Oh shampoo, day! May libre kang toothpaste! May libre kang toothbrush!

Love it or hate it but 90's babies can't deny the fact that this double meaning song lyrics was just too tempting not to be chanted especially during drinking sessions with friends.

It's from one of the many catchy songs by Grin Department, a band who out of no where conquered the airwaves and walkmans some 20 years ago.  Iskin, Iniwan. Syota ng Bayan, Di ko alam... the list goes on.  Now, I feel like doing a GD marathon.

Now here's the thing, I saw in Facebook a plea from Gege Pascacio, daughter of Bong who was the lead vocal of the band.  Currently, Bong is confined at the Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila due to Chronic Abdominal Decease and needs to go through a surgery anytime soon.

His family is at their lowest nowadays since their house in Sta. Mesa was burned into ashes after a big fire hit their area recently.  They were not able to save anything and are in deep financial problem.

Anyone can help by either donating type AB blood or Php 1,500 for each of the eight (8) blood bags that Bong needs.  I'm pretty sure they need more help than this since after the operation, medications will still be required for Bong.

I hope his friends from the music industry can read this post.  If you think you can help the Pascasio family, you can reach Aling Sylvia, Bong's mother at tel. no. 0946-8837508.

I hope Bong can overcome this trial and will be given another chance to showcase his talent.  I want to hear him sing again this lyrics from his song Barkada:

"...ang kalokohan ay di mawawala
hindi na dapat pinag iisipan pa
lahat tayo ay dapat magsaya!"
 

Send cash donation via text messages to Smart and/ or Globe

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.

It's only a couple of weeks from now and the whole world will be celebrating Christmas day.

Personally, I am excited for my son Charles on how he would react in all the gifts that my wife and I have brought for him. It's my biggest joy to see his face light up and smile. Whatever that can make him happy is now my lifelong quest.

This morning, as I check my mails and Facebook notifications, an image made me pause for awhile and gave me goosebumps.  It was a hand-written letter from a 6-year old boy named Yuri looking for his mommy Collen Gabrido who went missing since Dec. 6 of this year.  I may not be his father but I can feel his pain of longing for his mom.

Well, this is the first time I'll admit it but sometimes my son seems to look for something that only his mommy can give.  I'll act silly, bring out all the toy and sing along with Disney characters shownon TV when Charles is crying but sometimes I just can't make him stop.  Then, when his mommy comes to the rescue, I don't know what potion she have that she can make him laugh in an instant.

I feel for Yuri. And also for his dad.  My blogger friend Myk Rome, who personally the Gabrido family, was the one who informed me about the incident.



Spreading across social media platforms in the Philippines especially on Facebook is a photo of a woman named Coleen Gabrido who has been reportedly missing since December 6, 2011. What moved me is the letter of a child to his mommy.



 According to Coleen's husband, his wife left home at about 1pm to attend to a review class and never came back. Coleen is a registered nurse and is recently attending a class for her IELTS (International English Language Testing System) for their family's plans to go abroad (Australia/Canada). Before she left their house, Coleen messaged her husband at about 12:40pm on December 6 saying, "Dad, papasok na ako. (Dad, I'm going to school)". That was the last text he received from her. The review center is just 15 minutes away from their home.

Coleen's husband tried to contact her mobile phone upon finding that his wife hasn't returned yet nor replied back to his messages. Her phone was still ringing in December 6 but next day, December 7 after 5pm, she can no longer be contacted.



Coleen is about 5'4" tall with an estimated weight 120-125lbs.  The young mom at 26 had with her, her Nine West black shoulder bag, mobile phone, books and wallet. She did not leave their house with any extra clothing to dispute thoughts that she might have run away. From her review class, Coleen usually arrives at around 10-10:30pm but she did not get to come home since the night of December 6, 2011.

The Gabrido family has already filed a police report but it has been 8 days now. Yuri is very sad and very worried about her mom. Please help Yuri find his mom... it's his only Christmas wish. Have a heart to help in the search.
 
If you have seen Coleen or if you have any information about her whereabouts, please contact immediately  +639159013848 / email limp13ph@yahoo.com

All photos and text below where taken from The Social Media Chameleon's Racing Thoughts.

A Dutch study suggests that regular consumption of cocoa may halve risk of dying and lower blood pressure.

On a report posted in www.chocolate.org, at five year intervals over a 15-year period, 470 men aged over 65 were questioned about their dietary intake of cocoa and received physical examinations. The men were placed in three groups according to their level of cocoa consumption and data about their health was collected. During the study, 314 men died, 152 due to cardiovascular disease.

