“THE GREAT PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE” #atozchallenge2014

NOTE: Ugh. I thought I scheduled this properly for the A-to-Z Challenge. Sorry…

 

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Megan Young, Miss World 2013

Lately, the Philippines has been getting positive attention, what with Filipinas currently dominating international beauty pageants. Several artists of Filipino blood, especially YouTube sensations that Ellen Degeneres and Oprah Winfrey got to have as guests in their shows, have somehow let the world know (well, those who got to watch, at least) that we are a race of generally good singers. Our white-sand beach, Boracay, has been consistently considered as one of the top beaches in the world. (See vids. First is singer Charice‘s as introduced to the world in “The Ellen Degeneres Show.” Second is a show featuring Boracay called “Ang Pinaka” [“The Most]”. You’ll understand most of it due to the visuals and alternating Filipino-English dialogues/narration)

And then just last year, the world witnessed how a tragedy that hit the country brought out the best in my fellowmen/women, with the spirit of what we call bayanihan (read as “buy-uh-nee-hun”) or communal unity alive and our propensity to still be able to smile despite the circumstances. I’d like to think that aside from or instead of the word coming from bayan, which means town or community, the root word is actually bayani, meaning hero.

People from all walks of life gave donations and helped pack, sometimes even deliver, relief goods to the many Filipinos affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda last year

Still, these are not enough to erase the various stigmas that have been associated with our race. However, I would rather not think of the negatives, but of the positives. Much of the negatives have been borne out of racism, stereotyping and, in the recent case of people who claimed to be well-informed food  bloggers (yet they seemed too uninformed, misinformed and unprofessional-slash-unethical writers), utter clueless-ness.

I believe that I live in a GREAT nation that has the capacity to become GREATER, to rise from the ashes when Life has beaten us down time and again.

I want you to know more about my country. No, it is not to sugar-coat the negatives, rather to emphasize the positives. So let me share to you my article The Great Philippine Experience (to get there, please click on the title). I will hope that after reading, you’ll at least have a better impression of my country and my people. 🙂

 

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Did you like what you read and/or saw? If yes, then I’m happy. Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment below.

This post is a part of the …

 

An Open Letter to CNN (just sharing)

I’m not feeling good and need to go home. Was going to shut down this laptop until I read the letter. So I decided to share it before I head for home.

A Filipino executive sent a letter to CNN. He says, “Last night, I listened to a CNN reporter wondering about the absence of night flights in Tacloban, in the context of the government not doing enough to bring in relief goods. It was like listening to newbie executives from Tokyo, London or the USA with no real international experience, yet assuming that their country’s rules and circumstances applied equally to the rest of the world. That was the proverbial last straw: I knew I had to react and call your attention to a few things.”

This is the FILIPINO EXECUTIVE’S LETTER TO CNN’s ANDERSON COOPER.

Komikon for a Cause

I went to last Saturday’s Komikon again. I felt that there seemed to be less exhibitors and it really should have not come as a surprise, given the recent events in the country. Then again, it was also just probably because there was a considerably noticeable decrease in the number of fans in the morning. The good thing was they swarmed the place yet again by early afternoon. Ah, my faith in my fellow comics fans is restored.

If this seems crowded enough to you, it doesn’t really do much justice as there were much more people

I really do get where they were in the morning. Due to Super Typhoon Yolanda, many well-meaning groups have put it upon themselves to come up with events ASAP for the benefit of the victims. Last weekend alone, there were several events happening all at the same time, three of which were for fun runs alone. Ergo, people had to see where best or first to go. Personally, whatever they chose would sound just as fine. The real priority were our fellowmen needing our help. Most of the artists whom my friend Sherwin and I got to approach and even talk to were to donate the proceeds to the victims. More or less two weeks before, too, Johnny Danganan and friends already began a fundraising, allowing artists a chance to help more by donating works that were to be auctioned for the benefit of Yolanda victims. It was definitely a big success! Per his report, they were able to raise PhP54,000 in cash then and, as of this writing, PhP44,500 more to collect plus $200. Include as well stuff that people donated in kind. I say, JOB WELL DONE!!!! Well, if you guys missed last Saturday’s Komikon, you have another chance this coming Saturday at The Fort. Meet artists, purchase their comics, and maybe even have a go at bidding for chosen artworks at  “ART WITH A HEART” –  FUND RAISING EVENT AT THE FORT.

Relief for Super Typhoon Yolanda. For more info, kindly click HERE.

That said, kindly allow me to share some photos in my next post later. And before you get any ideas or react violently, no, this is not a case of being insensitive. This kind of issue I will have to tackle some other day.

THESE CHILDREN NEED YOUR HELP

On October 8, 2011, I posted an article about this non-government organization and shared the article I wrote for them. I am saying this to let you know that SOS Children’s Villages Philippines is NOT a bogus NGO, in case anyone doubts immediately. I know they are real and I can vouch for them because I used to work for them. Anyway, I am really posting because this is the best way I can think of to be able to really help them in this time of need. Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) has devastated the SOS Tacloban Village and traumatized the kids.

Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike, kindly send donations either in cash or in kind. The children especially need help. The Village is their family. They have gone through a lot in their young lives already and this is already too much! SOS Children’s Villages Philippines has been giving underprivileged kids homes they can call their own for more than 40 years. I know you might be helping Tacloban already, but I am still appealing for more hearts to send help as well to this Village.

This is their most recent update in Facebook, as of this writing:

Kindly send donations for the sake of the kids living in the SOS Tacloban Village