11 Nov 2008. 6.24 a.m. Here in Johor Bahru, 5 hours from Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. I arrived here with the Habitat team two days ago. I am here with Tony and Patrick. Our mission: to look for partner organizations that could identify where we could start our program here to either repair or build houses with relatively disadvantaged households.
Our first contact was with Timothy Li, senior pastor of the Awe Charisma Tabernacle. We met him by the road and he promptly led us to an eatery and bought us lunch consisting of fish, fried chicken and some veggies. It was actually lunch at 3 pm. Then he brought us to his church on a hill.
His story reminded me of what Fr. Acong did in Apad, in my home province, Quezon, in the Philippines. He raised funds over a 5-year period mainly through his family and contributions from his flock. The two-story building could house 250 people during church service conducted in English, Bahasa, and Nepalese. Apparently, some workers from Nepal have become converts.
When the good Pastor, in his late Fifties judging from his youthful looks, brought us to the upper floor where his office is located, we saw in another room several members of the choir or band apparently in a practice session. Lucy, a Filipino, and her daughter and son, were there and greeted us enthusiastically.
In the meeting with the Pastor, he told us in detail how he was able to raise almost RM400,000 to build the church from the savings of the church-goers who were mostly of Indian origin. He himself is Indo-Malaysian. His next big plan is to build an orphanage at the back of the two-acre property that his church had bought out of their savings.
Yesterday, we travelled by car for two hours to a township outside Johor. The place is called Pontian. We went into one of the interior villages and met with Ken Kwan, his wife Tan Suan Chen, and their 9 children. I could not see any neighbor in this Malay village. They are the only Chinese family in this Malay village. It was quite courageous of them to move from KL to a remote place like this. With the help of some friends from KL, the couple built a house from second hand construction materials of two houses which were torn down.
Their house looks spacious enough for a big family like theirs. To survive, the family grow vegetables on their two-acre lot. Their children range in age from 16 to 6 months. Ken and his wife remembered Tony as their pastor more than 12 years ago in another place in Malaysia. They even remembered one his sermons.
It turned out Ken is himself a Pastor but without a congregation yet. How he will raise and grow his flock is still a dream. Meanwhile, he agreed to be our contact person in this remote place. He brought us to his Malay friend, who prefers to be called Boy. Boy showed us the foundations of the house he has been building for the last eight years to replace the crumbling wooden structure they inherited from their great great grandfather.
He said he would save enough and partner with Habitat in getting the house done. Tony estimates the house will cost around RM18,000. We told Boy we would exert efforts to help him and demonstrate to other Malay families how we all could work together to address their housing needs.
Then we rushed back to Johor where we met with Michael Yeo, senior pastor of the Church of Praise, and Steven, their accountant. They showed us a 10,000 sq. m. lot which belongs to their church. The piece of land is overlooking squatter communities along the Sungai Danga river. Michael says we can collaborate on building a community center here in which both Habitat and their church can manage to provide services to the families across the road, along the river. It is an ideal site for a Habitat Resource Center which can train unemployed youth from nearby communities on house construction skills so they themselves can repair or build houses for target households.
We went back to the hotel with gratitude in our hearts. Those Pastors had made our day.
Cheers!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Journey I Have Been (2)
25 October 2008. 6.47 pm. Here in Kepong, a rapidly urbanizing suburb of Kuala Lumpur. From Petaling Jaya, I moved to this apartment last 20 July, a day before we opened the new national office of Habitat for Humanity Malaysia here.
Did not have lunch. Had late breakfast and decided I would just spend most of the day holed up here in my unit at the 7th floor. Trying to finish the first of two reports I have to submit soonest so I can concentrate on preparing for other urgent things before the National Board meets again.
Actually I just arrived back to KL last Thursday after a few days’ break in the Philippines. Was able to make it to the launch of a book in memory of Monsignor Acong Sevilla who died a year ago. The book was a compilation of articles written by people who knew him. It includes some articles written by him, too. Mil Sevilla-Reyes, his sister and my high school classmate, put in so much energy, time and emotions seeing through the collection, editing and printing of articles to produce the book. “A labor of love,” she says. A tribute to someone whose work she was not so familiar with, having spent most her time abroad with commitments of her own.
She appeared spent during the program to launch the book. The event was attended by more than a hundred people from all sectors: the church people and representatives of lay organizations; Mil’s class 58 classmates; the people of Apad, Calauag who were organized by Msgr. Acong into MSK (Munting Sambayanang Kristiyano); unfamiliar faces from everywhere. Sometime in their lives they must have known him.
Mil asked me to speak and I obliged, basically answering two questions she asked me to reply to in public: a) why did I suggest to her to document Msgr.Acong’s life, and b) why did I come three times when when he was in the hospital and during his wake. It was meant to be only for three minutes but I blabbered on and on until Mil motioned me to stop.
I felt good hours after the program. I was able to say what I had wanted to say all along: that Msgr. Acong does not belong to the Sevilla family anymore, but to the growing community of development workers out there who continue to sacrifice their lives reaching poor people in remote villages with assistance and a profound message of hope about trying to help each other out during times of need and distress.
I felt good for the initial hours, but wondered as the night wore on what was I really trying to say. Did I say what I said intending to inspire awe among the audience who came their in the first place because they had been part of Msgr. Acong’s almost impossible mission to build churches physically and erect temples of peace and joy and forgiveness in the hearts of those of are most deprived of life’s goods and benefits. Or was I only trying to portray an image of myself as a committed idealist and only use the occasion to feed my own ego? Why speak at all about the friends who perished in a futile struggle against what we thought as social injustice? Why talk at all about those years I chose not remember at all?
I had the eerie feeling nobody was really listening except my friends Rem and Kits. Mil and her family were too tired preparing for the book and its launch that they seemed not to hear anything at all. The six former classmates of ours from our high school Class 58 were more interested in getting our group picture taken. Or so I thought. I could be wrong.
Again, as always, my mistake was in taking too seriously occasions such as this. I could just simply thank the Sevilla family for giving me an opportunity to contribute an article to the book. Probably say a thing or two about how I have come to admire Msgr. Acong’s dedication which has resulted to hundreds of neighborhood associations to bloom. He succeeded where the underground left failed miserably. But, again, this would be opening up a well of memories I was determined to ignore.
And so I cried as I struggled to end what was meant to be a simple gesture of thanking the Sevilla family for allowing me to say what I failed to say to Msgr. Acong when he was still alive.
Again, the ego stood in the way of communicating what I needed to be saying in memory of someone who preached Christ’s teachings with his own life.
Goodbye good Fr. Acong. May the people of the Bondoc Peninsular continue your crusade for a better life in those places too remote for politicians and government workers to reach. In those places, a fierce battle is raging for the hearts and minds of the people and the Church seems to be winning largely because of Fr. Acong’s passion and commitment.
Did not have lunch. Had late breakfast and decided I would just spend most of the day holed up here in my unit at the 7th floor. Trying to finish the first of two reports I have to submit soonest so I can concentrate on preparing for other urgent things before the National Board meets again.
Actually I just arrived back to KL last Thursday after a few days’ break in the Philippines. Was able to make it to the launch of a book in memory of Monsignor Acong Sevilla who died a year ago. The book was a compilation of articles written by people who knew him. It includes some articles written by him, too. Mil Sevilla-Reyes, his sister and my high school classmate, put in so much energy, time and emotions seeing through the collection, editing and printing of articles to produce the book. “A labor of love,” she says. A tribute to someone whose work she was not so familiar with, having spent most her time abroad with commitments of her own.
She appeared spent during the program to launch the book. The event was attended by more than a hundred people from all sectors: the church people and representatives of lay organizations; Mil’s class 58 classmates; the people of Apad, Calauag who were organized by Msgr. Acong into MSK (Munting Sambayanang Kristiyano); unfamiliar faces from everywhere. Sometime in their lives they must have known him.
Mil asked me to speak and I obliged, basically answering two questions she asked me to reply to in public: a) why did I suggest to her to document Msgr.Acong’s life, and b) why did I come three times when when he was in the hospital and during his wake. It was meant to be only for three minutes but I blabbered on and on until Mil motioned me to stop.
I felt good hours after the program. I was able to say what I had wanted to say all along: that Msgr. Acong does not belong to the Sevilla family anymore, but to the growing community of development workers out there who continue to sacrifice their lives reaching poor people in remote villages with assistance and a profound message of hope about trying to help each other out during times of need and distress.
I felt good for the initial hours, but wondered as the night wore on what was I really trying to say. Did I say what I said intending to inspire awe among the audience who came their in the first place because they had been part of Msgr. Acong’s almost impossible mission to build churches physically and erect temples of peace and joy and forgiveness in the hearts of those of are most deprived of life’s goods and benefits. Or was I only trying to portray an image of myself as a committed idealist and only use the occasion to feed my own ego? Why speak at all about the friends who perished in a futile struggle against what we thought as social injustice? Why talk at all about those years I chose not remember at all?
I had the eerie feeling nobody was really listening except my friends Rem and Kits. Mil and her family were too tired preparing for the book and its launch that they seemed not to hear anything at all. The six former classmates of ours from our high school Class 58 were more interested in getting our group picture taken. Or so I thought. I could be wrong.
Again, as always, my mistake was in taking too seriously occasions such as this. I could just simply thank the Sevilla family for giving me an opportunity to contribute an article to the book. Probably say a thing or two about how I have come to admire Msgr. Acong’s dedication which has resulted to hundreds of neighborhood associations to bloom. He succeeded where the underground left failed miserably. But, again, this would be opening up a well of memories I was determined to ignore.
