EFT SEMINAR. SIGN-UP NOW!

EFT seems to be one of those modes of healing that belongs to the realm of "medicine of the future". I had a private session with Caroline Rhodes, a Hong Kong based practitioner, who has been practicing EFT for 8 years, and I came out of it understanding certain patterns about my life. She led me safely to the root of certain issues that were affecting my health and, therefore, the health of my children. Caroline is really a very special woman--gentle, kind, and compassionate -- and brings 25 years of experience in other healing modalities as well.

For some ailments, EFT can bring instant relief. During the workshop, we were able to heal ourselves of food addictions in a matter of minutes. It really works. (I don't dream about bread anymore!) Other issues might take more time, though Caroline herself shared a lot of remarkable stories about healing tumors, trauma, cancers and other serious illnesses.

If you are looking for a healthier way of healing and are ready to go down the path of your emotions, this is for you. It's great that Archie and Lingling King have made this possible. Sign up now and heal yourself and your family.

Please click on the image to make it readable. :)

MAMOO

FE CRUZ DONOVAN 12.1.1921 - 12.6.2009

I wanted to write something about Mamoo on December 1, the day she turned 88, but I didn't realize until then that my scanner wasn't working. I had to wait for D to fix it for me. Then I had to figure out how to crop it--I know, I know, I'm just not a techie. It just takes me longer. But when I had the photo cropped and ready to go, it was past the date. On Sunday, she crossed over and now here we are.

This is how I like to remember my grandmother--happy, surrounded with color and just plain beautiful. The Alzheimer's took that away, so I'm happy that she's free of the physical sheath that seemed to be more of a prison these last few years. Seeing her--even just thinking of her--was always a source of pain and anguish. But now that she's gone, I find myself remembering all the wonderful times, all the silly things she was always doing to make us laugh, everything she taught us (from crocheting, sewing, cooking, etc.), did for us--there was so much.

I know it's personal, but I want her to have her place here in cyberspace, and in all the places and spaces of my life.

This is how I like to remember her.

ARE WE AFRAID?

Are we afraid of what it will mean for each of us if a leader of integrity and vision--yes, VISION--is elected? Sometimes I feel like it's so easy for us to claim it as the future we really want, but when it comes down to making it happen, we can't, because it means the entire landscape of our lives will change. Wala nang palakasan, diba? Lahat pantay-pantay. Baka wala na ang mga VIP lines, baka wala ng relevance ang pagka-who's who mo. Let's face it, everyone has someone they can run to, to make things move forward a little, and we all rely on that more than we care to admit. And that is why old politics continues to reign in this country. So many people have too much invested in it. The murky part of our identities are so mired in it.

What does it mean for us, individually, if someone of integrity holds office? Are we ready to let things go for the NEW stuff to come through? Because it won't happen on its own. We have to make space for it--in our thinking, in the way we live, the way we will eventually vote. I hope it will mean we are all forced to be the change we keep praying for at last, that what comes out of our mouths today as platitudes soon translate into courageous action. Because what I'm seeing now, especially in that sorry realm of politics, is we're not ready for something new AT ALL, no matter how violently we shake our fists in the air, no matter how many times we rally, no matter the tears we keep shedding.

What I keep seeing is old stuff. People keep claiming they're bringing in new politics, but their approach is old--money, celebrities, that oh-so-TRAPO-tone, speeches full of fervor but also overflowing with mindsets from the past. We keep responding to something we've seen before because it feels comfortable, but is that what our country needs?

I've never been interested in politics. Each time I watch anything that has to do with it, I mostly recoil at the antics, but I am paying close attention because I feel my country is so painfully effed-up and the only way to bring it back on its feet is for each of us to to break open our thinking, the way we never have before. We have to put sentiment aside, let go of emotions that no longer serve us and approach the next elections with an openness we've never had before.

I have my candidate, but I still listen to what the others have to say and try to stay objective because I owe my country that much. To the very end, I will keep myself open to what might be emerging. I owe my country my informed choice. I will not vote based on anything anyone says. Surveys do nothing for me. Noise, glamour, glitter, bejewelled and coiffed supporters do not sway me. I will continue to listen to each candidate (except for the criminals, fyi) and vote out of my conscience.

