Sunday, February 4, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 9th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Sunday, February 4, 2007- We left Baao, Albay around 6:00AM for the 2 hour ride to San Jose, Camarines Sur. In San Jose, we were treated to breakfast by Vic and his wife, Doddie O., who went with us to Virac. Vic is a gentlemen farmer and he showed us his collection of healthy home grown vegetables. His love of animals is shown in the 4 championship game cocks he brought back from Virac, very expensive KFC chicken at P10, 000 each. We met with Ms. Obias, the mother of Vic and Maricoy, a retired IMF employee and former FtH Board member and treasurer. Maricoy’s sister, Dulce, from Great Falls, Virginia very actively solicited donations for the Bicol victims from her friends. Maricoy donated a classroom to Kinalansan High School and the other classroom was donated by Mr. & Ms. Martin Gaw, formerly of Alexandria, VA but are now living in Manila.
We did the relief giving to 200 families in San Jose in the church courtyard. I recognized from an old picture that it was the same site where they did a gift giving in 2003. We did a program inside the church and then distributed the gifts outside. Some of the recipients were from out of town and Vic even provided them with transportation money. Vic also added 10 kilos of rice on each gift bags. The bags were too heavy but the typhoon victims were very happy carrying away the bags.
After the gift giving, we visited the school site for the 2 classrooms to be built at Kinalansan High School. The old building was blown down by the typhoon and the school started clearing the site for the new classrooms. We saw a tent that served as a temporary classroom.
We were treated again by Vic to a sumptuous lunch and after a while; we headed to our last mission in Pasacao, Camarines Sur.
NOTES:
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,400 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito, Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at CFO.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Polangui, Albay
Saturday, February 3, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 8th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region. This trip is the most memorable, exciting part of the FtH Bicol Tour.
Saturday, February 3, 2007- We left Malinao, Albay about 4:00PM, almost at the same time that we should already be in Polangui for the gift giving. We took the short cut, the less traveled road to Ligao, to reach Polangui as soon as possible. Between Tabaco and Ligao, the van provided by the mayor overheated due to a break in the water hose. Stranded in the mountain, in the middle of nowhere, later than late for our implementation in Polangui, with no signals to use our cell phones to call for help; Tess and Eve, in desperation, stopped a construction truck, a loaded jeep, and a tricycle driver just to be able to reach Polangui. The first 2 declined the “chance” to help FtH. The tricycle driver was not on duty, was just trying to buy ‘suka’ for the wife and he “agreed” , through the friendly persuasion of Tess and Eve, to take us to the “place” where we can get other transportation. That “place” is the bridge where the other half was washed away by the flooding and traffic were rerouted to another town. We walked down the river bed, crossed the flowing river through a foot bridge made of a single coconut tree, walked up to the top of the road, commandeered another tricycle with the driver’s family on board, until we met Eve’s brother in Ligao, who drove all the way from Baao to pick us up.
The FtH volunteers, somehow, one way or the other, by hook or by divine guidance, reached Polangui around 6:30 PM to the happiness of the 200 recipients in Barangay Magurang, who have been waiting patiently since early afternoon. Across the Barangay Hall, we can see the buildings with no roofs, damaged by the typhoons that are still waiting for repairs. After the gift giving, we were treated to diner by the Local barangay unit or Mr. Jun Carreon (the coordinator) or Ms. Teresita Rayala (I really don’t know who paid for the late diner but it was very good!), a friend of our friend Nins, a retiree of the World Bank, who requested the gift giving in Polangui. We checked with the driver we left behind in the mountain and he was able to make it back to Malinao. We went on to Baao, Albay and checked in Hotel Emelie, a new hotel in Baao. The room was spacious, looks very clean but a roach was the first to greet Tess ‘good evening’ in the bathroom. Then, we have to call for service for clogged shower, no hot water; but so what, we have outlived a worse situation in Iloilo City. It was a long day but it was worth it; and on to dreamland after a whole day work.
NOTES:
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito, Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at CFO.
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 8th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region. This trip is the most memorable, exciting part of the FtH Bicol Tour.
Saturday, February 3, 2007- We left Malinao, Albay about 4:00PM, almost at the same time that we should already be in Polangui for the gift giving. We took the short cut, the less traveled road to Ligao, to reach Polangui as soon as possible. Between Tabaco and Ligao, the van provided by the mayor overheated due to a break in the water hose. Stranded in the mountain, in the middle of nowhere, later than late for our implementation in Polangui, with no signals to use our cell phones to call for help; Tess and Eve, in desperation, stopped a construction truck, a loaded jeep, and a tricycle driver just to be able to reach Polangui. The first 2 declined the “chance” to help FtH. The tricycle driver was not on duty, was just trying to buy ‘suka’ for the wife and he “agreed” , through the friendly persuasion of Tess and Eve, to take us to the “place” where we can get other transportation. That “place” is the bridge where the other half was washed away by the flooding and traffic were rerouted to another town. We walked down the river bed, crossed the flowing river through a foot bridge made of a single coconut tree, walked up to the top of the road, commandeered another tricycle with the driver’s family on board, until we met Eve’s brother in Ligao, who drove all the way from Baao to pick us up.
