CLIMB for Lukban Children

More than 1,211 schoolchildren of Mansalay and 300 indigent residents from the far flung areas of Lukban, Barangay Panaytayan, Mansalay Oriental Mindoro benefited from the Balik-Eskwela Caravan (Free School supplies, Healthy Teeth Campaign, Feeding Program and Medical Outreach sponsored by Keep Hope Alive Volunteers, partners and concerned individuals.

            PTA Chairman Aybong Ganyuan and different sitio leaders from 6 different Mangayn Villages led more than 500 of his constituents in availing the free school supplies, medical services and feeding program brought by Keep Hope Alive Volunteers to one of its host communities, which is one of the least accessible communities in the municipality. 

Ambulansya de Paa transporting a patient

            Volunteers have to walk for seven hours thru the mountains and cross several hanging bridges just to share the blessings and other important services. During the three-day mission climb, we observed that people from the community sit in the shade idle, children have nothing to play with, and adults have no jobs. Others walk with heavy sacks of goods along the dangerous shoulders of the road in the sweltering heat.

Early in the morning of June 4, 2013 morning we start out on paved the National highway for awhile which turns into crushed rocks. The road is bumpy and potholed for another 4 hours, but we are warned to brace ourselves for a lot worse. Sure enough, the further away from the Barangay proper, the more remote the region, the bigger the rocks and the greater the potholes in number and depth. While grinding and bumping over impassable roads for several hours, we marvel at the dedication of our guide who soldier this 7-hour road trek several times a month! It is dangerous and exhausting. Except for beds and tents, our accommodations lack everything else including screens on windows and electricity at night. We enjoyed our first night by having a sensible and very fun bonding fellowship with the volunteers and local villagers.

We distributed to about 1,211 Day Care and public school pupils in the Municipality of Mansalay received school supplies such as notebook, pencils, crayons and paper. In Lukban, more than 200 sets of school supplies were given. The distribution of school supplies aimed to provide indigent children with basic school needs that could help in their learning process as well as save money which could be used in other school needs. We also provided three feeding sessions and conducted lectures and demonstrations on proper tooth brushing and basic physical hygiene.

In low-income villages in Mansalay, school supplies are a luxury. Often, the parents of indigent school children purchase the supplies needed out of their already small salaries. Parents spend an average of Php200 on school supplies every school year which is very hard for them to provide. Through our sponsors and volunteers, we championed this program as one way to help the poor families particularly the Mangyan indigent community as no children must suffer and no children as much as possible will suffer from learning because of lack of school supplies.  

Aside from the school supplies given, the team also accommodates hundreds of local’s from different sitios. There are two nurses in the team (me and Elaine). While observing the locals, it's very hard for me to accept that a patient in the area who has a potentially life threatening bone tumor that causes extensive deformation can’t have surgery because of his inability to pay 100,000 pesos out of pocket. These were just a few of many heart-wrenching cases I was confronted with during my first nursing-medical mission with Keep Hope Alive.

One thing that I really about the health system in the Philippines is the level of empowerment of nurses like me, many of whom are nurse practitioners. We take on many roles (like prescribing) that in Europe and other parts of the world are the exclusive responsibilities of doctors. The high levels of nurse empowerment in the Philippines actually make a lot of sense when there's such an overall lack of doctors and difficulty in enticing them to settle in remote areas. Again, it makes all the sense if we consider that many patients face significant geographical and other types of barriers to healthcare.

Sitio leader & Day Care worker of Bukana

The scope of health problems I encountered in the area is very similar, but I found a high incidence of respiratory problems in children and an unusually high prevalence of thyroid disorders (like goiter) in adults. In the meantime, I am hoping to continue going back to the Lukban for future relief and medical missions. Our efforts are merely a drop in the ocean considering the needs of local communities, but I firmly believe that little things mean a lot

Volunteers prepared food for feeding the hungry children in Lukban.  The food was donated to us from our friends.  We feed over 300 people that day.

THANK you volunteers!