I know, people like to think I'm impractical, a dreamer, a tree-hugger and just plain old crazy. (YAY!) But just think about where everything you're seeing in politics today has brought us. Where has machinery brought us? Money? Winnability? Topping the surveys? Any standard of the past we keep looking for, for that matter, can no longer apply. Just look at where we are and see why we need to choose our candidate in a way we never have before. Before we ridicule or cancel them out, let's ask ourselves the hard questions.

Remove the word IMPOSSIBLE. Block all outside influence. Listen to yourself. Conquer your fears and go for gold. If we want new politics, we have to be clear about what we mean and be ready for everything that needs to change in our lives today.

AGAINST PARALYSIS

Before the massacre, I had a few ideas for new entries for this blog. After it happened, I felt suddenly paralyzed. Every topic seemed irrelevant and trivial. There are no words.

I've read many articles since, pausing to read the names of the brutally murdered. It is a list I looked for. Each time a name rolled off my tongue, I imagined the horror of their deaths, and what those last few minutes of their lives must have been like. After I read the last name, there was a knot in my belly. I made a conscious decision not to look at the photos that have been circulating online, not just because I know I will not be able to handle it, but because I feel like it's one thing I can give them--their privacy and my respect.

Does that sound weird?

I've seen some photos because I had no choice; they were splashed on the front page of my newspaper. When I look for news updates, there they are. But I will not look for them and I've avoided links that I know contain more graphic photos. If that happened to me--God forbid--I wouldn't want everyone to look at me. That is all I can give them now--my prayers and respect.

There will never be words to make sense of all those lives so brutally cut short because it will never make sense. Life goes on, on one level, and I realize that this kind of evil must be countered with all expressions of life. So I will continue to put all my thoughts here--trivial as they may seem--because I refuse to let the evil get to me and weigh me down. I won't let it take over.

We all grieve. This tragedy, made more despicable because it was wrought by (in)human hands, is one of many we have already endured as Filipinos. But we cannot let this evil win. Like everyone else, I will follow this story and write what I need to write, say what I feel I can say. Beyond that, I will vote for people whom I know stand for true change--people who will make sure that deep, positive, life-affirming changes can finally take root in this country. I will not be swayed by surveys or sentiment. I will behave in a way that will bring this country forward--in thought, word and deed, as upright as I can manage--because I know that's what it will take to wipe out the evil that continues to damage the Filipino soul.

In the meantime, I will not be paralyzed. Evil cannot win.

*Thanks to whoever created the image.

Maguindanao

DR.MOM: YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH JOURNAL

Looking for the perfect present for a new mom? This is it. This comprehensive baby-to-adult book was created by our pediatrician and friend, Dr. Cricket Chen. It covers the first 18 years of your child. Once you have it all filled up, you can give it to your child as a story of his first 18 years. It will give him much needed insight when he chooses to explore his own biography later in life. What a valuable gift for every mother and child. Please call or message Irma at 0916-4295660 for pick-up at Asian Hospital or Ayi at 0927-9877079 for pick-up at Medical Plaza, Makati. Also available at Powerbooks.

GAME!

I can never get these images to come out right! Click here.

PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN ALREADY!

I watched yet another forum for presidential candidates just the other day and right in the middle of the panel was Erap. Who, what, where, how and why? These were just some of the questions that poked and provoked.

Why even invite him? Does anybody remember People Power 2 and why it happened?! I listened to him spouting nonsense, answering questions about corruption, as if it weren't his most intimate buddy. What was this person doing there? Why were we even giving him the time of day? That he thinks that after stealing (and killing)and spending time in jail, he can still run for the highest position in the land which he already botched big time, is reason enough to have him committed; that he was in the forum is reason to have all of us committed.