And so I cried as I struggled to end what was meant to be a simple gesture of thanking the Sevilla family for allowing me to say what I failed to say to Msgr. Acong when he was still alive.
Again, the ego stood in the way of communicating what I needed to be saying in memory of someone who preached Christ’s teachings with his own life.
Goodbye good Fr. Acong. May the people of the Bondoc Peninsular continue your crusade for a better life in those places too remote for politicians and government workers to reach. In those places, a fierce battle is raging for the hearts and minds of the people and the Church seems to be winning largely because of Fr. Acong’s passion and commitment.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Journey I Have Been (1)
Here in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, at the border with KL. Have stayed here since 04 April this year. Krishnamoorthy, chief reporter of The Star, offered me the annex of his house to serve temporarily as office of Habitat Malaysia National Office and also as my residence.
Last night, Krishna and I went to the launching of the book "Malays" by Syed Hussin Ali, noted Malaysian intellectual, who now serves as vice president of the opposition political party that won here in Selangor State. He actually wrote this book thirty years ago while under detention. The book that was launched last night was the revised version.
Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, was there to formally launch the book. In his speech, he stressed the message that the country is now on the road to creating opportunities not only for Malays, but also for non-Malay people. He said this is the only way to move forward.
Tan Sri Dato Ramon Navaratnam, trustee of Habitat Malaysia, was also in that jampacked hall of Armada Hotel. Krishna and I greeted him and after the event, we met a restaurant near our place. After partaking of thosae and talking about the need for Habitat to be more visible by repairing houses, he asked about our temporary office and we brought him here.
He even went to the main house and to the kitchen adjoining our office. He suggested that perhaps there should be a separate kitchen for the Annex, not really for me but for future tenants.
During the past two weeks, the 73-year old author of nine books and corporate adviser of Sunway Conglomerate has been chasing me to go after our contacts among the MPs, members of State Assemblies, NGOs, community groups to find out where the makeshift houses are and do something about these houses. Unfortunately, in the villages in Bandar Sunway and neighbouring areas, the squatter communities had been cleared. There are makeshift houses in the city, but these are scheduled to be torn down in a year or two as the KL government implements a new plan for low-cost housing.
We promised him we would continue to look for makeshift houses to repair in and around KL, but our volunteers say most of the makeshift houses are outside metropolitan KL.
Today, I will spend Father's Day in Sungai Buloh, a township less than an hour by road from Petaling Jaya. Ambrose Saminathan, president of an Indian Association, invited us to see some families living in makeshift houses. Tony Tan will pick me up here at 9.30 a.m.
The search goes on.
Last night, Krishna and I went to the launching of the book "Malays" by Syed Hussin Ali, noted Malaysian intellectual, who now serves as vice president of the opposition political party that won here in Selangor State. He actually wrote this book thirty years ago while under detention. The book that was launched last night was the revised version.
Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, was there to formally launch the book. In his speech, he stressed the message that the country is now on the road to creating opportunities not only for Malays, but also for non-Malay people. He said this is the only way to move forward.
Tan Sri Dato Ramon Navaratnam, trustee of Habitat Malaysia, was also in that jampacked hall of Armada Hotel. Krishna and I greeted him and after the event, we met a restaurant near our place. After partaking of thosae and talking about the need for Habitat to be more visible by repairing houses, he asked about our temporary office and we brought him here.
He even went to the main house and to the kitchen adjoining our office. He suggested that perhaps there should be a separate kitchen for the Annex, not really for me but for future tenants.
During the past two weeks, the 73-year old author of nine books and corporate adviser of Sunway Conglomerate has been chasing me to go after our contacts among the MPs, members of State Assemblies, NGOs, community groups to find out where the makeshift houses are and do something about these houses. Unfortunately, in the villages in Bandar Sunway and neighbouring areas, the squatter communities had been cleared. There are makeshift houses in the city, but these are scheduled to be torn down in a year or two as the KL government implements a new plan for low-cost housing.
We promised him we would continue to look for makeshift houses to repair in and around KL, but our volunteers say most of the makeshift houses are outside metropolitan KL.
Today, I will spend Father's Day in Sungai Buloh, a township less than an hour by road from Petaling Jaya. Ambrose Saminathan, president of an Indian Association, invited us to see some families living in makeshift houses. Tony Tan will pick me up here at 9.30 a.m.
The search goes on.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Countdown to 66
27 Mar 2008: Singapore. 6.20 a.m. Here at the lobby of YWCA. I am actually waiting for breakfast. Luc, my room-mate, is still asleep. We have different sleep habits. He sleeps late and wakes up late. I do the opposite.
I guess this is part of getting past 60. Luc is a much younger man. He jogs early evening. I can only manage to take a brisk walk down to Orchard Road, the best part of it I missed last night because I took the wrong turn. I ended up near Bercoolen road. I promptly turned back.
We are here for a workshop on individual giving and mass marketing. We have had interesting discussions since Monday. The participants, around 30, are enthusiastic about the topics. I am particularly impressed with the presentation of Jack Sim, president of the World Toilet Organization. He has done quite a job promoting globally the cause for better sanitation.
His slides on include one showing him as a boy doing the improper sanitation thing on the road. I was followed by a slide showing a very modern Singapore. He was able to put awareness about the need for proper sanitation to all significant global fora, including Davos. Impressive!
My co-participant, James Lo, of Kuching Habitat, was also quite impressed with the intensity that Jack put for his cause. He put his marketing savvy to this worthwhile cause.
I think that's at the back of everyone's mind: how to put poverty housing in the consciousness of those who have the political and economic power to make a difference. I have sensed renewed intensity on the part of my colleagues to pursue this advocacy this time armed with more marketing knowledge and insights from Usha Menon, Joseph Scaria and other resource development specialists from Habitat for Humanity.
While the sessions were going on, I was thinking about Malaysia where I am recently assigned to be Interim National Coordinator. Now I have a better idea on how to formulate a resource development plan for the National Organization and the affiliates. I am aware this assignment in Malaysia has come when I am about to turn 66.
Hope I will a few more vital things on the way to 66.
I guess this is part of getting past 60. Luc is a much younger man. He jogs early evening. I can only manage to take a brisk walk down to Orchard Road, the best part of it I missed last night because I took the wrong turn. I ended up near Bercoolen road. I promptly turned back.
We are here for a workshop on individual giving and mass marketing. We have had interesting discussions since Monday. The participants, around 30, are enthusiastic about the topics. I am particularly impressed with the presentation of Jack Sim, president of the World Toilet Organization. He has done quite a job promoting globally the cause for better sanitation.
His slides on include one showing him as a boy doing the improper sanitation thing on the road. I was followed by a slide showing a very modern Singapore. He was able to put awareness about the need for proper sanitation to all significant global fora, including Davos. Impressive!
My co-participant, James Lo, of Kuching Habitat, was also quite impressed with the intensity that Jack put for his cause. He put his marketing savvy to this worthwhile cause.
I think that's at the back of everyone's mind: how to put poverty housing in the consciousness of those who have the political and economic power to make a difference. I have sensed renewed intensity on the part of my colleagues to pursue this advocacy this time armed with more marketing knowledge and insights from Usha Menon, Joseph Scaria and other resource development specialists from Habitat for Humanity.
While the sessions were going on, I was thinking about Malaysia where I am recently assigned to be Interim National Coordinator. Now I have a better idea on how to formulate a resource development plan for the National Organization and the affiliates. I am aware this assignment in Malaysia has come when I am about to turn 66.
Hope I will a few more vital things on the way to 66.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Updates
Mar Patalinghug, BLDF member and loyal contributor to the poverty cafe website, has reminded us our website needs updating. We have explained to him we do not have a full-time webmaster. The site is maintained by the Seloterio brothers, Arnold and Ryan, on a part-time basis. They have other tasks to do and they are not paid market rates due to our current financial difficulties.
I have noticed that my last entry was on 31 Jan yet. Quite a long time ago. What I will do is just to convert this blog into a journal of sort so that we can dispense with the news section later. Looks like it's hard to supply the section with fresh materials regularly.
I will just have the updates here in my blog. Later, I will request Arnold or Ryan to put my blog where there is this news about Loon. It has been there for months, and Mar is justified in complaining about it.
Here go some updates:
INTERN FROM BOSTON COLLEGE:
Erin Hoffman, a social work graduate student from Boston College, has been on internship with BLDF since 11 January. She will work with the BLDF field support team for 8 weeks, which means her internship will be until April.
She has done quite a bit of work since her arrival. Erin has visited several municipalities and villages where the Foundation has some projects. She has been involved developing the survey methodology and questionnaire for ABCD or Assets Based Community Development, which we hope to put on wide-scale replication after the pilot phase in several villages.
Based on the initial piloting in San Isidro and Anda, she has drafted an Operations Handbook which we hope to use in a cluster of barangays or villages to demonstrate the methodology and, hopefully, develop in the process a software that will facilitate the use of assets in local-level development planning.
Tony Irving, our British IT consultant, and Rodrigo Ocarol, field operations chief, have been busy negotiating with municipalities on the replication of ABCD methodology. It is hoped that eventually we can link up the ABCD software to the PDMS (Poverty Database Monitoring Software), which was developed by BLDF based on basic needs approach.
Linking ABCD to PDMS will be quite a milestone in our quest for an effective approach to finding a tool for pro-poor targeting, as well as assets mapping, to ensure that local communities and householdds need not wait for external donors to be able to start something that will help them improve their development status.
Erin will make a profound contribution to the achievement of this milestone with her hard work on the ABCD methodology.
