An eye-opener and an immediate call not only to save Ilog Pasig but to save the world, PhilPop, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), and National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) have teamed up for this two-day Mini Bootcamp of Taga-Alog, which includes a songwriting workshop that aims to promote Ilog Pasig as a center of cultural narrative and heritage, as well as raise awareness for the rehabilitation efforts of the river through a creative advocacy in music.

This is perhaps one of the clearest languages not only to one's ears but also to the innermost, deep inside the heart. Being part of the observer of the Mini Bootcamp it is a privilege to learn from three of the best songwriters in the country, Noel Cabangon, Trina Belamide, and Jungee Marcelo. I have not only learned the construction of music but also learned some of the processes on how to create and come up with inspiring and moving songs.  Of course, there is also the learnings about the current stage of our environment based on the talks from DENR and Maynilad reps.

So, how did the songwriting went? Well, as mentioned it is advocacy and it is led by the three acclaimed and award-winning songwriters/ professionals in the music industry, Noel Cabangon, Trina Belamide, and Jungee Marcelo. The Mini Bootcamp is joined by upcoming composers and songwriters who have shown immense promise in writing the next big anthem for the environment.

After the success of TampisAwit last year, PETA and NCCA have expanded the mentorship program for budding songwriters and composers by tapping PhilPop to come up with a more comprehensive syllabus that put emphasis on Songwriting for Advocacy.

During the camp activities, coaches gave some short talks about song composition in which participants were very much attentive, as I am also. Right after they were given some activities to test creativity. Then it was followed by a short presentation.

"This time, we're not only imparting techniques to improve their craft," that's according to Taga-Alog Mini Bootcamp 2019 Chairman Noel Cabangon. He also added, "It is also our responsibility to prepare them in the real world, and help them pitch advocacy concepts that are geared toward creative ways to build awareness on various environmental causes. As musicians, we are more than just entertainers; we can change the world with our art."


The two-day songwriting workshop and competition culminated with the performance of the top 5 finalists and the announcement of the top 3songs. The first winner was given a grant for the official recording and promotions during the entire Taga-Alog campaign for 2019.

The winners are

1st Place - Suzanne Samson / “Ilog Pasig Laban”
2nd Place - Gerard de Leon & Rica Francisco / “Bangon, Ilog”
3rd Place - Randy Pusing / “Kayang-kaya”

The Comedy Queen, Ai Ai Delas Alas, known for her tanga outfit whenever she performs might go a little bit wholesome as she conducts a benefit concert this coming June 24, 2019. Details of the concert is yet to confirm but it was assured that it's going to be filled with great performances.

It's not always funny antics and work for the Comedy Queen, knowing Ms Ai Ai, she will help whenever she can, specially for the church. That's a 100% sure. I think she believes that sharing your blessings is the right thing to do and will bring back ten folds. Probably that's one of her advocacy.

Speaking of advocacy, Ms Ai Ai pushes her service as she also head the team inviting other performers to join the Benefit Concert for the Kristong Hari Church which will on June 24 at Araneta Coliseum. One of her brand endorsement, Hobe Quick Cook Noodles, supports her on this project.


Kristong Hari is one of the old churches along Commonwealth Ave. Right before St. Peter Church was built, Kristong Hari was one of the nearest local churches in the vicinity of Commowealth Ave. The sunctuary where many of the Catholics go to listen for mass.

Keep posted for more details to come on this benefit concert.

It seems that mosquito does has the habit of carrying diseases with them and unfortunately, with the number of species that they the more types of diseases will be infecting humans and animals. One type of diseases that are carried by the mosquito is called the Japanese Encephalitis which is viral and commonly affects the children.

When I heard about this I was at thought because I didn't know that aside from dengue and malaria there are other diseases that are caused and transferred by the mosquito. And knowing what it can do to children or human perse is alarming. It's great that there are groups and organizations that pushes the awareness of such health issues and sharing the idea of how to address these kind of problem.

Here's an information shared and given out by the doctors and experts during the media briefing held at Dusit Thani Hotel.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Transmitted by the mosquito vector Culextritaeniorhynchus, the virus can cause inflammation of the brain, leading to high fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures, spastic paralysis, and coma. It could also mimic a stroke, as was the case reported in Davao during the second half of 2016. There is no specific treatment for this disease. JE is fatal in 20 to 30% of cases and among those who survive, 30 to 50% suffer from permanent disabilities.
Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) have estimated that there are currently 3 billion people at risk for JE, living in JE-prone areas, including 24 countries in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions. JE usually occurs in rural and agricultural areas, however, an epidemiologic study conducted by Dr. Anna Lena Lopez of the National Institute of Health (NIH) published in 2015, showed that the virus circulates in all regions of the Philippines, including urban areas like Metro Manila, constituting a significant public health burden.  The study showed that although majority of cases occur in children younger than 15 years of age, adults remain at risk, with 15% of cases occurring in individuals older than 18 years. In tropical areas, disease can occur year-round. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau surveillance system revealed that for 2016, among 875 acute meningitis-encephalitis suspected cases reported as of August 2016, 119 (14%) were laboratory-confirmed for JE.

