Its the official last day (yesterday) of the campaign period. As each candidates intensely throw their final blow of convincing the public, there are others who make the intensity a little light with the different memes. Yes, people have found their witty and fun side even in the heat of this year's election.

Naturally, we Filipinos are natural comedians and there is that usual phrase "ang taba ng utak" which means a healthy brain, or on a naughtier meaning a fatty, witty brain. We literally make fun of everything, it is not being bullish, but perhaps it is our coping mechanism in making hard work a little lighter. Experience wise having fun at work makes it a lot faster and lighter. But politically, it has two meanings or purposes.

Political memes are double-edged sword, it may sound funny and witty but its true intension is to promote a political candidate or to defame that political aspirant.

From local to national, we find different political memes some of these are created by supporters and some are simply created by individuals who love a good laugh. Even though these memes provide an avenue for the candidates to get the attention they wanted, as most PR people would say, "good or bad publicity is still publicity."

Now, will these political memes be as sharp as swords in slicing through the consciousness of the voters? Perhaps we can only see it after the final canvassing. So, to us, voters, good luck in making our final decision.

The election season had started already and the Commission on Election released the final list of the senatorial candidates. These candidates have already started their campaigns and their caravans.

From the list provided by the COMELEC there are 62 Senatoriables, 11 Female Candidates and 51 Male Candidates. From these, there are 45 candidates under the banner of 18 different political parties while 17 candidates run as individual or Independent parties. Out of this 62 candidates only 12 will be given a seat on the house of senate. They will be serving the Filipino people and this country for 3 years.



From these 62 senatorial candidates, few of them are popular to the people and these few are from the lineage of politicians who have serve and been serving the country for years. A political dynasty is perhaps a more common term. Others, might have gained their popularity through issues and publicity, whether it is good or not, still, it's publicity that gave them the limelight. The rest who are not known to many are underdogs who wanted to make a difference out of this election. An opportunity to serve the country.

Today, I think the Filipino people are now intellect enough to cast their vote and who to entrust their future.

So to give a few highlights of these senatorial candidates, we have created a simple infographics. To give everyone a glimpse of some few info about the senatorial candidates.


This coming election we should remember that this government is for the people, by the people and of the people.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s delivered his 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa and made a historical mark. Literally the 3rd SONA broke the tradition. Check out below what are the firsts on this SONA and the highlights of President Duterte’s speech.

• This is the first time that the SONA didn't start exactly at 4:00 PM.
• This is the first time that the before the start of the SONA there’s a sudden change of leadership in the house of congress.
• This is the first time that President Duterte read his speech without any unnecessary words.
• This is the first time that the SONA speech took only less than an hour.
• This is the first time that President Duterte’s SONA didn't put highlights on the achievements but on what to be done.

With so many firsts it is only right that today’s SONA would be recognized and made a mark in the history of SONAs. As to the highlights of President Duterte’s speech we’re sharing what we can grasp from it, read it below and share what you think of it.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte started his speech with

About 2 years ago, I solemnly took my oath as a worker of the national gov’t. I was inspired to institute real changes for the greater good of the Filipino people.

• War from illegal drugs is far from over and will not be sidelined, instead, it will be as relentless and chilling.
• Concerns more on human lives and not human rights. “Illegal drugs wasted away lives, dysfunctionalized families and ruined relationship.”
• Corruption must stop to improve delivery of services. He warned government agencies to stop red tape. Directing government agencies in implementing the Ease of Doing Business Act.
• He mentioned that he will sign (Bangsamoro Organic Law) and ratify the law. He asks for 48 hours. 
• He hailed the successful hosting of the ASEAN anniversary and summit that happened last November.
• The relationship with China has led to an unprecedented level of cooperation. The shared intelligence with China led to the discovery of clandestine shabu laboratories.
• He admired our Filipino migrant workers for their selflessness and courage in enduring hardships of living away.
• Mentioned about the fight against ‘endo’ which has resulted to regularization of more than 300,000 workers.
• He mentioned the promise to restore environmental integrity of Boracay. He clearly said that “It has sadly become a representation of government’s negligence, including mine.”
• Another highlight is the protection of the environment which discussed the open pit mining.
• The immediate passing of the Congress for the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or the TRAIN law. “You have made funds available to build better roads, bridges and improved health and education.”
• The economic sabotage of which he warned the rice cartels to stop messing with the people.
• The passage of the universal healthcare bill.
• He recognized the people behind the drafting of the new Constitution (Federal Government).

What can you say about President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's SONA?

Since the APEC Summit is about to start, let us see through behind how it was formed and why it was created. This is for the benefit of the people who would ask what is this summit all about.

So for the information and details that I'll be writing down here are all taken from different sources to provide the things to know about APEC. Fee free to read, learn, and of course make a comment about this article or about the APEC itself.

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.

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.

Microscopic Image of Rotavirus vaccinenewsdaily.com

This is not a bug nor a malware in a computer but it's something that children should not have during their first 2 years of life.  It's a rotavirus which is the leading cause of diarrhea or pagtatae. According to information, diarrhea is the second leading killer of children aged less than 5 years old.  Everyday, 1,500 children around the globe die because of rotavirus-related diarrhea.  Parents should be alarmed and educated about this.