“The men in the group that consumed the least cocoa were twice as likely to die from a heart attack than those in the group that consumed the most cocoa – at least 4g per day – and the risk remained lower even when other factors such as smoking, physical exercise and weight were taken into account,” says lead researcher Brian Buijsse, at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. “And men in the study who consumed the most cocoa were less likely to die of any cause,” he adds.

It is also through chocolates that high school classmates of Percival Baccay hopes that they can help their friend who was diagnosed recently with Nasopharyngeal cancer. 

This type of cancer affects the nasopharynx, the upper part of the pharynx (throat) behind the nose.  Air and food pass through the pharynx on the way to the trachea or the esophagus. An opening on each side of the nasopharynx leads into an ear. Nasopharyngeal cancer most commonly starts in the squamous cells that line the oropharynx (the part of the throat behind the mouth).

Percival is in need of support from anyone who is willing to help him go through his medications and medical procedures.  One way of lending a helping hand is by purchasing Percy’s Chocolates, home-made goodies prepared by his classmates from high school to raise funds.


Each box only cost P50 each and every centavos that will be earned will be given to Percival’s family and another classmate of their batch, Dra. Sarah Moral who was diagnosed with leukemia.  To order, kindly send a PM to Jacky Fagarita or Wency Ponggay Toscano via Facebook.

Remember that in every bite of Percy’s Chocolate that you’ll take gives a ray of hope for this good man.

I was 12 and she was 10 then.

No, this is not a love story but this post is definitely full of love for a dear friend who I have never seen for almost 18 years.  A classmate from high school posted a note about her and was delighted to read about it only to find out an unexpected  news.

Well, let me introduce her first.  She is Dra. Sarah Moral.  Actually, it was only my sister Connie, her classmate in high school for 4 years, who informed me that she did become a doctor which is not a surprise to me.  She is a smart little girl who loves to collects medals in our school, Niño Jesus House of Studies (NJHS).

Back in high school, I was sort of his kuya.  Our school is not really big so students can really make friends from other grade levels.  I can’t remember how many times I was assigned as their class "big brother for a day” every time their adviser was on leave.  She made my task easier because she is a natural leader who would take over the group initiating educational games and activities rather than spending time in one corner of the blackboard and making a list of who were noisy and standing.

She was also a co-member in our dear Cultural Club in NJHS.  It is in that group that I discovered and developed talents I never knew I had. One proud moment was when beat the colossal Rizal High School (RHS), that time was the biggest high school in the world as per the Guiness Book of Records, in the Sabayang Pagbigkas category, a city-wide competition that RHS ruled for years.

I also had the privilege of being an officer of the Student Council of our school where Sarah was also elected.  Meetings were fun, makulit but productive.  After I left NJHS in 1993, I never heard of her until I was introduced to Ramen for Sarah.    

Ramen for Sarah was created out of our compelling desire to bring together all of Dra. Sarah Moral's family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues to rally behind her and support her in her fight against cancer.*

The word "ramen" originated from the Chinese (Mandarin) word "la miàn" meaning "pulled noodles." Noodles, according to Chinese belief, symbolize longevity and are often served during Chinese New Year and birthdays. It's is widely believed that eating noodles signify long life to the person consuming them.

Sarah is in need of our prayers and financial support. We will be organizing a series of fundraisers in the coming weeks and months to raise the money needed to subsidize her hospital care and treatment. For those who wish to contribute financially, you may make a deposit to any BDO branch:

Account No:1420055044 (BDO Rockwell Ortigas)
Account Name: Philip Lance A. Liu OR Miranila E. Hernandez (for check donations, please address to either person)

Please send an email to ramenforsarah@hotmail.com once you've made the deposit so we can acknowledge its receipt. Any amount is very much appreciated!

Thank you for who ever will be touched of this post and would support her.  Let's continue to pray for Sarah's full recovery. She has saved lives for years.  Now it's time that we help her save hers.

*Dra. Sarah Moral was diagnosed last June 28, 2011 with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

I received a message from one of my FB friends, Omar Itay who is one of the organizers of the fund-raising event Survive: An Open Shoot For A Cause to be held on May 29, 2011 (9 am - 6 pm) at the
Rainforest Park, Maybunga, Pasig City.
   
Here's the message that I got from Omar:

We have organized an OPEN PHOTO SHOOT wherein proceeds will be donated to one of our colleagues who was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. He is the only child and His parents are already of senior age. Sadly, his mother has diabetes

Registration Fee: 500 pesos only.

