The Filipina Mom in Denmark

After seeing the devastation of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that hit the country, two young Pinoys are appealing to the viewers to think about the effects of climate change by joining a user generated video campaign called “Raise Your Voice”.

Paul Darwynn Garilao and Alfonso Orioste, Jr., graduates of De La Salle University – Manila, are expecting to participate with the global leaders, who will convene to discuss climate change in Copenhagen in Denmark from December 7 to 21, 2009.

Dubbed as the biggest convention after Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will iron out platforms to “reduce global warming emissions and ultimately chart a course that avoids the most severe impacts of climate change.”

“Raise Your Voice” campaign is sponsored by CNN, Youtube, and Danish government. The contest encourages individuals to send videos with their views, opinions, and questions about the global event.

The two best video campaigns will win through public voting from November 6 to 30,2009.

Here are steps to vote:

1. Visit www.youtube.com/cop15

2. Click Vote.

3. Search Philippines on the videos per country.

4. Kindly click the “green thumbs up” sign for the entry entitled: “Raise Your Voice by Filipino environmental advocates.”

The video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8RanL2KMyo

As of this writing, this is only the single entry from the Philippines and South East Asia.

“We are massively campaigning for our video through social networking sites. Based on our initial count, more than 300 users linked the video to their personal Facebook accounts. We also blasted e-mail to more than 8,000 people to ensure they get our message,” Garilao said.

For the offline approach, we tapped schools and environmental organizations to use the video as a campaign drive to fight climate change. In fact, De La Salle University-Manila where we came from is all out support for the video,” Garilao added.

Their video entry was featured by YouTube together with other four contenders from Germany, France, India, and Italy. Click the URL here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD7Wof3Eng0.

In the video entry, the young guys discuss disaster management system and major shift to use alternative energies.

Based on viewpoints from a developed and developing nation, they highlight action plans to reduce carbon emissions by industries and implement preventive measures when natural disasters strike. Garilao and Orioste also discussed that simple steps like conserving water and turning off devices when not in use will help

The participants are passionate about environmental concerns. Garilao, who worked in public relations firm in Manila, is now based in Hawaii. A licensed engineer in Manila, his research on Liquefied Petroleum Gas two stroke engines is focused on alternative energies.

Graduated honorable mention in La Salle, Orioste is now taking his law in San Beda College. Orioste said, “As we have experienced the storms Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng taught us a lot of lessons. This is a wakeup call for the Philippine government to implement laws and programs on environmental management and disaster preparedness.”

Garilao added, “We ask our global leaders to reach out to developing countries like the Philippines in helping us craft an effective communications program to respond to disasters. The two storms that hit our country is a wakeup call for Philippine government and the society. For most of our fellow citizens, it is a traumatic experience so they are expecting the government and communities are alert of the super typhoons that may hit the country in the future.”

If they able to generate a significant number of votes, the Filipino advocates would represent the Philippines and raise environmental concerns with the leaders during the convention. This may also be aired on CNN/Youtube Debates on December 15.

“If we are given the chance to go to Copenhagen, we will return our key learning points to communities and government officials in the Philippines,” Garilao said to encourage everyone to translate their voices into actions against climate change.

I support these young guys effort. Stop complaining and blaiming each other voice out our grievances in proper venue and create awareness. I want to see them in Copenhagen let’s Vote for them.

Today I’m going to participate in the celebration of World’s Kindness Day which is organized by Mari-Lynn Harris in Bloggers Unite.org by blogging about the kindness I received through the years.

For those who know me they often ask me why I do voluntary work by being active in my organization, the Babaylan Denmark – The Philippine Women’s Network which is part of the Europe Wide Network of Filipinas. We empowered women not by giving them financial help but by conducting Orientations especially for aupairs who are misused by their host families, or by the selfish au pair agencies/agents or by  being drowned by the cultural madness or cultural shock in their host country. Most of the times we or I through the sites I authored get  queries almost about everything regarding Filipinas in trouble. I devote 30 % of my time to voluntary work which I’m glad my husband understand and support.

But you can not please everyone not even your own countrymen because we are always criticized which sometimes my relatives and friends always ask why I do it when I don’t earn anything from it. Our chairperson J.J. was  once questioned what are her motives in helping girls in troubles and how many people she know in our community and she was really hurt. This was an incident where we help a Filipina who we help when she filed a complain against her agent’s husband who allegedly tried to raped her but we did not forced her we just accompanied and supported her.  But I told her Quantity doesn’t matter but the QUALITY and the INTENTION to help is important. We really get a lot of criticisms with regard to women’s standing up and fighting for their rights and we stand up to principles no matter what kind of social status aupairs, house helps, mail order bride, expats etc. these womens are we still help them and I’m glad to be part of these strong Filipinas.