As part of the government’s strategy to reduce mosquito-borne diseases, the 4S program was implemented several years back. 4S stands for: Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, use Self-protection measures, Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than 2 days, and Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak. However, mosquito-borne diseases are still on the rise. According to the WHO, the most effective way of reducing disease burden is vaccination against the illness. The WHO cites that there is clear evidence demonstrating the impact JE vaccination has on disease burden in a population. Hence, the WHO has recommended that JE vaccination be integrated into national immunization schedules in all areas where JE is recognized as a public health problem.

The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has reviewed data on the different types of JE vaccines (inactivated and live attenuated vaccines) and has found them to have acceptable safety profiles. Local scientific bodies, including the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP), have recommended that JE vaccination be given as a single primary dose for those 9 months old and above. For individuals less than 18 years of age, this should be followed by a booster dose 1 to 2 years after. Other preventive strategies for disease control include bed nets, repellents, long-sleeved clothes, coils, vaporizers and mosquito control measures.
About the Vaccine, The JE-chimeric vaccine, a live attenuated recombinant vaccine, was first licensed in the Philippines in 2013. The vaccine is produced by Vero cell culture, a cell culture technology recommended by WHO. It is the only JE vaccine available locally and is approved for use for individuals 9 months old and above, with high immunogenicity rates.

Mommies we need to be vigilant nowadays, that mosquito-borne diseases give us scary feeling for our kids. I hope this kind of information give you an enlightenment about JE just like me.  Do follow all the required vaccine for your babies.

In history, myths does have its origin, but in medicine,myths are beliefs that need to be debug because if not life may lead to terminal illnesses or even death. We, Filipinos have so many beliefs that more often we tend to take it lightly and not considers any preventive measures. Sometimes we shrug our shoulders and says 'it was nothing'. Yes, that was nothing for now but eventually will grow something that is irreversible.

One of today's feared life taker is cancer and one of the fast growing in number is the persons with what you call of a terminal cancer, Colon Cancer. In a more scientific term it is called the colorectal disease or commonly known as Colon Cancer. Silent as they are with the symptoms type of cancer is also a silent killer.

A few days ago, the Philippine Society of Enterologist with their sponsor Westmont, a division of Unilab, conducted a media briefing regarding their advocacy, which is the Colon Cancer Awareness and also the upcoming Cancer Awareness month.
The main thrust of the organization is to make a noise regarding Colon Cancer, the myths people believed about it, and the initiative in calling the attention of the government to have every Filipino citizens above 50 years old to be screened. According to DR. FREDERICK DY, Gastronintestinal oncologist and a leading expert in endoscopy, "Colorectal cancer has certainly become a real concern in the Philippines. The growing number of incidence and mortality worldwide have put the disease as the third most common type of cancer for both men and women, after lung and breast cancers."

According to the recent statistics of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) foremost cancer research and statistics project, GLOBOCAN, there were 4,901 deaths of the 8,553 incidences of colorectal cancer in the Philippines in 2012, which means that more than half of those diagnosed have died from the disease.

It is unfortunate that the level of awareness about colorectal cancer here in the Philippines is much lower than that for other types of cancer such as breasts or lungs. Doctors also find difficulty in urging patients to adopt lifestyle changes for the prevention if colorectal cancer. The earlier the better it is prevented.
“Colorectal cancer us influenced by both modifiable and non-modifiable risks, one of which is lifestyle and diet. But as a lifestyle illness, it is also asymptomatic (displaying no symptoms) is the initial stage,” Dr. Dy says.

As what Dr. Dy mentioned, modifiable risk factors are those that can be changed like obesity, cigarette smoking, alcoholic beverage intake, physical inactivity and increased consumption of red meat. A diet rich in animal fat generally increases risk, while eating food rich in fiber and calcium may possible reduce the risk.

Aside from the modifiable risk factors there are also the non-modifiable risks factor in colorectal cancer. Some of these non-modifiable are the gender, age, and family history. According to Dr. Dy these are factors that cannot be altered. These factors are inherent in a person like the family history of the disease and gender.

With the increase in incidences, colon cancer is now among the deadliest, and recent data show that it's not slowing down either.

"Colon cancer doesn't begin as cancer immediately; it starts with pre-malignant precursors called polyps. If left attended, these polyps grow over time, eventually becoming cancer. For young people, the risk is low, but they are not immune to it. We have young adults developing colorectal cancer. The occurrence is generally uncommon, but if someone has symptoms referable to colorectal cancer, no matter the age, they need to see their doctor or better if they consult a gastroenterologist. Most of colorectal cancer occurs sporadically but some have a strong genetic background. There are also genetic syndromes that also develop a significant number of polyps at a younger age," said Dy.
As to what is always said "prevention is the best medicine" and for the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology, they are aiming to inform every Filipino about colon cancer and encourages everyone to have themselves be screened, most especially and a must are those people ages 50 and up. It is preventable all is needed is the cooperation of every Filipino and of course through the help of the government and every individual.

So, for the Colon Cancer Awareness month which will happen this March, let us all be aware and be responsive to the call.

