Dreams & Deeds

the secret code of amsterdam bikers

2009-11-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

a lighter topic: on some biking nuances of the dutch.

biking is a way of life here in amsterdam -- highest bike populated country next to China, I hear. biking is as normal as walking or breathing or eating potatoes. people take it for granted. people also take it. period. especially when it's really purty. next thing you know some guy is hawking your bike at the dark corners (wanna bike? wanna bike?).

but, i have to say, i'm also really impressed at how the people here bike and 'watch out for each other'.

episode 1: bram & i were biking in the middle of the night, without any bike lights! -- which is punishable by 50euros here in Holland -- the amount, when converted, could treat my whole family to a feast out (as i often like to compare). anyway, as we were biking along a main road, the bikers driving on the other lane gallantly warned us that the police were up the street checking on those without bike lights. and so we turned around and happily veered criminally in other streets (not to be role modeled of course). We were saved a hefty amount of 100euros because of the kindness of other bikers.

episode 2: i had just come into our 2nd floor apartment and defrosted myself by the kitchen window, noticing that my bike was down the street with its brand new red detachable light still on (i had at this point bought a light). with laziness winning over, i resigned myself to thinking that someone would inevitably steal it. the next morning, ta da!, not only was the red light still there, but it had also been turned off and tucked into my bike bag for safekeeping.

i've seen my good friend marijn do that often, too -- turn off the bike lights when they've been left on. kinda sweet. she says it's the communal idea of wanting to save money.

good deed, indeedy.

a tribute to astrid -- continuing my good deeds for dreams

2009-10-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Summary background: Three years ago, June 2006, I embarked on a "Dream & Deed" quest to find 100 people who would donate 300 pesos (est. 5EUR) to help me pay for my flight ticket to the Netherlands -- to attend an MA in Development Studies (among other things). In exchange for the donation, I would fulfill a good deed on their behalf... and blog about it (hence, the creation of this very blog). It was a wonderful experience, as some people's requests had to do with helping them with their own dreams as well. And so,... it was an honor as well to do good deeds. In January 2008, I graduated from my Masters and ended my round of good deeds.

Here I am now in Holland, working for a children's INGO that promotes Child Social & Financial Education -- with one of the goals to help children learn about setting up social & financial enterprises (www.aflatoun.org). And honestly, I find it quite poetic seeing as I was able to fund my flight to come here on the enterprise idea of this website.

I am very very grateful to all those who were part of this.

I am also thankful to Astrid -- who gave me the idea of this website to begin with. We were colleagues at that time, and one afternoon I frustratingly angsted that, after being in so much debt already to pay for the tuition fee, I couldn't muster enough money for the flight. She came up with this dreams and deeds website idea. Hence, my first blog entry ever was for her -- introducing her as my first and longest standing cheerleader. Without her, I wouldn't have the amazing experience of this project. I am eternally grateful to her.

Astrid passed away last August 23, 2009, at the age of 30. It was a big shock to all. Having lupus, she died from kidney complications.

It was frustrating to be far away. As I revisited all our emails, chats and communication, I came upon this blog again... and quite guiltily realized how I had just simply stopped it. Sigh. I think it's time to start it again.

And I'm guessing that if you're reading this now, you are either family or friend...you must have been a part of this project... so please allow me to share my letter to Astrid with you... the one who started it all.

Mahal kong kaibigan, mahal kong astrid,

Nung isang araw lang napaniginipan kita. Nag-roroller blade ka sa isang sosi na lugar at binalaan kitang wag mag-roller blade dahil delikado. Kahit sa panaginip makulit ka. Tulad nang madalas mong status sa gchat “invulnerable”. Nang magkita tayo sa gchat… ang reaksyon mo, “ok lang, hindi ako marunong mag-roller blade”. Kulit.

It goes without saying, that I will miss you terribly. I will miss you unbearably. Even though I had known you for 17 years now, I guess it was in the past 4 years that we really met each other, knew each other, and yes, loved each other. As we both watched “our KNN kids” grow, endeavor, struggle, cry, laugh and live… so did we grow, endeavor, struggle, cry, laugh and live with each other, for each other.

Through both our breakups, our job switches, our studying in Holland, you always ALWAYS rooted for me, for us.

You gave me the wonderful idea to do the “dreams and deeds” project, you found other sponsors for me… you were my first and longest cheerleader in just going for it. Through my research, you helped get me the books, and you sent them with matching Lucky Me pancit canton & boy bawang… for extra moral support. Salamat mamu.

For the past years, without fail, you included me in your thoughts and travels… through your postcards, through your postmailed children’s book, our constant pangangamustas, kahit na saglit lang sa chat. And I am so sure that you showed just as much, if not more, devotion to other people who were lucky to have you as their friend.

In your lowest lows, you still had enough strength to look at the bright side, to see how a death of love can be the opportunity for a new one. And to see how an illness does not necessarily have to be a hindrance to a life that can be lived to the fullest.

I owe so much to you…. I dreamed so many dreams with you.

With my human sight, I feel that it’s unfair that you were taken from us so soon. I take comfort in knowing, in believing that you are home now… probably making a running mataray commentary of how we are living our lives now. But you will always be around, I know. When I meet with mamu Faye, it would be impossible to not feel you with us. When I visit the Saturays, we will feel as if every pancit canton or boy bawang pasalubong came from you. With each UPIS chat or salu salo with Jeggs, Delia, Celia or Nicolle, we’ll continue our connect-the-dots stories of when one of us had just talked to you. When I see our KNN anaks,… hmm, well, I will feel that we will do our usual tag team of helping them see how wonderful they are. Yun nga lang, the truth of your death does hit me in ebbs and tides. And without you, how can I comfort them when I find it hard to console myself?

What else can be said Astrid? Salamat? Mamimiss kita. Mahal kita. Salamat.

Paalam…? Ika nga ni Celia, kita kits,
Aloy

Why Pinoys would love the Irish... or Ireland

2008-04-04T05:19:00.000-07:00

... So I was chatting with Ets today, and she told me how her Irish boss is the funniest bugger she's ever met. Enter the next inspiration for my next blog topic... for some reason, Pinoys in general (okay, okay, Me, Ets and Girlie are the only ones I know so far), like the Irish. Personally, this is why I love the Irish, and Ireland (based on our PPSD study trip last September 2007)

1. The Irish humour matches Pinoy humour. It is the irreverent, make-fun-of-everything-including-yourself-and-the-fact-that-you're-family-is-dirt-poor and oh-yes-it's-raining-again... kind of humour. Most of the Irish people that we met are also great storytellers. Our tour guides in every gig that we joined were such masterful and funny weavers of tales that I really did find myself fascinated with Irish history, the oppression of the British, the rule of Catholicism and the fact that the library in Trinity was used as backdrop for the Harry Potter and Star Wars movies.

2. Catholicism with a twist. Our celtic tour showed us how the great ancient (feminine) celtic tradition was merged with Catholicism in Ireland. As the early Celts were such devout followers of their faith, the Catholic converters could only package Catholicism in such a way that was adaptable to the Celtic faith. Hence the Holy cross in Ireland is symbolized by the cross (Catholicism) with a circle (sun-worship).

3. Irish people love drinking, singing and making music. Even better than the pinoy's videoke nights, the typical Irish bar almost always comes with a group of musicians who play wonderful music. After all, this is the land where U2 and the Corrs come from. We were fortunate enough to live right at the night-life district where famous bars adorned the streets (and unfortunately, drunken men would be singing "twinkle twinkle little star" below our window at 2am). But it was quite a happening place, and it gave us a good feel of the partying affluence of Dublin. This picture of Isabelle and Tania nicely captures the feel of how I remember the Temple Bar area.

4. The Irish remember their culture and history. This is something that I really admired about the Irish-- their strong sense of history that drives them to do better. All around Dublin you see these random statues commemorating different milestones in Ireland, from the Potato Famine of the 18th century to the hit song Molly Malone (selling cockles and mussels!). I think that it's because they remember how they were once "the poorest among the rich", that they are driven to become what is now one of the fastest growing economies of the world.

5. Ireland is beautiful! People often say it's like Batanes. Have you watched P.S. I love you? Don't you want to just marry an irishman after that? (of course, after marrying a dutch man.. hehe). The rolling hills is just breathtaking. It does make you want to sing, make music or drink Guinness... Personally, i felt soothed.

happiness is having a brother called Jorick...

2008-03-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

... who was my childhood nemesis because he tortured my dolls by hanging them from our ceiling fan (that's traumatizing to a 5-year old)

... who ended up being one of my fave buddies in highschool (since we eventually ended up in the same grade level and barkada --- people for a while thought we were fraternal twins.... i would say he failed a year... in truth, his original school had a grade 7 where mine was only up to grade 6... i do believe ateneo only wants to hijack parents for another year of tuition, but i digress...)