In Behalf of Keep Hope Alive Volunteer’s Foundation and the residents of Mansalay Oriental Mindoro, I would like to extend my gratitude to our sponsors Jennifer & Edwin Lim, TMA people (Genelyn Golena, & Alona Golena Henning, Minnie Atienza, Nelia and Gina Timena) Gaye Teraytay, Fred Li, Noel Sacris, SK KC Villanueva, Elaine Fetalco, Third Viray, Jinky Espaltero, Arlene Faa, Rosalyn Defeo, Elcana Gamol, Teacher MG delos Reyes and Jereza Mangilaya).

Election 2013: My Experience

To the mighty cast of Liberal Party volunteers and the campaign team (you know who you are!), that motley crew of hopeful folks, this election campaign would have been nothing without you. Such a wonderful diversity of people out on the streets hammering in poster signs, tarpaulins, dropping off leaflets and of course, with your vote – my unending thanks. You were such a source of inspiration to us – young people shouldering the load to let our community know that today’s politics can be positive, that we can work together to provide a voice for the youth, indigents and health sector in the council, and that government can be a place of coming together for the common good.

I had to campaign to my constituents with my platform and policies in other to get their votes. The five weeks of campaigning was intense, I spoke to so many people in halls of residents, streets, markets both on and off meetings and around the community and also spend several afternoon in the headquarter with the staffs.

After months of hard work, I am so delighted that I won the election. I promise to work on each of these policies & platform and also some others I came across whilst talking to the local and indigent communities. I want to be the public official who represents the youth, health sector, Mangyan and education. I have worked with different civic organizations for the past years and I understand my community. I want to work with my people on issues that concern them.

I found the elections even more challenging because my position was the only one that had 29 candidates, so I was running against twenty-seven strong individuals. In the end we all campaigned really well and so it was a blessing to have won. Thanks to my friends and family for reassuring me and to the Sangguniang Bayan for their wonderful support and, finally, for all those who took their time to vote for me.

I know you voted for me because you believed in me and you know I will drive change and I look forward to a term of success!

New Role as Councilor: Principles & Platform

POLITICAL PRINCIPLES
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My role as Councilor will endeavor to realize my commitment to God and all the residents of our municipality, a commitment that revolves around these five principles of government:

Austerity

• Our town needs government that is efficient and which makes careful use of financial resources. The current difficult times demand that we do more with less, that we eliminate the non-essential, and that we act responsibly to achieve better government with resources which belong to everyone.

Information

• All activity of our Town Hall must be transparent. Our government must be committed to supplying information about its activities on a constant basis. Provide maximum advance information and transparency in all future decisions, making use of new technology such as the internet in order to do so, publicizing plenary meetings, carrying out public consultations, etc.

Standards

• I believe in improving the town’s image, to act responsibly and openly, and in accordance with the highest standards of public office as well as government by rule of law. Ensuring that the future development of Mansalay be planned and supervised through legislative processes according to the real needs of people, not based on short-term and unsustainable speculation.

Dialogue

• I believe in continuous dialogue and will work towards finding the best solutions, in broad-based political agreements that join together and benefit all our people.

Freedom

• I believe that a free society is also more equitable. That is why we must ensure that when we act in the name of freedom, in whatever form it might take, that that freedom is real for all the citizens of our municipality.


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PRIORITIES & PLATFORM
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1. HEALTH

• Work towards improving health services in Barangay level, including availability of regular health check-ups and free medicines, exploring all avenues to rectify inadequate services to the outlying and remote areas.

• Review community health and sanitary problems related to incomplete infrastructure such as the sewage and waste disposal system as part of primary health care and attempt to address them.

• Work towards improving existing local health services, especially regards to the health and nutritional needs of the children, child bearing population, elderly and indigenous population.

• Endeavor to sustain Feeding Program and Healthy Teeth Campaign at Community Day Care Centers and elementary schools I personally started five years ago.

• Conduct regular health teachings and family education with regards to local health concerns, nutrition, morbidity and epidemics.

2. EDUCATION

• Provide maximum advance in terms of education through the use of new technology such as the internet and computers.