Personally I experienced kindness a lot of times in my lifetime so I want to pass it on to others who needs it. In my  voluntary work you meet a lot of people who needed help in any way but what I always tell them I don’t expect anything in return because most of the time they forget about it when they attained their goals but they should give it back or pass it on by showing kindness to others who might need it.

I think 1993 is the year that I can’t forget when our apartment was burned down by fire in Manila and we don’t have any  clothes to wear and a place to stay my neighbor let us stay in their apartment while  the other neighbors they gave us clothes. Another one who is a member of religious mission conducted fund raising and gave a enough amount of money to buy necessary appliances we that needed. My employee at that time gave me 10,000 Philippine pesos. These are kindness we received without asking for it. So we did not bother to ask our   relatives for help anymore and they don’t know how serious it was losing your home although it was only a rented apartment but the things we owned, the first appliances I bought and  the most important of all the  memories which includes our pictures and memorabilia were  gone.

When I met my husband the year of 2002 and decided to marry him, Denmark at that was time  was about to imposed a new law for family reunification, a stricter than the present one so we encountered a lot of problem with my staying permit. Then a man from Marriage without border (a Union for Danish married with a foreigner) told us where we can marry with very short waiting period and later he also was present in our wedding and be there to support us. Marriage or any wedding at all should be a beginning of a happy union but  it wasn’t for us, doubts, nervousness was overwhelming because what if they will send me out from the country, what will happen to us? is the question that popped on our head that time. Then all of a sudden a man a lawyer called Wilkins who was also married to a foreigner helped us to sign the application form and I tell you it was thick and with all kind of weird questions. He then photocopied my passport and he himself went to the Immigration Office and submitted it while we waited for him at the Central station with my passport for 4 hours and went straight to Malmö City in Sweden (only 30 mins train ride from CPH) and met the Mayor who welcomed us and told us that in Malmo they welcomes EU/Scandinavian Citizen with foreign partners to live there. So we were relieved to hear that we have a back up plan if ever I can’t get the approval from the Danish immigration but I did so here I am blogging about my life in Denmark. And that man Wilkins did not ask us for any fees but just imagine arguing and waiting for 4 hours out there in the immigration office, he was an angel sent down from heavens.

There’s still a lot that I can’t remember everything but I belive that if you give something good you get back in any other way. The law of karma. So whenever I help by just giving advice, offering our home, giving a decent meal, taking time to accompany to the hospital, in the social service, in the free legal assistance office, to the police, or just an instrument by finding ways where they can get are my way of giving back all the kindness I received from people I didn’t know and who did not ask something in return.

So I can say that kindness can make an impact to an individual. In this time of financial crisis and the recent floodings brought by the typhoons in the Philippines, kindness still prevails in the hearts of mankind no matter what the nationalities but their desire to help is there.

Thank you for the people who showed kindness to me and my family I will pass it on to my child and the people whom I meet. In my biology class I can remember that we are homo sapiens a higher level of animals but I can say that kindness is what separate us from the other animal species because we have a heart that knows no boundaries.

Happy KINDness day.

Maman, a beautiful sculpture by Louise Bourgeois

I was bruising my digital pictures way back in 2003 and I found this picture of a big spider around 30 ft. high.  It was taken by our second digital camera a 3.2 megapixel Kodak which I think it produced wonderful pictures inspite it was a little bit slow. It was taken during summer and it was exhibited in front of the Court house in Gammel Torv in Copenhagen. According to Wikipedia Louise Burgeois was born December 25, 1911 in Paris. She was a famous artist and sculpture and the Maman was most famous since it was exhibited by the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao which reminds me that I dream of visiting that wonderful piece of architecture by Frank Gehry.

This year all souls day will be  very painful for me and the rest of my family last year blog about remembering our dead not knowing just a few days my grandmother will past away on the 4h of November and later this june her son my father folowwed her. My father even went home to the Philippines to attend the funeral service of my grandmother and just as he came back in Madrid he was diagnosed with head tumor. It’s too much to take in just 7 months.

I did not saw my grandfather my on my father’s side but I can clearly remember we used to  visit his grave every November 1 in the cemetery just beside the beach. That’s only the time to see my father’s relative and that’s the only time for us young ones to get to know them since they leave in other cities. We waited until the big dragon candles my uncle used to bring form Manila the one you can buy in the Chinatown. Before November 1 I barely can remeber that there are padasal or prayers by our parish priest who go around and ask for the names of the dead family members and sometime a group of elders who prayed in latin well I don’t know it anybody still can pray in latin on our place.

