Archive for the Category »Philippines «

03
Oct
Typhoon Ondoy’s Donation Advisory
Filipinamom

During calamity people from all walks of life are willing to offer their help by any means  but there also heartless people who lured people for financial help but it doesn’t go to the victims but to their own pocket. So very careful to send money check it out first especially when it is thru money transfer. Even legitimateorganizations and foundations became victims of these scams like the GMA Kapuso foundation where a woman from the Philippines unsuccessful money transfer to the legitimate bank account received an email telling her to send it to another account which afterwards she found out it was a bogus. You can watch the imbestigador at GMA 7 investigates deceits and fraud in this area.

But deceits in bank transfer doesn’t happens only in the Philippines but a big problem around the world so be very careful like my bank always reminds of fishing of personal information which we constantly receives in our mail asking us to send information about our account. NEVER answer or click the links they send to you even if it looks like credible source always check from your bank.

I several emails from the embassies regarding donation advisory which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out to different embassies worldwide.

NDCC Donated Funds

Current Account (Philippine Peso) #0-00149-435-3
(Swift Code: DBPHPHMM Account #36002016)
Development Bank of the Philippines
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Branch
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Philippines

NDCC updates can be accessed click here

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Top

DSWD

Contact Persons: Imee Rose Castillo / Rey Martija
00632 9318101 loc. 506-507 / 9517119

US Dollar
DSWD Foreign Donations
Account Number: 3124-0055-81
ZIP Address: TLBPPHMMXXX
LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Philippine Peso
Account Number: 3122-1011-84
LBP Batasan Branch
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Philippine National Red Cross

For donations to be acknowledged, please fax bank transaction slips to (632) 5255654 or (632) 4040979 with donor’s name, address and contact numbers.

US Dollar
The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 151-2-151-00218-2
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
Metrobank Port Area Branch
Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila

The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 81140030-94
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
BPI United Nations Branch
Ermita, Manila

Philippine Peso
The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 151-3-041-63122-8-MBTC
Metrobank Port Area Branch
Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila

The Philippine National Red Cross
Account Number: 4991-0010-99
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
BPI United Nations Branch
Ermita, Manila

Other Queries and Donations

NDCC (Relief Goods / Rehabilitation Equipment)

Maj. General Glenn J. Rabonza
NDCC Administrator
Attn: Engr. Florentino Sison
Deputy Chief, Operations Division
Tel: (632) 9125979, (632) 9122665
Fax: (632) 9111873, (632) 9111406, (632) 9125668, (632) 9120984

Department of Health (Medicines and /or Medical and Humanitarian Missions)

Dr. Virginia Ala
Chief, Bureau of International Health Cooperation
Department of Health
Attn: Ms. Noni Balbino
Chief, Technical Division
Tel: (632) 7812843
Fax: (632) 7818843

DSWD (Relief Goods)

DSWD Donation Drop Off Points

Pasay Area
National Resource Operation Centre
Chapel Road, Pasay City
Attn: Mrs. Francia Fabian
Tel: (632) 8528081 / (63) 9189302356

Quezon City Area
Disaster Resource Operations Monitoring and Information Centre (DROMIC)
DSWD Central Office
Attn: Rey Martiga or Imee Rose Castillo
Tel: (632) 9517119 / (632) 9517435
or Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera
Tel: (63) 9189345625

Manila Area
DSWD-NCR
San Rafael corner Legarda Street
Quiapo, Manila
Attn: Director Delia Bawan
Tel: (632) 7348622 / ((632) 7348642

The Philippine embassy in Sweden accepts donations for the Typhoon Ondoy victims which they will send to the DSWD that Dept. of Social Welfare and Development they are also asking for medicines etc., visit their website for details. Embassy in Sweden jurisdiction are  Sweden,Latvia, Estonia & Finland.

While the embassy in Norway jurisdiction are Denmark, Norway and Iceland their website is  www. philembassy.no

The Philippine Embassy in London also accepts donations contact them or visit their website http://philembassy-uk.org/news_advisory.html#page12 for details.

You can check the Philippine embassies in your area for more information. Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs homepage to check your local embassy’s information at http://dfa.gov.ph/?page_id=74.

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Filipino Community, Philippines  Tags: , , , , , , ,  5 Comments
30
Sep
Let pray for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)
Filipinamom

I’m terribly saddened by the flooding of almost 80% of Metro Manila and nearby provinces even I experienced more than a dozen of almost 2 meters floods during the 28 years of my life in the Philippines but nothing can compares to the devastation of typhoon Ondoy.