Habitat for Humanity Malaysia in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia is interested to use the ABCD methodology in partnership with University of Malaysia Sabah. Negotiations are underway to make the partnership possible.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT GETS NOD FROM EVALUATORS
The Sustainable Agriculture Project that BLDF implements with AusAID funding in San Isidro and Sagbayan has been cited for outstanding work with Local Government Units (LGUs). The evaluation was done by the PACAP (Philippine Australia Community Assistance Program) Secretariat.
The project team is composed of Yollie Albuladora, project coordinator, and two community organizers, Dodong Formentera and Moises Alfuerto.
BLDF PROJECT SEMI-FINALIST WORLD BANK'S PANIBAGONG PARAAN CONTEST
The Sagbayan Social Enterprise Development Project (SSEDP) has been selected as one of the semi-finalist in its Panibagong Paraan Contest.
The project seeks to match idle youth in the municipality of Sagbayan with idle land. BLDF will serve as broker to bring together the LGU and its development partners so that unemployed can be trained on sustainable agriculture and be allocated the use of idle land to implement organic agriculture projects.
Arnold Seloterio, BLDF Database Administrator, says the project will have as partners the following: the Central Visayas College of Agricultures, Forestry and Trade (CVSCAFT), the Bohol Association of Hotels and Resorts (BAHR), the Bohol Initiators for Sustainable Agricultural Develolpment (BISAD), and the Association of Concerned Landlords (ACL).
Final selection of winners will be done this April.
PDMS NEW SURVEY IN DEMAND
Updated surveys for the Poverty Database Monitoring System (PDMS) using the revised questionnaire and the latest version of the software (Version 2.1) is on the increase.
Rodrigo Ocarol, field operations chief, says that after Loon and Maribojoc, BLDF has been invited to discuss how to proceed with PDMS resurveys in Pilar, Duero and Tagbilaran. Other municipalities may soon follow.
All 47 municipalities and 1 city in Bohol province has completed PDMS surveys using earlier versions of the questionnaire and software covering more than 150,000 households.
Finally, thanks to Mar for the reminder.
I have noticed that my last entry was on 31 Jan yet. Quite a long time ago. What I will do is just to convert this blog into a journal of sort so that we can dispense with the news section later. Looks like it's hard to supply the section with fresh materials regularly.
I will just have the updates here in my blog. Later, I will request Arnold or Ryan to put my blog where there is this news about Loon. It has been there for months, and Mar is justified in complaining about it.
Here go some updates:
INTERN FROM BOSTON COLLEGE:
Erin Hoffman, a social work graduate student from Boston College, has been on internship with BLDF since 11 January. She will work with the BLDF field support team for 8 weeks, which means her internship will be until April.
She has done quite a bit of work since her arrival. Erin has visited several municipalities and villages where the Foundation has some projects. She has been involved developing the survey methodology and questionnaire for ABCD or Assets Based Community Development, which we hope to put on wide-scale replication after the pilot phase in several villages.
Based on the initial piloting in San Isidro and Anda, she has drafted an Operations Handbook which we hope to use in a cluster of barangays or villages to demonstrate the methodology and, hopefully, develop in the process a software that will facilitate the use of assets in local-level development planning.
Tony Irving, our British IT consultant, and Rodrigo Ocarol, field operations chief, have been busy negotiating with municipalities on the replication of ABCD methodology. It is hoped that eventually we can link up the ABCD software to the PDMS (Poverty Database Monitoring Software), which was developed by BLDF based on basic needs approach.
Linking ABCD to PDMS will be quite a milestone in our quest for an effective approach to finding a tool for pro-poor targeting, as well as assets mapping, to ensure that local communities and householdds need not wait for external donors to be able to start something that will help them improve their development status.
Erin will make a profound contribution to the achievement of this milestone with her hard work on the ABCD methodology.
Habitat for Humanity Malaysia in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia is interested to use the ABCD methodology in partnership with University of Malaysia Sabah. Negotiations are underway to make the partnership possible.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT GETS NOD FROM EVALUATORS
The Sustainable Agriculture Project that BLDF implements with AusAID funding in San Isidro and Sagbayan has been cited for outstanding work with Local Government Units (LGUs). The evaluation was done by the PACAP (Philippine Australia Community Assistance Program) Secretariat.
The project team is composed of Yollie Albuladora, project coordinator, and two community organizers, Dodong Formentera and Moises Alfuerto.
BLDF PROJECT SEMI-FINALIST WORLD BANK'S PANIBAGONG PARAAN CONTEST
The Sagbayan Social Enterprise Development Project (SSEDP) has been selected as one of the semi-finalist in its Panibagong Paraan Contest.
The project seeks to match idle youth in the municipality of Sagbayan with idle land. BLDF will serve as broker to bring together the LGU and its development partners so that unemployed can be trained on sustainable agriculture and be allocated the use of idle land to implement organic agriculture projects.
Arnold Seloterio, BLDF Database Administrator, says the project will have as partners the following: the Central Visayas College of Agricultures, Forestry and Trade (CVSCAFT), the Bohol Association of Hotels and Resorts (BAHR), the Bohol Initiators for Sustainable Agricultural Develolpment (BISAD), and the Association of Concerned Landlords (ACL).
Final selection of winners will be done this April.
PDMS NEW SURVEY IN DEMAND
Updated surveys for the Poverty Database Monitoring System (PDMS) using the revised questionnaire and the latest version of the software (Version 2.1) is on the increase.
Rodrigo Ocarol, field operations chief, says that after Loon and Maribojoc, BLDF has been invited to discuss how to proceed with PDMS resurveys in Pilar, Duero and Tagbilaran. Other municipalities may soon follow.
All 47 municipalities and 1 city in Bohol province has completed PDMS surveys using earlier versions of the questionnaire and software covering more than 150,000 households.
Finally, thanks to Mar for the reminder.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
FR. ACONG ON MY MIND
26 December 1974: I will always associate Fr. Acong Sevilla to that night 34 years ago when I knocked at the Sevilla residence at the “Short Cut” in Lucena City and requested him to help me escape from two armed men who were pursuing me. He was seated on what looked like a rocking chair and he swiftly got up after hearing my reason for coming to his place.
Both of us rushed to his jeep parked by the road. He started the engine and promptly asked me where I would like to go.
For a moment, I could not speak. Then I managed to squeak out the name of the place where I would like to pick up a friend and our clothes and other personal stuff. I guess his calmness sought my frayed nerves and I managed to tell him bits and pieces of the story; how two young men blocked my path while I was walking on the road beside the Lucena Elementary School in Iyam district, in front of our high school; how the two walked with myself in the middle; and how I felt the nozzle of a gun on the left side of my body; my swift decision to parry the gun and free myself from their hold.
The two young men ran after me, but I managed to elude them or, probably, they would not want to risk getting notice by the neighborhood. I was able to reach my relative’s home and told the family what had happened. I decided to leave so as not to involve the family and a young boy volunteered to accompany me in the dark until I reached the main road.
Still no sign of the two young men, but I had the feeling they were just observing from a distance. I rode in a passenger jeepney and to ensure I would not be followed, I got off after the Iyam bridge and followed the familiar unlit and stony path leading to the Sevilla home. In fact, I remember I ran unmindful of the barking dogs.
Looking back to this incident, which I did many, many times during the last three decades, I had the same feeling of relief that Fr. Acong, at that moment of extreme anguish, did not hesitate to help me and a friend find ourselves out of a difficult situation.
We were being pursued like rats on account of what we stood for at that time against what we perceived as injustice committed against our people and the more than thirty of our friends who had been persecuted and just disappeared without a trace.
By extending help at a time when we needed it most, Fr. Acong demonstrated what it meant to be a shepherd to his flock, including those who had strayed off the path. When my friend and I finally decided to leave the underground, two weeks after Fr. Acong brought us to a safe haven, you can doubtless say his singular act of kindness had influenced for the most part that crucial decision. ####
Nestor M. Pestelos
Kuching, Malaysia
28 January 2008
Both of us rushed to his jeep parked by the road. He started the engine and promptly asked me where I would like to go.
For a moment, I could not speak. Then I managed to squeak out the name of the place where I would like to pick up a friend and our clothes and other personal stuff. I guess his calmness sought my frayed nerves and I managed to tell him bits and pieces of the story; how two young men blocked my path while I was walking on the road beside the Lucena Elementary School in Iyam district, in front of our high school; how the two walked with myself in the middle; and how I felt the nozzle of a gun on the left side of my body; my swift decision to parry the gun and free myself from their hold.
The two young men ran after me, but I managed to elude them or, probably, they would not want to risk getting notice by the neighborhood. I was able to reach my relative’s home and told the family what had happened. I decided to leave so as not to involve the family and a young boy volunteered to accompany me in the dark until I reached the main road.
Still no sign of the two young men, but I had the feeling they were just observing from a distance. I rode in a passenger jeepney and to ensure I would not be followed, I got off after the Iyam bridge and followed the familiar unlit and stony path leading to the Sevilla home. In fact, I remember I ran unmindful of the barking dogs.
Looking back to this incident, which I did many, many times during the last three decades, I had the same feeling of relief that Fr. Acong, at that moment of extreme anguish, did not hesitate to help me and a friend find ourselves out of a difficult situation.
We were being pursued like rats on account of what we stood for at that time against what we perceived as injustice committed against our people and the more than thirty of our friends who had been persecuted and just disappeared without a trace.
By extending help at a time when we needed it most, Fr. Acong demonstrated what it meant to be a shepherd to his flock, including those who had strayed off the path. When my friend and I finally decided to leave the underground, two weeks after Fr. Acong brought us to a safe haven, you can doubtless say his singular act of kindness had influenced for the most part that crucial decision. ####
Nestor M. Pestelos
Kuching, Malaysia
28 January 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
A Week to Remember
Now it's Monday, 14 Jan 2008. What a relief! I have just gone through a nerve-wracking, energy-sapping, emotion-draining week!
