typhoon. You can approach them.

For those in the US, please call: please call the American Red Cross at 1.800.435.7669 (1.800.HELP.NOW)

Please help us - not just in rebuilding homes - but hopes.

Help us save lives.

Please.

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kevinsteady says...

Sep 16, 2009

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Dear Mr. President by Pink

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I just saw a video on Facebook, E PLURIBUS UNUM: Noynoy Aquino produced by the Tromans Production. The video used Pink's Dear Mr. President but instead of Mr. President it is replaced with Mrs. President to put it into a Philippine context. Follow the link to watch E PLURIBUS UNUM http://ow.ly/ptm2

I included in this post the video of Pink with the Indigo Girls performing the song.

Music has an amazing way of transcending all boundaries and contexts. It was performed 2 years ago to paint a picture for the American people about their government with George W. Bush at the helm.

And now through E PLURIBUS UNUM http://ow.ly/ptm2 it's being used to deliver a point about our current Philippine government and to show us that we have a choice.

Dear Mr. President
Pinkk feat. the Indigo Girls

Dear Mr. President,
Come take a walk with me.
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me.
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly.

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
Are you proud?

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why?

Dear Mr. President,
Were you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
How can you say
No child is left behind?
We're not dumb and we're not blind.
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell.

What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away?
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye?

Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Dear Mr. President,
You'd never take a walk with me.
Would you?

Here's to good food, fine wine, and great company!

Kevin Cabanban
kevincabanban@gmail.com
http://www.twitter.com/KevinSteady

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