Strong typhoon devastates Romblon, the rest of the Philippines

Romblon was among the hardest hit provinces by typhoon “Frank.” The Signal 3 typhoon cut a wide swath of destruction affecting the entire Philippines. It entered the country’s so-called area of responsibility in Eastern Visayas and instead of turning north when it reached Bicol Region as predicted, it barrelled westwards hitting Western Visayas, Romblon and Mindoro before it swung north hitting the entire Luzon Island.

The typhoon also caused the sinking of the Philippines’ biggest ferry ship, Sulpicio Lines’ Princess of the Stars off San Fernando, Sibuyan Island in Romblon. More than 700 are feared dead.

In San Agustin, large waves battered the Carmen-Sugod-Long Beach road impeding motorized travel except motorcycles. Power lines toppled cutting off supply throughout the island.

At the height of the storm on Saturday night (June 28), Van Mark (Van Van) Elisan’s house was battered by the waves and was swept away. Fortunately, the rest of his family escaped injury or greater harm.

CERV had three volunteers in Romblon during the storm. Peter Barnett and Andrew Hudson were in San Agustin while Dennise Dunn was in Romblon Town, Romblon.

Paul Murray and Colin Lee-Chee arrived last Saturday from a short vacation in Hong Kong and were safely back in Manila before the worst of the typhoon devastated Metro Manila. New volunteer Leighton Wood spent Sunday, when Typhoon Frank was on top of Manila, at the CERV dorm. Kyle Engman was with his girlfriend in Antipolo City while mother-daughter Bette Luck and Jill Boike were at the Holiday Inn in Pasig City.

In CERV’s previous placement area of Iloilo, the entire province was hit by flash floods that killed dozens. Strong winds, torrential rains and flash floods also hit Dumangas. Barangay Tabucan was complete inundated, including Audy Detablan’s house.

As of this writing, families affected by typhoon Frank in Western Visayas Philippines continue to increase as partial and official report from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) here disclosed 123,450 families or 612,775 individuals already displaced, 221 persons missing, 29 injured and 105 dead.

As of 2 a.m. Monday, June 27, the OCD report showed that 1,308 barangays have been affected by the typhoon and 44,708 families or 231,938 persons are staying in 284 evacuation centers all over the region. Moreover, 9,986 houses were totally destroyed, of which 20,687 partially damaged.

Five hundred thirty-three barangays were affected in Iloilo; Capiz came second with 473 barangays; Iloilo City, 113; Antique, 102; Negros Occidental, 60; Bacolod City and Guimaras at 12 barangays each and Aklan three barangays.
The highest number of death was also recorded in Iloilo province with 68, where 65 of whom are still unidentified followed by Iloilo City with 15; Antique, 12; Capiz, nine; Negros Occidental, one.

Reports of deaths and devastation continue to pour in from all over the country.

New program to impart the wonderful world of reading to Filipino kids; health program is temporarily shelved

CERV announces the creation of a new program and the dissolution of one if its original programs.

“We are pleased to announce the creation of our Children’s Reading Program as we are saddened that we have decided to shelve one of our original program offerings—the Health Program,” CERV co-founder and director Raymund Villanueva said.

CERV also announced the cessation of its Manila placement operations after one of its staff bid the organization goodbye due to health reasons. The Philippine program retains its popular School Building, Teaching and Environment programs in San Agustin, Romblon.  This picturesque and peaceful coastal town a hundred kilometres south of the Philippine capital Manila is CERV's project area.

Building a community library

CERV is currently building a two-storey structure at the site of its mangrove nursery in San Agustin, Romblon, slated to be completed in October this year.

“A library will be put up on the building’s ground floor where students from San Agustin schools may read, conduct research, and borrow books,” he said.

While there are about 15 or so primary and secondary schools plus a satellite college campus in San Agustin, there is no proper library in this town of  about 30,000 people.  Most of the schools have reading corners at best and the number of books available is inadequate.  CERV volunteers have repaired and enhanced existing library spaces but the lack of books is an overbearing problem that prevents most students from conducting proper research and start loving to read.  Research through the internet is a remote possibility as ownership of computers is limited to less than one percent of San Agustin residents and internet connection is woeful.

Volunteer Leighton Wood has donated $5,000 (Canadian) to jumpstart the construction and is in fact in the Philippines for the third time to spearhead the building himself.  Leighton saved up for nearly two years for the project.

Volunteer Richard Kastenschmidt and wife Renee of the United States has consistently donated funds to buy power tools to aid Leighton and the local builders in the construction.

Volunteer Dagmar Gaber sent two boxfuls of books from Germany that will serve as the initial batch of books that will be lent around.  Dagmar is a member of Book Crossings, an international book lovers club that “frees” books after they have been read by its original owners to be enjoyed by a greater number of people.

“Our funds are still insufficient at this point to finish the construction and we need more books to start coming in, especially reference books like encyclopaedia, in order for us to meet our self-imposed October opening date,” Raymund said.

CERV is appealing for more cash and book donations.

Reading Program

Raymund said they are excited about the reading program.