Gardy Labad and I met with Director Ted Romo of the Department of Social Welfare and Department, Region 7, last Monday. We went through the basic concepts of creative industries and what is known as ABCD or Asset-Based Community Development.
The following day we had the consultation meeting with Mayors and/or the representatives of the six municipalities of Bohol where the Kalahi Creative Industries Development Project (KCIDP) would be implemented on a pilot basis. The Mayor of Pilar would like the project implemented immediately in his municipality. The others preferred to be assisted first in explaining the project to key sectors in the municipality, most especially the barangays.
KCIDP is not the type of projects municipalities are used to. This will be focused on creative industries considered as assets at both community and household levels. What everyone is used to are projects on basic needs: water supply and santitation; roads, clinics and other infrastructure; assistance for malnutrition or households with school dropouts, etc. Teatro Bolanon will present a cultural showcase to help communities be aware of their cultural and arts assets. Hence, the planning for creative industries will start not with the usual identification of needs and problems.
Local planning will start with a process of identifying assets. BLDF has taken the challenge of producing the survey methodology and the software for this revolutionary approach and link these tools to Poverty Databased Monitoring System (PDMS) developed as pro-poor targeting tool based on basic needs approach.
On Wednesday, I had to fly to Manila to meet friends from UNICEF and CIDA in efforts to get some support for developing the ABCD tools. There's some hope we could get CIDA to co-share with BLDF the support for the IT programmer and specialist. In exchange, BLDF will make available data that could be used by CIDA for writing up case studies.
Habitat Malaysia waits eagerly for the outputs which can be used for a community survey in cooperation with University of Malaysia Sabah.
Thursday I had to spend almost half a day with Habitat Philippines so we could finalize my work plan for the first quarter of the year. We had to agree on the case studies to be undertaken and on the role I have to play in implementing the ADB urban project.
Friday I had to pick up the CD on a friend's funeral from Guadi. We had to meet for this at the Greenbelt chapel. By late afternoon, I was back to Bohol to meet Erin Hoffman and the BLDF team. Erin had arrived earlier from Boston College to start a four-month internship with BLDF.
Saturday I had to meet them again at our place in the village. Then the news was broken to me gently by Jojie about the passing away of my close friend, Atty. Nitz Cambangay, who just retired as Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator. All of us were shocked by the news. We met with him 04 January to finalize plans for the registration of a new entity, the Institute of Poverty Studies and Governance.
Afternoon of that Saturday I had to rush back to Baclayon Church to serve as sponsor in the wedding of Toby Martin and Dagni Aya-ay. Prior to that I had to attend a wake for the mother of the former Mayor's mother. Shortly before midnight, when the wedding reception ended, I went with the family to visit Nitz at Funeraria Gomez. The place was full of people. We emphatize with Helen's situation, who now must confront a future without Nitz.
Early Sunday, after attending morning Mass, we went back to Nitz where he seemed only sleeping there and for the first time during the week, I had moments to recall how we conspired to make poverty not only a "showbiz" issue, but the overarching theme of all development plans here in Bohol.
We will go on with this journey and this is probably the best way to remember our friend and colleague, Nitz Cambangay.
Gardy Labad and I met with Director Ted Romo of the Department of Social Welfare and Department, Region 7, last Monday. We went through the basic concepts of creative industries and what is known as ABCD or Asset-Based Community Development.
The following day we had the consultation meeting with Mayors and/or the representatives of the six municipalities of Bohol where the Kalahi Creative Industries Development Project (KCIDP) would be implemented on a pilot basis. The Mayor of Pilar would like the project implemented immediately in his municipality. The others preferred to be assisted first in explaining the project to key sectors in the municipality, most especially the barangays.
KCIDP is not the type of projects municipalities are used to. This will be focused on creative industries considered as assets at both community and household levels. What everyone is used to are projects on basic needs: water supply and santitation; roads, clinics and other infrastructure; assistance for malnutrition or households with school dropouts, etc. Teatro Bolanon will present a cultural showcase to help communities be aware of their cultural and arts assets. Hence, the planning for creative industries will start not with the usual identification of needs and problems.
Local planning will start with a process of identifying assets. BLDF has taken the challenge of producing the survey methodology and the software for this revolutionary approach and link these tools to Poverty Databased Monitoring System (PDMS) developed as pro-poor targeting tool based on basic needs approach.
On Wednesday, I had to fly to Manila to meet friends from UNICEF and CIDA in efforts to get some support for developing the ABCD tools. There's some hope we could get CIDA to co-share with BLDF the support for the IT programmer and specialist. In exchange, BLDF will make available data that could be used by CIDA for writing up case studies.
Habitat Malaysia waits eagerly for the outputs which can be used for a community survey in cooperation with University of Malaysia Sabah.
Thursday I had to spend almost half a day with Habitat Philippines so we could finalize my work plan for the first quarter of the year. We had to agree on the case studies to be undertaken and on the role I have to play in implementing the ADB urban project.
Friday I had to pick up the CD on a friend's funeral from Guadi. We had to meet for this at the Greenbelt chapel. By late afternoon, I was back to Bohol to meet Erin Hoffman and the BLDF team. Erin had arrived earlier from Boston College to start a four-month internship with BLDF.
Saturday I had to meet them again at our place in the village. Then the news was broken to me gently by Jojie about the passing away of my close friend, Atty. Nitz Cambangay, who just retired as Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator. All of us were shocked by the news. We met with him 04 January to finalize plans for the registration of a new entity, the Institute of Poverty Studies and Governance.
Afternoon of that Saturday I had to rush back to Baclayon Church to serve as sponsor in the wedding of Toby Martin and Dagni Aya-ay. Prior to that I had to attend a wake for the mother of the former Mayor's mother. Shortly before midnight, when the wedding reception ended, I went with the family to visit Nitz at Funeraria Gomez. The place was full of people. We emphatize with Helen's situation, who now must confront a future without Nitz.
Early Sunday, after attending morning Mass, we went back to Nitz where he seemed only sleeping there and for the first time during the week, I had moments to recall how we conspired to make poverty not only a "showbiz" issue, but the overarching theme of all development plans here in Bohol.
We will go on with this journey and this is probably the best way to remember our friend and colleague, Nitz Cambangay.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Back to Blogging
Now let me see: almost 18 months I have not had any entry to this blog site. Long time, yes. Long time to prove if somebody will care if I don't blog. Hahahahah! It's really missed.
So why return to it? The answer is probably more of a wish to get things documented and hope somebody else will read it and spark a thought or two that everybody will profit from in terms of new insight or for just the share pleasure of knowing somebody somewhere shares the same thought.
For the long absence, I do not have to cite the same excuse about being busy. It may be true, but if you really want to do something, you will always find the time to do it. Or it could be poor planning, being unmindful of how to allocate time based on priorities. Or it could be plain and simple fatigue, a certain tiredness of the spirit, a physical inability to do things which are not directly related to one's work.
Whatever it is, those 18 months are gone, as far as my blog is concerned.
Among my friends, only Vanni Villafuerte of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, commented about the blog during the long period of its absence. In a visit to Bohol a few months back, he said he read my blogs because it deals with a common interest we share: poverty. Of course, it's not all about poverty; sometimes I renege and deal with with some topics remotely related to poverty. I must admit it's tiring to think and talk poverty all the time, especially if your friends want to talk about something else - which is often!
Let's try again going into this blog with the regret that some incidents or experiences I have had during the last 18 months are gone forever - except perhaps in images I have stored in my digital camera or captured in scribblings on my notebooks, faithful companiorns since I am 11 years old.
Thanks to Arnold Seloterio for facilitating my access to the blog spot. Now let's see how long I can sustaing blogging this time.
So why return to it? The answer is probably more of a wish to get things documented and hope somebody else will read it and spark a thought or two that everybody will profit from in terms of new insight or for just the share pleasure of knowing somebody somewhere shares the same thought.
For the long absence, I do not have to cite the same excuse about being busy. It may be true, but if you really want to do something, you will always find the time to do it. Or it could be poor planning, being unmindful of how to allocate time based on priorities. Or it could be plain and simple fatigue, a certain tiredness of the spirit, a physical inability to do things which are not directly related to one's work.
Whatever it is, those 18 months are gone, as far as my blog is concerned.
Among my friends, only Vanni Villafuerte of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, commented about the blog during the long period of its absence. In a visit to Bohol a few months back, he said he read my blogs because it deals with a common interest we share: poverty. Of course, it's not all about poverty; sometimes I renege and deal with with some topics remotely related to poverty. I must admit it's tiring to think and talk poverty all the time, especially if your friends want to talk about something else - which is often!
Let's try again going into this blog with the regret that some incidents or experiences I have had during the last 18 months are gone forever - except perhaps in images I have stored in my digital camera or captured in scribblings on my notebooks, faithful companiorns since I am 11 years old.
Thanks to Arnold Seloterio for facilitating my access to the blog spot. Now let's see how long I can sustaing blogging this time.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Search for Meaning
Sounds like a 1960's syndrome, but when I look back during the past five years when I am supposed to be on retirement, I am meeting more and more people in search for meaning in their lives, or more specifically, something meaningful or significant to do. I am simply amazed to what length and sacrifices they will go just to do something they believe can make a difference in other people's lives. Their efforts seem to balance so much greed and selfishness around us.