We all need to lift our feet and put them solidly back on the ground. Foot down. Millions of Pinoy feet. Down. Tama na lahat ng magnanakaw na pumapapel na hindi nagnanakaw! Tama na si Imelda, for example. Bakit binigyan ng parangal sa CCP? That she built it and was a kind of patroness of the arts is one thing, but it's one thing that doesn't wipe out everything else she did. There is no such thing as a clean slate unless people face the consequences of their criminality. There can be no forgiveness if people refuse to stand up for their mistakes and say, "I did it. I'm sorry. I will face what I need to face." They also need to spell out what they did so that everyone sees exactly what they are forgiving. It will show us that they are fully aware of every transgression. It's the only hope that maybe, it won't happen again. Maybe. But for as long as there is no admission, and every criminal keeps pretending they are innocent when the facts and proof are practical universe-size monuments, there should be no place for them in our society. None. Not on a podium anywhere, not on any space that honors them.

This is our fault, too. I couldn't stand watching Erap. I couldn't stand what he represented and how his presence speaks volumes about our collective weakness as a people. All I could do was walk away from the TV. But maybe that's enough for now. If we just stopped participating in every appearance of every criminal-in-denial, perhaps that's already something. You see them, you walk away. Make them completely invisible. They don't exist, therefore, they cannot run for office or have a voice in society. They can't. They're not there.

I was going to put a great image of ERAP to accompany this piece, but I couldn't find the source. But maybe it all works out. Why even put his face here.

Foot down.

Let's Get the Goods Out!!

IF YOU WANT TO HELP MOVE THE SUPPLIES INSIDE THE DSWD WAREHOUSE -- HERE'S THE INFO:

Share

Today at 2:34am

Oct 23 2009 - approx: 930pm I got an SMS saying: This is Sec Espie Cabral. May I call you?

I was so happy!

I immediately replied. My hunch was right, Rep. Risa Hontiveros gave my contact number to the Dept of Social Welfare and Development Secretary. I told Risa that many private citizens are willing to help DSWD! Many are willing to pack and sort and look for options for delivery (as groups like WhiteSpace, TulongBayan, BalayExpo, Angel Brigade, LSGH, AdMU, Red Cross have been doing). Since the warehouses of DSWD are filling up with donations from overseas- then it is time they be delivered to people who are recovering and desperately rebuilding their lives from the recent onslaught brought about by the two typhoons.

Sec. Cabral and I talked for a bit and she mentioned that the DSWD is open 24 hours for workshifts so she agreed for us (private citizens) to try to come up with a shift-coordination-list of, at least, 50 volunteers per day - for Monday to Friday - 3pm-11pm.


I chose the time slot because it can fit in the schedule of students and young professionals. (somehow)

My request is this.

IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL --- Kindly email radio@rockedphilippines.org or info@rockedphilippines.org your name, contact number and available time shifts you can commit to. Or leave a message here on this post. Pls indicate if you need transportation - we can probably match pick up points or carpooling.


IF YOU HAVE A CLUB/ ORG/ BIBLE STUDY GROUP/ YOGA GROUP/ WHATEVER CLUB/ JAYCEES/ ROTARY/BARKADA/ OFFICE DEPARTMENT/ SCHOOL VARSITY TEAM or BARKADA ---any group that can actually commit 10 or more people for one night -- please send one collective email lang with all your names and identify your group leader to radio@rockedphilippines.org or info@rockedphilippines.org - or leave a message here on this post....and tell us the specific time and day your group can come. (I highly encourage this manner so that makes it easier for us to coordinate sched and you get to work with people you already know.)



IF YOU HAVE A BUS OR A VAN SERVICE THAT YOU CAN LEND FOR TRANSPO OF VOLUNTEERS FROM PICK UP POINTS IN QC, PASIG AND MAKATI TO PASAY - please email mike@rockedphilippines.org or info@rockedphilippines.org so we can coordinate the carpooling if needed.



