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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Thanks MAY!

May had been an awesome month of surprises, friendship, travel, hope and love. 

Let me share with you my Top 6 MAYrific moments.


9th Parliament of Youth Leaders
National Youth Commission
Avenue Plaza Hotel

 
Fun
 
Work
 
 Love (#CHOS)



Siruma Gawad Kalinga Visit #1
Siruma, Camarines Sur
 
 
 

Spent two days of non-stop-work and walk in Siruma.
We are all eager for the Save Siruma Build.


Queen of Peace Birthday Outreach
Naga City


 
Nothing beats a day with friends and kids.
Thanks for this awesome day, Cheska!


Rotaract-Naga GK Summer Youth Camp
GK Balatas, Naga City

 
 
 

PAK! This word could sum up the passion and dedication
poured by the young ROTARCTS of the Rotary Club of Naga.


Orientation Seminar 2012
Kick-off to Magis
Ateneo de Naga University

 
 
 

My last ORSEM. Really starting to count my "LASTs" with Ateneo.
Saying goodbye to my CGC-family. Thanks for the 4 wonderful ORSEMS. Really happy to see our young volunteers step-up! :)


Save Siruma Build
Gawad Kalinga
Siruma, Camarines Sur

 
 
 
 

The most awesome event of May. Such an amazing event to see
real Filipino heroes working together to make the Philippines 
a country we all deserve. These people work together
to end poverty in the Philippines. 

My new blood type: GK+ (Gawad Kalinga positive)


Hope everyone had a blast this May.

We welcome June with arms wide open! 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Babangon ang Siruma, Babangon ang Pilipinas

Isang nakakabinging panawagan ang pumukaw saaming lahat. Dala-dala ang malalaking bag, pusong busog sa pagmamahal, sariling handang magtaya ng kahit na ano para sa iba at isang boteng tubig, kami ay tumungo sa Siruma, Camarines Sur. 
Paul, Dhang, JP, Dhang, Rommel, Neng and Mikmik
Buwis buhay na experience and dinaanan namin papuntang Siruma. 
Mas bonus pang hampas ng mga halaman at malakas na buhos ng ulan. 

Dalawang batang BAYANI. 
Walang pinipiling edad ang pagsisilbi at pagbabahagi sa iba. 

We spent two days to prepare for the activity. 
We divided our group so that we could maximize our energies. Pero syempre, expect the unexpected. 
Dami agad changes, troubleshoot dito, troubleshoot jan. Biyahe dito, biyahe doon.
Pero lahat di sumusuko. Watching my KUYA's and ATE's work to make everything okay
is so moving. Sa isang newbie na katulad ko, nakaka-inspire yun.


Gawad Kalinga Volunteers work as if it's their first build, as if it's their first travel, as if lahat first.
Ibang klase ang energy level na galing sa puso, hindi nauubos, hindi nakakasawa.  

Tumulo ang mga pawis at luha habang tulong-tulong naming hinahanapan ng solusyon ang konting mga 
challenges na dumating.   

Isang mahapding kurot sa puso ang yakapin ang problema ng mga kababayan natin, pero lahat naman ay nasusulusyunan. Lahat naman ay nahahanapan ng paraan. 

Yun na nga, parang ang bilis ng araw at Day 0 na ng
 Save Siruma Build. 
We welcomed more or less 200 KBs and Volunteers from different Gawad Kalinga Villages of Cam.Sur.


Lahat hindi paawat na tumulong at magbahagi para sa iba. Katulad ng dinaan namin, hindi naging madali ang biyahe ng mga volunteers papuntang Siruma. 

Sinalubong sila ng malalaking alon, napakainit na araw at kumakalam na sikmura.
Mahirap, napakahirap, pero lahat ay nagsakripisyo upang matupad ang misyon na muling ibangon ang Siruma.