During the first few months after retirement, I met people from a group that goes by the acronym FRIENDS. I forgot already what the acronym stands for, but I met some of their members who turned out to be retired professors from the University of the Philippines inLos Banos (UPLB). I learned they would go to remote areas in the country, e.g. Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province, and give free advice to farmers groups on the latest technologies to increase farm yield in ways that do not harm the environment. They could have earned millions from this consultancy services, but they chose to dispense them free. Simply amazing in a world where you are charged for practically everything!
Two years ago, I went to Dumaguete City to find out more about an institution run by an NGO which is into making bamboos a profitable source of materials for housing, furniture and handicraft. We went to the Buglas Bamboo Institute which is doing pioneering efforts in this side of the country in advance techniques to grow bamboos and in exploiting commercially the many uses of this wonderful crop. The staff brought us to their facilities and briefed us on how they plant bamboos which they learned from the People's Republic of China, which is promoting organizations of bamboo users around the world.
My wife and I were able to see the vat with chemicals mixed with water where bamboo poles are kept for days so they would not be attacked by bukbok, that perennial insect or whatever that makes bamboos rot. We saw the plantations and the buildings made of bamboos. There was even a resort with structures all made of bamboos. Then we were brought to a workshop where young people, trained by the Institute, were rushing the varnishing of newly-finished furniture bound for Lebanon. Surprise of all surprises, we found a former classmate here, also from UP Los Banos and also retired, working as business adviser to the Institute "for lack of anything to do at home," he said. He is married to Ruth Ruiz, an old friend and former colleague at the national planning agency.
I have met such people, young and old, both in the Philippines and abroad, who are involved in cause "bigger than themselves," as we used to say during those idealistic college days. They inspire me no end. Yes, at this very ripe age of 64, we still need to be inspired. The examples they set show that the pursuit of noble causes is still alive during this time and age.
Cheers!
During the first few months after retirement, I met people from a group that goes by the acronym FRIENDS. I forgot already what the acronym stands for, but I met some of their members who turned out to be retired professors from the University of the Philippines inLos Banos (UPLB). I learned they would go to remote areas in the country, e.g. Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province, and give free advice to farmers groups on the latest technologies to increase farm yield in ways that do not harm the environment. They could have earned millions from this consultancy services, but they chose to dispense them free. Simply amazing in a world where you are charged for practically everything!
Two years ago, I went to Dumaguete City to find out more about an institution run by an NGO which is into making bamboos a profitable source of materials for housing, furniture and handicraft. We went to the Buglas Bamboo Institute which is doing pioneering efforts in this side of the country in advance techniques to grow bamboos and in exploiting commercially the many uses of this wonderful crop. The staff brought us to their facilities and briefed us on how they plant bamboos which they learned from the People's Republic of China, which is promoting organizations of bamboo users around the world.
My wife and I were able to see the vat with chemicals mixed with water where bamboo poles are kept for days so they would not be attacked by bukbok, that perennial insect or whatever that makes bamboos rot. We saw the plantations and the buildings made of bamboos. There was even a resort with structures all made of bamboos. Then we were brought to a workshop where young people, trained by the Institute, were rushing the varnishing of newly-finished furniture bound for Lebanon. Surprise of all surprises, we found a former classmate here, also from UP Los Banos and also retired, working as business adviser to the Institute "for lack of anything to do at home," he said. He is married to Ruth Ruiz, an old friend and former colleague at the national planning agency.
I have met such people, young and old, both in the Philippines and abroad, who are involved in cause "bigger than themselves," as we used to say during those idealistic college days. They inspire me no end. Yes, at this very ripe age of 64, we still need to be inspired. The examples they set show that the pursuit of noble causes is still alive during this time and age.
Cheers!
Friday, March 31, 2006
A Celebration Called Nyepi
Nyepi is to them a Day of Silence. Lights are put off. Machines are turned off. Shops are closed. Locals stay indoors. Tourists are advised not to leave the hotel compound. At the Melasti Beach Bungalows where I stay, the guests eat in a tent inside the inner compound; the restaurant by the road was closed yesterday. The Jakarta Post says in an editorial: “Let the sounds of the wind and the birds be the hallmark of
This year’s celebration of what Hindus called Caka 1928 fell on a Friday, a day when Muslims would gather at mosques. On this day, however, Muslims did not use the loudspeakers for their Friday sermons. They also did not use their motorized vehicles to go to the mosques. As the Jakarta Post noted: “It was an admirable show of tolerance without sacrificing the practice of one’s respective religion.”
I agree. It has caused us inconveniences during the day, e.g. not being able to shop; going to the toilet in total darkness; groping the keyboard to be able to type; giving up TV for one day and a night, etc., but these are small things to pay for giving us the chance to see a glimmer of hope that the world will rediscover tolerance.
The Hindu who came later in the day to make my bed said, “It’s for reflection, sir. Thinking about self and family and others.” For me, the word introspection, which I loved to quote from my existentialist idols when I was younger, would never be the same again after this brief interlude of observing Nyepi in
Cheers!
Friday, March 03, 2006
Waiting for Emma
We are still here in Timor Leste waiting for Emma, the cyclone that was supposed to hit us two days ago. For the past two days, the government has been tracking this cyclone, reportedly with a 150 km per hour velocity. Fortunately, nothing has happened yet except for occasional heavy downpour. Surviving the heavy rain is quite manageable.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Notes before 6
At 6 p.m., this Habitat office in Timor-Leste closes. Now I am rushing to jot down some notes. I have noticed my last entry was on 03 Jan yet; and it's most excerpts from Isa's letter.
What can I tell you now? It has been raining here all week. I arrived here 09 Jan. Arnold Seloterio and Tony Irving were with me. Butch Batilong, the Habitat Director here, met us at the airport. He whisked us from the airport to the hotel, then to the office. We spent the whole afternoon planning for the poverty database project here which would be implemented in three out of thirteen districts.
In two days, the survey tools were translated into Bahasa and reproduced. Then for three days, all thirty volunteers were trained on the use of the survey tools. The field supervisors had been trained prior to this and they helped in providing inputs. Then the survey began almost simulataneously in all areas. As of today, barely a week after the start of the survey, a total of 190 questionnaires have been returned with complete data; the encoder has started the task of putting the data in the software called the Poverty Database and Monitoring System Software (PDMSS), developed in Bohol, Philippines by the Bohol Local Development Foundation, in cooperation with the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
Tony Irving modified the software based on revisions done on the survey tools. He left last Saturday, 21 January, for the Philippines with his job accomplished. He is now in negotiations with World Vision Timor Leste for his return sometime in March on a consultancy arrangement.
Arnold has accepted Habitat's offer of an extended three-month consultancy on database management.
We are proud of what these two guys are doing for Timor-Leste, one of the world's top 20 poorest countries. Their efforts will contribute to reducing poverty incidence here, no doubt.
Let's move on ...
What can I tell you now? It has been raining here all week. I arrived here 09 Jan. Arnold Seloterio and Tony Irving were with me. Butch Batilong, the Habitat Director here, met us at the airport. He whisked us from the airport to the hotel, then to the office. We spent the whole afternoon planning for the poverty database project here which would be implemented in three out of thirteen districts.
In two days, the survey tools were translated into Bahasa and reproduced. Then for three days, all thirty volunteers were trained on the use of the survey tools. The field supervisors had been trained prior to this and they helped in providing inputs. Then the survey began almost simulataneously in all areas. As of today, barely a week after the start of the survey, a total of 190 questionnaires have been returned with complete data; the encoder has started the task of putting the data in the software called the Poverty Database and Monitoring System Software (PDMSS), developed in Bohol, Philippines by the Bohol Local Development Foundation, in cooperation with the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
Tony Irving modified the software based on revisions done on the survey tools. He left last Saturday, 21 January, for the Philippines with his job accomplished. He is now in negotiations with World Vision Timor Leste for his return sometime in March on a consultancy arrangement.
Arnold has accepted Habitat's offer of an extended three-month consultancy on database management.
We are proud of what these two guys are doing for Timor-Leste, one of the world's top 20 poorest countries. Their efforts will contribute to reducing poverty incidence here, no doubt.
Let's move on ...
Friday, December 30, 2005
Isabel's Letter
Here is a letter from Isabel Losloso-Rivera, a close friend and former classmate from Class 58 of the old
jayden is well loved. any baby is not hard to love. there's not enough of jayden for jennie&allan & i already dread the time in 2 more years when "boyhood" will pretty soon engulf :"babyhood."
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Laarni's Letter; April's Letter
For the past 20 Christmases or so, Mil Sevilla-Reyes, a close friend and former high school classmate from way,way back in Lucena City, has been carrying on the tradition of writing and distributing letters that tell friends about milestones in her family's life during the year about to end. Those letters have been a fascinating read; our classmates and other friends look forward to receiving this letter each year. It chronicles key family events which no Christmas cards can do. Mil used to write these letters until recently when she encouraged her daughters (April, Laarni and Carmel) to do so. This year, Laarni and April actually prepared a letter each. To give the wide readership they deserve, we will print them here in this section. I must thank Mil and Ces for keeping us in the loop after all these years.
Laarni's Letter:
Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings to all! Hope everybody’s had an enjoyable year and doing well. Life over this way has been pretty good - another year swiftly gone though productively filled nonetheless.
My year began with another month long trip to the Philippines to see relatives and friends, as well as make the most of my three-month uni holidays. Some family friends from Sydney were also over at the same time so it was good to enjoy our holiday together. I stayed mainly in Manila and Lucena, but was able to spend time in Batangas and visit Villa Escudero with the Sydney folks. The month went by quicker than I expected and soon enough, I was back at uni beginning the first semester of my final year. I’ve actually just recently finished my course and am now awaiting the results to gain my degree in Bachelor of Arts in Organisational Learning.