The Filipinos are resilient just like the bamboo tree and you can still see they smile in the midst of their life’s tragedy but at the end of the day they will realize they lose their homes and love on ones it’s really tragic. But we can help them to help them to stand on their feet but donating to authorized agencies  but if we can’t help them financially we can help by reciting this prayer from Fr. Stephen Cuyos.

I know most Pinoy bloggers have already posted about the typhoon but I want to make this prayer as a tag to reach out as much as possible. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t catholic just revise the prayer according to your faith.

You just copy the prayer and tag your friends as many as you want and just mention where you got the tag from and then inform your friend that you tag them.

Fr. Stephen Cuyos of Happy Faith started this prayer and I also post it to my Facebook wall. I will tag the following Marlene, Mom for a Cause, Maricris, Amor,Bing Sitoy, Mel, Rolly & Mathie Banaga

Prayer for the victims of the typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

Loving Father, you are our shelter and our hope. We come to you with hearts full of trust in your love and mercy.

We pray for the victims of tropical storm Ondoy. May those who have lost homes and properties find shelter, enough food and clean water. Comfort those who are traumatized and those who are grieving for the loss of their families, neighbors and friends. Bless those who are sick and those who are injured that their health may be restored and their wounds cured. May you lead all who are stranded or lost back to those who love them. Guide the hands of the rescuers, the doctors and nurses and other volunteers and give them strength as they serve others with joy.

May this calamity bring people closer together, to help each other and to care for the environment. Give us the faith, the hope and the love to carry on. This we ask through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Filipino Community, General, Global news, Philippines  Tags: ,  8 Comments
22
Mar
International Word Water Day 2009
filipinamom

215x124buttonToday is World Water Day which is celebrated every year since March 22, 2009. It’s aim is to focus on freshwater and its importance in our lives.

Water is our life. We use water not only for drinking and cooking but for everything cleaning and washing. I came from a province where there was no problem with fresh drinking water. We get our drinking water in a faucet built by the Americans before the war. This was this free flowing water faucet where we use to drink and also wash our clothes. There’ a lot of memories in that we called “Gripo”, faucet, it served like a meeting place some sort of today social networks . It nerved to be a meeting place to catch the latest gossip or just plain social hub. Pails, buckets, plastic gallons lined waiting to be filled up while the women were washing clothes in their “Batyas”, water tub.

But After 30 years the free flowing faucet became a water pump which means that water level is decreasing because of population boom. Most of the houses are installed with water district installations so people in my hometown rarely fetch water in that common faucet. But still many fetch their drinking water because they don’t trust the water coming out from the Local Water System. Others have their drinking water delivered by the water refilling Stations.

I lived in Metro Manila most of my adult life and thats where I experienced the real water crisis. We used a lot of plastic container to store water because the water only comes at night so we have to store for the next day’s use. We boil the water to be sure its safe for drinking. Bottled and refill stations were never heard of 20-25 years ago.

But it was worst when I moved to the South of Metro Manila, Paranaque. There was no water because it was not part of the NAWASA (National Water an Sewerage Company), the operator of the local water district. Even if you lived in plush Subdivision or village you have to have your own deep well and installed a big overhead tank which we had in my former house. But as the years went by the water that came of the faucet became yellow not drinkable and not even suitable for domestic use just for the garden and flushing the toilets. So we became dependent of the water delivery which was so expensive plus the drinking water. The cost of water bill almost eat up our budget. That’s terrible. It did not improved when the Maynilad got the right to supply water in that area it was still now you see now you don’t scheme.

For that experiences Filipinos became aware how to wash dishes using water tubs and taking baths using pails and “tabo” a water dipper. They dreams that someday water will come from their shower, they can flush their toilets, use automatic washing machine without putting water manually without using electric pumps or water booster.

According to a DENR (Department of environment and Natural Resources) study that 1,907 cu.meter of fresh water would be available to each person each year, making the Philippines the second lowest among Southeast Asian country with fresh water availability. They also said that the Philippines faces a severe water crisis in 2010 that will be a year from now. Read the rest of the story for inquirer.

The DENR should act fast and find ways how to combat this problem. Proper water management and policies should be given top priorities. But policies can not work alone without the citizens cooperation. All of us should be aware about the water crisis and do our part to conserve precious drops of water.