IF YOU HAVE A TRUCK/VAN/DELIVERY PICK UP WILLING TO LEND TO DEPLOY BGY RELIEF PACKS -email sheila@rockedphilippines.org or may@rockedphilippines.org or mike@rockedphilippines.org


IF YOUR BARKADA IS WILLING BUT WILL NEED HELP WITH TRANSPO/ TRANSPO ALLOWANCE PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY - WAG MAHIHIYA- KAILANGAN NAMIN KAYO AT WILLING KAMING MANUNDO!! gang@rockedphilippines.org - hihingi tayo sa mga taong willing magdonate ng pamasahe ng mga studyante. :)


IF YOU HAVE NO TIME BUT HAVE EXTRA CASH - PLEASE DONATE SO WE CAN ARRANGE FOR SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPO FOR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL TO WAREHOUSE AND BACK. email me directly: gang@rockedphilippines.org or deposit to:

ROCK ED PHILIPPINES
BPI 3080-0073-44
Katipunan-Loyola Branch

Then msg me date of deposit and amount if you need an O.R. from Rock Ed.

Okay - with this one - we need obedient muscle - that's it. I will report to Sec. Espie Cabral first thing Monday afternoon -- I hope we have kind souls enlisted by then and a concrete shift list to send to her --otherwise... those goods will stay put in their warehouses as long as no one packs and delivers them out!


For additional info: 0917-7346742


If you're wondering: this action plan (and we're so LUCKY Sec Cabral actually called us!) this is a reaction to the news that many warehouses are filling up with foreign donations and the deployment is not fast enough for people who are in dire need of resources to rebuild their lives. Or even just to exist with a little dignity while waiting for chances to rebuild come around.

Political leanings are not primary at this point. After the work is done - then we can go our separate ways again if that works for us. Personally, for now - I will be more than happy to help the government if that means more Filipinos get what's rightly theirs.

Thank you very much and I look forward to your generous response to this request for committed hours - I have a feeling efficiency is the key right now - and it's about time we try helping our DSWD out. This is new for all of us, but I have a feeling it's worth a shot.


Sincerely,

Gang Badoy
www.rockedphilippines.org

Rotting Relief Goods?

This is a repost. There's a lot of discussion going on about this issue now. I hope with all my heart it isn't true, but if it is then word has to get out. If it is, it's criminal. Right now, the pictures tell a damning story, but I'm willing to keep an open mind....while my fingers are tightly crossed.

Oct 21st, 2009 by ella

Dear friends,

I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos.

Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mga nag-donate. Kung sa ganitong paraan, matutulungan natin ang mga nasalanta, then by all means, let’s do it.

For those who have the time, please try to volunteer sa DSWD warehouses. Getting in was not easy. A friend had to put in a word for us. Let’s see kung madali nang makapasok sa DSWD warehouse ang mga volunteers.

Please read on and good luck to us.

Ella

(This post was last edited Oct 22, 12:30 pm)

Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral:

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries, pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya - “Walang volunteers”.

I don’t want to accuse her of corruption but at the very least she is showing signs of being totally incompetent. We are in a state of calamity where every second counts. May namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit.

In my opinion, these deaths could have been prevented if Secretary Cabral had tried a little harder to do her job.

Deaths from Philippine storms nears 1,000

“Tropical Storm Ketsana left 420 dead and 37 missing when it flooded 80 percent of Manila on September 26, a disaster the government said affected 4.35 million people.

Some areas are still flooded three weeks later and 189,000 people remain in evacuation centres,

Typhoon Parma hit the northern Philippines on October 3 and lingered as a tropical storm for a week, triggering landslides that killed 438 people and leaving 51 missing mostly in mountain communities.

The government agency said Parma affected 4.16 million people, including more than 32,000 who remain at evacuation centres.”

During the first week after the storm, lumabas ang “bayanihan spirit” ng mga Pinoy. “Makatulong lang kahi’t konti,” katwiran nila.

kung walang volunteers, ano ‘to, komiks?

From Stella Arnaldo’s blog:

“At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods.

At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, Most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college.

They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share!

Photos by Leah Navarro

Even grade school kids pitched in to help!


Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution


Making beds from carton boxes

GMA asked world for donations

Our government begged the world for more donations. Sumagot ang buong mundo sa ating panawagan. In less than three weeks, dumaong ang mga barko, ibinaba mula sa mga cargo planes, i-diniliver ng mga trak at container vans ang sandamakmak na relief goods. Cash donations were in the millions of dollars.