The FtH volunteers, somehow, one way or the other, by hook or by divine guidance, reached Polangui around 6:30 PM to the happiness of the 200 recipients in Barangay Magurang, who have been waiting patiently since early afternoon. Across the Barangay Hall, we can see the buildings with no roofs, damaged by the typhoons that are still waiting for repairs. After the gift giving, we were treated to diner by the Local barangay unit or Mr. Jun Carreon (the coordinator) or Ms. Teresita Rayala (I really don’t know who paid for the late diner but it was very good!), a friend of our friend Nins, a retiree of the World Bank, who requested the gift giving in Polangui. We checked with the driver we left behind in the mountain and he was able to make it back to Malinao. We went on to Baao, Albay and checked in Hotel Emelie, a new hotel in Baao. The room was spacious, looks very clean but a roach was the first to greet Tess ‘good evening’ in the bathroom. Then, we have to call for service for clogged shower, no hot water; but so what, we have outlived a worse situation in Iloilo City. It was a long day but it was worth it; and on to dreamland after a whole day work.
NOTES:
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito, Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at CFO.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Malinao, Albay
Saturday, February 3, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 7th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Saturday, February 3, 2007- We left Catanduanes through the Port of San Andres (formerly Calolbon), which is closer to Tabaco than Virac. It is also with the 9:00AM ferry compared to the afternoon schedule of the ferry from Virac. After a hearty breakfast of the Pinoy kind, we bid our host goodbye, concerned that we might be late for the ferry. Vic said that the owner of the ferry is a friend of Mayor Zito and the ferry will not leave without the FtH volunteers on board. True enough, we were booked in the first class section of the ferry, courtesy of Mayor Zito.
The ferry took almost 4 hours to cross the Lagonoy Gulf to Tabaco, Albay. We were greeted at Tabaco by the associates of Fr. Shiapno of Manilao Parish and the Local Government Unit. Vic went on to prepare the FtH visit in San Jose (Camarines Sur) and we proceeded to Manilao, a short trip from Tabaco. We arrived in Malinao around 2:00 PM, with the scheduled gift giving at 10:30 AM. The gift giving was done in a covered court next to the church, with part of the roof blown away by the typhoon. After the usual welcome and thank you and talk about CFO and FtH, some kids performed with singing and dancing; we started with the relief giving to 200 families of the recent typhoons who have been waiting since 10 AM that morning. Affter the gift giving, we had a very late lunch at the church and we talked about possible livelihood and Feeding Projects. The Mayor’s office offered to take the FtH volunteers to the next mission in Polangui, Albay.
NOTES: Through some mutual friends, Fr. Shiapno and the mayor’s sister attended the FtH gift giving in Paranaque last January 20, 2007 and requested FtH to visit Malinao who is in dire need of some assistance. With some donations to FtH for Virac and Polangui, FtH decided to include Malinao in the tour. Fr. Shiapno was very grateful for the FtH assistance on very short notice and you can really “see” his happiness for FtH being there. Although a little on the healthy side, Fr. Shiapno was moving around like a kid with a new toy.
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 7th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Saturday, February 3, 2007- We left Catanduanes through the Port of San Andres (formerly Calolbon), which is closer to Tabaco than Virac. It is also with the 9:00AM ferry compared to the afternoon schedule of the ferry from Virac. After a hearty breakfast of the Pinoy kind, we bid our host goodbye, concerned that we might be late for the ferry. Vic said that the owner of the ferry is a friend of Mayor Zito and the ferry will not leave without the FtH volunteers on board. True enough, we were booked in the first class section of the ferry, courtesy of Mayor Zito.
The ferry took almost 4 hours to cross the Lagonoy Gulf to Tabaco, Albay. We were greeted at Tabaco by the associates of Fr. Shiapno of Manilao Parish and the Local Government Unit. Vic went on to prepare the FtH visit in San Jose (Camarines Sur) and we proceeded to Manilao, a short trip from Tabaco. We arrived in Malinao around 2:00 PM, with the scheduled gift giving at 10:30 AM. The gift giving was done in a covered court next to the church, with part of the roof blown away by the typhoon. After the usual welcome and thank you and talk about CFO and FtH, some kids performed with singing and dancing; we started with the relief giving to 200 families of the recent typhoons who have been waiting since 10 AM that morning. Affter the gift giving, we had a very late lunch at the church and we talked about possible livelihood and Feeding Projects. The Mayor’s office offered to take the FtH volunteers to the next mission in Polangui, Albay.
NOTES: Through some mutual friends, Fr. Shiapno and the mayor’s sister attended the FtH gift giving in Paranaque last January 20, 2007 and requested FtH to visit Malinao who is in dire need of some assistance. With some donations to FtH for Virac and Polangui, FtH decided to include Malinao in the tour. Fr. Shiapno was very grateful for the FtH assistance on very short notice and you can really “see” his happiness for FtH being there. Although a little on the healthy side, Fr. Shiapno was moving around like a kid with a new toy.