• Improve the town educational status through teacher empowerment, without forgetting to invest in and maintain the indigent Mangyan communities which have traditionally been overlooked.

• Promote opportunities for college and technical education.

• Attempt to accelerate the provision and construction of low-cost education and training programs.

• Endeavor to ensure maximum transparency in the municipal budget, as well as equitable allocation of services and funding for education.

3. YOUTH & EMPLOYMENT

• Encourage recreation activities for young people such as sports and other skills training.

• Encourage participation of young citizens in matters related to town activities.

• Encourage to increase youth participation in all major decisions affecting the town, encouraging attendance at public gatherings and meetings

• Increase activities to facilitate meaningful integration of the different Christian & Mangyan youth groups.

• Help in providing opportunities for technical skills training, scholarships and college education.

• Help in coordinating the town’s tourism plans such that local businesses are supported.

5. ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM

• Encourage the creation of sustainable employment, particularly in sectors related to the development of tourism and the town’s historic & ethnic heritage, sustainable construction and maintenance, or workshops in new ecological activities, etc.

• Help in designing a comprehensive tourism plan highlighting the town’s historical and ecological value, encouraging participation of all commercial sectors of the town.

• Encourage a professional workshop for the introduction of and experimentation in ecological agriculture in Mansalay.

• Promote the reforestation and proper garbage disposal

• Lobby for and promote usage of a municipal tourism site built according to ecological and sustainable principles.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro

An age old tradition in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro every Holy Week

This tradition happens every Good Friday. It is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday or Easter Friday (referred as Friday in Easter week).

A yearly tradition in our town during holy week. They do this — whip their own backs — as a way to empathize with Jesus. I didn’t get a photo, but some of them carried large wooden crosses, just as Jesus did.

      Ginagawa natin ang mga sari-sariling tradisyon ng mga simbahan/church natin para maalala natin ang ginawa ng Diyos sa krus. Pero sana gawin mo ito hindi dahil OBLIGADO ka, kundi dahil NAIS MO, SA IYONG BUONG PUSO. 

 

(Photo Courtesy: C. Sucgang)

     Whenever you think you're worthless, always remember that Jesus died for you. You don’t need to make yourself suffer. All you need is a sincere heart and you’ll be forgiven. Spread the love, spread the Gospel. :)

Healthy Teeth Campaign & Feeding Program (Anahaw & Sinariri Elem. School)

      These young volunteers walked approximately 25-30 kilometres, had to climb mountains and cross fast-flowing rivers just to share the blessing to the children of Anahaw & Sinariri Mangyan Communities in Panaytayan, Mansalay Or. Mindoro. There are not enough words to describe how amazed and grateful I am for the dedication, energy & compassion of these youths as well as the generosity of our sponsors who have given of themselves to the Healthy Teeth Campaign & Feeding Program. Without you, none of the work we do would be possible! You guys made a difference in the lives of 800+ Mangyan children and their families. To God be the glory :)

 

Healthy Teeth Campaign & Feeding Program - 5th Year (Salvacion Elem. School)

"Healthy Teeth Campaign" will target youngsters through a literacy campaign utilizing outreach through community and school visits. The campaign provides a pair of toothbrush and toothpastes to drive awareness for critical stages of pediatric oral health care. 

            Keep Hope Alive’s Foundation Feeding Program provides a healthy and nutritious meal to students after class is in session.   The food is administered in the school and is sourced locally or regionally.   Students bring their own cups or bowls for their meal.  In addition to providing rice for their children's meals, volunteer to manage the program, build and maintain the kitchen, prepare and distribute the meals,

         The Feeding Program is very popular and loved by students, parents and teachers.  In our pilot school, Salvacion Elementary School, the food is so delicious that students wait for second helpings and make sure that there are no leftovers!

The Feeding Program improves:

1)   Student attendance and retention

2)   Student health and nutrition

3)   Classroom attention and test scores

4)   Parent involvement

GO! Make a Difference.

        It is ironic how people of different interests and fields are able to meet and unite together for the same cause.

