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This year's holiday season will go down as one of the saddest Christmas to many Filipinos especially those living in the provinces that were affected by killer typhoon Sendong.

According to a report from Unicef, almost 200,000 children were affected by the flash flood brought by Sendong.  What's more depressing is the fact that more than a thousand lives were also taken and another thousand people are still reported missing.

I am just proud that I am part of an organization like People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) under the leadership of outgoing President Bong Austero who immediately released funds to help out affected employees of our member companies based in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City.  It's our own little way of reaching out to them, especially to CDO who adopted us for a week during a PMAP event held in the city last October.

I was also inspired by friends and fellow bloggers based in CDO who has been active in conducting fund-raising activities for our kababayan in spite of the fact that they too are victims of Sendong.  One of them told me that "you'll be moved by the scenes when you are here.  You will feel that you're just lucky that you did not experience what they have gone through and that's my motivation to help them in the possible ways I can"

Yesterday, my family spent lunch at McDonalds in Proj. 4, QC and I consider it one special day not because of the holiday celebration but more on the joy that I felt when we brought something to donate for the victims of Sendong. It was the first time that I actually made extra effort to share something for the needy since I stopped doing a yearly gift-giving activity in 2007, the year I lost my daughter and younger brother in a span of three months.


Prior to that date, I've been organizing activities like feeding programs and donation drive for Christmas using a portion of my 13th month pay since 1997.  But I somewhat lost the excitement and the Christmas spirit when I got hit with a back-to-back personal tragedies.

Typhoon Sendong may have brought sadness to the lives of thousands of people but it's really amazing how hope can do wonders.  Hope touches even the heart of stone, uplift spirit, and unite a nation.  Personally, my heart was broken many times looking at the images of mothers cradling lifeless bodies of their children, people crying out for help and sad faces of children.  But I have to admit, it awaken me to relive a good deed that I should have not ceased doing in the first place.  I have just pushed the "reset" button and will do more action than just writing for this advocacy blog.  

For those who have old clothes, foot wears, bedding, canned goods and other useful things to donate, McDonalds outlets nationwide are accepting donations for the victims of Sendong.  Below are other organizations who have also offered their services and accepts your donations:

Inquirer Relief Drive
1098 Chino Roces Ave.
Cor MAscardo and Yague Sts.
Makati City

GMA Kapuso Foundatrion
2nd Floor GMA Netwrok Bldg.
GMA Drive, Diliman, QC

All LBC outlets nationwide.

For cash donations, you can visit any outlet of 7-Eleven or Cebuana Lhuiller or log on to www.worldvision.org.ph or www.unicef.ph.

All dog lovers, especially owners of Aspin (Asong Pinoy) should support this campaign/ advocacy. As a dog owner, I really wanted to be part of PAWS programs but could not find an opportunity to do so. On my own little way of spreading the news, I hope this can reach out to those who really care for animals. Below is an announcement published in Philippine Star last July 3, 2010.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), in cooperation with Eastwood City and Pet Express, invites all aspin owners to have their pets pampered in "DOGGIE DAY OUT!", the second event of the PAWS Aspin Club to be held at the Eastwood Central Plaza on August 7 (sat) from 11am to 330pm.

The PAWS Aspin Club aims to improve how Filipinos view & treat native and mixed-breed dogs by celebrating the unique characteristics of these dogs and helping people make the right choice - the choice to care for aspins and be responsible dog owners.

This fund raising event will offer FREE dog baths, grooming service, dog massage, vet consultation, pet photo area and doggie treats to all existing members of the PAWS Aspin Club as well as those who will register their Aspins that day during the event.

The club is open to all native and mixed-breed dogs which must be friendly to both humans and other dogs. Dogs must be leashed at all times and owners must show their updated vaccination records upon registration.

The P250 annual membership fee will go to the PAWS Animal Shelter which takes care of aspins rescued from cruelty and neglect.

Registration starts 11am and will be open until the end of the event.

For inquiries, text 0917-8352405 or email pawsaspinclub@yahoo.com.

When I was young, one of my fantasies is to someday see my self acting on TV or in a film. I just thought that an actor's life is perfect and he will live happily ever after just like in the movies.

Well, here's two stories that will show that actors also go through ups and downs just like the ordinary us. I am posting this piece about local artists Angelika de la Cruz and Dick Israel just in case some of their fans would like to help them.

Here's an excerpt from Ms. Giselle Sanchez' column Gossip Girl posted at mb.com.ph:

Barely a month ago, drama actress Angelika de la Cruz lost her brother, Navotas councilor-elect Councilor Edward dela Cruz from a freak accident where his brother was run over by a truck. After a few weeks, she loses her uncle to pancreatitis. And now she is faced with another tribulation in her life as her brother Erick’s lungs collapsed and is in need of a lung transplant.

Her best friend in showbiz Jodi Sta. Maria empathized with Angelika being the breadwinner of the family who now has to pay funeral and medical bills way beyond what she is earning. Empathy turned into action as Jodi organized a fund-raising activity last July 10 in Barrakz Bar on Morato with Alamid, Francine Prieto, Diana Zubiri and many other stars who contributed their talents. Angelika’s brother Erick dela Cruz is still confined at the Lung Center. Parties who are interested to donate may drop their donations at BPI Family Savings Bank number 7526117543 under the account name of Ma. Lourdes Casareo.

Dick Israel was taping for a television program in ABS-CBN when he encountered a stroke which almost led to aneurism. His showbiz friends Marissa Sanchez and Richard Merk decided to raise funds for his hospital bills and therapy. “Iba na ang Masamang Damo, Mabuhay ka Dick Israel” will be the title of the show that will feature several stars and singers in Merk’s Bar and Restaurant in Greenbelt Makati on July 26.

Please call Merk’s at 7574720 for tickets. Those interested to donate directly to Dick Israel may drop it at the bank account of Dick’s doting wife Melinda Michaca, PS Bank 166111011305.