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Virac, Catanduanes
Friday, February 2, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 6th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Friday, February 2, 2007- Carl and Jeanette with the CFO Team No. 1 of Edwin and Ivy left for Manila and were replaced with CFO Team No. 2 of Evelyn and Hazel for the rest of the Bicol Tour. We left Legaspi City at 5AM for the 7AM ferry from Tabaco to Virac. Pablito and Tessie were joined by Vic O. from Annandale, Virginia and San Jose, Camarines Sur at Tabaco, Albay for the ferry to Virac. Vic is a friend of the Mayor of Virac when the Mayor was staying in Washington DC in the 1960s. We were met in Virac by Mayor Zito Alberto but having not seen each other for more than 40 years, Vic and Zito failed to recognize each other at the pier, both bulging on the sides and thinning on the top. Mayor Zito booked us at the Rakdell Hotel near the pier and we were treated to lunch in his Pili farm just outside the town.
After lunch, we started the relief giving for 300 families in 3 barangays affected by the Typhoons. From Manila, we brought a box of 50 flashlights that do not need any batteries, just hand cranked to charge the power. It was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Harry and Rosa Yu of Manila who was our recent visitor in Leesburg, Virginia last October 2006. It will be given to residents of a distant barangay where you need to cross a snaking river 27 times to reach the place. The Hawaii International Relief Organization (HIRO) donated $10,000 towards 2 classrooms in Bicol which we will locate here in Virac, Catanduanes, most often hit by typhoons. We were treated to diner by Mayor Zito and retired early for the early morning trip back to Albay.
Our tour of duty in Virac, Catanduanes was very short and sweet. We were shown some places where the Mayor thinks a tornado went through; coconut trees with no leaves. We were treated royally by Mayor Zito and his wife, with complimentary stay in the hotel, meals and local transportation. It was time for Vic and Zito to reminisce their glory days in Washington DC in 1960s and it was my second trip to Virac after my first stay in 1962.
NOTES: The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 6th leg of a 10-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Friday, February 2, 2007- Carl and Jeanette with the CFO Team No. 1 of Edwin and Ivy left for Manila and were replaced with CFO Team No. 2 of Evelyn and Hazel for the rest of the Bicol Tour. We left Legaspi City at 5AM for the 7AM ferry from Tabaco to Virac. Pablito and Tessie were joined by Vic O. from Annandale, Virginia and San Jose, Camarines Sur at Tabaco, Albay for the ferry to Virac. Vic is a friend of the Mayor of Virac when the Mayor was staying in Washington DC in the 1960s. We were met in Virac by Mayor Zito Alberto but having not seen each other for more than 40 years, Vic and Zito failed to recognize each other at the pier, both bulging on the sides and thinning on the top. Mayor Zito booked us at the Rakdell Hotel near the pier and we were treated to lunch in his Pili farm just outside the town.
After lunch, we started the relief giving for 300 families in 3 barangays affected by the Typhoons. From Manila, we brought a box of 50 flashlights that do not need any batteries, just hand cranked to charge the power. It was donated by Mr. & Mrs. Harry and Rosa Yu of Manila who was our recent visitor in Leesburg, Virginia last October 2006. It will be given to residents of a distant barangay where you need to cross a snaking river 27 times to reach the place. The Hawaii International Relief Organization (HIRO) donated $10,000 towards 2 classrooms in Bicol which we will locate here in Virac, Catanduanes, most often hit by typhoons. We were treated to diner by Mayor Zito and retired early for the early morning trip back to Albay.
Our tour of duty in Virac, Catanduanes was very short and sweet. We were shown some places where the Mayor thinks a tornado went through; coconut trees with no leaves. We were treated royally by Mayor Zito and his wife, with complimentary stay in the hotel, meals and local transportation. It was time for Vic and Zito to reminisce their glory days in Washington DC in 1960s and it was my second trip to Virac after my first stay in 1962.
NOTES: The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Legaspi City, Albay
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 5th leg of a 9-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Thursday, February 1, 2007- After bidding Mayor Sally Ante-Lee of Sorsogon City good-bye, we proceeded to the next FtH mission in Legaspi City. Mayor Sally provided us with the local transportation to Legaspi City. Unknown to us, with 2 security guards trailing in a motorcycle; Carl, Jeanette, Tess and Pablito with CFO’s Ivy and Edwin, we checked in at the Pepperland Hotel in Legaspi City. We were met at the Hotel by the Mayor’s aide and were escorted to the Municipal Hall to pay courtesy call on Mayor Noel Rosal. FtH has been to Legaspi City giving relief for relocation of the Mayon victims in 2006, headed by Solita.
With the Vice Mayor serving as guide, we had lunch in a local restaurant and proceeded to Barangay 17, Ilawod, where the residents were not yet reached by any relief assistance from the private sector. Carl addressed the 100 families eager to receive the food assistance. FtH was assisted by the local Jaycee Chapter headed by the wife of the Vice Mayor and together with their 3 year old daughter.
After the gift giving, we were given a tour of the devastated area especially the Barangay Padang where it was declared a ‘no man’s land’ and the whole village was evacuated to a relocation center. We saw rocks bigger than a car; houses half buried in lahar, not fit for habitation anymore; coconut trees with no leaves standing up like toothpicks; I noticed a 2 classroom building almost 50% complete but had to be abandoned because it is in the path of the Mayon Volcano eruption. We then went to Pag-Asa National High School, Arimbay Extension, where they need replacement of the damaged classrooms, whose roof was blown about 10 meters away. We were driven to the top of the hill of Taysan where you can see a panoramic view of the path of the devastation along the widened river, unto the sea. We then went to the relocation center, MMDA Village, run by Gawad Kalinga, where several hundred families from Barangay Padang were relocated.