... who ended up being more than a buddy, but a beloved brother --- when life threw curveballs at my face, he was there to take a swing at it (whether it be people who had hurt me, or jobs that had just sucked the living daylights out of me)

... who helped me get by when i had my I'm-an-NGO-worker-and-I-don't-have-money dry spells (which was for most of my working life in the Philippines)

... who is still only one yahoo messenger away, and I know I can drop in for a "hey pangit" - "hey taba" diatribe when I miss home

...who has Helen, one of the coolest sister-in-laws ever!

Happy Birthday Dick!!!

happiness is having a brother called Kiko...

2008-03-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

... who, when we were little, unembarassingly played with me, his little sister, with the whole range of toys that we had -- cabbage patch kids, teddy bears, transformers, gi joe... etc.

... who even composed songs with me as we played with our toys... "sweets for my sweets, sugar for my mommy, compared to my daddy, i'm two feet tall!!"

... who comes to my rescue during IT crises, and lets me use the computer, and nag him into helping me find software programs that I need (wansapanataym, i left my mp3 player recording and i recorded my voice really whining at kiko to let me watch someting on the computer)

... who makes me laugh with his humor that is more on the witty-comicky side, calvin & hobbes weird side

... who makes burping fun, and farting hilarious! hahaha.

... who cooks a mean meal, from pasta to lucky me instant pancit canton... and willingly (though sometimes half-heartedly) letting me eat some of it (with thanks to che for convincing him to share, hehe)

... who bears with me and all the crap that i put him through... like having friends smoke under his window, buying feminie thingies from the sari-sari store

... who, in his own way, has been there for me and shown his support during trying times... like going to mass and just being together in silence or sharing the latest TV shows that I can be obsessed with

HAPPY BIRTHDAY kyx!!!

Aflatoun's "Royal" Campaign Launch

2008-03-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Drumrolls please... the Aflatoun Campaign Launch has been delivered! Her Royal Highness, Princess Maxima, graced the event. There she is with my boss, Jeroo Billimoria... and our cool Aflatoun letters at the back (I want to bring them home and make them throwpillows).

Wild three days! We were able to bring together about 50+ partners from about 40+ countries, along with various stakeholders to launch our campaign for Child Social & Financial Education. Wonderful wonderful partners!

Stories and pics to follow if I can muster the energy for it... but for now I will slowly float back into my life of normalcy.

campaign launch stress

2008-03-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

gearing up for our big Campaign Launch on March 17-19. Big event. Big wigs attending. Princess Maxima as well. Must remember not to make a total fool of myself.

I remember, right before some big important event, when I would get all nervous... I would sms friends asking them to text back something reassuring. They always sms'd back... and I was comforted more by the realization that I am blessed to have such wonderful people as friends.

the BIGGEST THANK YOU ever to all fellow dreamers!

2008-01-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

It' s finally happened!! I have graduated with an MA and fulfilled one of my dreams!!

In June 22, 2006, I made a call out to family, friends and to everyone else in the world to help fund my endeavor to get to the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, the Netherlands. For a donation of P300 to help my dream, I would do a good deed in their name and post it in this blog.

By September 2006, I received enough money to buy my plane ticket and begin my academic adventure.

Fifteen months later, last December 14 specifically, I graduated with an MA in Development Studies (Major in Population, Poverty and Social Development; Minor in Gender Studies, bow) AND with overall merit! I say that with pride as I know that I have achieved that only with the help of so many people who helped me get here in the first place.

Kung may acknowledgement page ang libro, ito na yun para sa akin. Kung may pagkakataon mang mag-speech sa graduation ceremony, binati ko na kayo isa-isa. Thanks to all of you!!

Auntie Florence
Auntie Geline
Auntie Nor
Auntie Boots and Uncle Lenn
Joseph & Aimee Santos-Lyons - with very special thanks for extending the call to her network
Ana Sevilla
Analy Mangalindan (RIP) - wherever you are... salamat.
Angel Balagtas-Suero
Astrid Tobias - special thanks for being my number one supporter on the dreams and deeds things!!
Ato Villasenor
Carlota Pineda & Richard Rescate
Carina Evangelista
Carol (friend of Aimee)
Cary Ryan Reyes
Celia Sevilla
Daisy Carinan
Ditsi Carolina
Detremier Villones
Dondon Farrales
Earnest Mangalubnan-Zabala
Elnora Ebillo
Elaine Penaflorida
Elaine Sevilla
Faye and Alfa
Jane (UPSCA)
J-anne Areola
Jay Banzagales
Jasmin Dacio
Karen Cruz
KNN (Hanna, Angelo, Danz… oh my, who else… anonymous kuno kasi ang pagbigay)
Laarni Salanga
Melanie “Lala” Ruiz
Lene (UPSCA)
Erlinda “Leng” Derecho
Marj Villa
Martina Miranda
Mavreen Tan
Maya Alcantara
Imee Alcantara
Merci Ferrer
Miko Lopez
Melissa Goebel
Denise & Neil Bascos
Myra Manialong
Nicolle Comafay
Hermrei Ong
Peng
Roderick Manalo
Sunshine delos Reyes
Suzette (friend of Aimee)
Tata (friend of Aimee)
Te (arlene) Calleja
Tess Miranda
Tin Macatulad
Vida Aenlle
Vir Lontoc

Huge thanks to Mama, Papa, Gert and Auntie Yeng!

At the moment, I am now working in an INGO called Aflatoun Child Savings International. We aim to promote Child Social & Financial Education, which means empowering children by teaching them about rights and responsibilities, as well as financial literacy.

Once again, thank you. And may we all continue to dream so long as there are others out there who are willing to dream with us.

requiem for analy

2007-11-16T23:01:00.000-08:00

"we are all visitors to this time and place. our purpose here is to live and love. and then we return home" - aborigine saying

i dreamt of analy the other night.

we were in a bedroom, possibly overnighting somewhere (yet again as UPSCAns often did). Tapos tinitingnan namin yung photo albums ko ng upsca gimiks. At some pictures napansin niyang wala siya at sinabi niya "bakit wala ako diyan", half-jokingly and half-indignant... Palabiro kong sinabi "eh kasi naman noh, namatay ka na niyan" half-jokingly and half-accusingly. Tumawa na lang si analy, at sinabing "ah oo nga pala".

and actually, it felt good... peaceful.. warm. perhaps, that's what heaven feels like. i woke up feeling comforted for the first time since i heard the news.

to those who don't know, analy and her boyfriend, james, drowned while swimming in pagudpud beach last november 6. witness accounts say that they were already on their way out of the water when james' leg started to cramp. analy went back for him.. and then a big wave swept them back into sea.

and that's how analy was... is... she is the person who would go back for you.

i remember in one of martina's particularly alcohol-filled bday parties, it started to rain. everyone started to go into the house, but I, in my stupor stayed out in the garden to bathe in the rain. martina also stayed in the rainshower. analy came back to stay and get drenched with us despite her own soberness.

my memories of her are filled with thoughtful actions. she always gave beautifully arranged bouquets of flowers as a gift... from dangwa, of course... just as she would accompany me to dangwa when i had to buy flowers in bulk, too. she remembered that i had once wished that someone would give me a bouquet from dangwa... and she kept fulfilling that wish ever since.

she came to all the parties that imee, martina, ganter and i would come up with... kahit gaano ka-walang kuwenta...christmas dinners, birthday dinners, thanksgiving / gratitude dinners... without fail, she and james showed up. at the last dinner we held, nagdrama kami at how few we were at the party (see picture.. although mali ata ang date na yan, hehe)... and how we felt like we were moving in separate directions.

at my first christmas here in holland she was the only one (aside from my family) who sent me a christmas card. am, of course not trying to guilt trip others... but just to show how sweet she was..is...

In the card, she lamented at how we were in different places...

"naisip ko, ganito pala nagkawalaan yung older UPSCAns. But it's not actually totally sad kasi we're just all pursuing our dreams and conquering the world (medyo literally). But I know some bonds could not be broken by time and distance"

true enough. i'm not sure if my dream was a manifestation of my own desire to comfort myself. i'd like to think that it was analy who came back for me, reaching across time, distance and worlds to comfort me and let me know that she's okay...happy even. if i grieve, i should grieve more for myself, her family, and for all our other friends who will not be blessed by her earthly presence. and i will find comfort in our faith, a faith that she held stronger than i did maybe... that she is home.

my megamap

2007-07-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

just to share how much of a dork i can be --- this is my mega mindmap for one of my classes "Social Policy Analysis". for some reason, i can't seem to wrap my head around the class so i've made this manila-paper sized mindmap to help me make sense out of the various sessions. and i have to admit, i'm kind of proud of it.

here's hoping that it'll help me and my friends out come exam time.

lakbayan grade of C+!!

2007-06-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

All in all.. thanks to NGO work and visits to friends, I got a passing grade of C+ i my lakbayan of the Philippines. Hehehe. Must travel more in Visayas & Mindanao!

If you want to check out your own grade, you can take this test.