That's what we learned when we attended an event held in Mango Tree Bistro in Trinoma Mall.  Since it's high time of the celebration of the Chinese New Year it is also high time to celebrate that the Department of Health has announced to the media that they'll be including the Rotavirus Vaccination as part of the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) 2012.  The Philippines will be the very first Asian Country to implement Rotavirus Vaccination in the EPI.

This is really great news for those who don't have much access to expensive vaccines for parents to protect their children.  Also and maybe it's about time that DOH will do some campaign with regards to this rotavirus.  For sure if you're going to ask a simple house-wife if they know about this rotavirus, only few would respond to this.

To educate us more about ROTAVIRUS, here are some more information about the indirect and direct effect of the virus.

Image form mydochub.com

• Diarrhea leads to serious long term effects to a child's development in terms of height, energy levels and cognitive abilities.
• Diarrhea affects nutrient absorption.
• Growth shortfalls of up to 8.2 cm by age 7 years.
• Hospitalization due to acute gastroenteritis/diarrhea.
• Quality of life as well as their livelihood due to an income loss.

This disease is highly preventable through vaccination and with this there would be a better reduction of infant mortality rate.  ROTAVIRUS Vaccine is best given to babies from 6 weeks up to 8 months of age.  It is administered orally 2 to 3 doses depending on the brand of the vaccine.

Image from baby.families.com

Though Rotavirus vaccine have already been around for quite sometime there is still lack of proper campaign and education with regards to this vaccine.  Hopefully, the Rotavirus vaccine would be available soon on health centers and as part of the immunization programs.

Next week there will be another Impeachment Trial.  Most of the people, whether they are government officials, senators, congressmen, staff, contractual, casual or government employees, are all preparing for this trial.  For now it is one of the top news being reported on every TV News Station and the entire nation will for sure get their eyes tied on this.

Now, what are my thoughts about this impeachment trial?

For a low middle class contractual employee who always get his paycheck less tax, this is my thoughts about not only the impeachment trials but as well as all cases of government officials who did not do well on serving the nation.

For every impeachment trials that our government went through there are things that are neglected and taken for granted.  This is to give emphasis on the tax portion.  Well at first, workers who work on government, companies and other establishments, income tax are already omitted on the income of the employee and straight to the revenue of the government.  I'm not really much of an economic topic person but as far as I know revenues collected by the bureau are put into a fund that will be used by the government in providing infrastructures, education, and other services for the people.  Aside from this, the salaries and wages of all government workers (whether it is high ranking officials or rank and files) are also taken from that fund.   So meaning all who works on the impeachment trials are paid accordingly and not only that but also the supplies that are used or will be used are considered expenses already.  If you're with this do the math and compute how many millions are being used in every impeachment trial.  Also, think more of how much it will cost if the trial went on for more than three months perhaps.

 Imagine how many millions more are supposed to be used for much more important developments for the country and for the people. 

For the official in question or anyone who's in question we should adapt how Japanese value their honor.  It's more of the term "delicadeza" for us Filipinos.


This is my idea and observation.  Employees like us pay the taxes for the impeachment trial.  If every term of service there will be an impeachment trial I don't know what will be the accomplishment of the government after every term of service.  Perhaps this country will be called THE IMPEACHMENT COUNTRY!

I don't know much about the in and out of politics and economics.  This is just an observation of a low middle class citizen.

How about you what do you think of this present situation of the country?

Setting aside entertainment and foods, here's something to help an old classmate. Also this will be part of this blog's peace advocacy between Filipino Muslim and Christian. A series of understanding and learning.

Last July 23, 2011 they launched the book entitled "Kris of Justice" a novel written by Abdel Karim C. Tillah, a Filipino Muslim descendant of the Royal House of Tawi-Tawi.

Here are some excerpts from the Press Release

Image from the Press Release.

... “To come up with a peaceful and lasting solution to the never ending war between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Muslim rebels in Mindanao, we must first know the root cause of the conflict.” This was the statement issued by the the author Abdel Karim Cristobal Tillah during the launch of his novel last Saturday, July 23 at the UP School of Economics Auditorium. In partnership with the National Interfaith Consultative Committee (NICCOM) and the UP Institute of Islamic Studies, the launch was hosted by Mr. Chito Villegas. KRIS OF JUSTICE: The Story of the Greatest Race of Warriors the Modern World Never Knew, written by Abdel Tillah is the first novel that tries to explore the root causes of the ages-old conflict between Muslims and Christians in Mindanao. “How can you expect the Philippine government to come up with a just solution to the problem when the majority of Filipinos and even the members of the govt. peace panel don’t know much about the history of Mindanao and the root causes of the conflict?”, the author, a Filipino Muslim descendant of the Royal House of Tawi-Tawi, born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, said...

Image from the Press Release.

...“The Kris of Justice is the first novel that aims to educate Filipinos in an entertaining way on the glorious history of the Moros. It is presented in a concise, comic-book, graphic novel, or movie-script style that can be easily absorbed by a generation of Filipinos not used to reading, but used to watching TV and reading Facebook, Twitter and comic books,” Mr. Larry Henares writes.

