time of darkness

May the light of justice shine in this time of darkness. We are truly sad. Justice for Cris!

playdate finger painting

Last Monday was a holiday and we were able to get together for a send off play date with my inaanak Buhay Banahaw son of Abi and Earl. They left the other day for New Jersey.

Here are some of the photos while the kids are having fun with the Nemo bubble machine and finger painting. The "paint" was home made by Nina. She used flour, food coloring and purified water to come up with the finger paints. There are no toxic materials used and safe for babies to play with.




Ooops!

Happy Birthday Tatay!

Tatay Amats, we thank God for you! We love you!

The measure of one's maturity is not ones age but how one deals with the challenges of life. You are very much beyond your years Tatay.

Youth Camp part 3

Danica holding a picture of a Dugong (sea cow) an endangered species which can be found in Palawan and Mindanao sea grass areas. When asked if they know Dugong, some said yes, asked where did they saw a dugong? "Sa marina po!" not at the pier but the old primetime series on tv "Marina". I learned alot from these kids as well. During the web of life exercise, we discussed about the relationship of mushrooms or "kabute" with the rain sa "ulan", one of the kids said, you can only harvest mushrooms after a rainshower with thunder. Asked why he knows this, Rodolfo told us that he helps his father gather mushrooms before, and they do it after the rain the next morning. We were inspired by the practical knowledge of these kids.

Later I asked tatay if he knows about it, he said "Remember in science class about nitrogen fixing bacteria"?

When asked what is the relationship of fish and the sun. "Pag nainitan po yung isda magiging daing!" hahahaha which is so true!
Maraming salamat sa Starbucks for sponsoring the food and miryenda for the youth camp. Salamat din sa Julie's na hindi papahuli sa sarap din ng kanilang mga padalang pagkain. Thank you so much. I've never tasted these pastries from Starbucks. After the kids had their fill, I wrapped a waffle for tatay. I was a bit sad that I wasn't able to share this day with him.
At the end of the day, Lakay volunteers, Lingkod servants and happy kids went home.

Youth Camp part 2

Meet the participants. These are indigent children are from the SIGLA Foundation. Part of Lingkod Alabang's community service, they helped sponsor and organized this outreach activity. These kids live in the smallest "barong-barong" in the south of Manila. These kids rarely have an opportunity to go on field trips or organized camps. I was really glad to see the genuine smiles on those faces. The way they enjoyed the games and ran around the trees. Their joy shined through and through even in the gloomy weather.

I honor those who have volunteered their time, energy, finances and service to help make this kids happy even for a day.

Youth Camp part I

Our dive monitoring schedule for the weekend was cancelled. But I feel great that I am able to join my mountaineer group UP Lakay Kalikasan in this year's Youth Camp!

Yesterday, friends old and new, together with other volunteers and servants trooped to Mt Makiling for the one day's activity in cooperation with Lingkod Alabang as co-organizers and Starbucks and Julie's as food sponsors for the event.

This is my first environmental education youth camp that is conducted only for one day. The previous 3 camps I helped organize in Palawan and Batangas were usually 3 to 4 days. All of them previously were coastal communities.

I was really excited to go back to my old campus at UPLB at the Jamboree site where we conducted the activity. Here, I would like to share some of beautiful images of the venue of the Youth Camp.

I feel so rejuvenated and blessed to be able to volunteer! I'll be sharing more about the kids and activities in the coming post!

sea stars

Bridge over Loboc River

This is the first time that I visited this hanging bridge over Loboc river. The river is as green as the trees which means it hasn't rained in the past few days. My earlier visits to this river the color of the water was always brown.

I didn't cross the bridge because I think I have a mild acrophobia. Yes, in the past I've crossed several hanging bridges specially those in Nueva Vizcaya but still sometimes it hits me.

What I did was to explore the riverbank where I found a farmer filling gray gallon containers of water. I also saw a carabao taking a bath at the other side of the riverbank.

When my friends got back from the other side they brought me a buko juice.

My Other Blog

I posted some of the seafoods at my other blog Pinay Mountain Chef.

Dumaluan Beach, Bohol

Dumaluan beach is located in the island of Panglao, Bohol. Last week, I was there for a mentoring workshop session. These pictures were taken on the public beach of Dumaluan. It was the exact description from Karen Capenter's...not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes. The sun and sea was beautiful! The sand as fine and soft as that of Boracay or maybe even better. This particular coastline is not as crowded as that of Bora or even Alona beach which is a few kilometers away in another barangay.