Inclusive of 4 High Resolution Photos of your choice (SOFT COPY)
Hair and Make Up

Early Reservations will received additional 1 High Resolution Photo (Soft Copy)
Just deposit the registration fee to the below Account

Hair and Make Up Artist: Darvin Macabales
Photographer: Renen Narido, Alvin Elizalde, Jeff Romualdo, Dhen Caballero

** BPI - JAYSON ILAGAN - 481-906-1318

For Reservations and Inquiries: Pls Contact
Jayel: 09175074174
Laiza: 09173582661

* We are also in need of Volunteer Hair and Make-Up artists & Photographers who are willing to share their talents for a Cause. Kindly contact same people. 

You can also to the FB page of the event and share it on your wall.  Just click HERE to visit the site.

February is considered as the month of love basically because Valentine's day is celebrated during this month. I just hope that we would celebrate the occasion not just by giving roses, chocolates, flowers and stuff to our loved ones.

Why not do something for a stranger who is in need like Gabrielle C. Zamora, a 9-year old kid suffering from a congenital heart disease called “Tetralogy of Fallot”. Gabrielle has already undergone” five operations”

After 2 years of open heart surgery the problem occurred on the “Trans Annular Patch”. According to the doctors of the Phil. Heart Center an operation needs to be done immediately to prevent another attack that would cause of blood infection going to his brain, heart malfunction and possible cause of his death.

His mother, Gelitie Zamora, is asking from your good heart for any help and assistance you could extend for her child's operation on Feb. 20, 2011. Gabrielle needs Php 320,000.00 for his VSD Device Closure at Philippine Heart Center.

If you are interested to send any assistance, just go to this LINK.

I don't want to be the Grinch this Valentine's day but I bet your sweetheart would appreciate you more if she finds out that the reason why you did not give her flowers or chocolates (which cost like gold during this time) this year, is that you helped a boy who is need of a lot of loving hearts. After all, the very essence of heart's day is the love that connects two people and not the gifts that we give and receive.

It broke my heart when I saw this news feature about Kneekos, a 7-year old boy from Bulacan who is suffering from a rare illness. Please take time to read about him and if you have extra something that you think can help Kneekos and his family, their contact info are indicated in the latter part of this post.

Below is the actual write-up posted last Nov. 5 on www.inquirer.net:

Kneekos Cortes, a 7-year-old boy from Marilao, Bulacan, suffers from Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis, a rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that causes psychoneurological deterioration, seizures, myoclonic spasms/jerks and decline in body functions.

Kneekos has been given one year to live by his doctors at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital where he is now confined.

Despite the prognosis, his mother, Carmelita, is hopeful that a miracle is not impossible.
The family’s present financial resources is not enough to help pay for the medicines the boy needs. His mother earns little as a house caretaker.

Kneekos has seven siblings, two of whom currently live with relatives. His eldest brother has stopped schooling to be able to help augment the family’s income.

Kind-hearted readers can contact Dr. Mary Gay Marasigan at 09175434788 if they want to help Kneekos. Donations can be coursed through his mother, Lita, by calling her at 09993281339 or through KIDS Foundation at 532-6907 or Tess Bucayan at 0917-8223520.

Image taken from filstar.com.ph

Christmas is just around the corner. Well in our country, the anticipation starts on the first day of the Ber months.

Just in case you're thinking of a good gift to your love ones, why not consider sending those faraway home with a greeting card. Sure, sending snail mails or post card maybe a thing of a past for some people but many still appreciates receiving cards from love ones because you know that that person who sent that letter pour in his/ her heart out in writing a massage for you. I know because I have worked for two years as an OFW.

Then I read this item from www.filstar.com:

With compassion and hope as its prime driving force, Filstar has teamed up with the Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment (l.i.f.e.) Foundation to create the charitable venture, Hallmark for l.i.f.e. Since its inception in 1995, Hallmark for l.i.f.e. has brought about the creation of a support system that raised public awareness and generated funds for young leukemic indigents through the sale of specially crafted Christmas cards.

Now on its 15th year, Hallmark for l.i.f.e. renews its commitment to these children whose tomorrows deserve a second chance. The 2010 collection of Hallmark for l.i.f.e. reflects the grandeur and sincerity of the Filipino celebration of Christmas. What has made this collection even more special are the local painters, photographers and art collectors who came together and wholeheartedly contributed their works to this noble cause.

Hallmark for l.i.f.e. Year 15 Collection features the masterpieces of famed artist Manuel Baldemor, Nani Reyes, Jovito Andres, Bernardo Maac, Dr Dan Lerma, Mamerto Ronan Yñigo, Dante Hipolito, Vincent “Bing” Reyes, Ysa Gernale, Charlie Val and Francis Nacion.

Christmas is a perfect time for people to strengthen the bonds with their fellowmen. Hallmark provides an opportunity to achieve that and even more. Through Hallmark for l.i.f.e., anyone can bring happiness, inspire hope and save lives with just a greeting card.