Now it my time to light a  candle for tatay, my inang, my amang , my lolo on my mother’s side , all my relatives and all the victims of the recent typhoons  and at the same say a prayer that their soul may rest in peace.

Got a busy road ahead so you don’t see me post so often as I want to because of the following:

My school
In just 12 days its my exams in my semester. We will continue our project last semester the 5 Storey Refurbishment but we will deal with Tender Documentation and Work Area (contracts). Sometime I wish that I was still in my engineering days where there is a focus just memorize the theories, formulas and practice solving problems and you’re done. It’s different  in my field now or maybe just  in Denmark,  well according to exchange students classmates it’s tough you’re on your own here.

Teachers doesn’t really teach but just a guide/consultants,  you learn while you work on your project  then ask questions along the way its more of practical.  I need to make the plans, section & elevations, details and almost tons of documents which includes contracts, planning, costing, correspondence, computations, tender documents (Project description & work description) and so on and so forth. Then I will put everything in a series of slides in a Powerpoint presentation all documents and drawing should be saved as pdf file then drag them in the slides with hyperlink so teachers/examiners can open the documents. Paperless.

Here’s the scenario. I don’t need paper and pencil just dress a little bit and act like your presenting a project to a client and you stand beside a computer and open my file in the exam server and present the Powerpoint presention of my project in 10 minutes while the teachers and this time there 2 external examiners/censors (just like a board exam) who have their own laptops and lurking at some documents in their subjects while pretending to hear my presentations which kind of awkward while the external censors are trying to understand what I’m taking about. After that they ask questions and then leave the room and they deliberate what grade they should award to me 0- (fail but can retake the exam), 2 (barely passed), 4 (pass), 7 ( average), 10 (above average), 12 (excellent). Then they call me and give me my grad3. Average time all in all 30 mins for 3months of work. Watch out for  the next chapter.

Internship

I’m on the process of sending out my application for my 13 weeks internships to companies related to my degree. Most students find job in architectural firms since most of us are familiar with making plans and specially using Revit & Autocad Archiecture. I intend to find work in my specialization Facility Management which I got the future, Property developers, General Contractors, Consultants. Kind of hard considering too many companies are firing people but hey I’m free they should hire me. If my husband would let me I will go to the Philippines there’s a lot of architectural firms, General contractors, Project Managers etc.and I know a lot of them most of them were my clients before.  My  plan was to take my son with me because I can afford a babysitter or my cousin can watch him I just hope  my hubby will  approve but he said he can’t live alone.  Watch out for the next chapter

Babaylan Activities

I did attend a lot of meetings in the community especially with the visit of the new ambassador to the Philippines who holds office in Norway. Every Wednesday we have telephone consultancy with aupair problems and other women’s problems like separations, divorce etc. beside all the emails, sms, phone calls  I have to answer. I sometimes helps with the Babaylan Denmark website and administer Facebook, twitter etc.

On Nov. 5-7 we will be in Greece for the Babaylan Europe Conference coinciding with the UNCommission on  Migration which we will also attend. Nov. 20 we will have the first ever Au Pair conference in Norway to tackle the Au Pair problem in Norway and Denmark.

My Family

I’m taking care of my son who has 5 days old diarrhea there’s  no medicine because its a gastrointestinal virus so it means I have to work at home not able to avail of the consultancy form the teachers until its over. Thanks to Disney Clubhouse and Nickelodeon I can work with interruptions but he’s a nice patient  full of stories and questions.

After almost a month I been able to visit my sister’s new apartment away from us she used to live just one floor under our flat. I miss her already especially I can’t just leave my son when I have  an urgent meeting to her and I’m lazy to cook my own food. But I’m so proud of her after 1 year at a big hotel she’s now a manager and now owns a flat. Sorry guys she’s married and have a kid.

I have a friend who is so tactless who told me bluntly that ” Oh ate Ana your sister beat you she already buying her own flat after only 4 years in DK while youre already 7 years” I told her it’s not a competition and I’m happy and right now it’s only my husband who earns/ got job. We will get into that when I start to work fulltime. In my life now material things doesn’t makes me happy but doing something for women and the community like helping poor aupairs/women makes me fulfilled as person and of course seeing my family in good health and able to travel once in a while. The most important thing is the time I spend with my family which I cherish the most beside my voluntary work.

I’m lucky to have a husband like mine who supports me and my passion. I love him. I love my son and I love my life. I’m lucky also to do all these things here in my adopted country where everything is possible.