Imagine us on the eve of Aug 7th preparing our things and doing last minute prep work, it was raining cats and dogs in Quezon City. Shoes and clothes were soaked in the rains that hit Manila while doing last minute errands. I was a bit worried the night before. Our flight was at 6:50am August 8that the domestic airport. We were up by 4:00am. We took Cebu Pacific and our flight was delayed by an hour. Other flights were delayed or canceled like those by Asian Spirit to Busuanga. One cannot see through the rain as we grabbed the green umbrellas while we try to board the plane almost at 8:00am. The plane ride was not bumpy. After less than an hour we arrive at Tagbilaran City.

Lo and behold, the sun was shining!!! We had to shed off our fleece. It was such a blessing to be there at that time.

Two days after we arrived, we heard the news about typhoon Chedeng, the floods and school classed being canceled in the metro. Our partners in Bohol said, it is always like that in Bohol. When it is raining in Manila, chances are it is hot and humid in Bohol.

This is my 3rd visit to Bohol. My first was mid-1990's, circa 1993, then 2003 and this recent trip. Each trip was unique and memorable and I will be sharing the "then and now" as I blog about them in my future post. This is the first time I am visiting it with family. Indeed it is a joy to be able to spend time with them.

Will be posting more about this trip soon!

a universal moral law

A week or two ago, I was struck by a message from an ancient story. I think it was a Sunday in Claret IHMP that I was listening to the story of the good Samaritan. Amazed again at the power of a story which is not new. It distinctly pointed out the differences of the people involved as its core message. The power of the message doesn't seem to fade with the constant re-telling of the story. At the time that I was listening, I didn't realize how relevant it is indeed in the present. Yesterday, I was compelled to look up the historical context in which it was set. And I found this at Wikipedia.

It is important to note that Samaritans were despised by the story's target audience, the Jews. The Samaritans were also largely taught by their interpretation of history to hate Jews.^[1] Thus the parable, as told originally, had a significant theme of non-discrimination and interracial harmony. The message's essential point is that humanity's bonds in brotherhood transcend social and cognitive segmentations which we adopt in our lives.

Thus cast appropriately, the parable regains its socially explosive message to modern listeners: namely, that an individual of a social group they disapprove of can exhibit moral behaviour that is superior to individuals of the groups they approve; it also means that not sharing the same faith is no excuse to behave poorly, as there is a universal moral law. Many Christians have used it as an example of Christianity against racial prejudice. ^[5][6][7]

Luke 10:25-37 (New International Version)

its raining lets wear our pink boots

Last Sunday, after a long while, we had our playdate again. This time to celebrate Nina's birthday. It has been raining in the afternoon the past weeks. Also everyone is busy on many fronts. It was good to go back to UP again and have a play date. Syempre with lots of food. We arrived a bit late as Isay woke up past 3 pm from her nap.

It rained right after we got at the back of Quezon Hall. Thus the picture above of Hannah spinning her toys around. I love this picture of her in her pink rain boots and the umbrellas beside her. It was a bit gloomy day but it was bright in way because you are spending time with good friends.
Iba rin ang ganda ng grass kung umuulan. Ang presko ng pakiramdam. Happy Birthday Nina.

Reminded

I was a bit un-centered the past days. I want to write about many things and most especially about the blessings that continue to overflow my cup. But inspite of all these blessings, a void is forming. I am constantly aware to be thankful for the blessings. Indeed it helps to blog about it. But once in a while I find myself looking at my feet and not at the horizon so to speak. I've come to realize that our learning is life long. I forget that it is better to be more loving than correct. Then, with many questions in my mind lately, He answers my pondering with one of His promise below which I stumbled upon at On the Horizon:

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

“But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!

“And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

“For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

Luke 12:2-31

The picture of the water lily was taken along the path towards the house of Susan and Mike near Pui O Wan July 11, 2007.

living it up-- on the beach

About 3 kilometers from Moi Wu near the village of Pui O Wan is this public beach in Lantau Island. Can you imagine a beautiful beach like this can be Hong Kong? Indeed it is, and I thought I can really live here. Our Ninong and Ninang who are originally based in Palawan now lives a stone's throw away from this place. Now I understand why.

I love this pocketful of memories. This is the first time that Isay enjoyed playing and exploring the beach. She wanted to swim as she played with the on coming waves. She rolled on the sand. Feeling her way through the sand...there are more pictures but I can only post a few. We will look at it again and enjoy this moment together when she is a bit older.

We love the beach. Traveling together and exploring the world is one of our joys indeed. Thank God for these blessings.