CERV said that Reading Program volunteers shall have their tasks cut out for them.  First, they would have to catalogue the books and arrange them according to subjects.  Then they would go around the schools to announce the library’s establishment and invite the students to visit, read, conduct research and borrow books.

Volunteers shall also be asked to establish reading clubs in these schools.  Among Day Care, Pre-School and Primary School students, volunteers will also be asked to conduct regular read-along sessions.

Since CERV now owns a small vehicle, the volunteers may later go around the schools to collect borrowed books and lend new ones to reading club members.

“Our objective is to introduce the wonderful world of books to the thousands of San Agustin students.  Children in developed countries take this privilege and pleasure for granted, but rural communities in the Philippines are not so blessed,” Raymund explained.

Reading club membership shall not be limited to students.  Out of school youths may be invited to join.

Introducing the joy and discipline of reading and conducting proper research will complement formal tutelage in classrooms, thereby enhancing the quality of education that are given the children of San Agustin.

Volunteers shall also assist the students conducting research at the library.

“There is an instant feedback mechanism in this kind of program.  The more borrowers and visitors to the library, and the more requests for read-along sessions, the better the volunteer is performing in this program,” Raymund said.

Temporary shelving of the Health Program

Which is the exact opposite of the Health Program.

“It is hard for us to assure a consistent volume work for our health volunteers as everything is largely dependent on the number of patients at a given time,” explained Raymund.

It is not that there are no sick people or ailments that need medical attention in San Agustin.  CERV does not have a clinic of its own and it can not afford to hire a supervising doctor (as required by Philippine laws), and buy medicines and equipment.

“If we can not guarantee consistent volume of work, then we are forced to consider our options,” CERV said.

But CERV will still accept health volunteers who would be bringing their own medicines and basic equipment.

“One possibility is for group of medical professionals or students to conduct focused medical missions—such as vaccinations, dental clinics, health education campaigns—provided that they bring the medicines and the equipment they need,” Raymund said.

The CERV building that is being constructed may also CERV as a community clinic, he added

CERV spearheads successful humanitarian fundraising project

CERV-Philippines launched a successful relief project to help an Indigenous People’s community in Central Luzon, Philippines.  How it started can be read here.

 The response was quick and positive.  CERV decided to increase its target to three sacks of grain and at least two water pumps.

Canadian law student and National Union of People’s Lawyers volunteer Emily Misola Richards was first to pitch in.

Former CERV volunteer and Meaningful Volunteer founder Malcolm Trevena proposed a CERV-MV hook-up on this project.  CERV readily agreed, making it the first joint humanitarian fundraising project ever.  MV took care of two-thirds of the amount needed initially.

 GVN Foundation kindly agreed to make an emergency release of the funds it keeps for CERV health and children’s welfare projects to help in the project.

 Former CERV volunteers Richard Kastenschmidt and Andrew Roquiz of the USA and Leighton Wood (Canada) came through with cash donations.

 The project then had more money than it initially needed.

 CERV then asked Wilfredo Marbella, deputy secretary general of the Peasant Movement of the Philippines, to look for the right kind of rice grains.  He delivered three sacks within three days.

 All that was needed at that point was to turn over the grains and the funds for the water pumps.  But, as mentioned in the first article, the area is militarized.  CERV waited for two weeks before it was able to make the delivery.  It needed the help of the KAMP, the Philippines’ biggest federation of Indigenous Peoples, who said that we should just surprise the military and arrive without announcing ourselves.

Following are some pictures of the actual handover.   Within three days of the handover, the first pump was already offering clean and potable water to the community.  (While CERV intends to go back to take pictures of the water pumps at work and the grains being planted, this has to be scrapped for now due to security reasons.)  The community is happy with the three sacks of grain as they were only expecting one.  They now await the next planting season even as they start clearing their traditional planting areas on mountainsides.

CERV director Raymund Villanueva also stumbled on a story while there.  Watch this video.

No swine flu cases in CERV placement areas; zero death in the Philippines

The Philippines now has nearly 200 cases of the global A(H1N1) swine influenza virus originally brought in by locals and foreigners who travelled from infected countries.  Thankfully, no death has yet been reported and the country’s health authorities say that all reported cases are of the very mild strain. Like with the avian flu virus, it is hoped that the Philippines would be spared from the worst of the pandemic.

 This is, of course, good news to incoming or prospective volunteers.

 CERV intends to help keep it that way.  As there is a growing concern that incoming volunteers, particularly those coming from swine flu-hit countries, might be infected, CERV is asking all of them to take flu vaccinations and boost their immunity systems by regularly taking multivitamins before flying over.

 This is the first time that CERV is asking this from future volunteers, and it is the only vaccination it recommends.  It also asks volunteers to always have bug-repelling lotions and sprays ready while in the country to protect themselves from insect-borne diseases.

 There has been no reported case of swine or avian flues in CERV’s placement areas of San Agustin, Romblon and Quezon City in Metro Manila.

“The things or events that happen in our life are not nearly as important as what we do with the time that is given to us.”

The following is an excerpt from CERV Volunteer Erik Johnson's blog.