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

i have yet to find my noel cabangon

2007-06-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

... in the sense that i have yet to find that music-making performer that i would want to stalk and watch every performance.

room eleven, a jazzy band from amsterdam, comes close though. i have 2 of their cover songs on my music site here at multiply.

there's the singer behind me. gert's checking out their CD (which he bought) and i'm basically being stupid and making faces at sachiro (japanese ISS friend) who's taking the picture.

flower girls

2007-06-03T22:58:00.000-07:00

My brother Carlo is married!!! I have a new sister --Lea Edrosolan Santos!! It was a lovely wedding --- Bonsai garden just as the sun was about to kiss us all goodnight --- and I'm sure that it will be an equally wonderful marriage. All who know Carlo and Lea probably feel the same way. Let's all hope for a baby within the next years. hihihi.

Anyway, this event merits a space in this blog because the night before the wedding I had joined the wonderful mamus -- Elnora, Carina, Ernest and Dindin--- to pull out an all-nighter of preparing the flower bouquets and head wreaths for the wedding. They did it as a gift for the bride through the suggestion (??) of sister Aimee. I never really realized how much work got into doing those things, but I'm no longer surprised why florists charge huge amounts for that service (we were told that what we did could amount to P40,000).

It was literally an all nighter --- but the results were truly beautiful (photos taken from Ernest's blog). Check out Lovely as the flower girl of the entourage.

On another note... I really REALLY must update my blogs more.

showing solidarity

2007-03-30T01:50:00.000-07:00

"Dear Mr. President... how do you sleep while the rest of us cry..." - Pink

"Imagine all the people, living life in peace" - John Lennon

A few weeks back, a political event occured here in the Hague, raising awareness on the political killings and other human rights violations going on in the Philippines.

I have my own beliefs, which are admittedly, a little bit left of center but not enough to align myself with any political party. I still have (naive) hopes of change within the system rather than an overhaul of it. But in that same breathe I'm also enraged at how that same system continues to oppress and violate our rights... at how suffering has been so rampant, it has been normalized.

As Filipinos, we've been barraged by stories of forced dissappearances... loved ones gone missing... stolen from us in the dead of the night. We have stories of assasinations, of being forever silenced for uttering our thoughts. We know people who live in fear, for themselves, for their loved ones... and ultimately for their country if they do nothing.

So, I gave my song of solidarity to those who dared to do something in hopes that, feeble as a song may be in the midst of the cryings, it can make a difference.

converting people to mindmappers

2007-03-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

(note: apologies to friends who have been bored by the inactivity of this blog... thanks to Michiel & Pepijn for kicking me into activity)

My old job at IPHM taught us about making matrixes, frameworks. At ISS, we call them mindmaps. It's basically a tool of how to put down your thoughts more visually (with arrows and everything), or as our professor says.... "how to use your brain".

Lo and behold, there's such a software program called Mindmanager that lets you make computerized mindmaps. And it's now the ultimate study tool for us and our study groups. (There's another miraculous program called Endnotes that helps us with our referencing for essays and research papers).

Girlie (above photo) and I are both such mindmap fans that we've been giving little lessons to some colleagues. Word spread though, that we can easily be cajoled to give tutorials so we are now giving semi-regular tutorials for future mindmappers as part of the school's IT & Library Committee activities.

Hopefully, we are making more sense out of the world... at least with one mindmap at a time.

a holly jolly holland christmas

2007-01-03T02:46:00.000-08:00

"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas is a little bit more"
- The Grinch who stole Christmas

Confession: I am an ultimate sucker for Christmas. Ask anyone who's known me since my early days of "carolling tayo!" and "decorate na!". In the Pinoy world, Christmas comes early and leaves pretty late. And so, the warm fuzzy feeling hits me hard and stays with me for quite a while. But this year, Christmas came without a chance to eat puto bumbong... or go carolling... or admire Pampanga parols ... or walk around para mang-okray ng dekorasyon ng iba... or attend christmas parties (and videoke-ing! ), or even be with my family and friends. Instead, it came with the onslaught of 0 degree celsius weather and a strange tradition of "Sinterklaas" coming from Spain (the dutch version of Santa Claus).

This was also my first holiday season with Gert, and we spent the whole week of Christmas Day to New Year's Eve at his parent's home in the peaceful, spacious town of Naarden. We were, of course, very much spoiled there as his mom constantly made sure that we were warm, well fed and happy. And it was so wonderful to wake up, look at the window and see the wide open farmland filled with sheep and a nearby windmill. The constant stream of family and friends whom we met were a constant source of delight and intoxication.

So, despite my fear that homesickness would hit me during the holidays, I discovered that the feeling of home is still possible.

My Christmas Highs list:
1. Christmas Eve - attending a christmas concert where Jacco (Gert's cousin) was a bass in the choir. I so miss the music of a choir... kinilabutan ako listening to them. We ended up having noche buena with Jacco, his housemate Linda & Linda's family... and having my pansit bihon as part of the noche buena! (sigh, little tear there)

2. Christmas Day - the whole van Dijk family spent it at Naarden: father, mother, 2 brothers, one uber-chika sister-in-law, gert, me, an unbelievably cute 9 month old baby and pettie, the family dog. Spent the afternoon gambling (yes, gambling!) with jokeren, and having dinner shabu-shabu style (called "gourmet" here). Post-dinner, the ladies watched/sang with the Sing-along of Sound of Music TV special while the men opted to play cards again.

3. Spa/ Sauna - a relaxing center with various rooms and pools of varying temperatures. Oh, and everyone was naked. hehehe.

4. Post-Kerst Dinner with Michiel, Pepijn & Ferrie... playing Sinterklaas... ending up with some pretty nice & funny gifts... a round of "what was your top 3 highs of the year"...and getting a bit drunk throughout the process. Am so glad to have made friends with such sweet guys.

5. Visiting the titas & titos...Tita Mellie & Tita Irma... my mom's friends...the closest thing to a pinoy family that I have here, complete with pancit palabok, shrimp termidor, sinigang and litson manok. It's hard to describe the joy that comes with finding out that you'll be eating pinoy food after not eating it for so long.

6. New Year's Eve - spent it with gert's 2 oldest closest friends (Menno, Fabian), Shella (Menno's Pinay wife) and Snel (Fabian's oh-so-funny-and-sarcastic friend). An intimate and quiet occasion where we watched the amazing fireworks from the 3rd floor home of our host. These were the kind of fireworks that you could only see in Ayala or Makati. Quite an eye-popper for me, and so I couldn't stop saying "wow... huwaaaw"

7. Baking with de moeder - Gert's mom also taught me how to bake their traditional holiday treats of olliebollen & appel beignets. We even had the extra challenge of communicating in dutch!! Wooohooo...zal ik de appel keuken nu?... Amazing how I'm turning out to be quite passable in cooking. My new year gameplan is to be able to follow a dutch recipe book (which gert's mom also gave me... hmm... i'm noticing that she doesn't want me to poison her son... hehe)

8. The overall life on the prairie - I am a Manila kid, which basically means I am used to house to house neighborhoods and crowded streets. So, it was quite a tranquil experience to be in the platteland. I wake up and see sheep outside the door/window. It makes it motivating to go out for a walk despite the cold.

So, Christmas came still... in a different way from what I'm used to... a bit quieter... and i, of course, still miss my own family & friends back home... but it was just as lovely and wonderful... and more importantly, twas spent with people dear to me.

pinoy ukay ukay in Holland

2007-01-01T23:56:00.000-08:00

Pinoy ukay ukay lives on in the Netherlands.

Last December, the four Pinoy students from the old batch graduated from ISS, and returned home to the Philippines. Before leaving however, they took part in the age old tradition of pamana (inheritance passing) and ukay-ukay (not entirely sure what the direct translation is... but it has come to mean, old clothes given or sold for uber cheap prices). And so I've managed to inherit some nice sweaters (which came all the way from 2 batches ago, Tutay and Amanda), a CD rack, a photo display dingie and loads of school supplies.

Bayanihan (solidarity) is an integral trait of Filipino communities, circles and other social connections. It warms my heart to experience it as well among the Filipino students here at ISS. Come December, it will be our turn to pass on nuggets of wisdom and ukay-ukay, and I just hope we give justice to the spirit of Bayanihan.

Salamat Agnes, Cates, Rommel at Jason!

sleepover homes are good deed doers

2006-11-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

I've literally slept around here in Holland. As I find myself (potentially) staying up late in other places, I become in need of a place to crash. So far, dear friend Pepijn has hosted us Pinays twice in Amsterdam (with matching complete Pinoy meal for breakfast), and another dear friend in Utrecht has let us taken over their beds once (with possibly more to come). And I am just filled with such gratitude,... and awe at the generosity of their hearts. In a country, where people pretty much value their personal spaces, letting noisy Filipinas into their homes is quite impressive.

One professor at ISS said that Filipinos have amazing "social capital", wherever we go, we can find a friend with whom we can stay the night (or several nights) in. But no matter how much "social capital" you have, it still depends on your friends, and whether their hearts are open enough to open their homes to you. People who let others sleepover are good deed doers.

