I usually greet each day with a smile. But today is different. It’s as if the sun shone entirely in someplace else. I awoke with swollen eyes and, upon remembering you, my eyes once again filled to the brim with tears. My heart is heavy, but I find solace in the thought that you are already in a place where the skies may be bluer and the grass may be greener.
Goodbye, Auntie P. Thank you for loving us like we were your own.
Hello everyone. It’s been a long time since I last posted here. Kumusta? I hope you all had a great time celebrating Christmas and welcoming 2010. As for me, my over two months of silence was dotted with happy and sad events—Pens of Hope distribution, a cousin’s wedding, a family reunion, a friend’s death, an aunt’s terminal illness—all of which have reminded me of God’s precious love, the significance of family ties, and the value of each day that passes our lives.
For today, I am posting about the Pens of Hope distribution which happened before Christmas. This is long overdue, I know. But I want to share with you this happy event. The pens and pencils you sent to Pens of Hope did not fail to paint smiles on the faces of 100 children in Mapanas, a small sleepy town lying on the coast of the Philippine Sea. For this distribution, I was assisted by some kind-hearted people.
From Catarman, the capital of Northern Samar, we had to ride a fully-loaded jeepney going to the town of Laoang. The trip lasted an hour and 30 minutes.
From Laoang, we traveled for 30 minutes going to the town of Palapag on one of these motorized bancas going to the town of Palapag.
From Palapag, we took another jeepney going to Mapanas. The almost two-hour trip was challenging because of pot-holed, uncemented, and muddy roads. But I am happy because contrary to my last trip to Mapanas a few years ago, there are concrete roads already. Hindi pa nga lang buong route.
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It was drizzling when we arrived in Mapanas and we had to wait for the drizzle to stop before we could start. We had school-based distributions in the past so we decided to do something different this time. We did a community-based contribution. Inspired by the first distribution of Pens of Hope in Davao, we started with some fun games which the children really enjoyed.
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The trip to Mapanas was tiring but these happy faces are worth it 
I hope you’ll take time to look at the pictures and see how happy you made these children with the pens and pencils you have sent to Pens of Hope.
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I would like too thank you once again for the support you are extending to Pens of Hope. We did it again, we made more children smile! Big, big thanks also to the Organization of Young Filipino Americans of the University of Virginia through Ms. Christine Quilpa and Ms. Claire Cororaton. They held a fundraising event so they could send pencils to the children of Northern Samar.
Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat! God bless you for your kind heart.
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There are still a lot of pencils available but I will have to wait until June (start of classes) for the next distribution. This is due to the following reasons:
1. the school year is about to end; and
2. the election campaign period is about to start and I don’t like Pens of Hope to be associated with any campaign gimmicks.
Kung minsan ay masarap hilingin…
na ang mga paa ay umangat sa lupa,
at malayang lumipad bahagya,
at sa hangin ay magparaya,
at masayang magpatihulog sa dagat na payapa.
Hello everyone? Kumusta? I hope you are all having a great time anticipating the Christmas season. It’s been a while since I last posted here. So where have I been? I’ve been to some remote towns and enjoyed a great time traveling in my province with my family.
Traveling in the countryside is so much fun. It makes me appreciate all the more that I am part of this beautiful, beautiful world, and it makes me celebrate all the more the gentleness of this mystery called nature.
I am sharing with you some pictures I took during my trip. I hope you’ll like them.
These houses on stilts quietly stir me.
Ruins of a church in the town of Palapag. It amazes me to think that the walls are full of so many stories.
Another way to travel with a motorcycle
The mighty coconut trees stand against the blue sky. I think they’re wishing for a drizzle or some golden rays of the sun. Many people in my province are greatly dependent on the blessings from coconut trees.
Of all the secluded places I’ve been to, this one makes me feel I’m nearly home.
These old wooden planks once beckoned at me…but my nervous knees had to refuse them.
This spreads joyful sensations to my heart.
This one, taken late in the afternoon after a heavy rain, makes my heart smile.
Have a blessed weekend everyone. Morning air is already cold so keep warm.
About 3 billion people depend on rice for sustenance. That’s nearly half the population of the whole world. So can you imagine the world without rice?
Over at Yhen’s blog, she is promoting love for rice through a fan sign campaign. It is actually a contest being held to celebrate the National Rice Awareness Month. Deadline is Nov. 20 so there are still a few days left to catch up 
“Since the 1990s, population growth has been faster than the growth in rice production. It is estimated that by 2025, there should be a 30% increase of rice production to meet the demand of a growing population. However, many factors such as climate change, soil erosion, and water shortage pose a threat to rice production.” Unless we learn to take care of our environment and all other resources that are valuable to rice production, the survival of half of the world’s population is threatened.
And please do not waste rice. By saving rice, you are not only helping sustain the supply of rice, you are also honoring this hero’s hands.
Get a badge here.