Sinalubong kaming lahat ng napakagandang tanawin. Indeed, the Philippines is the most beautiful place in the world.
(Taas bangko award ako sa statement na yan), pero totoo naman :)


San Miguel Bay


Pacific Ocean 

But more than this beautiful view is the reality that in the middle of this paradise, there are Filipino families who are in need of our help and assistance. 




Totoo, minsang mawawalan tayo ng gana na 
titigan ang mga ganitong pangyayari.
Sira-sirang bahay, komunidad na walang tubig at kuryente. 

Ngunit, patuloy na magbibigay ng pag-asa ang bawat isa saatin.

Napakagandang titigan na sa likod ng mga problema ng kahirapan, 
may mga taong handang magtaya ng sarili sa iba at sa bayan.

Sabi nga ng isang KB: "Tumutulong ako ngayon, kasi noon, ako naman yung tinulungan". Yun yun. 

Sino ang nagsabing hindi na uso ang BAYANIHAN?
Iba't ibang lugar ngunit iisang PUSO. Tunay kayong mga BAYANING PILIPINO.
Babangon ang Pilipinas. Ngayon na!



Lahat ng pawis na tumutulo ay galing saaming mga puso. - Patrick, GK Balatas

Lahat ay may mga ngiti sa mga labi, ang Siruma ay
napuno ng mga maliligaya at mapagmahal na puso, lahat sila'y tunay na BAYANING PILIPINO.

Hindi natapos ang lahat sa paggawa ng bahay.



Kasama ang mga bata, lahat ng mga GK Volunteers ay sumigaw:
Gawad Kalinga - Isang Milyong Bayani.
Isang Milyong Bayani - Walang Iwanan!

Ang boses ng mga batang ito ay parang gasolinang nagpaalab pa lalo sa apoy saaming mga puso. Lahat ay ginanahang magtrabaho. 

Habang nagpipinta, sinabi ko saaking sarili: I'm painting this house not for myself but for these kids. Sabi nila, kulang na ang oras, pero ano ba ang imposible kung tayong lahat ay magtutulungan?




Patuloy tayo sa paggawa ng mga komunidad ng pagkakaisa.

Gawad Kalinga is re-empowering and re-building the Philippines, one house, one community at a time.

Sa bawat pukpok ng pako, sa bawat halo ng simento, sa bawat hallow block na pasan, isang pamilyang Pilipino ang tinutulungan na makaahon sa kahirapan. 

The whole activity was ended by a boodle fight.
Ito ang pinaka-masarap na kainan na napuntahan ko. Para saakin mas mahalaga pa ito sa kainan sa isang magarang restaurant.
Dito ang mga kasama mo ay mga tunay na tao, dito ang mga kasama mo ay mga tunay na bayani.



Found a home in Gawad Kalinga. 
Sana'y patuloy tayong maging bukas sa mga panawagan ng Panginoon 
para magsilbi.

Sa kahit na anong paraan, sa kahit saang lugar, sa kahit na anong pangyayari, ang puso ng isang mapagmahal na Pilipino ang iiral.

Patuloy akong maniniwala na babangon ang Siruma, 
BABANGON ang Pilipinas.






Photos:
Dhang Tecson, Gawad Kalinga
Paul Tamisin Garcia, Gawad Kalinga
Leah Patrocinio-Dizon, GK - Bongliw





Sunday, May 20, 2012

GANDS

Hello friends,

For the past days, I've been writing about how happy I am being part of this awesome group called Gawad Kalinga, for the past days, I've been also very busy roaming around the province to visit different sites as an intern while trying to write my thesis. These activities resulted to "me not being with you most of the time".

Few notes:

You know that behind my craziness, my immaturity, my insecurities, my lapses, my failures is the heart to really be of help to others. You know that this heart could compromise a lot.


You know me more than anyone else.
You know that I could not eat doughnut and sago't gulaman. You know that I cry most of time to weird circumstances, occasions, tv shows and celebrity funerals.
 