It was free-time after the tour and we had special halo-halo in this very famous restaurant across a shopping mall. This special treat is part of the benefits of a FtH volunteer.
NOTES: The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (December 7-12, 2006), and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 5th leg of a 9-town tour of FtH in the Bicol Region.
Thursday, February 1, 2007- After bidding Mayor Sally Ante-Lee of Sorsogon City good-bye, we proceeded to the next FtH mission in Legaspi City. Mayor Sally provided us with the local transportation to Legaspi City. Unknown to us, with 2 security guards trailing in a motorcycle; Carl, Jeanette, Tess and Pablito with CFO’s Ivy and Edwin, we checked in at the Pepperland Hotel in Legaspi City. We were met at the Hotel by the Mayor’s aide and were escorted to the Municipal Hall to pay courtesy call on Mayor Noel Rosal. FtH has been to Legaspi City giving relief for relocation of the Mayon victims in 2006, headed by Solita.
With the Vice Mayor serving as guide, we had lunch in a local restaurant and proceeded to Barangay 17, Ilawod, where the residents were not yet reached by any relief assistance from the private sector. Carl addressed the 100 families eager to receive the food assistance. FtH was assisted by the local Jaycee Chapter headed by the wife of the Vice Mayor and together with their 3 year old daughter.
After the gift giving, we were given a tour of the devastated area especially the Barangay Padang where it was declared a ‘no man’s land’ and the whole village was evacuated to a relocation center. We saw rocks bigger than a car; houses half buried in lahar, not fit for habitation anymore; coconut trees with no leaves standing up like toothpicks; I noticed a 2 classroom building almost 50% complete but had to be abandoned because it is in the path of the Mayon Volcano eruption. We then went to Pag-Asa National High School, Arimbay Extension, where they need replacement of the damaged classrooms, whose roof was blown about 10 meters away. We were driven to the top of the hill of Taysan where you can see a panoramic view of the path of the devastation along the widened river, unto the sea. We then went to the relocation center, MMDA Village, run by Gawad Kalinga, where several hundred families from Barangay Padang were relocated.
It was free-time after the tour and we had special halo-halo in this very famous restaurant across a shopping mall. This special treat is part of the benefits of a FtH volunteer.
NOTES: The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
January 31, 2007
The Bicol Region of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoons Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (Dec 7-12, 2006) and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO formed 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 4th of a 10 part series of FtH stories.
Wed, Jan 31, 2007- FtH Team No. 2 of Celia, Gretchen, and Malu stayed in Bulan to do the gift giving for the 300 families and continue assisting the Bulan Medical Mission.
FtH Team No. 3 of Carl, Jeanette, Tessie, and Pablito and with CFO’s Ivy and Edwin were picked up early in the morning with a van provided by the Mayor of Sorsogon City, for the trip to Sorsogon City. We arrived in Sorsogon City about 8:30AM and checked in our Hotel Fernando. We were then escorted to the Office of the Mayor, Sally Ante-Lee, to make a courtesy call as scheduled for 9:00 AM.
Mayor Lee started introducing herself, and the rest of the story of her life came out in the open; that she would like to be a nun but was persuaded by the last of her suitors to get married and has been happily married to the Governor of Sorsogon; that before she decided to run for Mayor, she asked for Divine guidance and signs and all 5 signs were positively answered, so she run and won against a powerful incumbent. She is going to run for Governor so that she can continue the progress of Sorsogon.
Mayor Lee came to our meeting looking like a regular housewife, with loose hair, still wet after her morning bath. She reported to the office in ordinary dress, with no make-up. But her simplicity stops there. She was with us for a day and a half showing us the ‘city within the city’ with all the government offices in one place, one-stop permit processing; the employees are to be provided with housing within walking distance of the government offices so there will be no more reasons for being late due to traffic; housing for the poor are in a GK Village within the city, with bigger living floor area than the standard GK housing. We had the gift giving in a covered court provided by her son. Carl talked about FtH and the Mayor replied with a thank you and enjoined the crowd to appreciate the efforts of strangers from Washington, DC. The Mayor also provided some used clothes where the recipients were allowed to pick what they want, as many as they want.
After lunch in their house with no fence around; where she built a chapel where everybody can go; the Mayor gave us a tour around the City, where the roads are ALL concrete paved, done by the City Engineer’s Office, even in the areas where the residents did not vote for her. She took us to Bacon where some squatters are to be relocated after their houses were damaged by the typhoon, so that the space can be developed into a tourist area. The Mayor took us to the Buhatan High School, and calls it a character school with a mission and requested the FtH for assistance for additional classrooms. Mayor Sally then invited FtH to tape a TV interview in their TV Station that will be aired that evening.
After the tour, we had dinner in a restaurant near her home. The talk got into ball room dancing and the Mayor started to clear some dancing space and Carl started the cha-cha with the Mayor. I reluctantly did my part and dance with the Mayor’s friend, the chief of the PIA’s office in Sorsogon City. CFO’s Edwin and Ivy joined in and we had some fun. After we got tired and sleepy, the Mayor asked her driver to drive us back to the Hotel and she walk by herself to her home, no security escorts; a big change of condition from our previous Bicol missions.