This is post on is my response to one event I joined at Bloggersunite.org

I joining Rolly Ocampo in posting more about water awareness after the event tomorrow.

Please take alook at these blogs:

1. Rolly Ocampo http://tagamonumento.blogspot.com/2009/03/world-water-day-2009.html

2. Zen Ventures blog about conserving water Asian Style

http://zenforyou.dalefg.net/2008/07/life-in-asia-part-ii-conserving-h2o.html

How about you do you have any story to tell or articles about water conservation or anything about water?

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Events, Philippines  Tags: , , , , , ,  4 Comments
24
Feb
Calling on All Filipinos to Unite in Asking for An Immediate Suspension of the LRT-MRT3 Diggings Near Monumento
filipinamom

Here is a repost from www.tagamonumento.blogspot.com

27 January 2009

Today, I’ll try to go on air via radio and will attempt to reach other sectors of media to issue an urgent appeal to Philippine authorities led by PGMA,MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “RECOM” Echiverri for them to cause an immediate suspension of the construction related to the “closing the LRT-MRT3 loop” project being conducted near the Monumento area. The Bonifacio Monument is the greatest monument to valor and to love of freedom on earth. We are not against modernization but progress should not come at the price of desecrating our country’s soul. We have an online petition to have the Bonifacio Monument included among the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
We hope that Filipinos whom we look up to for leadership, moral courage and ardent nationalism will speak out in support of this call. Our leaders have to consult us closely on every vital issue and this has not happened in the issue of the Monumento.
We call on people like Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of the Diocese of Kalookan, Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus Is Lord Church, Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Executive Minister Eraño Manalo of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Engr. Jun Lozada and Mr. Joey De Venecia (who exposed the ZTE broadband scandal) to mobilize our fellow Filipinos in heeding the call to defend the Monumento.
We call on the Honorable Chief Justice of the Philippines Reynato S. Puno, perhaps our country’s greatest living jurist (who normally gives the keynote address at the Monumento during Independence Day) to rally our people in defense of the integrity of the Bonifacio Monument.
We call on war hero and senior statesman, Sen. Jovito Salonga, the best President the Philippines never had, to relive the heady days when he led the Philippine Senate in rejecting the RP-US Bases treaty thereby ending the last vestiges of centuries-long foreign military presence in Philippine soil. This time, we need his unswerving commitment to freedom and his unfailing vision in preventing the loss of the monument that he can rightfully call his own.
We call on NUSP and Youth Act Now! led by Mr. Alvin Peters, its spokesperson, to mobilize the youth of this country in the struggle to save from desecration a priceless symbol of our country’s rich cultural heritage.
We call on our Senators and Congressmen, especially those who in 2010 will seek higher positions of public office to make known their stand. Will they stand for the dignity and honor of our country or will they turn a blind eye to what is going on?
We call on all people’s organizations and NGOs and our party-list representatives to set aside their differences and unite all Filipinos under the banner of the Monumento.
Monumento in January 2009 — at this critical time in our history — is a true acid test of Filipino nationalism. Are we going to pass this acid test or are we going to flunk the call for the defense of the dignity and honor of our country? This is a golden opportunity to renew national pride and greatness. It will show to the world that even in a time of severe economic crisis, Filipinos everywhere still have the capacity to respond to the call for cultural nationalism founded on our spirituality and faith as a people.
Dito po sa Heroes del 96 at sa ibang lugar sa Caloocan City, alam namin na mahirap ang laban na ito. Ngunit sa tulong po ng ating Panginoon, bigyan Niya sana kami ng sapat na lakas upang manatiling nakatindig nang may dangal.
Before I end this post, I’ll take the opportunity to publish here a short excerpt from the poem Monumento, Kaluluwa ng Bayan Ko by Jose David Ricardo:
Sana nama’y mula ngayon kapag natanaw mong muli
Sa malayo pa lang Monumentong pilit ginagapi
Ialay mo ang lakas at buhay sa pagpupunyagi
Nang ang kaluluwa ng bayan mo’y ‘wag mapalunggati

Gunitain ang dusa’t pagpapagal ng iyong lahi
Pinoy, Mabuhay ka, kamtin ang laya mong minimithi!
Laya mula sa gutom, pambubusabos at pang-aapi
Laya ng bayan kong sinisinta’t pinagbubunyi

Mula sa Silangan, libong sulo nga’y magliliyab
Dala ang apoy ng damdaming tigib ng pag-aalab
Minamahal ko ang bayang kong Pilipinas
Buhay ma’t yaman ko’y sa sarili’y ipipilas

Sukdulang mawalay ang buhay sa katawan
Sukdulang ialay ang munti kong buhay
Makita ka lang sagana at may tunay na kalayaan
Sapat na ‘yang tagumpay ko, Pilipinas, Inang Bayan.