But these donations must be coursed through DSWD

Nagpalabas ng directive ang pangulo. Individuals, private companies and other nations were ENCOURAGED to send their donations to DSWD. I blogged about it here and the video of her announcement here.

This PGMA directive sounded suspicious to me then. Now I know why. Here’s the story.

A group of eight people, your ate Ella included, went to one of DSWD warehouses to help in repacking relief goods. We know they need volunteers pero hindi namin akalaing WALANG TAO TALAGA SA LOOB NG WAREHOUSE!

As in sa isang humongous warehouse (1000++ sq.m) NA PUNONG-PUNO NG RELIEF GOODS HANGGANG BUBONG, ISANG DSWD employee lang at ISANG SECURITY GUARD ang tao!!

Kailangang magpa-register at i-schedule ang volunteering

1) UNICEF Registration (as a volunteer)

The warehouse can only take as much as 50 volunteers at a time or per shift. Here you will find that there is a 4-hour shift, and an option for a 6-hour shift for the volunteers to indicate their availability.

What “volunteers”? Nasaan?

Aside from the 8 of us? Nope, there was nobody there. Bakit kailangan ang scheduling? Feeling hindi ba magkamayaw at nagu-unahan ang mga volunteers?

I know somebody who wanted to volunteer many times. She was always bumped off, laging nirere-schedule kasi “there were too many volunteers” daw. At tuwing Sunday lang daw puwede. What the hell is going on here?

Nakatambak ang donations ng UNICEF sa warehouse, local and international

Mga banig na dapat ay nahihigaan ng mga nasalanta. Mga imported camp beds na hindi na yata masisilayan ng mga biktima. Mga kumot na hindi naman nakabalot sa katawan nila. At mga pagkaing hindi sumasayad sa sikmura nila.

The relief goods are not going anywhere

We arrived at about 8 am and left by midafternoon and yes, you guessed it right. Kami pa rin ang tao bukod sa isang DSWD employee sa loob ng warehouse maghapon. Walang ibang dumating.

The relief goods are not moving. By the way things look, they are not going anywhere. Hindi maglalakad mag-isa ang mga donations na ito papunta sa mga evacuation centers.

LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING

Note: Pinagbawalan kaming kumuha ng pictures sa loob ng warehouse. I wonder why.

“Not a creature was moving, not even a mouse.”

Parang haunted warehouse ang dating. May multo na yata.

Kahit na daig pa ang tindahan sa Divisoria sa dami ng naka-stack na kaldero

At walang katapusang kaldero pa ulit

Kahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahon

Kahit umabot na hanggang kisame ang stack ng mga kahon

(Close up ng Coleman camp beds sa previous photo) Hindi ito kasama sa ni-repack naming goods. Para sa mga “special victims” kaya ito? Ire-repack kaya ang mga “imported” camp pads na ito ever?

Sabagay, may BANIG naman para sa “ordinary victims”. Ito ang kasama sa inimpake namin. Sayang ‘yung imported.

Ano kaya ang laman nito? Hindi rin pinabuksan. Pang-special victim din kaya ito? (teka, dito nga pala galing ‘yung mga kumot)

Mahiwagang mga kahon from Japan Aid.

(close up ng mahiwagang kahon) Hindi rin ito kasali, of course. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang laman nito. “Imported” are not included, we have concluded.

Marami ito, mga laruang kasinlaki ng tao. Hindi nakunan ng pic kasi nasa tabi ng sikyo.

PORK AND BEANS? Yup, you’d think kasama ito sa relief bag. Pork and beans lang ‘to, puwede na sigurong ipamigay,

Naaah! “Imported” pork and beans from Spain po ito. Sorry, hindi pa rin included

Now let’s take a look at what a victim will get from DSWD

Look Ma, sampung lata ng sardinas! How generous! Kaldero ang unang ilalagay sa sako. Sabong panglaba (bar soap) at sampung sardinas sa ilalim. Siyam na sabon sa gilid ng kaldero. Local goods lahat syempre.

Tapos papatungan ng isang tuwalya at isang pack ng sanitary napkin.