Thursday, February 1, 2007- At the dinner yesterday, the Mayor invited us for an early morning exercise at the Sorsogon City Bay walk. That “early” made us wake up at 4:30AM for the 5:00 AM Tai-Bo exercise at the Bay walk; a not-so-lighted pier that was made into a promenade, very clean, no squatters or vendors. With a portable generator, the sound system was blaring with a very catchy music and somebody was barking the instructions in the dark. We saw the morning light at the pier and left about 6:30 AM for breakfast in the same restaurant. It was a very sumptuous breakfast of the local variety and followed with another round of ballroom exercise, as if the Tai-Bo is not enough. My shoes repaired in Bulan by the ‘kid’ passed the test and will serve me for many years to come.
We were then escorted to another meeting with PALFSI to discuss some livelihood project in Sorsogon City, similar to a Grameen Bank, a micro financing project in different Barangays. After the meeting headed by a Monsigneur, we made a last stop on a livelihood project of processing pili nut. We bid Mayor Sally Ante-Lee good-bye with a promise to consider seriously their proposed projects and proceeded to the next FtH mission in Legaspi City.
NOTES: Mayor Sally Ante-Lee was introduced to Pablito and Tessie by Nonoy Mendoza of Arlington, VA when Sally visited DC last year. Nonoy was very impressed with the governance system and can-do attitude of Sally and we witnessed her capability and determination to improve the resident’s lives in the short time we spent with her (including her ballroom dancing expertise at all hours). Nonoy made a donation of $1000 toward the relief of the typhoon victims and pledge the donation of 2 classrooms in Sorsogon City which we tried to inspect the site.
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Bicol Region of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoons Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (Dec 7-12, 2006) and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO formed 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the 4th of a 10 part series of FtH stories.
Wed, Jan 31, 2007- FtH Team No. 2 of Celia, Gretchen, and Malu stayed in Bulan to do the gift giving for the 300 families and continue assisting the Bulan Medical Mission.
FtH Team No. 3 of Carl, Jeanette, Tessie, and Pablito and with CFO’s Ivy and Edwin were picked up early in the morning with a van provided by the Mayor of Sorsogon City, for the trip to Sorsogon City. We arrived in Sorsogon City about 8:30AM and checked in our Hotel Fernando. We were then escorted to the Office of the Mayor, Sally Ante-Lee, to make a courtesy call as scheduled for 9:00 AM.
Mayor Lee started introducing herself, and the rest of the story of her life came out in the open; that she would like to be a nun but was persuaded by the last of her suitors to get married and has been happily married to the Governor of Sorsogon; that before she decided to run for Mayor, she asked for Divine guidance and signs and all 5 signs were positively answered, so she run and won against a powerful incumbent. She is going to run for Governor so that she can continue the progress of Sorsogon.
Mayor Lee came to our meeting looking like a regular housewife, with loose hair, still wet after her morning bath. She reported to the office in ordinary dress, with no make-up. But her simplicity stops there. She was with us for a day and a half showing us the ‘city within the city’ with all the government offices in one place, one-stop permit processing; the employees are to be provided with housing within walking distance of the government offices so there will be no more reasons for being late due to traffic; housing for the poor are in a GK Village within the city, with bigger living floor area than the standard GK housing. We had the gift giving in a covered court provided by her son. Carl talked about FtH and the Mayor replied with a thank you and enjoined the crowd to appreciate the efforts of strangers from Washington, DC. The Mayor also provided some used clothes where the recipients were allowed to pick what they want, as many as they want.
After lunch in their house with no fence around; where she built a chapel where everybody can go; the Mayor gave us a tour around the City, where the roads are ALL concrete paved, done by the City Engineer’s Office, even in the areas where the residents did not vote for her. She took us to Bacon where some squatters are to be relocated after their houses were damaged by the typhoon, so that the space can be developed into a tourist area. The Mayor took us to the Buhatan High School, and calls it a character school with a mission and requested the FtH for assistance for additional classrooms. Mayor Sally then invited FtH to tape a TV interview in their TV Station that will be aired that evening.
After the tour, we had dinner in a restaurant near her home. The talk got into ball room dancing and the Mayor started to clear some dancing space and Carl started the cha-cha with the Mayor. I reluctantly did my part and dance with the Mayor’s friend, the chief of the PIA’s office in Sorsogon City. CFO’s Edwin and Ivy joined in and we had some fun. After we got tired and sleepy, the Mayor asked her driver to drive us back to the Hotel and she walk by herself to her home, no security escorts; a big change of condition from our previous Bicol missions.
Thursday, February 1, 2007- At the dinner yesterday, the Mayor invited us for an early morning exercise at the Sorsogon City Bay walk. That “early” made us wake up at 4:30AM for the 5:00 AM Tai-Bo exercise at the Bay walk; a not-so-lighted pier that was made into a promenade, very clean, no squatters or vendors. With a portable generator, the sound system was blaring with a very catchy music and somebody was barking the instructions in the dark. We saw the morning light at the pier and left about 6:30 AM for breakfast in the same restaurant. It was a very sumptuous breakfast of the local variety and followed with another round of ballroom exercise, as if the Tai-Bo is not enough. My shoes repaired in Bulan by the ‘kid’ passed the test and will serve me for many years to come.
