Michele Obama serves lunch in a soup kitchen

As many charitable people have done through the ages, giving one’s time to assist the poor is one of the best ways to help the community. That’s what US First Lady Michele Obama did on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, DC when she served food for the homeless.

While the economic crisis deepens, people need encouragement to assist those who’re in need—just like what this privately-funded charity has been doing for the more than 2 decades. (Photo Credit: AFP/ Tim Sloan) =0=

Update on Operation Blessings: Wheelchair distribution in Bicol

Operation Blessings

by Dr. Josephine R. Bundoc

Operation Blessing (OB,) the charitable project which aims to give away wheelchairs to indigent disabled amputees in March has set its guidelines in the selection of recipients from Bicol. Since the available wheelchairs are limited, Ibalonian Dr. Josephine R. Bundoc, consultant of the UP-PGH Rehabilitation Medicine Department has the following guidelines in the conduct of the charitable giving:

Requirements of Operation Blessings for the wheelchair recipients are:

1. Name, age, medical diagnosis and reason(s) for needing a wheelchair: a
physician’s signature is preferred, but not required.
2. DSWD Case Study report on the recipient
3. Barangay certificate that the recipient is a resident of the barangay.

Operation Blessings’ counterparts— the LGUs, NGOs or partner(s) are enjoined to assist in the following:

1. Board and lodging of the O.B. team (normally 6 personnel) for 2-3 days
2. Venue for distribution – preferably gym or something like the Naga Civic Center
3. Transportation expenses of wheelchairs
4. Manpower to assist in wheelchair assembly

Operation Blessings plans to distribute free wheelcharis in Bicol on the 3rd to 4th week of March. For Camarines recipients, Daet, Camarines Norte will be the stop-over before Naga City and Camarines Sur. The distribution team will then proceed to Tabaco, Santo Domingo, Legaspi, Tiwi in Albay province, and subsequently proceeding to Sorsogon City in Sorsogon Province.

Ibalonians within and in between the above-mentioned areas may submit requirements of potential recipients before Feb 15, 2009 so they may be included in the distribution. Expecting to be in Naga City to meet with those involved with the project, Dr. Bundoc and the UP Ibalon Alumni president Butch M. Robredo express their thanks to all those who commit themselves and find in their hearts valuable time and energy in helping this worthy endeavor. The participation of more members and non-member volunteers are welcome and gratefully appreciated.(Photo Credit: Edgar Jediza) =0=

Addendum: On February 6, 2009, there will be amputee screening and measurement of beneficiaries in Naga City. Only 6 wheelchairs will be handed over since documentation by DSWD and verification of eligibility of recipients are not yet completed.—mesiamd (01/16/09)

RELATED BLOG: “UP Ibalon Alumni-Bicol pursues its wheelchair & leg prosthesis project for indigents” Posted by mesiamd at 1/09/2009

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When they start telling us we’re unworthy of help

When foreign entities tell us that we can’t have assistance because we are corrupt, don’t we feel red on the face? Don’t we experience goose-bumps to be told that we’re untrustworthy? Don’t we feel like immature juveniles when others tell us we need a course program in honesty? As a nation, is there “delicadeza” left in our bones?

I don’t know how to react on the US Millenium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) decision to scrap our anti-poverty aid. Help is available from the corporation, but it’s our worthiness— the apparent corruption that bars the way. As a result, the suffering poor, the object of humanitarian assistance, are bound to miss the financial booty.

I’m stunned how easily we take trustworthiness for granted. The country got failing grades in the control of corruption (47%,) health expenditures (19%,) and primary education (32%) for FY2009.

Across the board, the exceedingly low grades reflect total failure in all fronts. I would not be surprised if our leaders will just shrug them off just like before. It’s something the public knows all along.

Indonesia, Columbia, Zambia, places with corruption problems like ours fare better than us. Our country consistently scores lower than the median in at least 14 of 17 criteria considered in determining assistance. We aren’t qualified and it is the people outside who tell us.

“To be eligible for US help, developing countries must show their commitment to policies that promote political and economic freedom, investments in education and health, control of corruption, and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law by performing well on 17 different policy indicators.

The board called upon the government of the Philippines to intensify its efforts to fight corruption and will closely monitor the country’s performance,” said Ambassador John Danilovich, MCC chief executive officer.”—Philstar (12/15/08, Katigbak,J)

The MCC reports corruption control in the Philippines precipitously slid from 76%, 57%, and 47% in 2007, 2008, and 2009 respectively.

The dire findings entail urgent measures which we can’t laugh off like kid stuff. It’s the same MCC which gave RP $21 million aid to combat corruption (without success?) in 2006. Aren’t we ashamed?