Which brings me to a little tribute to my own parents, and how, all throughout my life, they have opened their homes to every one of our relatives and friends who happened to drop by... in need of anything from a TV to watch a movie, or a bed to stay the night. Finding myself on the other side of the fence, I'm grateful for people like them.

ingat ka! safety tips

2006-10-29T08:14:00.001-08:00

Last year, in Project 4, a girl fell victim to a bag snatcher on a motorbike. She fought back... she was shot... she died.

Just last month, my auntie stepped out of our gate, and a motorbike driver zoomed by and snatched her bag. Gladly, nothing worse came out of it.

It just enrages me that crimes have now become more commonplace in my very own neighborhood. More than enraging, it makes one feel very vulnerable, insecure and paranoid (Of course, the state of crime is just a symptom of the state of poverty as well, but that's another story).

Nowadays, whenever somebody says "Ingat ka"... I really take it to heart. And when I say "ingat ka" to loved ones, I sure as hell mean it.

Ate cherry sent an email forward for some safety tips. Might as well post it here... baka sakaling makatulong to increase all our safety. I'm not entirely sure if I agree with all the tips, because the others sound just as life-threatening. But am still posting the email in most of its entirety... who knows, maybe one of these days it will help for someone. Ingat kayo!

1 . Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you...chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat
B) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed.
Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

blast from my past

2006-10-22T23:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to RA for these pictures. In a certain twist of modification, I've decided to randomly blog about good deeds done for me as well. After all, good deeds are abound and deserve their own acknowledgement.

I am a minority in this foreign land, and homesickness comes in ebbs and waves... little acts of kindness goes a long way in my list. So thank you RA for making me smile... sigh, our "innocent and whimsical" youth. Ladies and gentlemen, UPIS Kamag-aral 94-95.

power in the world challenge

2006-10-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Last year, a Philippine organization Juboken enterprises won the World Challenge 2005 for its Coconets projects. Others may remember receiving the email for people to go to the BBC & Shell project to vote for the coconet.

Coincidentally enough, early this year, one of my documentary projects with director (slash-friend and eternal mamu) El featured the coconet project. Basically, the cocohusk fiber was processed to make nets that could be laid on hilly slopes. This prevented topsoil erosion and served as an area to grow vegetation. And of course, the eco-friendly business gave employment to the people of the community.

This year, World Challenge is at it again, featuring 12 finalists from all over the world. Right now, my personal favorite is the card-making organization that employs orphans who held their own little households in Rwanda. All these orphanz have lost their parents from the 1994 genocide, malaria or AIDS.

Most of the 12 finalists are grassroot projects that are innovative and resource-generating. "People with principles, while making a profit," was how they said it.

Despite the fact that Shell probably has a lot of socio-economic crimes against the world, I'm glad for contests like this which give honor to micro-endeavors that help in changing the world.

For those who want to exercise their voting power in World Challenge, please do so by clicking here.

3 girls, 4 guys and a polar bear

2006-10-12T00:16:00.000-07:00

The continuing tour around Holland leads us in the middle of a tropical forest (huh?). See the three pinays in their natural habitat. Somewhere in the background is sampaguita, dona aurora and kalachuchi.

The Artis Zoo in Amsterdam tries to cover as much of the global flora & fauna by having simulated tropical zones, fishes from the different zees, polar bears of the north, penguins of the south, elephants, giraffes, sea lions and birds, reptiles and monkeys of different sizes and colors.

The highlight of the visit for me was seeing the polar bear and penguins (up until college, i never knew that they couldn't be in the same pole... damn cartoons for misleading kiddies). The butterfly garden reminded me of home (little tear there).

The aquarium was also breathtaking, with an eerie yet beautiful underwater world colors (schitterende! onderwaterwereld!). We were able to spot nemo in his sea anemone habitat (yes, we do know that 'clownfish', is the official term... blame pixar).

Joining us for the day were old friends: the boys of RNTC/ RNW, Pepijn, Ferrie, Michiel.... and Gert (mijn hart). They toured us in Vondel park (mala-Luneta), and the Red Light District (sorry, no pictures... aside from being bawal... it makes me more bagabag whenever i pass by here).

We ended up hanging out at a pub before we finally walked back to Pepijn's place for an overnight (we missed the last tram, but walking at around 1:30am in Amsterdam is safe enough).

It's heartwarming to meet up with friends of old and have them hang out with new friends. Overall it was a fun union of pinays & dutch boys.

gender concerns conference

2006-10-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

i haven't been requested this, but seeing as it is a relatively "good deed", I'm posting about it.

i served as a rapporteur/ reporter for an international conference "Country in Focus: Pakistan one year after the earthquake. It was held by a local Dutch NGO, Gender Concerns International.

One year after the earthquake and there are still about 1million people living in tents in resettlement areas. The conference was basically a commemoration of the calamity (as well as the aid that came in from Netherlands), and a call for continuing support of the relief and rehabilitation efforts that are still ongoing.

Am quite tickled to see that my report was uploaded already www.genderconcerns.nl
i think i've found my potential racket-sphere. After all, the Hague is the center of so many conferences. Here's hoping.

dance with a dorky guy

2006-10-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

ate helgie's original deed request: "dance with a dorky guy". Well, I've been taking salsa classes with gert (Universalsa), and I can say that I've had my fair share of dancing with a variety of guys already... from dorky to debonair, all adorable in their own way.

it's been a while since I had to go through the awkward social motions of knowing people in a bar or a dance club, but it's been fun so far. I'd tell some person that I don't speak dutch, only to find out that he doesn't either, because he's french! or turkish! totoo, mga kaibigan, the world is getting smaller.

it's quite a trip to be on the dance floor as well. Regardless of how good a person really is, everyone can be an Antonio Banderas (take the lead) or a Catherine Zeta-Jones (from chicago to zorro), so long as you just feel the fun. I'm sure I sometimes suck just as much as the next guy but in my mind, I am a dancing diva projecting Cheryl Torres (Fil-am "Dancing with the stars" champion).

"I walk, I fall, I stand... but meanwhile I keep dancing".

naarden vesting: intramuros in holland

2006-10-02T23:28:00.000-07:00

Intramuros counterpart in Holland, Naarden Vesting (as seen from a borrowed pic from www.vestingvaart.nl) is the walled city that aimed to protect Amsterdam during the 1500s (complete with cobblestone roads).

It's amazing to see from the top as it looks like a star (parol!parol!). Unfortunately, despite its great architecture, it wasn't a good stronghold as it was invaded by Spain ("where they killed everyone inside").

Today, Naarden vesting is a ritzy little village with restos, bookstores and coffee shops. Astrid, Faye & I were toured around by Gert as he grew up around this area. As you can see, this former bunker is now a coffee shop/artshop (cappucino €1,60).

Nearby Naarden are other pretty little towns that have their own claims to fame. Muiden has its very own castle (or fort depending on what profile you read). Meron ding sea port filled boats of varying designs (meron pa ngang mala-Pirates of the Carribean).

A nice little stroll beside the very-dutch window-filled houses during sunset makes for nice pictures (the golden hour!). Salamat kay Faye for this really nice pic.

There's a definite feeling of "old world" when you walk around such areas. I can't help but have a bit of a global afterthought at how our country is... Intramuros is ... during these times as well. Did I give our old walled city the same amount of appreciation?

Siguro kung masarap din ang ice cream (la laaang).

an aloy, astrid & diego in den haag

2006-09-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

My tour-guiding of astrid in holland has officially begun! My deed for her. We've so far gone around den haag, also known as the Hague. Along with Diego (Maranan), we walked along the Scheveningen Beach... a surprisingly nice beach with a big shore area and a long coastline. The water is, of course, friggin cold. Little trivia: at the end of the WWII, they distinguished the Dutch from the Germans by asking them to say "Scheveningen". (those who can say gert's name might pass this test, hehe).

It was a lovely sunny day (which meant it was somewhere near 20 deg, and there was some sun). So we spent a decent amount of sun time tambay-ing at the beach. Where Astrid found much joy in terrorizing the sea gulls and Diego displayed some of his contemporary dance moves.

We did much walking around the city centre as well, through parks and famous old buildings... "ooh, lookee this is where the prime minister works" (Buitenhof--- see picture below... well, it's the church in the compound actually), "that's where the queen's office is, haler, queen!"... and most importantly, "aha!! a bookstore!!".

Den Haag is the political center of the Netherlands (while Amsterdam is the official capital) . Parliament, Embassies... museums, they're all here. The Philippines embassy is here as well, with a lobby TV that is tuned in to the Filipino Channel. It gives an over-all feeling that this old city still breathes quite conservatively. Next stop: Amsterdam hopefully : )

davao fishing, family & friends

2006-09-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

I owe my brother Francis a cooked dinner. But horrible person, ehrm, cook that I am, I never found the time.

So the next best thing was to just make sure that he and cherry had a great time in Davao while they were with me and my friends (okay, am not sure if that's really the "next best thing", but I'm basically compensating for a deed undone, by justifying that it was somehow done too...).