We were then escorted to another meeting with PALFSI to discuss some livelihood project in Sorsogon City, similar to a Grameen Bank, a micro financing project in different Barangays. After the meeting headed by a Monsigneur, we made a last stop on a livelihood project of processing pili nut. We bid Mayor Sally Ante-Lee good-bye with a promise to consider seriously their proposed projects and proceeded to the next FtH mission in Legaspi City.
NOTES: Mayor Sally Ante-Lee was introduced to Pablito and Tessie by Nonoy Mendoza of Arlington, VA when Sally visited DC last year. Nonoy was very impressed with the governance system and can-do attitude of Sally and we witnessed her capability and determination to improve the resident’s lives in the short time we spent with her (including her ballroom dancing expertise at all hours). Nonoy made a donation of $1000 toward the relief of the typhoon victims and pledge the donation of 2 classrooms in Sorsogon City which we tried to inspect the site.
The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Bulan, Sorsogon
January 29-31, 2007
The Bicol Region of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoons Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (Dec 7-12, 2006) and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO formed 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the third of a 10 part series of FtH stories.
January 29, 2007 - After completing the FtH Missions in Buhi, Camarines Sur and Pilar, Sorsogon, Team No. 1 of Gloria, Solita, Lottie, Ethel, Bing, Fely, Manny, Carl, Jeanette, Ernie, Tessie and Pablito proceeded to Bulan, Sorsogon where we joined FtH Team No. 2 who were assisting the medical mission. Nine (9) FtH volunteers were assigned to 3 rooms at the 9 Balls Inn and the rest of the volunteers were in the Cosmopolitan Hotel nearby with 4 guests in a room, with private bathrooms but no hot water. Tessie had to bribe the caretaker to boil some hot water for bathing.
After a get together dinner of all FtH volunteers and the rest of the members of the Bulan Medical Mission, we were treated to a recognition party at the town plaza by the Municipal Mayor who has some resemblance with a staff at the Philippine Embassy in WashDC. At the recognition party, by invitation only, but lots of viewers outside the gate, each volunteer was given a plaque of recognition. The recipients were arranged alphabetically and Carl A. was very excited for getting one even though he has not done anything yet. After the presentation, photo op, it was a ballroom dancing until about 10:00PM. We walked to our hotels nearby, tired but happy.
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007- We did gift giving to 300 families of the fire calamities last year.
It was done at the Police station grounds were there was a better crowd control. Ernie and Carl asked the recipients to form 2 lines and controlled the flow smoothly. Solita, Gretchen, Ethel, Celia, Gloria, Lottie, Tessie, Belen, Mary Anne, Fely D and Fely G, took turns in getting the tickets, and handling the heavy bags of goodies. Bing, Manny and Pablito took pictures.
After lunch, the FtH Team No. 1 of Gloria, Solita, Lottie, Bing, Ethel, Fely D, Manny, Ernie, left for Legaspi City for the 8 AM flight back to Manila the following day. Carl, Jeanette, Tessie and Pablito, stayed with FtH Team No. 2 and started packing for 300 more gifts for the recent Typhoon Reming victims.
After the dancing that night at the concrete floor plaza, Pablito’s only shoes, a year-old Rockport walker made in China, the sole broke away from the rest of the shoes and was flapping noisily as I walked. While waiting for the relief goods from the supplier, I sneaked out and told the tricycle driver to take me to a shoe repair shop. The ‘shoe repair shop’ is in the sidewalk, across the plaza where we danced the night before, manned by 2 brothers, ages 10 and 8, off from school because their teachers are attending the funeral of another teacher. The tricycle driver talking in Bicol, introduced me as a VIP with the Medical Mission and requested to have my shoes done right away and the boy happily obliged. The 10 year old repair man expertly put glue on the sole with his fore fingers and while waiting for the glue to dry up a little bit, he suggested sewing the bottom for added security. The “sewing machine” is an improvised, modified, ice pick with a hook at the tip to hold the string. He casually put a hole on the bottom and side of the shoes; thread the strings, pulled it tight and moved on to the next hole. In 15 minutes, the pair was done, he charged me Ph50 for the repair of a $50 shoes, I gave him Ph100 and you can see the happy, very wide smile on his face. The tricycle driver waited for me all the time, he claimed no business around that time in the PM, the fare was Ph 7.50 one way, I gave him Ph50 and everybody was happy, including my shoes that are not flapping anymore.
We had dinner in Irosin hot spring, about 30 minutes away. The spring is privately owned and there was an entrance fee of Ph20 per person. Dinner was brought in from Bulan. The hot water was tapped from the side of a mountain and it is really hot to the touch. The pool is lukewarm and just right for relaxing from all the excitement of the day.
Wed, Jan 31, 2007- FtH Team No. 2 of Celia, Gretchen, and Malu stayed in Bulan to do the gift giving for the 300 families and continue assisting the Bulan Medical Mission.
FtH Team No. 3 of Carl, Jeanette, Tessie, and Pablito and with CFO’s Ivy and Edwin were picked up early in the morning with a van provided by the Mayor of Sorsogon City, for the trip to Sorsogon City.