Kaunlarang pangmayaman, pangdayuhan, pang-iilan,
Tandaan mo, kaibigan, wala itong katuturan
Kung bayan mo’y nagdurusa’t nakalublob sa putikan
Tutulan mo’t salungatin, ito’y isang kahibangan

Daang taon mula ngayon, patuloy titingalain
Monumento na bantayog sa giting ng lahi natin
Kung tayo ma’y nakalugmok, panahon na ng pagbangon
Burol sa lamay ng laya mo, tapusin na at iahon

Iahon mong buong giting, itong bayang nakasadlak
Iahon mo sa dusa, sa pagdarahop at pagsasalat
Iahon mo’t huwag nang hayaang dumausdos muli
Iahon mo sa putikan, ilayo mo sa pusali

Hahayo ka’t anong bitbit sa puso mong ma’y lunggati
Hahayo ka’t anong lakas mayroon sa diwa mong sawi
Humayo kang sa puso mo’y Monumento nakakintal
Humayo kang sa puso may dambana ng iyong dangal
Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino! Mabuhay si Gat Andres Bonifacio at ang magigiting nating mga bayani! Mabuhay ka Pinoy nasaang sulok ka man ng mundo!
Please support the Monumento World Heritage Global Campaign. To sign the online petition, click this link: www.gopetition.com/online/23996. I also hope you can visit and follow my blog at http://tagamonumento.blogspot.com/,
To God be the glory!
To Rolly Ocampo:
Thank you for your initiative.
I cannot post a comment there but I just to say that this is unfair and as a Filipino we have the right to preserve our historical landmark like the Bonifacio Monument. Why the Local goverment and the National historical commission just went on to approve the project.
and to all Filipino
I already signed the petition and I hope YOU will sign it too.

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Architecture, Being Filipino, Philippines  Tags: , , , , , , , ,  9 Comments
03
Feb
El Madrid de Filipinas- A commercial of Madrid Subway
filipinamom

I just stumble this and it’s been in my brother’s media box in Friendster since last year. He said that this commercial was running in the Spanish television for a year. I read some of the comments that a lot of Filipinos are offended by this but I think it was done in a good faith or the Filipino cast will not appear on this commercial.

The Madrid Subway system is one of the largest in the world. It is the best and cheapest way to get around the Greater Madrid. It only cost 1 euro for a single ticket inside the Zone A or the Madrid center an you can change trains while still inside the subway. So far I could say it is reasonably clean especially the new stations and they are in the process of renovating the old ones. The train schedules are very efficient unlike the danish train systems. It is cheaper to buy a 10 trips clip card it cost only 7.40 euros and they also have something for tourist me which is no limit rides for min.of 1 and maximum of 7 days.

In comparison to Denmark Madrid train system is not child or baby friendly because of the absence of elevator in most of the stations. It always a nightmare for me when I travel with my son on his pushchair or stroller just imagine the Station near my parent’s apartment is several levels down I thinks it is 6 escalators down. Its very typical that parents navigating the escalators with their children strollers and sometimes people are willing to help you carry the strollers with the baby. Yesterday I went to visit my father alone and I thought I can manage but still I’m not that brave I have to carry to umbrella stroller and hold my son’s hand but I back out when I saw it is 10-15 meters deep. We just used the stairs and everybody thought we are so dumb but maybe they’re right because my leg were shaking while I’m hoping we will reach the last steps. The next flight of escalators I just asked someone to carry the stroller and they’re happy to obliged. Thank God we arrived home safely but I took the bus on the way home.

It so funny there is even a sign in the train platform as to where the handicaps should wait but hey how can those with wheelchair go down? Did they fly, crawl or somebody carried them down? I used the Metro or the train i Madrid several times but I haven’t seen anybody in a wheelchair used the subway. For that I Spanish subway thumbs down.

Here’s the commercial.

What do you think? Are you offended? In my opinion they just recognize the Philippines as you know there are hundreds thousands of Filipinos here.

  • Share/Bookmark
Category: Being Filipino, Global news, Philippines  Tags: , ,  7 Comments