Having majored in Human Resource Development, my plan is to find a job in the field sometime next year. For now, I’m still working as a casual in my retail job and I’d rather leave it that way so I can take a break, relax and have fun over the summer. Although there are no plans to go overseas this time, a few trips out of Sydney with mates won’t go astray.
April’s out of the country. She’s travelled to countless destinations since leaving in July for a yearlong venture. She and a friend are now based in London and by the sounds of all her adventures I’d say she’s having a great time. She’s started working with O2, a telco similar to Telstra, though not before she attended World Youth Day in Cologne and toured Europe. Definitely, a well deserved break from working life. She also flew to New York at the beginning of November to celebrate Lola’s birthday with the Reyeses. She had fun hanging out with all the cousins. Speaking to her on the phone the other night, she’s already filled me in on her next plan: to travel to South Africa sometime in 2006. Wouldn’t we all love to spend a year like that?
She and Carmel both moved back home at the beginning of the year, with April renting out her apartment to save money for her trip and Carmel focusing on completing her studies. Carmel has been working on her degree in Interior Architecture, while also teaching music (keyboard) to students in various primary schools. I think she’s gotten used to being called “Miss Carmel”. She always has funny stories to tell us about her kids. Approached by one kid’s dad, she began playing the piano for his local R&B cover band. She enjoyed performing different gigs around Sydney for a while. Heaps more active than I, she’s also taken up Capouera – a form of Brazilian street fighting/dancing. I guess it’s a really good workout and also a lot of fun because I always see it being performed in the City and attracting great crowds! Maybe I can take it up with Carmel as part of my New Year’s resolutions.
Now to Mum and Dad: they have yet another year of Bass High and ResMed under their belts, with Mum immensely enjoying her role as Librarian and Dad fully settling into his new work location and innovative facility. Mum’s still very happy at her school and I often wonder when she’ll ever get enough of it. Somehow I don’t think that will be for a while yet. Dad’s well and truly gotten used to travelling the distance to work everyday and is even keen to get me into a role related to my course with the company. We’ll see what happens.
The year saw a visit from Dad’s youngest sister, Tita Ludy, who flew in from Connecticut for a two-week stay here in Sydney. As well as doing all the sightseeing and touristy things around here, she was able to visit Cairns in Australia’s north when Mum and Dad and their friends flew there to celebrate my Ninang Salve’s birthday. Even though Tita Ludy fit in with all the ‘oldies,’ my cousins, sisters and I would often refer to her as our ‘big sis’! It’s always good fun having our relos from overseas visit so I wonder what (or who) is in store for next year.
Well, that’s about it from the Reyes camp for this year. As for the New Year, April’s still not definite about when she’ll be coming back, Carmel will be finishing her degree and I’ll probably be on a quest to find a new job. All the while having a good time no doubt! I hear there are plans for both Mum and Dad and the other parents to holiday in Las Vegas (?)
‘Til next Christmas letter everyone. I’m sure you’ll be filled in on the 2006 details then! Have great holidays and Happy Christmas!!!
Love, Laarni
Merry Christmas from London town!
Wherever you are in the world, I hope that this letter finds you well.
I have been very fortunate this year to meet and experience the people and places that I have. Laarni has summarised my year well and yes, my adventures have been brilliant! Before heading for London, I visited the Philippines in May staying most of the time in Lucena and spending some time in Bohol with the Pestelos family.
I’ve been in London nearly four months now and over this period have been able to settle in to this big and vibrant city. I’ve settled in my parish of Our Lady Queen of Heaven here in Bayswater, and joined a local hockey team. But there are things that I miss about Sydney – my family most especially, my friends and the good weather.
If I had to pick my favourite places so far, they would be Rome, Krakow and Prague. I’ve recently been able to visit Prague for the second time. My visit coincided with the opening of the Christmas markets in the old town square which had choirs from all parts of Europe performing, good traditional Czech food and it was snowing! It is a very pretty town.
Through my travelling adventures, I have also met some really great people from different parts of the world. And thanks to technology, we’ve been able to keep the friendships alive and meet up again on the road. Living in London has also meant that I have met many Australians, Kiwis and South Africans. It is true when they say that London is full of antipodeans.
The beauty of meeting so many fellow Aussies, is that we are travelling similar journeys and can share in each other’s experiences. The down side is that I’ve come all this way yet I struggle to meet English people!
On my agenda for 2006, is New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh, then Paris, South Africa (to visit my good friend Riefqah), Copenhagen and hopefully back to Spain and Italy. There is a lot to fit in before I head home to Sydney!
Happy Christmas and may 2006 bring us all blessings of health and happiness.
Love, April
P. S. Our thoughts are with Tito Pari as he and his colleagues celebrate their 40th year of ordination in his parish of Apad, Calauag on 18 December.
We’re also reaching out to Tita Laura Jardin and her children in San Diego. They are facing Christmas for the first time without Tito Johnny. He passed away on 2nd July
Laarni's Letter:
Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings to all! Hope everybody’s had an enjoyable year and doing well. Life over this way has been pretty good - another year swiftly gone though productively filled nonetheless.
My year began with another month long trip to the Philippines to see relatives and friends, as well as make the most of my three-month uni holidays. Some family friends from Sydney were also over at the same time so it was good to enjoy our holiday together. I stayed mainly in Manila and Lucena, but was able to spend time in Batangas and visit Villa Escudero with the Sydney folks. The month went by quicker than I expected and soon enough, I was back at uni beginning the first semester of my final year. I’ve actually just recently finished my course and am now awaiting the results to gain my degree in Bachelor of Arts in Organisational Learning.
Having majored in Human Resource Development, my plan is to find a job in the field sometime next year. For now, I’m still working as a casual in my retail job and I’d rather leave it that way so I can take a break, relax and have fun over the summer. Although there are no plans to go overseas this time, a few trips out of Sydney with mates won’t go astray.
April’s out of the country. She’s travelled to countless destinations since leaving in July for a yearlong venture. She and a friend are now based in London and by the sounds of all her adventures I’d say she’s having a great time. She’s started working with O2, a telco similar to Telstra, though not before she attended World Youth Day in Cologne and toured Europe. Definitely, a well deserved break from working life. She also flew to New York at the beginning of November to celebrate Lola’s birthday with the Reyeses. She had fun hanging out with all the cousins. Speaking to her on the phone the other night, she’s already filled me in on her next plan: to travel to South Africa sometime in 2006. Wouldn’t we all love to spend a year like that?
She and Carmel both moved back home at the beginning of the year, with April renting out her apartment to save money for her trip and Carmel focusing on completing her studies. Carmel has been working on her degree in Interior Architecture, while also teaching music (keyboard) to students in various primary schools. I think she’s gotten used to being called “Miss Carmel”. She always has funny stories to tell us about her kids. Approached by one kid’s dad, she began playing the piano for his local R&B cover band. She enjoyed performing different gigs around Sydney for a while. Heaps more active than I, she’s also taken up Capouera – a form of Brazilian street fighting/dancing. I guess it’s a really good workout and also a lot of fun because I always see it being performed in the City and attracting great crowds! Maybe I can take it up with Carmel as part of my New Year’s resolutions.
Now to Mum and Dad: they have yet another year of Bass High and ResMed under their belts, with Mum immensely enjoying her role as Librarian and Dad fully settling into his new work location and innovative facility. Mum’s still very happy at her school and I often wonder when she’ll ever get enough of it. Somehow I don’t think that will be for a while yet. Dad’s well and truly gotten used to travelling the distance to work everyday and is even keen to get me into a role related to my course with the company. We’ll see what happens.
The year saw a visit from Dad’s youngest sister, Tita Ludy, who flew in from Connecticut for a two-week stay here in Sydney. As well as doing all the sightseeing and touristy things around here, she was able to visit Cairns in Australia’s north when Mum and Dad and their friends flew there to celebrate my Ninang Salve’s birthday. Even though Tita Ludy fit in with all the ‘oldies,’ my cousins, sisters and I would often refer to her as our ‘big sis’! It’s always good fun having our relos from overseas visit so I wonder what (or who) is in store for next year.
Well, that’s about it from the Reyes camp for this year. As for the New Year, April’s still not definite about when she’ll be coming back, Carmel will be finishing her degree and I’ll probably be on a quest to find a new job. All the while having a good time no doubt! I hear there are plans for both Mum and Dad and the other parents to holiday in Las Vegas (?)
‘Til next Christmas letter everyone. I’m sure you’ll be filled in on the 2006 details then! Have great holidays and Happy Christmas!!!
Love, Laarni
Merry Christmas from London town!
Wherever you are in the world, I hope that this letter finds you well.
I have been very fortunate this year to meet and experience the people and places that I have. Laarni has summarised my year well and yes, my adventures have been brilliant! Before heading for London, I visited the Philippines in May staying most of the time in Lucena and spending some time in Bohol with the Pestelos family.
I’ve been in London nearly four months now and over this period have been able to settle in to this big and vibrant city. I’ve settled in my parish of Our Lady Queen of Heaven here in Bayswater, and joined a local hockey team. But there are things that I miss about Sydney – my family most especially, my friends and the good weather.
If I had to pick my favourite places so far, they would be Rome, Krakow and Prague. I’ve recently been able to visit Prague for the second time. My visit coincided with the opening of the Christmas markets in the old town square which had choirs from all parts of Europe performing, good traditional Czech food and it was snowing! It is a very pretty town.