NOTES: The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions. All FtH volunteers paid for their own meals and lodging in this mission.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in one hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
February 17, 2007
The Bicol Region of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoons Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Seniang (Dec 7-12, 2006) and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO formed 2 teams to meet the challenge. This is the third of a 10 part series of FtH stories.
January 29, 2007 - After completing the FtH Missions in Buhi, Camarines Sur and Pilar, Sorsogon, Team No. 1 of Gloria, Solita, Lottie, Ethel, Bing, Fely, Manny, Carl, Jeanette, Ernie, Tessie and Pablito proceeded to Bulan, Sorsogon where we joined FtH Team No. 2 who were assisting the medical mission. Nine (9) FtH volunteers were assigned to 3 rooms at the 9 Balls Inn and the rest of the volunteers were in the Cosmopolitan Hotel nearby with 4 guests in a room, with private bathrooms but no hot water. Tessie had to bribe the caretaker to boil some hot water for bathing.
After a get together dinner of all FtH volunteers and the rest of the members of the Bulan Medical Mission, we were treated to a recognition party at the town plaza by the Municipal Mayor who has some resemblance with a staff at the Philippine Embassy in WashDC. At the recognition party, by invitation only, but lots of viewers outside the gate, each volunteer was given a plaque of recognition. The recipients were arranged alphabetically and Carl A. was very excited for getting one even though he has not done anything yet. After the presentation, photo op, it was a ballroom dancing until about 10:00PM. We walked to our hotels nearby, tired but happy.
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007- We did gift giving to 300 families of the fire calamities last year.
It was done at the Police station grounds were there was a better crowd control. Ernie and Carl asked the recipients to form 2 lines and controlled the flow smoothly. Solita, Gretchen, Ethel, Celia, Gloria, Lottie, Tessie, Belen, Mary Anne, Fely D and Fely G, took turns in getting the tickets, and handling the heavy bags of goodies. Bing, Manny and Pablito took pictures.
After lunch, the FtH Team No. 1 of Gloria, Solita, Lottie, Bing, Ethel, Fely D, Manny, Ernie, left for Legaspi City for the 8 AM flight back to Manila the following day. Carl, Jeanette, Tessie and Pablito, stayed with FtH Team No. 2 and started packing for 300 more gifts for the recent Typhoon Reming victims.
After the dancing that night at the concrete floor plaza, Pablito’s only shoes, a year-old Rockport walker made in China, the sole broke away from the rest of the shoes and was flapping noisily as I walked. While waiting for the relief goods from the supplier, I sneaked out and told the tricycle driver to take me to a shoe repair shop. The ‘shoe repair shop’ is in the sidewalk, across the plaza where we danced the night before, manned by 2 brothers, ages 10 and 8, off from school because their teachers are attending the funeral of another teacher. The tricycle driver talking in Bicol, introduced me as a VIP with the Medical Mission and requested to have my shoes done right away and the boy happily obliged. The 10 year old repair man expertly put glue on the sole with his fore fingers and while waiting for the glue to dry up a little bit, he suggested sewing the bottom for added security. The “sewing machine” is an improvised, modified, ice pick with a hook at the tip to hold the string. He casually put a hole on the bottom and side of the shoes; thread the strings, pulled it tight and moved on to the next hole. In 15 minutes, the pair was done, he charged me Ph50 for the repair of a $50 shoes, I gave him Ph100 and you can see the happy, very wide smile on his face. The tricycle driver waited for me all the time, he claimed no business around that time in the PM, the fare was Ph 7.50 one way, I gave him Ph50 and everybody was happy, including my shoes that are not flapping anymore.
We had dinner in Irosin hot spring, about 30 minutes away. The spring is privately owned and there was an entrance fee of Ph20 per person. Dinner was brought in from Bulan. The hot water was tapped from the side of a mountain and it is really hot to the touch. The pool is lukewarm and just right for relaxing from all the excitement of the day.
Wed, Jan 31, 2007- FtH Team No. 2 of Celia, Gretchen, and Malu stayed in Bulan to do the gift giving for the 300 families and continue assisting the Bulan Medical Mission.
FtH Team No. 3 of Carl, Jeanette, Tessie, and Pablito and with CFO’s Ivy and Edwin were picked up early in the morning with a van provided by the Mayor of Sorsogon City, for the trip to Sorsogon City.
NOTES: The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions. All FtH volunteers paid for their own meals and lodging in this mission.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in one hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
February 17, 2007
Pilar, Sorsogon
Monday, January 29, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Typhoon Seniang (Dec. 7-12, 2006) and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge.
Monday, Jan 29, 2007- After inspecting the damage at Cabatuan Elementary School in Buhi, the FtH volunteers proceeded to Pilar, Sorsogon with the vans provided by Uncle Johnny of Buhi Resort Hotel where FtH volunteers were hosted. We reached Pilar, Sorsogon around 10:00 and met with Dr. Castro, a dentist from NJ who established a medical Hospital in Pilar. Dr Castro gave us a tour of the facility. It is not opened yet but the rooms were almost complete and painted. The building even had a helicopter landing pad in the roof.