You know that I easily fall in love and I easily give up, but when the universe conspired and cupid whispered that he is "the one" - I pour everything, not leaving anything for me. "You know that when the heart breaks, it don't breaks even" (kanta?). Nah, you know that when I say that I'm sad - I'm really sad.


You know my secrets, my stories, my dreams and aspirations. I'm like an open book to most of you. This book is openly shared to everyone, without hesitation, without barriers. Accomplishments, failures - all of them I share to you. I'm happy that most of you appreciates what I'm doing. Know that your positive comments are happily embraced. (I get these more from you than from my family - dumadrama?) HAHAHA

I may have been featured in a national news paper, in television, been awarded by so many organizations, been invited by a lot of local and international groups to give a talk. Yes, I may have achieved all of those but you know that I never changed, I'm still that one you usually call (buto't balat dumudurat) HAHAHA - RAFFY. I still love going to our hiding place (water HAY-cinth sabi nga ni Rossy), love drinking wintermelon tea at Moonleaf, love walking around the city, love eating at Karlo's, love telling stories and jokes, love "availing" your frreebies, love listening to your sermons when I committed something stupid, love going to Magarao to "you know", love traveling with you (beaches, resorts, bars), love sleeping in your house, love playing cards until sunshine corazon arrives, love laughing for some crazy reasons. Know that I love being with all of you. OHA! Quota na!
 



More than the apologies, I would like to say thank you for being so understanding and patient. I know that I could really be crazy at times, but all of you still patiently stood by me and give guidance, all the way. During times of misunderstanding you would help me realize the things that I should "realize". You are all my Ate's and Kuya's. I just could not ask for more.

It has been years of laughter and tears. Know that even if I could not be with you most of the time (unlike those days, when we were all like conjoined twins which could hardly be separated), I still think of you. I'm bringing with me your smile and love. I've been so blessed by God. You've been an awesome company, friend and family.


Bibit - Keep on dreaming, keep on believing! Time now to follow your heart. I pray that God gives you the right person (no complications, just LOVE). Thanks for being my eldest brother :)


Ryan - I'm happy that you're now doing the things that you really want to do, I'm inspired by your dedication as a teacher. Keep it up, Kuya! All the way na yan to being a Dean. Naks!

Mac -  Your vocation as a nurse is really moving. Your passion and commitment when it comes to loving the person you really love is immeasurable.  

Dave - Happy that you're now setting goals for yourself and family. You've been an awesome brother to your siblings, an awesome son to your parents and a very loyal friend. 

Marlon - Our Travel Queen. Your enthusiasm to explore and to travel is really contagious. Keep on enjoying life and keep on traveling! I think you'll be the next DOT Secretary! :)
 

Ralph - My EX boyfriend. Charooo! Know that you'll always be special. Your very positive outlook in life drives us to live a life full of "youthfulness". Keep on making the group young and fresh, tugang! 
 

Oskie - You've been a very good friend to me and my family. Thanks for being there thru my ups and downs, you've been an awesome confidant and HOHOL-buddy. Indeed, stories are gift!
 
Bibang - I consider you my most "precise" friend. If you plan something it should be followed. Thanks for giving us more reasons to stay fit, to use (more-buetey) gee,I don't know how to spell it correctly (sounds like naman. Follow your heart, Bibs! 

Cuya - Hey girl! Thanks for always being there for us. It's more fun in Iriga because of you. There's no dull moments when I'm with you.


Rossy - Our baby girl na hindi halata. Thank you for updating our dictionary. Charooo! Seriously, you bring joy to all of us. May you remain positive and vibrant. 
 

Dad - Thanks for everything. For the love, for the support and for the guidance. Thanks for being a father, know that it means a lot to me. Words will never be enough, you that! :)


Sir Rico -  Your motherly/fatherly pieces of advise have been always important to all of us. Your songs, jokes and witty lines are the best. You are the living statement that "beauty never fades" OHA! :)

Thanks GANDS for everything. All of these I share to you.
Being with all of you is a reminder that God really gives the best to all of us!