For people in need 10 pesos goes a long long way and for children who wants to go to school this is enough to help them and make their dreams come true. This is what made the people behind HEROES PROJECT come up with. All are considered heroes as we all unite to bring deserving scholars to school for just only spending Php10 and texting HEROES to 3456.

Okay since we learned about Earth Hour we never missed the day. We have been participating every year may it be in an organized event or just in our plain house with the lights off and only a candle light can be seen.

On March 28, 2015, Saturday at exactly 8:30 PM let us all participate in making a change by turning our lights off for an hour which can make a difference. Let us all Change Climate Change!

Saving Mother Earth a is serious task. We may not have big funds or an armada to command but what matters is that our small deeds is greater when two or more individual made a pact to do their share of saving the environment. We're all runners in this call! As part of the celebration and call PRO Earth Run 2015 is initiated.

It's to get healthy and at the same time made an act to save the environment.

In its Global Climate Risk Index 2015, Germanwatch listed the Philippines as one of the countries most affected by extreme weather events in 2013.

Here in Kwento Ni Toto, stories come from different events, adventures, brands and advocacy.  Whether it is for young ones, for teens, for yuppies or even for adults.  Kwento Ni Toto shares the stories to the public to inform and impart knowledge to present readers and potential readers.

For this particular post it is just right to give a head start that this blog post include terms that may be rarely heard or used by the public, particularly the young ones and the teens.  But for the sake of sharing knowledge and information it is just right that this campaign or advocacy should be heard as well.  Just a caution comprehension requires an adult or adult mind.

Kwento Ni Toto is in one with the call of WWF in saving the world and the environment as we participate and support today's Earth Hour activity.  After it was started eight years ago the number of people and countries participating are growing every year and today let us grow more to continuously save the planet.   An hour of saving energy can help a lot!

Tonight don't forget to turn off your lights and electricity at 8:30 PM.

Kwento Ni Toto brings back Domex's call to fight bacteria and germs.  Yup we're bringing back the call and this time it's the Call to One Million Clean Toilets.  Though last year was the actual day of celebrating the World Toilet Day, this instance is the press conference of Domex's launch for the Call to One Million Clean Toilets.  One of Kwento Ni Toto's correspondent joins the media as big shots of the advocacy voice out their call to share and let the advocacy be heard online and offline.


The One Million clean Toilets Movement aims to encourage a culture of cleanliness by increasing the public's awareness on the importance of maintaining proper toilet sanitation through a series of year-long cleaning and education initiatives, starting with a multi-sector partnership with UNICEF, the Philippine Public Health Association, the city of Manila and Pilipinas Shell.

The Global Handwashing Day reminds us of keeping ourselves to be clean and healthy.  Making the habit of handwashing keeps us away from sickness and other diseases.  

Last mid of October, Unilever Philippines lead the celebration of the Global Handwashing Day here in the Philippines.   Themed as "Pledge Hands to Save Lives" they had the kick off at Aurora Quezon Elementary School in San Andres, Manila.  Joining the celebration was students and teachers of the said school together with some dignitaries like Manila Councilor Roland Valeriano and celebrities like Unilever soap endorser Vicky Morales and reigning Bb. Pilipinas – Universe Arielle Arida who pledge their hands to save lives.  This is Unilever Philippines' way of continuing their commitment to help improve a billion better lives worldwide by 2020, and ultimately uplifting the lives of Filipinos everyday.

Kwento Ni Toto will be participating this coming October 6, 2013 in a prestigious and well known advocacy call of ABS-CBN Foundation's Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) together with the Regional Network Group (RNG) and The Filipino Channel (TFC) as they asked the people once more to heed the call of saving the environment.  Hoping for thousands of participants ABS-CBN's "One Run, One Philippines" will proceed with their plan and prayerfully nothing will go wrong.

ABS_CBN Foundation's Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) together with Regional Network Group (RNG) and The Filipino Channel (TFC) will commence the "One Run, One Philippines will invade Quezon City, Cebu City, Bacolod City, Davao City, and Los Angeles (USA) to clamor for the protection of different environmental advocacies.

As usual encourages participants to be mindful of the cleanliness and orderliness. The Quezon City leg or the fifth "Run for the Pasig River" will be held at Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) with 6:00 AM gunstart for both 3k and 5k categories.  I just hope that this time I will be able to join the fun run.  If it will pursue this will be my first ever fun run.   The said run will have its starting line at Technohub overpass straight along Commonwealth Avenue then head to QMC for the finish line.

Of course, preparation will be made for this event in which they will close portions of the Commonwealth avenue for the runners but will still have lanes for the vehicles.  There will also be parking zones located at Philcoa, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, sugar Regulatory Commission, Trinoma, Wildlife, Quezon City Hall, National Housing Authority, and side streets of University Avenue, Visayas Avenue, North Ave, Quezon Avenue, East Avenue and Kalayaan Avenue.

This coming Saturday, March 23, 2013 Kwento Ni Toto will be joining the call to save Mother Earth.  We'll be going beyond the 60 minutes energy conservation.

You too can join and participate with the call right into your houses or places.  Let us all support Earth Hour and save the world.

Event covered by Jefferson Montas aka Justin.