It was great! my normally introverted "i'd-rather-stay-at-home" kuya flew all the way to davao, went up the mountain to eden park, made chika with everyone and went fishing (yes! mga kapitbahay!! nangisda si kiko!!). Of course, the fact that cherry wanted to go was probably a big factor, too.

The whole davao trip was wonderful. UPSCA friends from Manila and Cebu came together in Davao for a weekend trip: Martina, Ganter, Ong, Jody, Jim, Bas, Cram, Imee, Maya, Alvin. Personally, for me, it was the last great getaway of great friends before we parted ways again and moved on to different lives & countries. It may be a while before we can be together again.

Haaay... buhay... ganyan talaga. But I have faith that these things remain to be constants in my world. Great friends and great family. So... sometime in the future, I'll be able to cook that dinner for Kyx.

welcome to holland

2006-09-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

Astrid arrived last Saturday, much to the delight of my heart which falls victim to sporadic homesick attacks. It is always great to see a familiar face from home.

And so begins my ongoing role to be Astrid's tour guide while she's here, too. Holland is undergoing an Indian summer, which supossedly means that we'll be having hot days until October. Of course "hot" is relative. At 25 degrees, the Dutch head out to the beach, while we tropical-born people wonder why it's so cold to stand in the shade even with the sun shining.

Nevertheless, this is still a very pretty country with its wide open spaces (yeeeaaah... a place to make your own mistakes... -dixie chicks), and biker-friendly landscape (read: flat). Flowers are all abound... in supermarkets, by the road, in the street islands and of course, in gardens. The Dutch are also very friendly, probably the friendliest English-speaking population in Europe (apologies to my British friends... nyehehehe).

Anyhoo, I'm currently working on my biking skills to get around. Sometime soon I should get myself a digital camera because it's a crying shame that i can't capture some pretty moments. Abangan.

Bakasyon sa Bohol

2006-09-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

Interestingly enough, I received 3 requests to come up with a list of places to go to in Bohol. Apparently, Bohol is really kicking off and becoming a touristic hotspot. Yey for local tourism!

Okay, now it really depends on what kind of person you are... are you a beach person or a mountain person? Which would you rather make as your homebase (especially since lodging is the first thing you have to get before you start Bohol-ing). Or if you don't mind transferring around, it would be nice to spend a night at one place and then move on to the next (backpacker style).

For beach people, Alona Beach at Panglao Island is the best place to go. The lodges may seem pricey but if you walk further down away from Alona Kew et al, to the right side of the beach (if you're facing the sea)... you'll find more affordable places starting at P750 for a room for two people. In Panglao, you can hire a boat to go diving, snorkelling or dolphin watching (gising lang ng 5am).

Mountain lovers would love Nuts Huts (www.nutshuts.com), which is nestled somewhere in the bussom of the Loboc River and hillside. This is also the area where floating restaurants, diving boys, tarsiers, old churches and a curiously unfinished bridge could be found. Claim to fame din na dito shinoot ang pangahoy sa suba in the Loboc River.

Of course, you have to visit the Chocolate Hills at Carmen. You can even overnight at the Choco Hills Complex (P350-450/room/night)to view the Choco Hills during sunset and sunrise. It's pretty surreal actually to be waking up with the forest.

On your way to Choco Hills, be sure that you check out the Man Made Forest, The hanging bridge or even the Logarita Springs. You can rent vehicles to go around, from motorbikes to vans... basta magtanong-tanong lang sa locals, they're very willing to help.

Hayuun... hope it's helpful for people. Enjoy Bohol!

the santos list

2006-09-12T05:07:00.000-07:00

Record breaking hibernation between blogs... sorry about that. On the fuel of people's pledges, deeds and generosity, I am now safe and snug and settling in here at the netherlands. Some people requested for me to come out with the list of pledgees and deed requests... to compare notes i guess and amuse themselves. Some gave pledges without any good deed requests, and others are still contemplating on what they want to request (still on standby, i guess).

I therefore give you, the Santos deed list.

DEEDS DONE
Celia -advocate to Dokyu that their film be shown (buti na lang nakita ko si monra sa PNB)
Hermrei - cross-stitch (yeah.. this took some time, hehe)
Angel - prayers & wedding songs
Tita Tess - promo idea for coffee & bake shop
Martina - happy deed
Te - pray for her
Ato - plug western union
Veds - Bohol itinerary plan for their bakasyon
Jed - burn copy of elliot CD (i love elliot yamin)
Dasyang - magpakita lang
Analy - pray james passes bar
Marj - retroactive wedding coordinator
Karen C. - wedding details for her brother's weddin
Laarni - pray for sister sa bar
Leng - budgeted honeymoon plans
Myls - coffee with choir
Roderick - host book-bigayan of RockEd
Vir - play cupid, deliver shoarma & flowers (the first ever deed)
Caring - send a morning & evening smile
Mavs - words of wisdom for trying times
Aims - help heather with ISS questions
Ana - something good for "someone" (secret na lang)
Astrid - tour guide sa Netherlands

DEEDS to be DONE/ GIVEN (waiting for the request)
Nicolle -alaga astrid in Holland
Faye/ Alfa - help a cat/dog find a home (i suspect this will be harder than it sounds)
Merci Ferrer - send 3 old childrens books na dutch story
Dondon - attend CLP (i need an alternative to this)
Carol - kind gesture to homeless
Peng - contacts for mom
Elaine Sevilla - my choice
A. Florence - dance with a guy you don't know
Jay
Shine
Elaine
Miko
Caryan

Good luck na lang (no deed request)
KNN
Lala
Jane
Ditsi
Maya
Imee
Tata
Balot & Chard
Lene
Earnest
J-anne
Moy
Missy
A.Nor
A. Geline
Suzette
El
Tin

in neverland

2006-09-03T02:48:00.000-07:00

TADA! in the netherlands now!! Classes start tomorrow (September 4). Will update then : )

Again, thank you to everyone!!!

BUNSO

2006-09-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Ditsi Carolino and Nana Buxani, makers of the phenomenal social documentaries "Bunso", "Riles" & "Minsan lang sila Bata" have also pledged. No deed request... but am so tickled that they are part of my dream supporters (woohooo...).

Ergo, am blatantly plugging their works as mandatory food for the soul. "The glare of ignorance is blinding, the blind dare not lead the naked".... films like these give us back our sight.

haircut to clean up the oil spill

2006-08-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Who hasn't heard about this? Who wants to help out? For my part... I'm spreading the word for other people to get hair cuts at Ricky Reyes and other salons that have committed to donate the hair to create oil-absorbing brooms/sacks.

* * * *
Dear Friends,

With 2 million liters of oil spillage each day leaking out to destroy what is left of our natural resources along in Guimaras, recent reports say it is the worst natural disaster our country is facing. As i type, the oil spillage slowly encompasses the areas around Guimaras Island and is now moving up towards the north through Guimaras Strait, damaging Panay and Negros in its wake. Families dependent on their fishing livelihood are robbed of their means of living. Our rich seafood is contaminated, and we are slowly but surely killed with health problems resulting from this terrible environmental disaster.

The Visayan Sea Squadron have started volunteer work to help out fishermen, residents and fellow ilonggos who have been badly affected. With heavy hearts and tearful eyes, they watch helplessly as oil slick and sludge slowly ate up what was left of the rich marine life that was carefully proected by Guimaras. A few more days and it will reach Eastancia and the northern area of Iloilo, where Panay's fishing port is located.

We encourage fellow filipinos to help out in the cause of preventing its spillage to reach further waters, and as much as possible, clean up the damage done. We appeal to all filipinos to help out and be more aware of the situation. We appeal to members of Congress, the Senate and other government officials to help us by thoroughly investigating this matter and TAKE ACTION.

It is for this cause that i am coordinating with them to create this donation drive. In lieu of cash, we are readily accepting donations of fishing rubber boots, rubber gloves and masks for the volunteers and fisherfolk who are, as i type, working to clean up the damage, with no thought of their health. They go through the muck in sandals and slippers, with not even a mask to protect their lungs. We also accept donations of hair and chicken feathers to create brooms needed to mop up the oil.

Our first shipment of donations will be on the 30th of August, 2006. Due to those who were unable to send us donations during the week, we have extended our initial deadline to that date. For those in the QC area, please send over donations to 12 Highland drive Blueridge A, Katipunan Q.C. Please contact the number below if you want to have your donations picked up instead. :-)

Cash is also a good alternative, for those who shall donate this, we will be buying the much needed materials for you, and put the donation under your name. Please contact the individuals below on where to channel the cash donations if ever, since we don't have an account up yet. You can also send it in through the address given.We thank all those who have readily sent cash and the abovementioned donations, your efforts and willingness to help have given much needed hope to us and families affected by this disaster. Our next shipment shall be on the Sept. 5, 2006.