           January 3, 2013 was definitely not a typical day for me. Waking up early and waiting for the wonderful day ahead of me just made me even more excited. It was a day full of love and compassion. Something that I rarely encounter in my everyday life. This day has been marked wonderfully and I’m glad that once again together with Foursquare Youth volunteers, we became an instrument of God to be of service to others through Feeding Program & Healthy Teeth Campaign organized by Keep Hope Alive Volunteer’s Foundation and Vogs Privado.

         We overcame several uphill roads and the hard ones required our efforts by clinging and jumping at the rear part of our feet. It was a long walk from the Sitio Matucao to the Quinomay Mangyan Community. No matter how calm or angry the weather is, the place is always winding. It seemed to be an endless walk. Let me tell you that transporting the goods have not been easy. We took the chance of resting on flat surfaces that we saw along the trail. The long walk was exhausting but the environment seemed to soothe our weary bodies. The soothing noise of a river added to our excitement. It was 5:45 PM when we finally reached community. It was almost dark and figures of kids and Mangyan residents were all over the place.

          Early next day, January 4, 2013 was indeed very heartwarming for me and for the rest of us who were there. Everyone recharged with snacks and steal a few Zzzs. The community was very remote so it’s a bit hard to prepare the food. And the cooking process is very much manual: the fire setting, the boiling process, and all. We thank our cooks (Pas Janice, Siara & Ate Elaine) whom beyond our stressful yesterday were able to cook the food properly ;). Despite the tiring preparation, it paid off upon seeing the overwhelming reception of residents. The children were very eager to see what we had prepared for them.  We delivered the macaroni soup to the kids while others were preparing the brushes and toothpastes for Healthy Teeth education. We chit chatted with some kids and interviewed them. Some were quite shy but the others were very fun. Bonding with those children in Quinomay Mangyan Community made me appreciate things around me, especially God's countless blessings that I did not pay much attention to before. The fulfillment I had when I looked upon their happy faces was exhilarating. It was very fulfilling that in our own simple ways; we were able to help and made the children feel that some people care for them through a feeding activity. Even though it only lasted for a day, the laughter we shared would always remain in my heart. It was neither the food nor the toothbrush we gave that made the outreach memorable but the smiles in every child's face which made it more valuable.

             It’s not the first time for me to do this kind of thing and the feeling is just so priceless. Do you ever get that feeling of pride because you are considered as a blessing to other people? Just by being there and feeding the kids made me realize what kind of impact I myself had given them. I love the fact that God sent us to them to bring forth happiness and be a blessing. Whenever one of them thanks us for the simple food and toothbrush we brought them, I felt a hundred times gratified. Even my friends and fellow volunteers felt their sincerity and, with joy in their eyes, realized that this Feeding Program & Healthy Teeth Campaign is more than just a community outreach for us. It is a self-entitled volunteerism to share the love of Christ and cheer others. It just feels so refreshing to see those Mangyan kids happy with such little things in life. I mean, I’ve been there and I will do anything worth it to feel that such thing again. You’re only a kid once, cherish it.

             For my fellow youth volunteers, we may not be the kindest persons in the world but we have a heart kind enough to share the simple things that we’re lucky that we have. No matter how simple the ways and how small the amount, it is the willingness and joyfulness to share that counts. Through this simple activity, we were able to convey the message to the children and to their parents that if they strive harder in life, there will be more people who will be willing to help them.So guys, if you have any doubts of volunteering for a cause, then do it, not for the sake of being with friends or just forced to, but to be compassionate for others. I guarantee, you will feel the same feeling as mine.

            Praise God for moments like this! I hope we’d be able to do another one again and again to continue  spreading His grace and reach out more to other helpless people. LET’S GO and MAKE A DIFFERENCE :)

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We have a great need for sponsors for our Healthy Teeth Campaign and Feeding Programs

Can you help us?

As a Sponsor, you will become part of a group whose combined efforts make it possible for our volunteers, to share the blessings, teach the Word of God and feed the children. For inquiries and questions about Sponsorship and Donating, just contact one of the Core team members through Facebook account.