Through my travelling adventures, I have also met some really great people from different parts of the world. And thanks to technology, we’ve been able to keep the friendships alive and meet up again on the road. Living in London has also meant that I have met many Australians, Kiwis and South Africans. It is true when they say that London is full of antipodeans.
The beauty of meeting so many fellow Aussies, is that we are travelling similar journeys and can share in each other’s experiences. The down side is that I’ve come all this way yet I struggle to meet English people!
On my agenda for 2006, is New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh, then Paris, South Africa (to visit my good friend Riefqah), Copenhagen and hopefully back to Spain and Italy. There is a lot to fit in before I head home to Sydney!
Happy Christmas and may 2006 bring us all blessings of health and happiness.
Love, April
P. S. Our thoughts are with Tito Pari as he and his colleagues celebrate their 40th year of ordination in his parish of Apad, Calauag on 18 December.
We’re also reaching out to Tita Laura Jardin and her children in San Diego. They are facing Christmas for the first time without Tito Johnny. He passed away on 2nd July
Friday, December 23, 2005
Senior Moments, Junior Moments
I just read an exchange of emails between my two close friends from high school, Mil and Isa. (Yes, we copy each other's emails). This last one was particularly interesting. Mil says she cannot remember something from way back and that it must be one of those "senior moments." Lapses of memory belong to the old, this phrase implies. But, then, it set me to thinking: perhaps we, as elderly, do have junior moments, too.
For instance, we are 63 going 64 and still we:
- dance the night away in a disco while surrounded by under-20s;
- remember the dress that our first date wore to the prom thirty years ago;
- memorize some cell phone numbers because for some reasons we do not want to store them in our phone's memory;
- eat roast pork as though there is no tomorrow;
- race up the stair and beat the elevator to the top floor;
- chat with our neighbors about the secret lives of singers and actresses we know;
-find our way to the john even during brown-outs;
-recite more than ten lines from a t.s. eliot's poem;
-use email rather than write letters or send postcards;
-drive a car even on rainy nights and not lose our way, or just park and call home for help;
-go to mass at 4.30 a.m. and still make it to the computer at 7.00 a.m.
More junior moments? I can't remember anymore what I jotted down over coffee. Well, Mil and Isa, this must be my senior moment creeping in.
For instance, we are 63 going 64 and still we:
- dance the night away in a disco while surrounded by under-20s;
- remember the dress that our first date wore to the prom thirty years ago;
- memorize some cell phone numbers because for some reasons we do not want to store them in our phone's memory;
- eat roast pork as though there is no tomorrow;
- race up the stair and beat the elevator to the top floor;
- chat with our neighbors about the secret lives of singers and actresses we know;
-find our way to the john even during brown-outs;
-recite more than ten lines from a t.s. eliot's poem;
-use email rather than write letters or send postcards;
-drive a car even on rainy nights and not lose our way, or just park and call home for help;
-go to mass at 4.30 a.m. and still make it to the computer at 7.00 a.m.
More junior moments? I can't remember anymore what I jotted down over coffee. Well, Mil and Isa, this must be my senior moment creeping in.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Proposals
Whenever I meet old friends, and even a few new ones, I am always asked the question, "How did you end up with Habitat?" or something to that effect. Of course, the next query is almost always if I have met Former US President Jimmy Carter! In the popular consciousness, the name Carter and Habitat are closely associated due to several high-profile house builds that the former US President fund-raised for and personally led.
Yes, it's true, I have retired from UNDP after working in several projects mostly in South Pacific countries. I went home for good starting 14 Dec 2001. Home was and still is and, hopefully, will always be a village named Laya in Baclayon, Bohol. After three months of trying my hand in contour farming and mostly looking at our house helps raise native chickens, I felt if I had to live longer, I must go back to the chores I am used to for more than 60% of the lifetime I had lived. I need to do development work, identify problems, build a case for interventions, prepare proposals and other documents and basically move heaven and earth to get things on the ground, interest people to do their share, look back after all the confusions and resolutions and affirmations and endless reaffirmations of goals and shortcomings and new resolves and then move on to ... well, writing new proposals!
The need for writing project proposals was quite evident when I joined the provincial planning office on 01 April 2002. I looked at some office documents and felt the same way as before; this is another proposals factory. I felt the same way when I was with a public relations company that raised funds for civic causes; several NGOs in the past that were forever struggling; briefly with the National Economic Development Authority in a social mobilization project for children; and UNDP for twelve years trying to mobilize resources for atolls and other remote places that seemed invisible to planners.
Looks like the first skill to learn is how to write project proposals that will get government and external donors to fund. It is like you are thrown into the water and if you do not know how to swim, you will surely drown. Same way with development work; if you do not know how to prepare project proposals, you will not survive. Whether you are with an NGO, a government agency, a planning authority, an international UN agency or an international Christian ministry such as Habitat for Humanity International, you need to know how to put together a project proposals using formats prescribed by the donors or funders.
No way to escape this and my advice to romantics who have somehow ended up with development agencies these days; leave your literary biases behind or the illusion that you can just plunge into doing your chores based on your technical expertise. In most cases, the modality for the exercise of such skills is through projects, and you will first help produce the resources to enable you to practise such skills. Hence, it pays to know how projects get prepared, submitted, appraised and approved. Otherwise, you will have no project to hire to pay for the exercise of your skills.
Now I have not really answered how I came to join Habitat. You see, I have yet to finish this proposal I will submit to ... well, there is no end to this; I just had a break.
Yes, it's true, I have retired from UNDP after working in several projects mostly in South Pacific countries. I went home for good starting 14 Dec 2001. Home was and still is and, hopefully, will always be a village named Laya in Baclayon, Bohol. After three months of trying my hand in contour farming and mostly looking at our house helps raise native chickens, I felt if I had to live longer, I must go back to the chores I am used to for more than 60% of the lifetime I had lived. I need to do development work, identify problems, build a case for interventions, prepare proposals and other documents and basically move heaven and earth to get things on the ground, interest people to do their share, look back after all the confusions and resolutions and affirmations and endless reaffirmations of goals and shortcomings and new resolves and then move on to ... well, writing new proposals!
The need for writing project proposals was quite evident when I joined the provincial planning office on 01 April 2002. I looked at some office documents and felt the same way as before; this is another proposals factory. I felt the same way when I was with a public relations company that raised funds for civic causes; several NGOs in the past that were forever struggling; briefly with the National Economic Development Authority in a social mobilization project for children; and UNDP for twelve years trying to mobilize resources for atolls and other remote places that seemed invisible to planners.
Looks like the first skill to learn is how to write project proposals that will get government and external donors to fund. It is like you are thrown into the water and if you do not know how to swim, you will surely drown. Same way with development work; if you do not know how to prepare project proposals, you will not survive. Whether you are with an NGO, a government agency, a planning authority, an international UN agency or an international Christian ministry such as Habitat for Humanity International, you need to know how to put together a project proposals using formats prescribed by the donors or funders.
No way to escape this and my advice to romantics who have somehow ended up with development agencies these days; leave your literary biases behind or the illusion that you can just plunge into doing your chores based on your technical expertise. In most cases, the modality for the exercise of such skills is through projects, and you will first help produce the resources to enable you to practise such skills. Hence, it pays to know how projects get prepared, submitted, appraised and approved. Otherwise, you will have no project to hire to pay for the exercise of your skills.
Now I have not really answered how I came to join Habitat. You see, I have yet to finish this proposal I will submit to ... well, there is no end to this; I just had a break.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Bibo Bohol
For almost a week, prior to my trip here to Bangkok, I was preoccupied with Bibo Bohol. It was quite an intense experience from 25 November, when I had the trip to Bilar, to 03 December when I participated in a planning workshop at the Governor's Mansion in Tagbilaran City. I reflected on this experience 05 December on my trip to Bangkok on this Cathay Pacific flight via Hongkong.
Gardy Labad invited me to present the LPRAP (Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan) software being developed for the past two years by our Foundation, in collaboration with the Provincial Planning and Development Office. I had to present the context first before showing how the software works. After all, the software is just a tool to process the data from the household poverty surveys. We talked about the program framework on poverty reduction; the overview of the program based on the framework; the linkage of the poverty reduction program to peace and development efforts; the restructuring of the provincial government based on this new thrust; and the reallignment of the annual and medium-term development plans consistent with the poverty focus at policy level.
As always, Bea Zobel quickly responded to this development. I think she saw quite clearly that Bibo Bohol is part of the provincial development agenda. It is not something cooked up as a stand-alone initiative by the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and the local cultural and arts council. Its emphasis on what it calls the sunrise creative industries can be a potent intervention against poverty in Bohol. Heritage-based social enterprises and marketable eco-tourism sites can benefit directly Bohol households, 47.3% of whom are still below the poverty line.
I had to fly to Manila on from Bohol to work with Gardy Labad, Ino Manalo and Bea on a slide presentation on Bibo Bohol. The slides were critiqued by marketing experts from Ayala Foundation.
(Note: I am doing this on the run. I have to attend a presentation by the SGS group here at the Habitat regional office. Will get back to this as soon as possible).
3.00 p.m. It was a very interesting presentation by Robert Jourdain, assistant vice president of SGS about Habitat Thailand. SGS has been hired by Habitat for Humanity International Asia Pacific to assess selected affiliates in several countries (Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and India) in terms of global best practices of NGOs. It is an NGO benchmarking exercise. His findings can shed light on current problems and, hopefully, the national organization and the affiliates can move on from there to implement measures to improve performance.
Now back to Bibo Bohol. The slide presentation was seen and commented on and the following day, I joined Gardy and Ino and Bea to work on the revisions. It was a nerve-wracking exercise. Finally, thirty five minutes before the scheduled presenation at 10, we moved on to the Globe building in Mandaluyong.