Please attach with your donations your name and contact number so we can update you on the progress .You can also contact these numbers for more info and volunteer help:
Archie (0919 2253262)
Haydee (0928 2313193)
Lette (0915.7854035)
You can also email us at cleanupoilspill@....
You can also drop off donations (cash or kind) at the following:*
College of Fine Arts in UP-Diliman, Q.C. -please look for Jen Alfon (faculty)

For more information and updates, please check greenpeace.org, and projectsunrise.org .

kapihan with korong tres

2006-08-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

thank you myls for giving me the easiest deed request: make time for coffee with the choir (though konting hiya factor for the fact that she had to ask this to make sure i'd come.. sigh so sorry for the busy-busyhan).

i've been with the zone 3 choir of project 4 for 15 years now (whoa). And through the years, i've seen all sorts of talented people pass through... or stay. and what i love the most about the choir is that they are the most "totoong tao" that i have ever come across. and boy, do they help me laugh at life.

every 'despedida' gathering forces me to contemplate on my ties with the people around me... and the history that comes along with it. the choir has been years of sunday masses, weekly makulit practices, nervous concerts, triumphant performances, crazy outings... and friendships...

haay. thank you for the coffee, the music and everything else in between.

the invitation

2006-08-26T02:31:00.000-07:00

I have had girlfriends all my life. And by girlfriends I mean gal pals. We have been sharing our joys and woes at our various relationships... stories of parents, siblings, workers, other friends, and most especially, stories of lovers. And just as relationships rise and fall, we find ourselves running to our girlfriends, seeking solace, finding comfort, gaining strength and growing in wisdom.

One such gal pal is in need of this kind of sheltering sanctuary... but she's miles and miles away from all that is familiar and comforting. So, via cyberspace, I now do what i usually do for girlfriends in need of wisdom... I give them the words of someone else.

"The Invitation" is a poem which captures my own view of a lifetime commitment. If we choose someone, and they choose us, we should be aware of what it really means to invite them into our lives and vice versa. Because we all deserve nothing less than what is wonderful.

"Life is hard. And life is wonderful. “The Invitation” is about finding what we need-the inspiration, the intimacy, the courage and the commitment to live fully, every day." - oriah mountain dreamer

photo taken in germany... there's a couple somewhere in the back of this courtyard resto... 2005

THE INVITATION

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain!
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
copyright © 1999 by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

dreams come true! (an update)

2006-08-21T02:41:00.000-07:00

okay, so roughly 8 weeks ago, i made a call out to the world,... asking for pledges to help me reach my dream... and amazingly, miraculously, touchingly so... with the help of so many people, my dream has come (and is continually coming) true!!

SALAMAT!!

i had basically just hoped to reach 100 people for P300 pledges by August 15,... and due to some over pledging from some excessively generous people, i have now reached (drumrolls please) P37,000. And the pledges are still coming.

PLANE TICKET BOUGHT!!

SALAMAT!!

fulfillment of more good deed requests to come.

mga ngiti para kay caring & james

2006-08-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

"Higit sa paglipad ng guni-guni ay pagpagaspas ng pakpak ng utak
Higit sa pangarap ay pagpunla, pag-ani at paglingap
Higit sa Alay kay Aloy ay Alay ni Aloy!

Bumabati sa iyong napipintong paglalakbay, James & Caring"

Caring is a poet and an artist. And even in her deed request, she touches on the beauty of the simplest of things.

Connecticut is 12 hours away from us. For a week, when I wake up, she requests for a smile that will carry over to her and greet her "magandang gabi"... and in my night, another smile to greet her mornings.

Hindi man ito ngiti.. pero patawa na lang...

Book Bigayan for dicky

2006-08-16T04:44:00.000-07:00

Roderick "dicky" Manalo has given me the freedom to choose a good deed for him. Well, I dedicate something that I'm working on for RockEd Philippines (www.rockedphilippines.org). Check out this group, they're revolutionizing the pinoy youth, one young mind at a time.

In answer to the dishearteningly sad lack of books in public schools, RockEd has launched a Book Bigayan Drive. People are invited to donate old textbooks, encyclopedias, fiction books, novels, etc, which you think can contribute to the learnings of grade schools and highschools across the country. Some of the drop-off points are Mag-Net, conspiracy bar cafe and saguijo. I offer my home as a Book Bigayan drop-off point to all those who would like to donate (um, yes, I'll explain to my mom eventually why people are dropping off stuff when she's desperately trying to purge the house of extra thingies)

cross-stitching for a friend

2006-08-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

the longest-running deed so far. hermrei asked me to cross-stitch a design for his sister (hmm.. sister ba talaga?). and i did this deed/favor with much gusto because, mostly, hermrei is one of my favorite people in the people in the world, he makes me laugh all the time (mostly because his own laugh is hilarious), and i do in fact love cross-stitching. special mention to ate janice for helping me out as well when i got too busy.

plugging western union from Malaysia

2006-08-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

Childhood friend Ato has helped in making my dream come true as well... all the way from Malaysia.

He sent his pledge via Western Union. And although he said it wasn't necessary for me to do a good deed for him, he did go to great lengths in describing to me the beauty of the Western Union service.

1. It's real time. The moment someone from one end of the world (e.g. Malaysia) makes a deposit, the other person from the semi-other end (e.g. Philippines) can get it already.

2. There's a western union in almost every corner of the Philippines. In fact, our country may have the most number of outlets in the world.

3. It's well-established and is one of the oldest remittance institutions. Does anyone else seem to remember western union in the "Back to the Future" series... how michael j fox of the cowboy past sent himself a telegram??

4. In some countries, where IDs are non-existent, the sender can just give a question, and the receiver can pick it up by answering the question. O da va, customized to the culture.

Hmm. I should mention that Ato works in the IT firm that developed the Western Union technology, to explain the commercial nature of this post.

OFWs around the world use the remittance system all the time. And i've never really appreciated the importance of this process until i was at the receiving end... holding the cash in my hand and murmuring 'wow, the money reached me, that's a relief'. Multiply it by the need of a family who has a whole list of expenses: enrollments, hospitalizations and maybe just basic food & house expenses. Wow. That's really a relief then.

sorry for the silence

2006-08-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

I apologize for whoever has been passing by to check updates... all, what? five of us? (day, aimee, astrid, te...who else? hahaha). Just came back from a davao trip with college friends. We bought our tickets last March when Cebu pacific came out with a P10 promo fare. Round trip that cost about P2,000 each. Not bad, except for the fact that they won't serve food and most of their flights were delayed. But i will not bitch about them because, after all, if not for them, we wouldn't have been able to get together and do davao. Besides, i also enjoy their in-flight games. Promos are still ongoing www.cebupacificair.com.

More posts about the trip to come as some of the things we did there were deed-related.

prayers for UPSCALadies

2006-08-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

Awww... I heart you guys!

These 4 lovely ladies are longtime friends from UPSCA. Three of them head the UPSCA Scholarship Fund--- which is currently supporting a scholar in taking his UP Fine Arts degree.

Not all of them have given their deed requests. But for Analy and Laarni, my prayers that both your loved-ones pass the bar (for Analy's James and Laarni's sister Balot).

Do good. Live simply. Pray.

wedding coordinator of the D day

2006-07-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

Yes... another wedding-related good deed.

In an effort to make life easier for me, Marj made my good deed a retro-active one. I was the wedding coordinator of the day for her wedding last December 26, 2005. Thanks Marj. Am grateful to her on two counts: 1) that, because of her choice, i've automatically accomplished a good deed for my drive and 2) that she gave me the honor of being an important part of her wedding.

Every now and then, I muse that being a simple guest in a wedding is great because you're not pressed to accomplish tasks, worry about the time (ohmigask!! where are the bridesmaids??! they should be marching by now!), get possibly embarassed in front of people (Lord, wag sana ako pumiyok), or be in a hurry while eating (uy, magstastart na dapat ang program).

But at the end of the day, you see your friends happy and in total bliss, and you're comforted by the warm fuzzy feeling that even in some very small miniscule way, you were a part of that. That's one of the greatest feelings ever.

P.s. thanks to lau for the pictures

an elliot-yamin song for you

2006-07-31T01:53:00.000-07:00

a few months back, i, like many before and after me, was addicted to American Idol season 5. More specifically, to Elliot Yamin. Thanks to www.yaminions.org, www.everythingelliot.com (which may not exist anymore) and www.rickey.org i was able to read more about him. And... I was able to download all his performances in AI5.

so, my good deed to Jed is to give her a CD copy of Elliot's AI5 performances (with judges comments). To other elliot fans out there who want a CD too... you'd have to find a way to get a hold of me, give me a CD and get the burned copy from me (sorry, am afraid to offer mailing services on this one).

sigh. i *heart* elliot. hehe.

for love of KNN

2006-07-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

i have the honor of working with some of the best people in Manila, as well as the Philippines. They're mostly underaged individuals who walk around with their carefree ways and wide-eyed wonder, laughing their way through most tasks and supporting each other with clarion calls of "that's so GREEEEAAAAT","go na ito!" and "keri na yung churva na yan".

Kabataan News Network (KNN) is a weekly TV magazine show produced by the youth, for the youth. Yup, the kiddos do everything from proposing a story, to shooting, transcribing and scripting. And believe me, it's even much more impressive than it sounds. In my one year of working with them, we've covered all kinds, forms and shapes of stories -- from heavy-juvenile justice, pagpag kids; to light and fluffy teen magazines and cheerleading. As Bureau Manager, I mostly facilitate in the process and guide them in their formation.