10 Lies You Will Hear Before You Pursue Your Dreams

Unfortunately, just before you take your first step on the righteous journey to pursue your dreams, people around you, even the ones who deeply care for you, will give you awful advice.  It’s not because they have evil intentions.  It’s because they don’t understand the big picture – what your dreams, passions, and life goals mean to you.  They don’t understand that, to you, the reward is worth the risk.

So they try to protect you by shielding you from the possibility of failure, which, in effect, also shields you from the possibility of making your dreams a reality.

As our friend Steve Jobs says:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.  Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Everything else is secondary.”

Here are 10 ill-advised tips (lies) people will likely tell you when you decide to pursue your dreams, and why they are dreadfully mistaken.

1.            You can follow your dreams someday, but right now you need to buckle down and be responsible. – Someday?  When is ‘someday?’  Someday is not a day at all.  It’s a foggy generalization of a time that will likely never come.  Today is the only day guaranteed to you.  Today is the only day you can begin to make a difference in your life.  And pursuing your dreams is what life is all about.  So don’t be irresponsible.  Don’t wait until ‘someday.’  Make today the first day of the rest of your new life.

2.            You’re totally screwed if it doesn’t work out. – Wrong!  This is a giant, lame load of BS.  You’re not even close to being screwed.  In fact, the worst case scenario is that things don’t work out and you have to go back to doing exactly what you are doing right now.

3.            It’s safer to stay at your day job. – Sure, I suppose.  But you know what’s even safer than that?  Going home, locking yourself in your bedroom, and never, ever coming out.  And just like that you will have flushed your entire life and your dreams down the toilet.  Remember, safer doesn’t always mean better.

4.            That’s impossible! – It’s only impossible if you never do anything about it.  The reason certain things seem impossible is simply because nobody has achieved them yet.  But this doesn’t mean that with your help these things won’t become possible in the future.  If you truly dedicate yourself to an end result, almost anything is possible.  You just have to want it bad enough.

5.            Only a lucky few “make it.” – That’s because those lucky few got off their rear ends and did something about it!  They had the drive, determination, and willpower that you have right now.  You can be one of them.  It’s up to you, and only you.

6.            You might fail.  And failing is bad. – Failures are simply stepping stones to success.  No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.  The biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing because you’re too scared to make a mistake.  If you can’t handle failure, then you can’t handle success either.

7.            You don’t have access to the right resources. – It’s not about having the right resources; it’s about exploiting the resources you do have access to.  Stevie Wonder couldn’t see, so he exploited his sense of hearing into a passion for music, and he now has 25 Grammy Awards to prove it.  Get it?

8.            You need more money saved before you can take the first step. – You don’t need more money.  You need a plan.  You need a budget.  Eliminate ALL the nonessential costs in your life.  If pursuing your dream requires you to leave your day job, figure out the absolute minimum amount of income that you require to realistically live.  Studying those who have succeeded with similar ventures also helps.  But above all, take baby steps.  Don’t be foolish and assume that you must have a certain amount of money saved right now, or that you must quit your day job today in order to pursue your dreams.  Instead, ask yourself, “What actions can I take right now with the money and resources I have right now that will bring me closer to desired goal?”

9.            You don’t need any help.  It’s smarter to go after it alone. – You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.  If you hang with the wrong people, they will negatively affect you.  But if you hang with the right people, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone.  Find your tribe and work together to make a difference in all of your lives.

10.          That sounds like a lot of hard work. – You’re darn right it does!  But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.  I think success in life hinges on one key point: Finding hard work you love doing.  As long as you remain true to yourself and follow your own interests, values and dreams, you can find success through passion.  Perhaps most importantly, you won’t wake up a few years from now working in a career field you despise, wondering “How the heck am I going to do this for the next 30 years?”  So if you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop.  You’re on to something big.  Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions and dreams.

Disregard these misguided bits of nonsense and you’ll be well on your way to fulfilling your dreams.

Now get out there and make a splash!

(COURTESY: http://www.marcandangel.com)