Hallmark cards are available in leading bookstores nationwide.

As a member of the Aklan Socio-Civic Association (ASCA), I am on the look for any worthy project that we can conduct notr only in the province but also for other areas as well.

While searching onlinbe, I was routed to the official website of Global Volunteer Network who actually has an open call for individual and/ or group volunteers

Here's some info I got from the said website...

Volunteering Projects in Philippines. Join programs in teaching, health, environment, school building and maintenance, and cultural exchange, centered in Manila and in the Romblon province. You can choose from the following programs where you want to engage into:

Children's Program
School Building and Maintenance Program
Environment Program
Teaching Program
Health Program

Interested parties just need to fill-out a form posted in the website and a representative from the group will contact you.

Any information about the whereabouts of Ellen Decena will be much appreciated.  Please pass/ share this post to your friends to help help family in locating her.

As indicated in the image above, she has a mental disability so just in case you happen to see her, you can approach police authorities to assist you in securing her while getting in touch to her family.

It's been years now that I wanted to participate in a fun run or run for a cause event.  It just that every time I plan of joining one, one reason or another will get on my way and forget the whole plan.

One of my "missions to accomplish" before the 2010 end is to join at least one of the scheduled runs this year.  Via goggle, I was able to find some one event per month along with their advocacy. 

PBA Run for a Cause (July 31 @ MOA) for the beneficiaries: Cancer and Hematology Department. of PCMC- Children sufferring from CANCER.

Run To Read (August 15 @ Bonifacio Global City) was designed to raise funds to build and restore libraries for less fortunate communities in various parts of the Philippines

Race to Save the Barako Tree (September 4 @ The Fort) which  aims to raise funds in support of the farmers who grow and preserve the native Barako Tree which is believed to produce one of the world's finest coffee.

Run for Pasig River (October 10) with various starting points but all events converge at the SM Mall of Asia:

    * 3K: SM Mall of Asia
    * 5K: Luneta Park
    * 10K: Bonifacio Global City
    * 21K: SM Marikina

Now, my running shoes will finally taste its true essence of existence (I hope).

I found this news about the HOPE Donor Card from www.inquirer.net:

"Over the past decade, the Philippines has gained an international reputation as a hub for the illegal traffic in human organs from living donors, with some hospitals catering to wealthy foreign patients requiring kidney transplants.
The DOH head issued an administrative order on the program, which she said “shall set the policies and guidelines for a deceased donors program for our country that will be feasible, equitable and ethical.”

At the same time, the nongovernmental group, Human Organ Preservation Effort (HOPE) launched its “Organ Donor Card Project.”

A HOPE donor card is the “equivalent of a legal consent document” allowing an individual to donate any of his body organ or organs shortly after his death.

"Before a person can become a cadaver donor, he or she must be certified as brain dead.

Once tagged as brain dead, among the organs that can be harvested from the donor include kidneys, the liver, bone marrow, pancreas, lungs, corneas and the heart.

For those without HOPE donor cards, a signed consent of the nearest kin is needed.

On the other hand, the only organs that can be donated under “living-related organ donations” are one kidney, bone marrow and a part of the liver, provided they would not cause any danger to the donor’s life."

For interested parties, you may call the HOPE office located at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) at tel nos. 924-3601 to 19 or you may visit www.redcop.org.

I saw this missing person announcement from the multiply site of Araneta Center. FYI just in case you happen to see an old man whom you suspect might be lost. Advance thank you for those who can give a tip of information of his whereabouts.


64-year-old Dante Millar was last seen at Ali Mall on July 7 wearing a white sando and floral shorts.

He is sick, walks very slow and has poor vision without his eyeglasses.

If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please call 0920.9242799

I am launching my newest blog today. I call this my advocacy blog with the aim of bridging those people in need to those who are willing to give.

For months now, It has been fun sharing online treasures (freebies, promotions, contests) to the readers of my contest blog Mapanghingi Ka Ba? Then I came to realize that if there are people who like to win free stuff, there should be some people out there who would love to share something to others.

Thus, Mapagbigay Ka ba is born! I want to see this blog as a source of information as to where people can go if they want to give or donate stuff. I'll be more than glad to welcome suggestions, tips and comments from you, guys. So, this blog will be a helpful tool for every Juan in need.

Some of you might be wondering, why on Earth I chose a cartoon character like Eek the Cat as an image post this post. We'll, I was a big fan of this cartoon series from the 90's. Eek is a very funny feline whose only intention in life is to do good but often end up in misadventures by doing so. But he never let troubles to stop him. With broken limbs, swollen head and scarred face he would still proudly shout out his famous line "It never hurts to help"