These kids have shown me depth & width of soul & character that are sometimes lost in older people. I am especially touched because some of them insisted on being part of my dream despite my persistence that i'm not accepting their allowance (hint, hint, hanna). But oh well, they found a way, and their generosity reminds me of the parable of the poor woman who gave Jesus all that she had (not that i am in any way comparing myself to messianic figures but you get the gist...). Anyway, kakatouch. So, no deed request, but am writing this for them.

I'd like to think that I was able to share some of my knowledge and, dare I say, wisdom with the youth reporters --- from "this is how to frame your interviewee" to "choose a course that will bring you to the life you want 50 years from now, and if you change your mind somewhere along the way, that's OK, too". But I'd like to share some things that I learned from them as well...

1. Be punctual. Ahehe. In my defense, I'm never late for actual shoots.

2. At one point, you really have to leave it to your faith in God. This is not in response to production problems, but rather to their own personal challenges in life. Tragedies, after all, occur regardless of age. And what some of these young people have gone through makes me wish that I could be just as strong in my own faith.

3. There must always be time for chikahan and kamustahan. Just as important as getting the job done is getting the job done with as much laughter, harmony and happiness as possible.

4. "Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can break your heart"-r.fulghum. I've worked with younger people a lot, but for some reason, I've only really felt the power & gravity of words with this group. They are so trusting that they sometimes wear their hearts on their sleeves and it makes me want to protect them from the big bad world.

Pero ika nga ng iba, I should learn to let go and stop mothering them (hehe). So I will end this by saying that I have loved being part of KNN, and am honored that I was part of the lives of these young & wonderful people. Watch out for them, if my instincts are right, they will soon take on the world.

wedding photographers & gown designers 'naman'

2006-07-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

For some reason, i have received yet another deed request that has something to do with weddings... which of course leads to discussions of "when are you getting married?". My replies fluctuate between "pagkatapos mo" to "shet ka rin", depending on how jologs i feel at the moment. Hehe. What can I say... tis the season of weddings and babies.

In general, I love weddings, drinks all around! I dabbled a bit in wedding coordination, and have friends and acquaintances who are into wedding services as well. So Karen Cruz' deed request is to give contacts for wedding services who charge affordable prices (emphasis on the affordable--- nowadays 'royalty weddings' are just not for the general masa).

Wedding photos: My friend Cary Reyes is photographer-slash-computer programmer (see works above). You can find his contact numbers and more of his works at www.pixelements.net and other non-wedding eye-popping photos at www.shutteraddict.blogspot.com. I am a fan of his.

Wedding gowns: Jennifer Galias is a friend of a friend, who I recently found out is the niece of my mom's childhood pal in Project 4 (how's that for the 6 degrees game?). She designs wedding gowns (and swimsuits for those interested). You can email her at jennifergalias@yahoo.com or sms her at 09178574833. See a sample of her work at left.

And voila! You have a beautiful wedding that won't push you into the poverty line!

Wedding songs anyone?

2006-07-24T23:43:00.000-07:00

In March 30, 2003 (yes, 03-30-03) Angel Balagtas became Angel Suero...

And now... she is still in the process of putting together the wedding video & album (sorry ainge, couldn't resist, hehe). My good deed is to come up with a list of suggested songs that can be used for the wedding video (with specific instructions: none of the usual, "i will always love you" and "you" songs which we've all grown to hear at every other wedding).

So far this is what I have (visitors are welcomed, no, urged, to give their suggestions, too):
1. Final Frontier (Anita Baker) - theme song of mad about you tv series... how could you not love this??
2. Ice Cream (Sarah McLachlan) - your looove...is better than ice cream... well said!!
3. Every Little thing she does is Magic (Sting) - must have sting somehow
4. Baby I love your way (your choice of whichever version) - such a sexy song.
5. You Belong to Me (jason wade) - jason wade's version of vonda shephard's popular song just sounds so much more romantic
6. That's all (Michael Buble or rod stewart) - I admit, this is in every other wedding too, but it's so sweet
7. The sweetest thing (Bono) - everybody now... ohooooh... the sweetest thing
8. Take My breathe away (tuck & patti) - a personal favorite
9. Grow Old along with me (Mary Chapin Carpenter) - a classic yet not so famous song that talks of a marriage rather than a wedding
10. All you need is love (Beatles) - if it's good enough for a wedding in Love Actually... it's good enough for me
11. God only knows what i'd do without you (beach boys?? but someone else sang this))- again. love actually. very sentimental ending of the movie
12. Chapel of Love - if there's a need for upbeat music, this is cutie patootie. (jason corrected me that this was not entitled "going to the chapel" as i had previously written)
13. That thing you do (the Wonders) - suggested by Lee from the friendster blog.

Will add more as the ideas come along.

Also, as part and parcel of this good deed are prayers for ainge in all that she hopes for.

FAQs on studying in ISS

2006-07-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

This is my super-sister Aimee. And this deed is for her... that I help her friend Heather, by answering questions about ISS www.iss.nl (Institute of Social Studies). I've emailed her personally already and we have a nice chat going on now.

But for those who may also be interested in studying in the netherlands... i direct you to this site www.nuffic.nl, and then click on the "Netherlands Fellowship Programmes". There is a list of schools and courses which are under the fellowship program.

Usually, their system is: you apply to the school first, and if you're accepted, you apply to the Netherlands Fellowship Programme for funding.

I wish all applicants the best. Here's hoping that you won't find yourselves blogging for good deed pledges after (hehe, a little self-hirit to keep me sane).

p.s. baby miyka in the right has nothing to do with this post but as she's my sister's newborn baby, and is very very cute... she's in it.

Dreams & Deeds update

2006-07-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

Honestly, i've been wanting to blog more often to keep people updated... but I wanted to blog about the deeds I've done done as well. Some deeds, however, are Holland-based, so i can't blog about them yet. I will therefore just mention those who have given me their pledges and what their good deed requests are... and once again express my gratitude for their support:

Astrid - be her tour guide when she gets there
Nicolle - alagaan si Astrid (your normal check up on her every now and then, hehe)
Martina - happy deed
Faye & Alfa - help a dog/ cat find a home (actually, i was waiting for this to come up, and am not surprised that faye requested it)
Merci - collect 3 old children's books for her (dutch stories but in english) -- hehe, i want books for myself, too
Dondon - to be spiritually prepared, attend the Christian Life Program
Detremier & Jay - still waiting for them to request a good deed

Meanwhile, the fundable.org site has reached its $200 goal as well. And for this I have to thank my super - sister Aimee who tapped her network (with a very touching email that sort of brought me to tears). Once upon a time she told me that sisters could be the best of friends or the worst of enemies, and I'm glad we ended up as the former... but I digress...

Fundable people whose deeds I have yet to do or hear: Moy & Neil (one of those couples who reaffirms my faith in love) , Carol, Elaine, Carina, Melissa ( Dr. Melissa, that is : ) and Aimee- Joseph.

For the other pledgers out there, i'm doing the rounds and trying to get to everyone soon.

Overall, I'm almost about to meet my target amount of 30,000. I'll post who pledged, what the requests where and how much in total we all gathered together so we can have a nice social audit going on. hehe.

Again, labis na pasasalamat. I am continually humbled by the beauty of generosity.

praying for a baby

2006-07-11T02:49:00.000-07:00

"better late than pregnant"

- blanche deveraux, golden girls

'Better late than pregnant' is a common joke among friends. But apparently, for one friend (who wishes to remain anonymous), she doesn't mind having a little bundle of joy baking in her oven (sorry couldn't resist).

So my good deed is to pray that she has a baby : ) and that she turns out to be a good mommy.

Dear God (and whoever else is listening up there), please give my friend, the anti-blanche, her wish.

I like this deed... despite the fact that the reprohealth person in me is shouting "contraceptives" and that stress may also be a contributor to delayed menstruation.... i like this deed.

*********

This just in, SHE'S PREGNANT!!!! Whoopee, i'm going to be a tita : ) : ) : ) pass around the red wine!!!

advocate for the desaparecidos

2006-07-11T02:13:00.000-07:00

My deed has to do with fighting for this man*.

There was once a man who had a different set of political beliefs. He was so passionate about them that he involved himself in activities which sought to liberate the minds of his fellowmen. Community organizing, mobilizations and basic speaking out. The government could not silence him.

So, swiftly, secretly and forcibly, they took him away. To a place where none of his loved ones could trace him. He had simply disappeared. Like the many before him... and sadly, the many after him.

Celia's uncle was one of them. And so quite understandably, she now works for Families of Involuntary Disappearances (FIND), an NGO that campaigns against disappearance. August 30 is the International Day of the Desaparecido... a moment to remember and pay tribute to these victims.