The ABS-CBN Foundation's Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) will be staging it s fourth advocacy run to clamor for cleaner rivers and esteros in Metro Manila via "09,30.2012 Run for the Pasig River" to be held in Quezon City on September 30, 2012.

After the success of last year's 11.20.2011 Run for the Pasig River, KBPIP is again urging groups and individuals to join the eco foot-race, which will help raise awareness and funds for the rehabilitation of the waterways of Quezon City-San Juan-Mandaluyong-Makati.

There will be three major event categories for the advocacy run: the 15K Ride & Roll with 4:00 a.m. gunstart; the 15K Commonwealth Challenge Run with 4:10 a.m. gunstart; and the 5K Morning Madness Run with 6:00 a.m. gunstart.  This time, there will be one starting line in the Quezon City Memorial Circle (QCMC) going straight to Commonwealth Avenue then back again to QCMC for the finish.

ABS-CBN Foundation's Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig has a track-record of organizing three successful runs for the Pasig River.  The 2009 Philippine International Marathon: A Run for the Pasig River, which had an estimated 23,000 participants, helped fund the inital phase of rehabilitation of Estero de Paco, a 2.9-kilometer tributary of the Pasig River in Manila.

The historic 10.10.10 Run for the Pasig River, meanwhile, broke the Guinness World Record for the "most participants in a racing event" with 116,087 runners.  It helped rehabilitate the second phase of the Estero de Paco clean-up.

Last year's 11.20.2011 Run for the Pasig River was the largest foot race joined by 86,547 runners, are currently being used to rehabilitate Estero de San Miguel and foru other esteros behind the Malacanang Palace.

KBPIP's seven-year rehabilitation program involves cleaning up all the esteros that drain into the Pasig River in order to thoroughly clean it.  To date, the project has resettled 1,216 families to Calauan, Laguna, introduced remediation technologies for water quality improvement, trained community volunteers for the River Warriors program and shared sound waste management practices with communities.

The 10.10.10 Run for the Pasig River won a Bronze anvil and an Award of Excellence at the 45th Anvil Awards given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, while the Estero de Paco clean-up earned an Award of Merit from the 2012 Philippine Quill Awards given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

Registration for the 09.30.2012 Run for the Pasig River opened on July 16, 2012 in SM North EDSA, 2nd Floor Cinema C Lobby (near IMAX Theater) and on July 20 in SM Megamall, Lower Ground Level, Building A (near The Event Center and Food Court) and SM Mall of Asia, Ground Floor Main Mall (near Music hall and SM Bowling Center).  Aside from the registration, there will also be merchandise available in the booths, in which part of the proceeds will also go to river rehab.  For updates on this advocacy run, visit www.runforthepasigriver.com.

Recently, I was able to get invited in an event regarding the launch of FILA and Athletes in Action (AIA) Schools Run for School Rooms.  It is an advocacy program which aims to take part in solving the nation's greater woes.  The two organization join forces to bring the biggest advocacy run to help raise funds for the rehabilitation of the classrooms in Iligan City, which were badly hit by Typhoon Sendong back in 2011.  




Numbers of bloggers were present during the event to witness and learn about the programs and undertakings of FILA and Athletes in Action, especially with this project that they are all involve with.  Hosted by one of the endorser Mr Tim Yap and together with the coaches and people behind the advocacy run, they were able to address to the bloggers the need and the importance of this upcoming event.  This run will not only benefit the schools and students of Iligan City but will also benefit the runners as well, physically!    




With 15,000 runners who have signed up to date and still expecting for more, the Schools Run for School Rooms (SRSR) marathon will be gathering student-runners from major colleges and universities, to bring a glimmer of hope to Iligan city, where eager students have to do with makeshift classrooms as the school year starts.

With just a few weeks of the the event hopefully people get to notice and participate in the run and try to share the blessings.


Since 1911, FILA traces its roots from Biella, a province set at the foot of the Italian Alps. Unbeknownst to many, this small town brand is big on corporate social responsibility. At the recently concluded 2012 FILA Polo Cup, project “500 for 500” was launched by FILA President Butch Albert to help Typhoon Sendong victims once again by donating 500 pesos to 500 families for every purchase of Skele-Toes. Skele-Toes is FILA’s latest line of revolutionary active footwear that is fast raising many eyebrows and causing the curious to utter #whattheheckisthat? For us at FILA, it’s simply a shoe that changes the game. Rock at the gym or at the party, Skele-Toes is just about the only shoe that fits – and Tim, Georgina, and Borgy all agree!

Since people will be running on this advocacy run it is high time that people should try FILA's  newest line of running shoes, Swerve and Flow. FILA Swerve boasts of a Dynamic Landing System through a lightweight foam at the midsole and V3 techonology inserts at the heel. This gives you the proper support that you need in every step, without compromising style and design.


FILA Flow is perfect for the outdoor dweller with its heavy duty outsole, making every shock and bump a breeze. This one will surely go with you to countless victories and finishes.

Whether you prefer a classic or a rocking pair of rubbershoes, it’s high time to give your tiresome trainers a break and take the Skele-Toes, Swerve, or Flow out for a spin. With your purchase of a pair of Skele-Toes and participation at the SRSR marathon, it’s definitely more fun to help with FILA!

