Kalibo damaged badly by flood

i was with 2 of my friends, 3 staff of CICM Talisay City www.cicmmissionaries.org, and one of my officemates, Kim, on Friday at 2am sailing to Kalibo via RORO (roll on roll off) boat with a vehicle loaned by CICM filled with relief goods, water, rice, etc. for the flood victims of Kalibo.

i just came from a training in Manila and barely recovered from lost sleep when i finally contacted my family if how they are. no news on tv, nothing in newspapers, more so on radio so i was worried how they are. when my mother told me they have no food, water, and electricity........my boss was frantic and already on the phone calling for help. before the day ends, we were able to pack 2 big boxes ready to fly in the first trip of Cebu Pacific via Manila and on to Kalibo. So at 3am we were on the road to the airport to send it.

It was such a relief for my family and neighbors to be eating different variety because the past days they have been munching on bananas where they took just in front the house because it has all fallen anyway. they got their water on the pump from our neighbor and even not safe to drink they just boil it.

It was the start of our work to ask for more because there are thousands of families who need help. we mobilized our partners to do their share. just days of calling and emailing we received so much blessings and that's what we distributed last weekend.

if you would like to help, you can course it through any of the following:

1. CBM CBR Coordinating Office

Unit 101, Ground Floor, Erisha Condominium
1142 P. Ocampo corner Dian Streets
1004 Malate, Manila
PHILIPPINES

Tel: (02) 522-4429
E-mail: cbmcbrph@pldtdsl.net

2. Send to Cataract Foundation Philippines, Inc.
9 Medical Lane, 21st Street Extension
Capitol Subdivision
6100 Bacolod City
PHILIPPINES

3. Deposit to Cataract Foundation Philippines, Inc. account
Metro Bank, North Drive branch, Bacolod City
Savings Account number: 546-3-546-012990

What we are doing is just to save their stomachs for the meantime but Rehabilitation is another thing and where the people would really need much help. So if you can forward this to those you know it might touch others and be inspired to help.

You may click on this link or copy and paste to your browser to view more pictures of our recent mission.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cataractfoundation/TyphoonFrankHitsAklan

bangon Aklanons!

typhoon Frank hits Aklan

the neighborhood in my Kalibo home mostly devastated. the area is still full of mud, mud, mud, everywhere you go.

biking from dumangas to iloilo city

wow! i just came back from an amazing weekend. RORO boats used to 'row' to Lapuz, Iloilo City because a certain bridge fell off in Dumangas so with that thought, i decided to attend the AMA (associate missionaries of the assumption www.ama.org.ph) send off party to batch 24 volunteers. when we arrived in the pier, i was told all the RORO boats are back to Dumangas. so, all prepared i decided to push for the trip. it was drizzling when we arrived in Naluoyan port. i told myself if the drizzles turns into a heavy rain i would have to go back to bacolod and cancel the ama gathering. but after having our late lunch of instant noodles, the sun came out and off we biked......bike, bike, bike and away. took the coastal road without knowing where it will lead us. hahaha talk about adventure and plunging to the greatest unknown....through the kindness of pipol i asked which road we should take....before the clock hits 8pm found my way in Bo. Obrero. hay.........salamat.

i had fun reconnecting to ama pipol. it's been awhile that i haven't attended such. i remember it was 12 years ago when i went through the same ritual....when i chose to volunteer right after graduation and the experience brought me to the beauty of bukidnon.

anyway....just the thought of biking back to dumangas the next day is excruciating! so what we did....we took the other route which is via Dumangas proper but biked only up to Jaro and took the jeepney and from Dumangas proper under the scorching heat of the sunny day, off we biked to the pier. thought i'll just passed out from the heat and from the growing pain on my thighs (i have not been biking since ages for such a long distance) but here i am........alive and able to kick still although painful.

was all worth it. loved the sceneries especially along the coastal road. had some really fresh clean air and reunited to the nature i love the most.

'til next biking trip. hahaha