“The dramatic flow of narration along the rhythm of the history of the Muslim armed struggle and the deep longing for peace and national unity adds a meaningful value to the Filipino Muslim literature as part of national heritage,” Prof. Samuel Tan adds.

The novel is the result of the author’s extensive studies on the story and history of the Muslims in the Philippines and his experience and insights into the practice of both Islam and Christianity. Abdel was exposed to interfaith activities at an early age, since his father is a founding member of the first interfaith committee established in the Philippines {and probably the first in the world) in 1973. In 1992, Abdel Tillah composed an interfaith song entitled “God of Abraham.” This song is contained in the CD that is included with the book.

In his review of the book, Mr. Boyette San Diego, writer and a top executive of a printing corporation, narrates, “I think the journey away from simplistic portrayals of Islam and the Mindanao conflict and stereotypes begins in Chapter 9 – “Islam, the Light of the Dark Ages.” There’s so much fascinating information in the chapter – e.g., advances in science; that the first university in the world was founded by a Muslim, and a woman at that; the premium Muslims give to education, etc. – that will stimulate study and understanding and prevent rushes to judgment… The putting in context of the Muslim situation continues and is deepened in Chapter 10, “Hidden History” and Chapter 12,“More Hidden History,” which weaves superb research and scholarship into the historical origins of the current state of affairs in Mindanao. The idea of colonialism and its motivations and tactics (such as divide and rule) are fleshed out and illuminated with historical examples.”

The publication is a very interesting and engaging reading material that will help the readers, especially the youth to have a better understanding and appreciation of the Muslim culture. It hopes to foster solidarity among the present and succeeding generations of Muslims and Christians, not only in the Philippines but also in other countries. The author strongly believes that only by bringing out the truth, can there be genuine understanding between peoples of two faiths resulting in better Christian-Muslim relations, peace in Mindanao and ultimately, lasting peace for the Philippines and the whole world...

To purchase a copy of the book “Kris of Justice” with the included CD for P350.00 visit www.krisofjustice.com or if you wish to contact Mr. Abdel Karim Tillah, you can email him at truthhorizon@yahoo.com or by phone: 09178962528.

I know this is quite late for something to be posted but I just want to share it.
This is my thoughts about the most recent talk of the town, the government and the church. This is my own opinion with the RH Bill or the Reproductive Health Act. So if ever I may touch someone’s ego or idea and belief, I’m already laying my apologies and hope for your understanding.


I grow up in a very simple family. I couldn't differentiate on what class of the society our family belongs to, we’re not rich and we’re not poor. I could not also consider our family as middle class because my parents don’t have any stable job. I can only say that we’re just in the middle of above poor and below middle class.

I only have one sibling, not really sure of the reasons why they did not add another one in the family but perhaps they are already contented having both of us, a boy and a girl. On my mother’s side they were supposed to be 12, two of which died during child birth and on my father side they were 8. So imagined living with that number of kids and the size of the family.

Now so much with the background and on with our main topic, the RH Bill. Right during the intense debate about this matter I got curious about the main thrust of the bill. I tried to get a copy of the bill and tried to read those long sentences and elaborated paragraphs. So here it is according to my understanding and some of my explanations.

The RH bill is not about abortion. If preventing the sperm and egg cells to meet during is already abortion then I can say that we’re all abortionist in some time of our life. You know what I mean.

Image from dailyglobal.com

RH Bill is not all about condoms. Though I’m standing on the side of PRO, still, there are some things that I don’t like how RH Bill is being portrayed to the public. Condoms are not the only picture of RH Bill. Read the whole article first.

Image from tomntomsview.blogspot.com

RH bill is about women empowerment. I praise the women who stands firm on promoting the RH Bill. Imagine the emotion and physical baggage that women are carrying during pregnancy? Nutrients and physical health doesn’t just come up in a snap so please do give women a time to rest and rejuvenate their bodies. It’s really annoying seeing woman being left behind for another woman just because they are “losyang” (haggard looking). Who in the first place made that to them?! Just an understanding for the men, women are not objects. There’s always time for that!

RH Bill is not all about sex. Some people are just too paranoid about how teens can easily get condom and have sex. Hello! Are you all in the age of the dinosaurs? Before RH Bill was proposed condoms are already made available in the market in which can easily be bought by teens and the sex thing, well, the age of teens having sex are getting younger and younger and that’s because there’s no proper education. The more it is hidden to them, the more they become curious about it. Worst they learn it from the wrong source.

RH Bill is about management and organizing the family. When we say managing and organizing is not just the things, the food, the shelter, and the finances but also the whole being of each member of the family, especially the individuality of a child. If you will look closely most of the families who are raising five to ten kids can’t hardly manage each and everyone as a result some of them went on to the bad side of the road. The Bible did not just say in Genesis 1:28 to “…Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…” it also got an instruction at the end of the sentence “… and subdue it.” So it does not just say multiply but it is also instructing to manage or control not only the creation that surrounds man but man itself as well.