Tickets and registration forms are available at SM Ticketnet outlets (https://www.smtickets.com/event/view/776). Singlets and race bibs can be claimed at Fila Stores in Metro Manila.

For exclusive updates, follow us on Twitter (@filamanila) or be a fan on Facebook (FILAPhilippines).

Anna’s passion for the environment blossomed with her first child in 2005. Together with her husband, Dylan, the successful British multi-millionaire who gave up his fast cars and wealthy lifestyle in England to work for the poor in the Philippines, the couple decided to use cloth diapers after reading that it takes 500 years for disposable diapers to biodegrade and that many of the chemicals in them are toxic. Anna struggled with the decision (especially when washing squishy nappies!) but initial reluctance became a conviction that their inconvenience was a small price to pay for their kids to know a world that is still intact and beautiful. Their desire to live a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle extended to the products they used on their children and themselves, opting for fewer chemicals and less stuff in general, resulting in less waste and a smaller carbon footprint.

Camille, on the other hand was already experimenting with cosmetics as early as elementary school! She eventually became a freelance make-up artist and joined a cosmetics company after college. However, her longing to merge her passion for cosmetics and her conscience to help the country was still waiting to be fulfilled. 

Anna and Dylan spent a year in the US between July 2007 and June 2008, where Dylan was setting up a network of volunteers for Gawad Kalinga. Whilst in the US, Anna observed a growing trend of natural and ethical products penetrating the mainstream market, making them more accessible to ordinary Americans instead of just being products for the wealthy and the elite. They were now present in supermarkets and drug stores at more affordable prices. She wondered whether this phenomenon could be replicated in the Philippines. Were Americans the only people who could have the privilege of enjoying a healthier lifestyle and saving the environment? 

Camille joined the couple halfway through their US assignment. Soon the sisters started doing more research on how to bring affordable, natural products to the Philippines, work that they continued even after coming home to the country. Their persistence finally paid off and the Human Nature brand was born. 

Human Nature was launched in November 2008. Today, it has become the country’s leading and trail-blazing social enterprise, hailed by Entrepreneur magazine as “the game-changer of the decade,” and studied as a successful working model for a social enterprise by students at Berkley University, California and Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. It has sold almost 3 million products through its network of16,000 dealers and its 19 branches all over the country. This year, it started selling its mineral makeup line Love Minerals at Beauty Bar, the only Filipino cosmetics brand carried by the premiere personal care chain. A selection of Human Nature’s best-selling products is available at Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise. Human Nature is also distributed in the US and Singapore, with more plans of expansion on the way. 

Human Nature employs Gawad Kalinga residents as part of its full-time staff and has started work on a Human Nature Organic Demo Farm at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. Guided by the principles of being PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR and PRO-ENVIRONMENT, the company continues to strive to provide prosperity to the Philippines through successful and sustainable social enterprise and quality natural products for all Filipinos. 

Philosophy 

Gandang Kalikasan, Inc., the company that brings you the Human Nature range of natural personal care and beauty products is founded on three core principles of being PRO-PHILIPPINES, PRO-POOR, & PRO-ENVIRONMENT. 

PRO-POOR
From the beginning, the company was set up with the goal of providing more livelihood to Gawad Kalinga residents and communities. The dream is to set up GK communities as globally certified organic farms which can produce world-class raw materials for Human Nature products. Work has already started on the very first Human Nature GK Organic Farm in Bulacan in partnership with NGOs that specialize in organic farming and processing. As firm believers in fair trade principles, Human Nature buys raw materials from its community-based suppliers at fair trade prices, and sometimes even above market prices if the market price is not enough to provide a good quality of life for the farmers. 

The company employs GK residents from nearby communities in Quezon City and provides a fair living wage which is much more than the minimum wage required by law. It also provides warehouse staff with full benefits and overtime pay in order to promote dignity of work. 

PRO-PHILIPPINES
Human Nature products are 100% made in the Philippines. It sources as many raw materials as possible from the Philippines and will only import if there is no local availability. All too often, multinational companies (or even Philippine-owned ones) will source their products and raw materials abroad if the price is cheaper by even a few centavos, costing Philippine jobs and sending that money out of the local economy forever. Human Nature wants to invest in Philippine-made products because it believes in the country and its people. 

During the product development stage, potential raw materials are evaluated based on two criteria: Can the plant/herb/raw material be sourced locally? If not, can it eventually be grown in the Philippines so that the company can find ways to start an industry producing it? Only when an ingredient meets these qualifications is it used. For example, Tea Tree Oil is a very popular ingredient but it can't be grown in the Philippines so it is not used in Human Nature’s formulations. Lemongrass is widely grown and produced in the Philippines so it is in many Human Nature products and the company continues to seek ways to use it. 

Human Nature believes that Filipinos can produce world-class finished goods. Other countries have reached prosperity by buying raw materials cheaply from poor countries and turning them into expensive finished goods. Think of Switzerland – they produce some of the finest chocolate in the world, yet not a single cocoa bean grows naturally in Switzerland. They buy cocoa from around the world, turn it into chocolate and sell it back to the country that grew it for many times the price! The only way for the Philippines to become prosperous is for it to produce not just raw materials, but world-class finished goods and for Filipinos to start buying Filipino products. 