Women and Ecology

Last week, I was at the Women and Ecology Wholeness Center in Mendez, Cavite. It was a great alternative place where we had our workshop. I believe it was very apt for a group of conservationists, environmentalists and fisher folk alike to have our training workshop. I've always loved spending time in a farm. I guess that is why I took up Agricultural Business in college is for that particular reason. I want to spend more time outdoors surrounded with plants specifically fruit trees. I love santol and sampaloc (tamarind). When I was young I thought, I don't want to spend my time inside an office. I want to be outdoors. I guess this led me to where I am now loving and taking care of the environment. It was great to find this place. I love the idea of women and ecology. I was happily surprised that it is a farm, a venue for meditation and retreat, and workshops like ours.

According to Sis Itty, the girl with the apron in the picture, the idea of women and ecology as the name of the place comes from the similarities of the two, both are oppressed. They are both treated by some the same way. With purple color in most of the rooms, I guessed that these are for activist women's group and yet, this very place is one of St. Scholastica's venues for their women's studies.

The place would not allow us to use any commercially made soap. Only biodegradable soap and shampoo can be used in the center. The reason is that they re-cycle the water use in the bathroom to water the plants. Commercially made soap contains things that can hurt plants. They also have a biogas where all the kitchen wastes and poop goes into an underground digester. They have some pigs to help produce more manure to help hasten the decomposition. No, the place doesn't smell. I was amazed that a place like this exists in Cavite indeed. They said the the old biogas model is cuter because it is above ground with several pools and the digester above ground where a person can actually help rotate. Then at the end pool there are plants and fishes just to illustrate that clean water can actually sustain life after the whole process. But since they encountered some problems, the past years they moved it underground. There is a shack where they illustrate that the biogas can actually generate gas used for cooking.

They also tried wind energy but since wind comes from all directions in Mendez and several storms had them picking up the blades everywhere, they took it down.

We had a short tour of the farm. It used to be an old coffee farm. But now it has a variety of crops which includes, string beans, corn, lettuce, and pechay. They also grow all the herbs you can think off. Cilantro, rosemary, tarragon and peppermint. I bought a small peppermint plant for P50 only. It survived the heat of travel in the van. Thank God it's alive.

We helped ourselves to santol. Sis Itty said they just give it away. Because the last time they sold it, its P8 per sack! Haay! can you imagine.

The food we had was great. All natural hand picked from the garden or fresh from the market. Junk food not allowed in the premises. We had brown rice all the time for all meals. it reminded me of Veda's comment "white rice, my favorite". More on that in another post. We had kutsinta and nilupak and turon for snacks. Then at meal time sinigang and lots of different vegetables. I also learned a new recipe--- pechay salad. Ang sarap sobra specially when it is organic hindi mapait. I will post the food items in my other blog Pinay Mountain chef.

Sulit is the proper word for it. For three complete meals and two snacks and lodging we only paid 700 pesos per participant per day. Great deal. The beds are soft and rooms clean. Although it was a shared bathroom, there were two in one floor. We are also encouraged to use a different slipper inside the rooms and function areas which they provided. I realized it is really different to use a slipper that is not yours even if you used it for 3 days. it doesnt feel right in a way. I guess the idea that the inside of the house is a sanctuary. It is also very Asian to remove one's footwear when going inside.

Indeed it was a good experience. Sad that I wasn't able to bring Tatay and Isay this time.

Ah yes, the roof and windows are designed that way to better collect water and for the air to go inside the rooms.

I want my own farm and garden filled with herbs. Haay.

the 3 photos above by Jane Continente. The Photo below by Daisy

Nalgene bottles

On our way to Disneyland

Big Buddha, Ngong Ping

The Tian Tan Buddha (Traditional Chinese: 天壇大佛) is a large bronze statue of the Buddha, located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. Also known as the Big Buddha, as it is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. The statue is located near Po Lin Monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion.
Source: Wikipedia.

It was our second day in HK. We took the train to Central MTR station and we existed near a walkway. We were instructed to just follow the walkway to the pier. We sort of lost our way but eventually found Pier 6. We took the 9:30 fast boat to Mui Wo ferry fare is about HK$22. The fast boat look exactly the the fast cats that ply Puerto Galera but since it was a weekday there were very few people on board. We used our "octopus card" for fares which deserves a whole blog entry. More on the octopus card in future post. The trip was a scenic ride towards Lantau Island.

We arrived in Mui Wo where we met Susan. We took a bus to Ngong Ping where the Po Lin Monestary and Big Buddha is located. We climbed the 268 step up to the Big Buddha. It was not as hard a climb as I expected. The area are lined with prayer flags of every color. It was a warm and humid morning. Underneath the statue is a circular museum with some illustrations depicting the life of Buddha. A small store where all proceeds go to maintenance of the site, I got this small jade dragon which I plan to give to Isay when she grows up to tell her about our trip there.

I wrote down this verse I read from the shrine:

May all beings have happiness, wisdom, good fortune and longevity--Tian Tan Buddha

Lantau Peak, Hongkong