Sisiksikan ng tatlong rolyo ng kumot(?) ang blue water jug tapos ipapatong sa kaldero sa loob ng sako.

Last but not the least, lalagyan ng dalawang banig.

Sabay tatahiin na ang sako. O di ba, parang asong tinapunan ng buto ang mga nasalanta? Eniwey, busog naman sila sa SAMPUNG lata ng Mega sardinas

Do not delay

YOU THINK?? WTF is the matter with these people? Mag-iisang buwan na mula nang masalanta ang mga kababayan natin. ISANG BUWAN!!Do you mean “do not delay ang dati nang delayed”?? Shet.

Anong ginagawa ng mga donations na ito sa warehouse?? APAT na warehouse ang nasa loob ng compound na ‘yon! APAT na warehouse na punong-puno ng inaalikabok na relief goods! Relief goods na ayaw yata ibigay sa mga nasalanta. Halatang-halata.

Marami pang pabubulukin

Wow! May bagong shipment na naman! At the rate DSWD is moving, next year na madi-discover kung ano ang laman ng mga kahong ito.

“The first of two of the largest high-energy food shipments from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country two days ago for victims of storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

The biscuits were fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for supplementary feeding to children, pregnant women and the elderly in evacuation camps. Another 100 tons of biscuits will arrive on Oct. 24, in a continuing effort to provide food assistance to flood victims.

Sige, ideretso ‘nyo ulit ‘yan sa DSWD warehouse. Para AMAG naman ang abutin ng biskwit… at sapot ng gagamba.

Conclusion

Sa maghapon namin sa warehouse,nakagawa kami ng 150 sacks of relief goods. 150 bags of relief goods lang ang lumabas sa warehouse na ‘yon that day. At nandoon pa rin sa loob ang mga imported relief goods, safe, sound and packed as the day they arrived.

Nakisakay kami palabas sa isang DSWD delivery van. Gusto sana kaming ihatid ng driver hanggang Makati pero wala raw siyang sobrang gasolina. Ibinaba na lang niya kami sa gitna ng EDSA. Millions of dollars in donations, walang extrang pang-gasolina.

Susulpot din siguro ang laman ng mga mahiwagang kahon at mapapasakamay din ng mga tao…sa ARAW NG ELEKSYON. O mabibili na nila ang mga imported goods na ‘yon sa mga puwesto sa Quiapo at Divisoria.

Suggestions lang po sa DSWD:

Alam ‘nyo palang walang mag-volunteer sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo mag-hire ng mga tao? Bayaran ‘nyo ng arawan para mag-repack. Ang daming walang trabaho, makakatulong pa kayo. Hindi naman malaking kabawasan ‘yon sa bilyong pisong donasyon na natanggap ninyo.

Isa pa, gaano ba karami ang mga sundalo natin? Hindi ba puwedeng ipagawa sa kanila ‘yan? Baka isang araw lang, tapos na ang problema ‘nyo

Bakit hindi ‘nyo ibigay ang trabaho sa mga NGO, churches, private charities, TV stations? I’m sure they are more than willing to help. Time is of the essence. Huwag kayong suwapang. Obvious ba, hindi ‘nyo naman kaya.

• Kung talagang gugustuhin ninyong makarating agad sa mga kawawang biktima ang mga donasyong ‘yon, nagawa ‘nyo na ‘yan. Maraming paraan…kung talagang gusto ‘nyo lang.

• You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.

SOURCE: BLOG NI ELLA

How does it move through you?

Each time I open my mailbox or Facebook, I am inundated with requests for help. How do you choose which initiative to give to? At what point do you stop?

These are questions I have been living with since the typhoon hit. I give by feel. If there is a person I know and trust at the other end of the initiative, I will give there. If it is an initiative that causes a sudden swelling of my heart, I give there. But now I have chosen just one or two that I would like to see through, also because I want to focus. No one can save the world alone and we have to trust that others are doing their share where they are needed.

I think I may have overdone it this time, judging from the thudding in my heart each time I realize I've left this or that bill unpaid, but I simply have to trust that by giving towards the improvement and healing of our country, I have made a sound and wise investment.