Let’s face it, the Philippines will be mostly agricultural for a long time to come and for as long as they only grow rice, its farmers will always be poor. But other countries have developed first-world economies from agriculture. Think of France – what do they produce? Fine wine, champagne, the best cheeses, expensive natural fragrances... some of the most valuable natural products in the world come from France. If our farmers grow okra, they can often only get 50 centavos per piece or less. But by switching to, say, organic aloe vera, they can earn as much as P50 per leaf – a hundred times the value. This is how Human Nature aims to help the country – by sourcing locally at fair trade prices, producing world-class finished goods and exporting them around the world. 

PRO-ENVIRONMENT
Human Nature takes its responsibility of being nature’s steward very seriously. It carefully deliberates on the impact of all its business decisions on the environment. For example, all raw materials are thoroughly researched to ensure that they are naturally derived, are not processed using environmentally toxic processes and do not become toxic when released into the environment after the user has finished with the product. It also uses recyclable bottles in its packaging to minimize its impact on the country’s overburdened landfills. 

Human Nature is about loving the Philippines, loving the environment and loving people as it provides only the safest and purest world-class ingredients for them. These are effective AND affordable organic and natural personal care products that feel as good on your skin as they do in your heart. We hope that you will find a sense of peace and purpose knowing that your everyday choices have a positive impact on the poor, our country and our planet. 

Advocacies 

Gandang Kalikasan Inc was created by Anna M. Wilk and Camille Meloto, two of the daughters of Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga (GK). GK has already transformed more than 2,000 slums in the Philippines into beautiful, peaceful communities that are on their way to becoming productive too. 

Gawad Kalinga is recognized globally as a world-class Filipino movement for nation-building by everyone from Harvard University to the National Institute of Education in Singapore. In 2006, GK won the Magsaysay Award, Asia’s Nobel Prize. Human Nature’s vision is that as soon as GK villages are capable of producing its ingredients to the highest standards, the company will equip and empower them to grow and process the raw materials needed for its products. 

Beginning October 2010, 100% of all profits earned by Human Nature from the sales of its best-selling Citronella Bug Spray have gone to the farmer’s cooperative in Labo, Camarines Norte, Bicol, which supplies the organic citronella oil used in the product through thePhilippine Federation for Environmental Concern (PFEC). This contribution has not only funded new extractors to improve their production, it has also uplifted their community by funding a school renovation and providing healthcare for the farming families. 

Human Nature’s certified organic lemongrass essential oil is sourced from the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc.(AIDFI) in Negros Occidental. AIDFI provides renewable and cheap technologies to rural folk to help supply the basic needs of water, sanitation and energy. In 2010, AIDFI won the BBC World Challenge with its perfection of the hydraulic water pump that provides water to remote villages. With this technology, the lemongrass farmers in Negros were able to produce organic lemongrass essential oil for Human Nature.

Through its partnerships with these noble organizations, Human Nature hopes to bring sustainable livelihood to Gawad Kalinga communities to fulfill its vision of creating hundreds of world-class community organic farms in the Philippines, providing livelihood for thousands of its poorest people. 

Human Nature is available through Human Nature dealers and branches. The Flagship Store is located at 463 Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City. To learn more about Human Nature products, contact a Human Nature dealer, or find out how to be a Human Nature dealer, visit www.humanheartnature.com, your nearest Human Nature Branch or call (02) 931-5787.

This advocacy is close to my heart, why?  Well, because one of the proponent of this advocacy run is the organization where I have been.  It is the organization where I grew and learned a lot.  It is the organization that made me finished my studies.  So, as one of the children (before) who benefited from their projects and programs I'm helping them out to encourage more people to participate in this advocacy run.

To all running buff, fun run enthusiasts, health conscious, and just want to help, we are calling out for you to participate on June 24, 2012 at 5:30 in the morning whether you're a kid, young people, people with a big heart for children to be part of Isa, Dalawa, Takbo: Run for Children’s Rights at UP Academic Oval, UP Diliman. As an advocacy event of MYLE and Lingap Pangkabataan, it aims to:

• To raise child rights advocacy spirit among its partner communities- academe, young people, adult, social development, churches, parents in a creative and fun event.
• To encourage greater public awareness and social investment on children- where every child could fully develop and participate in putting place an environment that respect and celebrate their full potential. There will be:

1. 3K, 5K, and 10K running, jogging and walking around the university oval
2. Advocacy presentations from Lingap children’s advocacy groups, Ateneo- Performing Arts groups and other partners
3. Running Pack – singlet, number and other freebies
4. Child rights advocacy booths and food stalls

THE ORGANIZERS

The Movement for the Youth’s Legal Education (MYLE) is an organization in the UP College of Law that seeks to provide legal education primarily for children, and secondarily for the children’s families and their educators towards a holistic formation of the Filipino youth. It aims to provide awareness to children of their basic rights through classroom activities, lectures and workshops. MYLE also seeks to serve as a venue for students of the law to engage in a pro-active approach to learning laws pertaining to children’s rights.