Today is the 1st Monday of October month is the World’ Habitat Day which was designated by United Nation to be celebrated every year.

According to the United Nations, more than 100 million people in the world today are homeless. Millions more face a severe housing problem living without adequate sanitation, with irregular or no electricity supply and without adequate security.

And this year’s theme is Planning our Urban Future which I think is very timely. I will focus about the Philippines and the urban problems and where I lived in the metropolis Manila or Metro Manila.
As of January 2009 the population is estimated as of July 2008 is 96.2 millions. I spent 17 years of my life in the Metro Manila which is composed of 16 cities and 1 municipality. There a 11 million people living in the metropolis and it is one of the megacities in world.

The government estimates that between 2005 and 2010, the country needs some 3.8 million new homes, with demand concentrated in Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon. In Metro Manila, more than 126,000 families live in the slums, particularly on low-lying floodplains, precarious slopes, exposed riverbanks and within highly toxic zones close to highways and railroads, along waterways, near transmission lines, as well as at airports, dumps, markets and other areas that are unfit for settlement.

Floods brought by Typhoon Ketsana in Metro Manila

But as of today the number of skyrocketed because of the recent typhoons that hit the Philippines just in a matter of a week 2 typhoons left thousand homeless and damage livelihood and claimed hundreds of  lives. Just the recent typhoon Ketsana locally know as Ondoy which according to the latest update by NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating council) left 288 dead and some still missing, 797, 404 families were affected. Just in Metro Manila alone there are 145,776 families who were affected and probably lost their homes.  The Habitat for Humanity Philippines is not only building home for the homeless but they actively helping the typhoon victims in Metro Manila where they actively working with Philippine Red Cross in addressing sanitation facilities in the evacuation areas.

I personally like the idea of Habitat for Humanity because as a Filipino where we helping each other is deeply rooted in our culture which we call it it “Bayanihan” or as google translated it to collaboration. Why will I support the habitat because they don’t provide free housing but provide pride and dignity to marginalized sector of the society who can’t afford any decent shelters. By making them a partner they will do the labor by building their own home and other homes of the community thus reducing the cost of the construction.But I think the most important part it they will be taught to be socially responsible that is becoming a part of the community and by paying their mortgages regularly becoming financially responsible thus providing their family with children with comfortable and better future.But in order for them to help break the poverty cycle we need to support and donate to the Habitat for Humanity.

What can we do to World Habitat Day?

ADVOCATE- EDUCATE-DONATE

Advocate- We can actively involve in asking or lobbying to the politicians in your area to prioritize Housing bills. Pass the legislation that would prioritize adequate and affordable housing.
EDUCATE your community with Habitat for Humanity’s World Habitat Day handbook to learn more about the importance of secure tenure and neighborhood revitalization.  Get even more information about the issue of insecure tenure by reading Habitat’s Shelter Report: building a secure future through effective land policies.

Brainstorm ways to get more people involved. Learn from the successes of last year’s campaign, and come up with brand-new ways to celebrate and publicize the important work of Habitat for Link to Habitat for Humanity’s World Habitat Day 2009 resources page on your social media pages, personal web site or blog to spread the word and raise awareness.

DONATE to be a part of making the world a better place and support Habitat’s efforts. Donate online today!

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.

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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.

Sept. 21 every year marks the International Day of Peace which was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002. It is a global campaign which different organizations joins in whatever way; it can be through meditation, prayer,lighting a candle or by blogging which I wasn’t able to do that day. But last night when I heard the news that President Obama chaired UN security council summit unanimously approved the passing of the resolution that envisaged a world without nuclear weapon, I have to post about it. He said it may happen in our lifetime but we can rally or pray that our present leaders will do the right thing.

In my motherland, the Philippines I also heard few days ago that there was a fight between the military and the Abu Sayaff group where there were a lot of casualties but when will the conflict will end?. There are always conflict everywhere even here in the little kingdom of Denmark once in while we are shaken by the conflict of the gangs,between the local gang and the gangs of the 2nd generation foreigners and the nationalist hate of the foreigners. There are also the conflicts of some of the Filipino organizations who doesn’t know the real meaning of community service and families who cannot agree with each other.
We can not heal the world but for me let us first look inside our selves and start with finding our inner peace then we will later be at peace with our family and love ones then to the world outside our homes.

I only believe and live from what I learned from my theology class that is  is “To love God and your neighbor”. We should accept and respect the diversity of human beings. But it is easier said than done but for me I will say a little prayer that God bless us and give us the the wisdom to respect each other.

Learn more about the International Peace at their website.

Visit also BloggersUnite for other events or much better join and post an event you cared about.

Peace to all!!!