There was a significant amount of money I had to let go of recently because it was claimed by someone else. I had thought it was meant for me, but with all the inhuman behavior around it, I knew it would be folly to insist on taking it. To me, it is about energy and intention. It isn't just money.

As I age, I am beginning to realize the true nature of money. It is energy. It is supposed to flow. This doesn't mean one behaves irresponsibly and gives everything away, but I'm coming to the understanding that it is better used, out there, moving, than sitting in the bank doing nothing. There are many ways for your money to move as it should and I find that when you give, you realize you have more room to give where you thought you didn't before. Spaces open up when you are awake and conscious about the true value of money and what it is supposed to do in the world.

Ondoy has opened up spaces in our hearts and homes that were not there before. I've cleaned out my closet three times, and each time I thought I had given to the max. My children have given away clothes they still wear because they know they have more than what they need.

The challenge today is to begin to live even more simply and to make sure that whatever money we have moves through the world as well. When you put your money in initiatives that matter in the world, you are making an investment that is wide, deep and from the heart. No bank can give you that.

Happy Days

I've been listening to a lot of music lately, something I don't normally do because I'm a big fan of quiet, but since Ondoy....well...the world has changed. A part of me puts one foot in front of the other each day, but a big one reaches towards the past, looking for memories of a simpler world. The world of Burt Bacharach.

I just love him.

CHECK THIS OUT

If you have a great project and would like to know more about this, please email me at contact@panjeetapales.com so I can send you the rest of the information. Salamat!

GREAT WALL OF GARBAGE

photos by Eileen Juan Grey

This is what it looks like along the floodway. The blurred photo is just to show the length of it. This is refuse from the flood; it doesn't even show trash from relief goods. Imagine the styrofoam food containers, noodle packages, cans, plastic bag upon plastic bag. Though there is a need to get things out quickly and cheaply, there is a price to pay for it and we will pay again and again for fast and cheap.

It may take a little bit more time to wrap food in banana leaves, but the long-term effects are worth it. It may cost a bit more to purchase bayongs and other reusable bags, but we always have to take the long view. The extra time and centavos will seem like nothing compared to yet another disaster caused by even more garbage. If you just HAVE to send plastic out, at least put a tag on each bag that says: ANG PLASTIC BAG NA ITO AY MAARING GAMITIN ULIT. ANG PAGTAPON NITO AY SANHI NG PAGBARA AT PAGBAHA. SALAMAT SA INYONG TULONG.

Even as we help others today, let us prevent another disaster waiting to happen. Just look at the photos. It's already upon us.

THE BIG PICTURE

Who is looking at it?

Everywhere we turn, all we see is need. No matter how much we've done and given out, knowing that others are doing the same, it seems we're not making a dent. There are places that have not been reached. Meanwhile, there is the problem of plastics and styrofoam containers--the double-edged sword of relief. We use them to get goods out fast so that people can be helped. And yet, and yet....where is everything going? Garbage collection and processing..who's taking care of that?

Horrific stories abound. Most people I know who have been tirelessly working to get help out are already feeling as though they are being pulled every which way. The government, as usual, is performing poorly. Do they have the big picture? Are they ready for the coming storm?

What do we do with all the questions?

DOES IT REALLY GO ON?

Today I woke-up as usual, put breakfast on and then had to bring my son to the dentist. But I seemed to exist in a parallel universe where I was busy connecting people, getting goods where they were needed, helping out more than I already have. But not today. Today, it was business as usual at home, at least from the outside.

It's weird how life can go on. People who can say that are dealing with feelings of guilt. Whatever did we do to be so lucky? I guess it's human nature. I like to see it as a message that we have to do everything we can to help those who lost everything, over and over again.

Inside us, we know it doesn't go on as usual, despite the sunshine and the outer world looking only slightly tainted. Life goes on but everything is changed. Nothing can ever be the same.

photo by Erik de Castro

COME ON!!

Give it a break, will you. Do something authentic out of the goodness of your heart, without needing or wanting anything in return. Really, how can you sleep at night?