Lingap Pangkabataan Inc. is one of the social development organizations in the Philippines whose primary mission is to lead in child- advocacy efforts. As an organization or a network member, Lingap has been at the forefront of community education, awareness- raising, lobbying and other advocacy activities upholding the rights of children and promoting child protection.


PRE- REGISTRATION MECHANICS

A. FUN RUN PARTICIPANTS
1. Isa, Dalawa, Takbo: Run for Children’s Rights is open to all child rights advocates/ supporters and fun run enthusiasts.

2. To join, participants must secure a PRE-REGISTRATION FORM from designated pre- registration stations:

NAME	ADDRESS	TEL. NOS.	CONTACT PERSONS
(1)   Lingap Pangkabataan- Cubao Office	158 Ermin Garcia St., Cubao, Quezon City	912-0302	Russel, Cathy, Ruby, Ryan
(2)   MYLE	UP- College of Law		Maan, Lia

For downloadable on-line registration forms, visit www.facebook.com/isadalawatakbo.

3. Submit duly accomplished registration form and pay required registration fee. The Pre- Registration Volunteer will facilitate registration process by enlisting the participant in the pre- numbered SUMMARY LISTING according to category and assigning a runner’s number.

The ‘Fun Run Kit Stub’ will serve as the receipt of the participants.

For participants who will undergo on-line registration, payments can be deposited thru the following bank accounts:





Deposit slips should be emailed to takbo_lingap@yahoo.com.ph or faxed to 912-4225 together with the duly accomplished pre-registration form. Lingap will then send the FUN RUN KIT STUB with the registration number thru email.

4. FUN RUN KITS (singlet, runner’s number, baller and other freebies) will be made available two weeks before the event. Registered participants can claim the kit at their PRE- REGISTRATION STATION by presenting their Fun Run Kit Stub.

These are what they aiming for this year and they won't achieve it without the help from other people and of course the volunteers.  Read more of the details below.

Since 1982, through the help of dedicated medical volunteers and generous partners — has provided more than 2 MILLION PATIENT EVALUATIONS and over 200,000 FREE SURGERIES for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities AROUND THE WORLD. As one of the most prominent children’s charities in the world with a presence in over 60 COUNTRIES, we are able to heal children’s smiles and bring hope for a better future.

n NOVEMBER 8 to DECEMBER 2, 2012, Operation Smile will undertake another milestone as it celebrates its 30th year!







Operation Smile will celebrate with a special homecoming mission to the Philippines to give back to the country that gave birth to what is now a global children’s medical charity organization. It aims to provide free life medical treatments to at least 6,000 Filipino children and young adults in 24 days through 10 dental and cleft surgical missions sites in various parts of the country, namely, Koronadal City, Cavite, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, General Santos, Silay City, Manila, Naga and Pampanga.

THE NEED FOR OPERATION SMILE
As proud as we are of the many children we have helped here at home and abroad, sadly, twice as many are left behind. Each year, ten thousands of children who need help have to be turned away. It should not be this way. This is why we continue to battle the growing backlog of children who suffer with correctable deformities. This is why we set such high goals for ourselves each year, why we always stretch to the absolute extent of our capacity, and why we are always seeking like-minded humanitarians – people who generously support our spirit and our missions. It is estimated that one in every 500 children born in the Philippines will have a cleft lip and/or cleft palate.

CONCLUSION
Children who must live with facial deformities live in the darkest corners of the world. They suffer in seclusion. Many children withdraw from school, and withdraw from the world. A 45-minute operation can change a child’s life forever and restore their dignity. A simple operation can open doors to a child’s future.

Operation Smile encourages private and public institutions to join its efforts to reach out to these impoverished Filipino children through a local mission.







OSP may not be able to fix the economic woes of Philippines, but together, the country can reach out to these forgotten children. To repair a child’s face is to rehabilitate not only their smile, but also their spirit. To repair a child’s face is to give that child an opportunity to go to school, to eat a meal, to speak so others can understand. Once the physical aspect of a deformity is treated, it allows for the emotional healing to begin.

It is an investment that will last a lifetime in the face of each child. It is how OSP is “changing lives, one smile at a time”.

“Alone we can do little; together we can do so much.” - Anonymous



2012 Program Plan

Date	Activity	Minimum Surgical Objective	Area Coverage
Jan 25 – 29	Local Cleft Surgical Mission (Mindoro)	40	Mindoro Island and Batangas
Mar 2 – 10	International Cleft Surgical Mission (Iloilo)	150	Panay Island (Iloilo, Capiz, Antique and Aklan) and Negros Occidental
Mar 16 – 23	International Craniofacial Mission (Davao City)	10	Mindanao
Mar 22-24	NCR Local Cleft Mission (Manila)	50	NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite
May	Local Cleft Surgical Mission (La Union)	100	Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan
Oct 25-31	International Dental and Cleft Surgical Missions (South Cotabato)	5,000 dental 30 cleft	South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat
Nov 8 – 18 (1st Leg) Nov 23-Dec 1 (2nd Leg)	30th Anniversary Simultaneous Missions
	San Fernando, Pampanga	150	Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac
	Manila	150	NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal
	Cavite	150	Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque
	Naga City	150	Quezon and Bicol Region
	Bacolod City	150	Region VI (Western Visayas)
	Cebu City	200	Region VII (Central Visayas) Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)
	Cagayan De Oro City	150	Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) Region X (Northern Mindanao) Region XIII (Caraga)
	General Santos City	150	Region XII (Socsargen) Region XI (Davao Region) ARMM
Year-round	Manila Cleft Care Center	50	Luzon
	Mindanao Cleft Center	150	Mindanao
TOTAL TREATMENTS		6,880	15 missions