It was like presenting a research study before a panel. Ino presented the revised slide presentation. Bea and Gardy provided inputs and answered questions. The Globe panel was cautious about making making cash commitments, but on the whole they saw the merits of participating in the Bibo Bohol program.
All of us were happy about the result. Bea treated us at the Shang Restaurant at the Shangrila, where Monette Flores joined us. Monette has had a remarkable track record developing eco-tourism sites and her expertise will be valuable for Bibo Bohol. She practically walked us through the process of developing such sites. Bea suggested we go to Calatagan, Batangas the following and continue our meeting there so we could take pictures of her bahay kubo (native house) that I could show to the architect who would design local houses for us in our place in Laya.
That trip is a story in itself. It is apparent that as we tackled issues related to Bibo Bohol and some possible projects, we were also learning details about our personal lives. In brief, we were actually engaged in team building efforts.
In the end, I can say, Bea's vision for Bohol hasbecome ours too.
Gardy Labad invited me to present the LPRAP (Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan) software being developed for the past two years by our Foundation, in collaboration with the Provincial Planning and Development Office. I had to present the context first before showing how the software works. After all, the software is just a tool to process the data from the household poverty surveys. We talked about the program framework on poverty reduction; the overview of the program based on the framework; the linkage of the poverty reduction program to peace and development efforts; the restructuring of the provincial government based on this new thrust; and the reallignment of the annual and medium-term development plans consistent with the poverty focus at policy level.
As always, Bea Zobel quickly responded to this development. I think she saw quite clearly that Bibo Bohol is part of the provincial development agenda. It is not something cooked up as a stand-alone initiative by the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and the local cultural and arts council. Its emphasis on what it calls the sunrise creative industries can be a potent intervention against poverty in Bohol. Heritage-based social enterprises and marketable eco-tourism sites can benefit directly Bohol households, 47.3% of whom are still below the poverty line.
I had to fly to Manila on from Bohol to work with Gardy Labad, Ino Manalo and Bea on a slide presentation on Bibo Bohol. The slides were critiqued by marketing experts from Ayala Foundation.
(Note: I am doing this on the run. I have to attend a presentation by the SGS group here at the Habitat regional office. Will get back to this as soon as possible).
3.00 p.m. It was a very interesting presentation by Robert Jourdain, assistant vice president of SGS about Habitat Thailand. SGS has been hired by Habitat for Humanity International Asia Pacific to assess selected affiliates in several countries (Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and India) in terms of global best practices of NGOs. It is an NGO benchmarking exercise. His findings can shed light on current problems and, hopefully, the national organization and the affiliates can move on from there to implement measures to improve performance.
Now back to Bibo Bohol. The slide presentation was seen and commented on and the following day, I joined Gardy and Ino and Bea to work on the revisions. It was a nerve-wracking exercise. Finally, thirty five minutes before the scheduled presenation at 10, we moved on to the Globe building in Mandaluyong.
It was like presenting a research study before a panel. Ino presented the revised slide presentation. Bea and Gardy provided inputs and answered questions. The Globe panel was cautious about making making cash commitments, but on the whole they saw the merits of participating in the Bibo Bohol program.
All of us were happy about the result. Bea treated us at the Shang Restaurant at the Shangrila, where Monette Flores joined us. Monette has had a remarkable track record developing eco-tourism sites and her expertise will be valuable for Bibo Bohol. She practically walked us through the process of developing such sites. Bea suggested we go to Calatagan, Batangas the following and continue our meeting there so we could take pictures of her bahay kubo (native house) that I could show to the architect who would design local houses for us in our place in Laya.
That trip is a story in itself. It is apparent that as we tackled issues related to Bibo Bohol and some possible projects, we were also learning details about our personal lives. In brief, we were actually engaged in team building efforts.
In the end, I can say, Bea's vision for Bohol hasbecome ours too.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Trip to Bilar
Gardy Labad first invited us to be at Sitio Ubos in Tagbilaran City at 1.00 p.m. We arrived at the Rocha-Suarez ancestral home at exactly the appointed time. To our surprise, lunch was being served. The people were expecting Luli, the President's daughter, but she did not arrive. Bea Zobel was there with her team and a local group identified with heritage and cultural preservation. We had eaten lunch, and so we spent the time instead to go about the house. It was my first time there. The house underwent renovation and what interested us were the artifacts and mementos of past centuries. This house stood there for ages, and five generations had lived there.
By around two o'clock, we were on our way to Bilar. We tagged along with the group. Bill Granert and several members from his NGO, the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation were there. There were also people from the barangay. We were shown the renovation taking place there, in this place that was once a Boy Scout's Campsite 30 years back. It also became known as the Magsaysay center in the past. Then the place deteriorated under the care of Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the LGU. Hopefully, with assistance from Bea Zobel's group, this place would hum again with activities.
In May, 2006, the place will host hundreds of young people from all over the country to camp together and undertake activities that will deepen their understanding of ecology and culture. Let's wait for May. Better still, let's contribute to make Bibbo Bohol a celebration of what we can do together to preserve the environment and our culture.
By around two o'clock, we were on our way to Bilar. We tagged along with the group. Bill Granert and several members from his NGO, the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation were there. There were also people from the barangay. We were shown the renovation taking place there, in this place that was once a Boy Scout's Campsite 30 years back. It also became known as the Magsaysay center in the past. Then the place deteriorated under the care of Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the LGU. Hopefully, with assistance from Bea Zobel's group, this place would hum again with activities.
In May, 2006, the place will host hundreds of young people from all over the country to camp together and undertake activities that will deepen their understanding of ecology and culture. Let's wait for May. Better still, let's contribute to make Bibbo Bohol a celebration of what we can do together to preserve the environment and our culture.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Gray November
Since I arrived home from Jakarta, it has rained here everyday, mostly in the afternoon. On my first day, 29 Oct., I could not resist the impulse of getting out in my shorts and t-shirt and had almost an hour under the pouring rain. Actually, my 12-year old son Odon had been there on the front yard, enjoying the rain. If you are 63, anything that brings you back to the delights of childhood will always be a welcomed event.
The following day, it rained again, also in the afternoon. It rained all the time, mostly in the afternoons until today, the 4th of November. When I look back, I can recall it always rains when it's around All Saints Day or All Souls Day. I cannot recall a rain-less first of November. The rains must be the reason why we always think of November as gray. Remember that expression, "When its gray November in your Soul." In my bohemian days, it refers to a pub in Manila where writers and artists and campus intellectuals would like to congregate and massage their egos, in addition to discussing topics about art and literature ... No such place now to spend your gray November days. Well, not in this place anyway. There's probably no need for one.
We can discuss about poverty anytime of day, in any month, and always we resolve to do something about it the following day. We have our own Poverty Cafe, a moveable feast of ideas meant for sharing and, hopefully, for doing something about this scourge that affects us all. Ah, November is gray indeed.
The following day, it rained again, also in the afternoon. It rained all the time, mostly in the afternoons until today, the 4th of November. When I look back, I can recall it always rains when it's around All Saints Day or All Souls Day. I cannot recall a rain-less first of November. The rains must be the reason why we always think of November as gray. Remember that expression, "When its gray November in your Soul." In my bohemian days, it refers to a pub in Manila where writers and artists and campus intellectuals would like to congregate and massage their egos, in addition to discussing topics about art and literature ... No such place now to spend your gray November days. Well, not in this place anyway. There's probably no need for one.
We can discuss about poverty anytime of day, in any month, and always we resolve to do something about it the following day. We have our own Poverty Cafe, a moveable feast of ideas meant for sharing and, hopefully, for doing something about this scourge that affects us all. Ah, November is gray indeed.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Action Items
Since I arrived home from Jakarta, it has rained here everyday, mostly in the afternoon. On my first day, 29 Oct., I could not resist the impulse of getting out in my shorts and t-shirt and had almost an hour under the pouring rain. Actually, my 12-year old son Odon had been there on the front yard, enjoying the rain. If you are 63, anything that brings you back to the delights of childhood will always be a welcomed event.
The following day, it rained again, also in the afternoon. It rained all the time, mostly in the afternoons until today, the 4th of November. When I look back, I can recall it always rains when it's around All Saints Day or All Souls Day. I cannot recall a rain-less first of November. The rains must be the reason why we always think of November as gray. Remember that expression, "When its gray November in your Soul." In my bohemian days, it refers to a pub in Manila where writers and artists and campus intellectuals would like to congregate and massage their egos, in addition to discussing topics about art and literature ... No such place now to spend your gray November days. Well, not in this place anyway. There's probably no need for one.
We can discuss about poverty anytime of day, in any month, and always we resolve to do something about it the following day. We have our own Poverty Cafe, a moveable feast of ideas meant for sharing and, hopefully, for doing something about this scourge that affects us all. Ah, November is gray indeed.
The following day, it rained again, also in the afternoon. It rained all the time, mostly in the afternoons until today, the 4th of November. When I look back, I can recall it always rains when it's around All Saints Day or All Souls Day. I cannot recall a rain-less first of November. The rains must be the reason why we always think of November as gray. Remember that expression, "When its gray November in your Soul." In my bohemian days, it refers to a pub in Manila where writers and artists and campus intellectuals would like to congregate and massage their egos, in addition to discussing topics about art and literature ... No such place now to spend your gray November days. Well, not in this place anyway. There's probably no need for one.
We can discuss about poverty anytime of day, in any month, and always we resolve to do something about it the following day. We have our own Poverty Cafe, a moveable feast of ideas meant for sharing and, hopefully, for doing something about this scourge that affects us all. Ah, November is gray indeed.
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