August 30 also falls on a Wednesday, when the regular TV show DOKYU of ABC5 airs. Among the many activities to be done that day, FIND hopes that DOKYU would air their documentary about the desaparecidos. My good deed is to help out & advocate for the airing of that dokyu.

We've so far asked Ramon if this is possible (after all, he's the director), but it seems that the key is to get the permission of the actual lasallian filmmakers. So onwards to the lasallites we march... or text... or email... in hopes that the story of the man will be known to more.

* men and women comprise desaparecidos, but majority of them are men.

Buy my dream (from outside the Philippines)

2006-07-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

I love the global cybercommunity!! Responses have been coming in from other countries but it's quite tricky to come up with a way for them to pledge that's very convenient to their schedule.

And at the suggestion of my friend Ferrie, I've opened a 'group action' in a fundable.org site where people from other countries can pledge via paypal or credit card. It's only when the goal amount has been reached that the site will collect the pledges. So to the generous pledgers from other countries...

www.fundable.org/groupactions/aloysdream

Once again, thanks for all those who have responded, supported and even helped with 'advertising' the buy my dream project. I must now go back to a cross-stitch which hermrei requested as his deed.

Dreams & Deeds update

2006-07-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

People have been asking how the little fundraising is going... : )

One week has passed since I called out to the world, and I've gotten about 23 pledges (amounting up to P12,000 due to varying amounts of pledges) from people all over... some of whom i've lost contact with since highschool. Now it's a matter of getting to them one by one and doing the deeds (hmmm...)

It's an amazing experience to have people respond to you, saying they want to be part of your dream. And by asking them for a good deed request, they usually ask those which make me become part of their dreams as well... pray for this person, ideas for a project, deliver flowers there. There are even those who don't ask for a deed and just want to help me out. How touching (a little tear there...)

Plus there's that whole wonderful experience of getting in contact with people again. Ansaya.

Develop Promo Ideas for Brew Baker

2006-07-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the Walter Mart of E. Rodriguez is "Brew Baker", a newly-opened kiosk/coffee/bakeshop goodies store. The revel bars are particularly wonderful in the mouth... (insert all kinds of sounds depicting yumminess).

Tita Tess is the owner, founder, manager and over-all ruler of Brew Baker. She is also a pledgee for my dream, and her good deed is to come up with promo ideas for Brew Baker.

So far, I've got the following:
1. Strike an ex-deal with Walter Mart grocery (or other stores) to give Brew baker discount coupons to a) customers who fit a certain criteria (e.g. mommies shopping with a kid) or b) customers who bought something coffee or bakeshop-related (e.g. those who bought flour or sugar).
Plus points: Most people can't resist the idea of getting something cheaper. I myself find myself holding on to those damn mcdo coupons.
Challenges: getting the grocery store cashier to be consistent in sticking to the promo; calculating the discount to ensure net gain pa rin.

2. Designate a 'table of the day' at the end of the day (tutal, di na fresh ang pandesals). Give a bunch of pandesal for free to the "lucky people/person" who happen/s to be sitting in the lucky table amidst the other tables in the food court area.
Plus points: increases people's awareness of Brew Baker; builds up some good will (i think)
Challenges: Needs a certain amount of bibo-ness from the sales people to approach total strangers and suddenly offer them pandesal (or whatever other bakeshop product)

3. Gawing mas 'comfy' look ang kiosk so passerbys can feel all homey warm and fuzzy when they pass by the kiosk and feel compelled by a sudden burst of inspiration to buy bakeshop goodies for the family back home. Country table cloth, baking-goods aroma galore, cutesy drawings of kids on the boards. We're all victims of great packaging. hehe. Though, from what i understand, tita tess and martina are doing this already.
Plus points: Ganda ng lola mo..
Challenges: needs some monetary investments

4. Ask Walter Mart to increase the aircon, para ginawin ang tao at bumili sila na kape. hehe... this will probably not be taken seriously.

Obviously, these are still not brilliant enough ideas to wow tita tess. So am opening the floor for comments and other suggestions from anyone who would like to put their two centavos worth in.

Introducing Astrid, my cheerleader

2006-06-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

Before i go any further with my blogs, I'd like to introduce Astrid Tobias (far left in picture). Although this "dreams & deeds" method (if you will) was the original strategy of a certain Pia Faustino, it was Astrid who suggested that I do the same thing and blog for help and support. We were highschool-mates and are now working together in Kabataan News Network (hence producer Tin and host Atom are also in the picture).

So now that the help & support, pledges and deed requests are coming in... I'd like to thank Astrid for having the epiphany of suggesting it. Interestingly, she will be going to the Netherlands this September for her own education (3 month course at RNTC). I had made a fearless forecast that she would get in with scholarship, and I make another fearless forecast that she will have an excellent time.

Siempre, may sarili din siyang deed request and pledge... which i really really hope to fulfill and blog about in the future.

Pray for a certain someone

2006-06-23T05:03:00.000-07:00

Emanon (not his real name... request kasi for anonymity) asked me to pray for someone who is at a crossroad in his life, contemplating on single-blessedness and possibly being a man of the cloth. In this day and age where "what matters most" can sometimes be blurred by a drive for, er, other things, I admire anyone who even hears the spiritual call to begin with.

Many are called. Few are chosen.

I'm sure we've all been through that crossroad... and will probably find ourselves in another one again. And I'm sure we've felt the same anxiety... maybe even fear and anger at the situations and choices before us.

So, I'm praying for Emanon, for his personal enlightenment. A rosary every Wednesday. And I invite others who are willing to join as well. It's a free-for-all prayer fest.

In college, I was part of the UP Student Catholic Action. So I was happy when this deed came along because it has been a while since I'd been part of a community of prayer. It feels good to come back into the fold, more so because it's for someone else. Thank you. Do good. Live simply. Pray.

* Emanon is also the name of an all-male choir in Project 4. It spells "no name" backwards. Laaa lang...

Vir deed: What love can do

2006-06-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

My first good deed!! Be a cupid messenger. And it has something to do with Holland : ) i love coinkidinkies.

Vir is my friend. In college, we teased each other about how we became progressively chummier through the years. Now we are members of the coined "what love can do" club (long distance lovers unite!).

Vir "the changed man".

His deed was basically to make me his cupid delivery person since he's in the US. I would have to buy 2 shawarmas and one yellow tulip for his fiancee, Mia, and bring it to her at the school she teaches in. I bantered with vir saying that I kind of hoped the deeds wouldn't require me to spend more than the actual donation but he's reimbursing everything... so there you go! Aloy the messenger, I have become.

Bought 2 shawarmas, one yellow tulip (from Holland tulips... and yes, they have a painted cow in their store), navigated my way through the semi-chaotic roads of Makati and surprise delivered Mia. Turns out, Mia hates yellow tulips... haha. A lover's joke which I will not get into. I've done my good deed. And i played cupid. There's only love...

"Pag-ibig ay walang hanggan... at lilipad ang saranggola sa ulan"
- gary granada

Buy my Dream (Aloy edition)

2006-06-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

First of all, I got this idea from someone who wanted to join the World Youth Festival 2004 in Spain. She wanted so much to go to the Festival that she made a call out to the world to “buy this dream” in exchange for good deeds to be done (and posted in their name). Thanks Pia Faustino for this modern day bayanihan idea.

Having acknowledged that and freed myself from possible accusations, I guess I’m making a call out to my own circle of friends to help fund my own dream.

I have an opportunity to finally study for an MA in Development Studies in Holland starting September 2006. I’ve been involved with development work here in the Philippines for so long now and have felt that I still need to know and be much more... to do much more as well. And Holland,... well, most people who know me know that my heart is there, too (it has tulips and dutch boy : )

I was accepted for the program last school year, but of course, I didn’t have enough money. So I deferred my enrollment to give myself time to apply for a scholarship... Scholarship time came and unfortunately, I didn’t get it (sob).

So now, I’m on Plan C, taking a great leap of faith and daring to finance myself on whatever development worker wage I had been receiving all this time. Support from loved ones and family has of course humbled me into a big heap of walking gratitude. But I figured, I should at least be able to pay for my own plane ticket. Or have some extra money to ensure survival.

My dream for now is to hopefully get 100 people to fund me with P300 each by August 15, 2006. And in exchange, I commit to do a good deed which you request (here or in Holland)... and blog about it here (official blog is www.dreamsanddeeds.blogspot.com).

So for anyone who wants to join my dream, you can just contact me or email me or tell me and hug me in person when we see each other (I like hugs).
alodia.santos@gmail.com
+63917 3265188

An accompanying dream would be that there are enough dreamers out there who are idealistic enough to believe that one person doing good deeds may make a difference in the world and may be worth funding (a reason enough to separate from P300).

Ultimately, after several months, there would be 100 good deeds done, and one person who comes out of it armed with an MA to do more good deeds for development. And I dream that it would be me.

(A friend asked me if it was possible to refuse and how that would affect my relationship with my friends... haha... I’d like to think I’m not like that... and I prefer to treat it like one of my hosted parties where I text “Pot Luck”, few people do it, and everyone still gets to eat and have fun anyway)