They need MORE VOLUNTEERS so if you want to be part of their volunteers visit this site http://ccfk.org/get-involved.  Visit their facebook fan pages as well Chatters Care For Kids and Operation Smile Philippines.  

The Villars, who would have not known that name, especially the check mark. I know for sure most people would easily identify it already even if it only shows the first letter of their family name, which is the letter V.

Even before, the Villars have already marked their names in the area of Las Pinas. I know this because I have watched and followed their strive in making the water lilies that clogged the Las Pinas-Zapote River into something more productive and provides great opportunity to settlers in the area. They have made those water lilies a source of income for the people living along the river.


Though this was the only project that I have known from the Villar Foundation, specifically through the effort of Ma'am Cynthia Villar during her term as Congresswoman in Las Pinas, I know that their projects did sure make a change in the community. A small act does not instantly changes every thing but it takes time to build a strong foundation through that small acts. Like the Villar Foundation which was founded in 1992 by the Villar couple, Manny and Cynthia. Before then, the foundation was unknown to many but because of the couple's effort in making the City of Las Pinas a model city, they have established programs and projects beneficial to the community and to the environment.


Two decades after the establishment, the Villar Foundation had enormously grown. Creating more projects and programs for the people and making livelihoods a good source for the community in need. They sure take the path of the teaching “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime,” and this can be seen in the communities and barangays of Las Pinas.

Recently, I joined a tour in the southern side of the metro, I think. It was at Las Pinas City. The group were there to visit the different livelihood projects that caters by the Villar Foundation. It made me recall my field trip days. Where we are educated about the different places but for this instance it's more of a life learning experience. As part of that learning experience we were able to interview Ms. Cynthia Villar, the founder and chairman of the Villar Foundation but before the interview we were toured first in all of their livelihood projects.


First stop, the Twinning and Weaving Nets from coconut husks. We were toured there and they were able to introduced to us this livelihood project. At first I was curious about the end product and its use but as the guide further shows and explains the processes, he also answered my curiosity. The weave nets are used by most construction works especially when creating a rift raft to hold the soil and avoid any landslide.







I was amazed that their livelihood project was placed in a barangay and the people from that barangay were employed in that project. According to Ma'am Cynthia Villar "they don't have to ride in a jeepney to get on to their working place, they can just walk and bring along their kids with them while working." That's a really big help for them, that's why we set up our livelihood inside the barangay." They employed 40 families and can earn Php3,300 in a week. Take note that is each family.


The raw materials which is the "coconut husks" are free. Coconut vendors bring those waste material to the livelihood center.

Second stop, Weaving Blankets for Calamity Victims. According to our guide, the weaving blankets were initiated with the thought of creating blankets for calamity victims. The produced blankets are given to calamity victims since blankets are one of the major necessity after a calamity.

Blanket weavers can produced up to three (3) blanket in a day which make them earn around Php4,300 in a month.

Third stop was the Composting Area and The Production of Hollow Blocks. If you're familiar with the people gathering food left-overs for their pigs, then this is also the same with it but this one is for the purpose of composting or commonly called as organic fertilizers. Headed by the so called “bio-men”, these people goes door-to-door around the community asking for the left-overs instead of throwing it in the garbage. Our guide shows how it is being done and even let us see the end product.
 




Our guide also shows us what they do with the plastics. The dreaded plastics that also clogged drainages and causes flash floods. These plastics are shredded, mixed with sand and cement, and created into bricks or hollow blocks. A much more interesting way to recycle plastics.

The fourth stop was the Crafting Baskets out of the Water Hyacinth or commonly called Water Lily but before heading to our fourth stop we were toured first at the place where the water lilies once clogged the dam. Some of the bloggers even tried riding their ferry in crossing the river.







Their creativity and the love for their hometown may have been influenced by one of the famous instrument in Las Pinas, nonetheless but the Bamboo Organ.

Different baskets were shown to us. It was amazing that something crafty like that came from water lilies. I remember this livelihood project being featured in different TV shows before.




After the tour we were met by Ma'am Cynthia Villar in their house and welcomed all our inquiries while having lunch. She explain to us that she's hands-on on all the undertakings of the foundation, which is what I like about her that makes all the projects and programs even more successful. Also makes her more aware of each and every details of the foundation. She even said that “I can answer anything you ask about the foundation”.



The day was full of great information and great ideas to ponder and live with.  How about you, what do you think of this programs?

If you want to know more about the Villar Foundation just visit their website at http://www.villarfoundation.org or you can personally visit their livelihood projects to see for yourself.