We had lunch with 100 indigent children and their parents who will be the recipients of the FtH Feeding Project in Pilar. The children will be provided with meals for 6 months and their progress will be monitored. After the lunch, the children were treated to a gift bag of food, toys and school supplies. The lunch and the gifts were prepared by the local DSWD but was funded by FtH. Very prominent in this trip are the armed military guards in the property. We were advised even before we left the US that Pilar is infested with anti-government elements. However, local officials assured us that since we are helping the poor, even some families of the NPAs, there’s nothing to worry about our safety.
We did a side trip to Donsol, Sorsogon to see the famous Butanding whale sharks but the sea was choppy and no sightings of the whale have been reported. The only big whales we saw are the bodies of Carl and Pablito in front of the vans. We proceeded to Bulan, Sorsogon where we joined FtH Team No. 2 who were assisting the medical mission. Nine (9) FtH volunteers were assigned to 3 rooms at the 9 Balls Inn and the rest of the volunteers were assigned in a separate hotel nearby, jamming 4 guests in a room.
NOTES: This is the second leg of a 10-town tour of FtH. The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoon Milenyo (Sept 27, 2006), relocation due to Mayon eruption, Typhoon Reming (Nov. 30, 2006), Typhoon Seniang (Dec. 7-12, 2006) and the Mayon landslide. The needs were great and FTH tried to put together 3 teams and CFO had 2 teams to meet the challenge.
Monday, Jan 29, 2007- After inspecting the damage at Cabatuan Elementary School in Buhi, the FtH volunteers proceeded to Pilar, Sorsogon with the vans provided by Uncle Johnny of Buhi Resort Hotel where FtH volunteers were hosted. We reached Pilar, Sorsogon around 10:00 and met with Dr. Castro, a dentist from NJ who established a medical Hospital in Pilar. Dr Castro gave us a tour of the facility. It is not opened yet but the rooms were almost complete and painted. The building even had a helicopter landing pad in the roof.
We had lunch with 100 indigent children and their parents who will be the recipients of the FtH Feeding Project in Pilar. The children will be provided with meals for 6 months and their progress will be monitored. After the lunch, the children were treated to a gift bag of food, toys and school supplies. The lunch and the gifts were prepared by the local DSWD but was funded by FtH. Very prominent in this trip are the armed military guards in the property. We were advised even before we left the US that Pilar is infested with anti-government elements. However, local officials assured us that since we are helping the poor, even some families of the NPAs, there’s nothing to worry about our safety.
We did a side trip to Donsol, Sorsogon to see the famous Butanding whale sharks but the sea was choppy and no sightings of the whale have been reported. The only big whales we saw are the bodies of Carl and Pablito in front of the vans. We proceeded to Bulan, Sorsogon where we joined FtH Team No. 2 who were assisting the medical mission. Nine (9) FtH volunteers were assigned to 3 rooms at the 9 Balls Inn and the rest of the volunteers were assigned in a separate hotel nearby, jamming 4 guests in a room.
NOTES: This is the second leg of a 10-town tour of FtH. The preparation done by the CFO staff in coordinating the procurement and packing of the gifts, arrangement for the hotels and transportation for the volunteers, scheduling the gift giving with the local government units (LGU) and non-government officials (NGO) is incredible! And the bits and pieces of the puzzle all fall into its places. There were some delays and breakdowns but all were manageable and we were able to carry out the missions.
It was a fun trip of nine days. After 2 bottles of Robitussin DM, 30 capsules of anti-biotic provided by Nurse Malu in Bulan, a bottle of Listerine to gargle my sore throat, living in a hand carry luggage and a back pack of video camera, flashlight, camera, bottled water and TP; using one shoes and a pair of slippers; sleeping in 6 hotels with somebody snoring like me and me coughing all the time; practicing my ballrooms moves in 2 nights and after one breakfast; having a night swim in a hot spring in Irosin; having my $50 shoes repaired expertly by a child labor for $1 using his agile hands and crude tools; seeing the smiles of about 2,050 recipients having Christmas gifts in January; being able to locate the sites of eight (8) classrooms to be donated through FtH, I will do it again for FEED THE HUNGRY and the poor people of Bicol. If there’s a will, HE will show the way!
Pablito
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Buhi, Camarines Sur
The Bicol Regions of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon were hit with a 1-2-3-4-5 punch of Typhoons Milenyo (
Passengers were issued meal allowance and nobody complained.
Team No. 2 of Celia, Malu, Gretchen and Dr Dante left earlier at 7:00 AM to join the Bulan Medical Mission for Legaspi City going directly to Bulan, Sorsogon.
We were met at
We had gift giving for about 70 families at Barangay Cabatuan and where we were joined by the Mayor during the distribution. We continued the distribution to about 230 families in the Buhi Municipal Hall. The gifts were bought locally, packed and prepared by the staff of the Mayor and DSWD. At the Municipal Hall, the distribution was done in the second floor meeting room which was crowded by the recipients. Lottie talked about FtH and its missions. Carl and Ernie advised the recipients to form 2 lines to facilitate the distribution. We were treated to a late lunch by the Mayor’s wife after the gift giving.
Monday, Jan 29, 2007- We passed by the ruins of Cabatuan Elementary School before we proceeded to Pilar, Sorsogon with the vans provided by Uncle Johnny of Buhi Resort Hotel where FtH volunteers were hosted.
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