Most of us aren’t ashamed. We are used to corruption. We are too focused with our personal lives. Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo and those who support her administration will probably just pretend they are doing something to stop the bane that’s eating our society’s foundation.

We know we need to act responsibly as individuals now. We can’t rely on the government or our friends to rid us of a problem that is partly our own making. We can’t claim we can’t do anything or pretend that corruption is far from us. Our way of life and the next generation’s future are bound to go down the drain if we don’t act. It’s just a matter of time that things will really look very nasty.

Without honesty, industry, and upright moral values, we will surely bring irreparable ruin to ourselves. The warning signs are out there. What we’re facing is the worst and the most difficult to control. (Photo Credits: Trainman; GmaResign; GmaResign;; GmaResign) =0=

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Paul Newman, actor & philanthropist, at 83

“Every time I get a script it’s a matter of trying to know what I could do with it. I see colors, imagery. It has to have a smell. It’s like falling in love. You can’t give a reason why,” said Paul Newman, 83, the award-winning legendary actor who played roles in more than 50 films which included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Nobody’s Fool, and The Hustler. He died Saturday, September 27, 2008 in Connecticut of cancer said publicist Jeff Sanderson.

Survived by wife and fellow star Joanne Woodward, five children, two grandsons, and a brother, the handsome Newman, an iconic versatile movie celebrity received several acting nominations and won his Oscar for his role in “The Color of Money.” He was awarded in 1986 “in recognition of his many and memorable compelling screen performances and for his personal integrity and dedication to his craft.” In 1994, he won a third Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, for his charitable work.” AP Movie News (09/27/08)

Detached from Hollywood life, he loved car racing and had been known for his philantrophic work for disadvantaged children and those stricken with cancer and life-threatening illnesses. His vinegar-and-salad dressing company prospered and its profits amounting to about $175 million was donated to charities. One of the most enduring personalities in the movie world, a fine human being, Paul Newman is mourned and will be sorely missed. Photo Credit: http://www.cowboydirectory.com; gosssiprocks =0=

Charitable work by the poor, the rich and famous

Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are indeed so lucky. By being their handsome selves, as celebrities, they can earn millions. Their jobs may be as taxing as the regular workers, but their big earnings are assured. For charity like the $2 million they give to the Ethiopian children affected with AIDS and tuberculosis, they must be honored and appreciated.

Ethiopia ranks seventh among the world’s nations with the highest rate of tuberculosis. About1.7 million Ethiopians are infected with HIV, according to the World Health Organization (WHO.) Because of AIDS, up to a million children in Ethiopia have lost their parents.

“The money will be used to create a center for AIDS and tuberculosis-affected children in the capital city of Addis Ababa, and to help establish a program) program to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis,” in a statement by the Global Health Committee (GHC) on September 15, 2008.” AFP/Inquirer (09/16/08).

The remarkable deeds of Angelina and Brad who raise 6 children (3 are adopted,) must serve as inspirations to poor people as well. Even without money, persons who want to help society can partake of their time, energy, and ideas which can benefit the unfortunate in our midst.

In this week’s Time magazine (Sept. 22, 2008,) there is an article on ways to help the Americans. They aren’t exactly applicable to Filipinos, but from the basic principles, some insights can be learned and a course of action can be pursued. Charity doesn’t always need money.

Twelve Money-wise Ways to Help the Philippines

1. Join groups that advocate honesty, transparency, and eradication of corruption in government. People with similar political, social, and religious convictions give strength to a cause and help unify the nation. Movements like Kaya Natin, Kawad Kalinga, and Philippine Red Cross inspire hope and action rather than despair and inaction.
2. Visit places to learn from other’s way of life. Being with Mindanao Muslims for instance promotes understanding of socio-cultural beliefs and religion.
3. Don’t be idle at retirement. Working beyond retirement i.e. volunteering in church, schools, hospitals and prisons have dividends for the community. A 50-year old retiree has about 25 years more time to be productive.
4. Encourage public service in a barangay. Civics help strengthen the nation.
5. Be a Santa Claus beyond Christmas. Generous giving beyond families, relatives, and friends foster compassion.
6. Be active in PTAs and school activities. Volunteer to mentor a child. Education is an asset that’s usually undervalued by children and their parents.
7. Set a day in a year to be with orphans, prisoners, disabled and the aged.
8. Incorporate your ideals into programs of action. People who render free service change lives and improve the communities they live in.
9. Take responsibility. Prepare for hard times rather than ignore them. Calamities like typhoons, fires, earthquakes, and even financial bankruptcies are occurrences that need preparation.
10. Elect honest leaders in government. You must learn from past politics which has brought indolence, mediocrity, thievery, and incompetence in government.
11. Follow the law.
12. Plant a tree; help build a community garden, and support the environment. =0=

“Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?”—by Rev. Fulton J. Sheen