Vintage Photos

..because I am such a lucky girl, a friend gave me his copy of National Geographic's 100 Best Vintage Photographs, yay! Thanks Don, ang bait mo talaga! :D

Ondoy, Part IV: Supply vs. Demand

Brgy. Hagonoy, Taguig
06 October 2009

Taguig, still submerged in flood water

residents coping with the situationheartbreaking, isn't it? :'( - their house is probably still submerged in waterher turn to grab some sleep, maybe the 'pail of hope', as I call it..not everybody, however, went home filled with HOPE residents from another barangay in Taguig learned about our relief operations and flocked to the 'distribution area' begging for relief goods Unfortunately, we only brought relief goods for about 400 families/residents of Brgy. Hagonoy and this sight was just overwhelming!

We went home yesterday with mixed emotions. Sad, because of the still depressing situation of some of our 'kababayans' who were devastated by Ondoy. Happy, because we were able to bring smiles to residents of Barangay Hagonoy. Apprehensive, because we almost got mobbed by residents from another barangay in Taguig pleading for relief goods - but really, can we blame them for just wanting to survive?

I am still hopeful that with the enormous help coming from a lot of good-hearted individuals/organizations out there, the lives of all those who were affected by Ondoy will soon be back to normal.

One at a time. One at a time.

Ondoy, Part III: Reaching Out

I joined one of the distribution teams we had yesterday (02 October 2009) and we distributed around 400 pails of relief goods, bottles of distilled water and blankets/towels to residents of Bayanihan Village & Brgy. Tribu, Cainta, Rizal. Here are some photos I took:

Cainta residents swarming our container van loaded with relief goods - sadly, they were not the intended recepients of the relief goods we brought yesterday :(Residents running towards an arriving relief truck from another organization's relief operationsresidents of Bayanihan Village and Brgy. Tribu, Cainta and PEZA distribution team still recovering from Ondoy's fury It may look funny, but he probably wasn't able to save any of his clothes during the typhoon

si Lola..getting her relief goods, maybe for her grandchildren..For us parents, I think in these times of tragedy, we don't think too much about ourselves..

...we are more concerned about our kids, especially the little ones..

We don't want them getting hungry or sick..

..we don't want to see them lonely or scared..

...we just want them to be ALWAYS happy!We hope that the little help we brought gave them a little HOPE. Really, it was nice to see their happy faces and hear their grateful hearts.Yes, the 'distribution' was tiring...but very rewarding. :) Thanks again to all the sponsors/donors! God will surely bless your kind hearts! :)

Ondoy, Part II: Despair and Hope

"Tonight, I can write the saddest lines.
Write, for example, 'The night is shattered
and the blue stars shiver in the distance'." - Pablo Neruda

News about the damage and loss of lives caused by typhoon Ondoy really broke my heart. I feel so blessed that I wanted to reach out to the victims and help in any possible way I can. What amazed me was everyone's willingness to share their time, energy, and resources to those who were greatly affected by the typhoon. In our office, we started our own relief operations and we solicited donations from willing individuals and corporations. Here are some of the relief goods that we are currently distributing to affected areas:

Bigas and other basic food items Distilled Water
Detergent (and shampoo, soap, alcohol, etc.)towels and blankets to keep 'em dry and warm

All set for distribution :D
happy to help :D

Yes, there is always hope. :)

Ondoy, Part I: Caught Unprepared

26 September 2009. Saturday morning. It was raining, fine. We were planning to bring the kids to the dentist. My niece, Xandra, went to a school in Makati to teach little kids to swim. My other niece, Trisha, went to school - she has classes. Trisha's sister, Denise, went to some institution in Marikina for their school's outreach activity. Typhoon Ondoy was just Signal No. 1, anyway. Who knew it would later wreak so much havoc in Metro Manila and nearby areas?

The rain didn't seem to want to stop, so we cancelled our appointment with the dentist. Lunchtime, it was flooding inside the house. - just ankle-deep, but it was irritating. Xandra came home late afternoon - she said she walked through thigh-deep floodwater in Makati and got stuck for hours in traffic. Tricia came home soaking wet at past 6pm. Denise and her schoolmates were stranded in Marikina - they were in a rented bus. We all thought we had a bad day until we turned on the TV and realized that we were lucky to be in the comfort of our home, thank God!

People braving neck-deep water to go home to their families. Several families (with kids!) are trapped on rooftops - wet and had little or no food to eat. Others have no more houses, can you imagine? Let's all pray for those who had to endure Ondoy's wrath and hope that everything's going to be alright soon.

..and yet another baby!

She's Mikaila Jordin, the daughter of my long lost friend, Joy. She was christened last 30 August 2009 at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, and I am one of the 30 ninangs!!! Yup, 30! :D Joy has had her fair share of life's struggles and I am happy that everything just seems to be falling into place for her lately. :)

"He has made everything beautiful in his time..." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Markus Aeon

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities." - Anonymous

My friend's second baby boy! (Ba't ako ayaw magka-boy? haha!) This photo was taken at the reception (Max's Restaurant, Sucat, Parañaque) after his christening last Sunday, 16 August 2009. Isn't he handsome? :)