First I wanted to let everyone know that each day I spend here is truly a blessing, and I am still (as I will always be) thankful to all those who helped me both financially and spiritually! Before I left my Mom told me “Not very many kids your age get a chance to do something like your doing. And if they do, it's usually only for a month or so!”

I had no idea that I would be doing something like this or going to a place like this. Not in a million years. I feel very honored and blessed to have had this opportunity. It may not have seemed like a smart decision to some of my friends or family members, and to be honest it wasn't a very smart decision, but it was the right one. I may not be financially stable and I may not have a complete education, but that doesn't change the fact that I've had an amazing experience. I know some people will say “It doesn't matter what your doing there, you need to think about your future.”.

I say “The things or events that happen in our life are not nearly as important as what we do with the time that is given to us.” God provided me with the perfect amount of time, with (almost) the perfect amount of money, and with the perfectly abundantly overflowing amount of prayer and support.

I do not doubt for one second that this trip was a mistake.

Okay, so for the last month and a half, I have been busy teaching computer class, painting signs, painting benches, and cleaning up the shoreline in front of the mangroves.

Computer Class:  Even though I never signed up for it, I really do enjoy teaching the kids about computers and how to use them. Yes computers can be bad when someone gets addicted to games or facebook, but they also have very useful applications, such as typing papers, creating documents, presentations, and as I know on a professional level (:)) they are great for expanding one's knowledge and joy they may get from producing, editing, and presenting Movies!

I'm finally having the kids complete a project for me, and go figure, for their first project I'm having them make me a movie/presentation. I recently took a week off to give the kids a break, and myself. During my “break” is when I tried coming up with a lesson plan. I have to give teachers credit, because I use to think being a teacher was one of the easiest jobs ever, but boy was I wrong.

Painting:   Just out in front of the building I teach in at Paaralang Elemntarya Ng Sugod (Sugod Elementary School) there are several benches. Paul and I both decided they could use some color, and now they are all finished. We painted a different flag on each of them, representing the different countries that the volunteers have come from, including; The U.S., The U.K., Norway, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Mangroves:  The Mangrove project is coming along very nicely. We have between 600 and 700 planted along the shore just north of Sugod, near a place called Baliw. The last few weeks though I haven't had any help, so planting has been put on hold for the time being, and when I do get a chance to visit, I mostly pick up garbage and clean the already planted mangroves. We still have several thousand to plant. Thankfully some of the community members have joined in to help us plant in other locations scattered along the whole bay.

In March, I am planning on reading up on proper techniques and teaching Mangrove Plantation and Care classes at the Elementary school in Sugod, and the High School and Elementary School in Long Beach. It is very important that the community knows exactly how to plant and watch over these trees, because without them they will lose more than just some pretty looking trees. Unfortunately the students do not currently have a class to teach them about how the trees contribute to their livelihood, or how to properly maintain a healthy mangrove sanctuary.

So that is what has been happening with the work side of my adventure. As for my off time there are several other stories to tell.

Read more on Erik’s blog.

It was a bit different this time.  After a great experience last time, the expectations were all high. However the law of averages always catches on with the group.  It was still quite good.  Raymund organized another great experience, some among us who saw it, grabbed it.  It was good for me and Laure who had all of Raymund's time.

The saplings that we nurtured last year, a few thousands of them were along the highway and for two days we supported some saplings where needed and watered them. The heat was the highest in Manila of the summer and we just landed from the cool of HK (and heard that part of HK island were at 5 degree centigrade while we were melting).  This time I confirmed it to my utter disbelief that I just cannot do hard work that I could a decade ago. So much for a comfortable lifestyle that is too disturbing for comfort of mind. Raymund took us away from the gruel for a day and we participated in the 100th year rally of Women's Day on 8th March and then a small trip of Old Manila city. It was a good detour!

However, my heart was completely at the tree nursery in Montalban, Rizal.  Raymund was kind enough to take us to do the usual work at the nursery for the next two days.  It was quite nostalgic to be back among the saplings. The hut looks all new and green, the nursery is full with saplings and looks quite green. The 'holes are fun' are still hold the supporting bamboos for the shade and I caught a beautiful spider with its net on my camera. And not to mention the wonderful tender coconuts. I had to open one for the nostalgia sake and to prove to myself that I can still do it. Makes me feel better! The hammock is shifted to a place in front of the hut and BTW I also bought one for me :-).

This time we had a trip to local market and it is a very interesting place. A good spot for many photographs. Lot of fruits and other things. It was fun.

Thanks to Pom and others who provided good food as usual. They tolerated us through our stay and rants. I had thought that I would shed some 'tyres' but it only inflated more. I cannot blame the heat though. I love to stay at this dorm. It is quite homely, always open and lot of space.

We also played cards but this time it was restricted to only two nights and never in the hall. People were too alert and the 'g-bows' or 'Hi Queen' never happened. Some even studied! :-(.

As usual Raymund does not stop inspiring and Laure is already planning next year's PW to Romblon for working with mangroves and painting classrooms and benches. That is the real success of going at 'CERV-Philippines' to Raymund.

What more can I ask from Raymund? He was helping me as usual.  This time in finding a place for the IFP conference in Manila. That may be the place for future conferences if not this year.

So, I'm now completely looking forward to go to Romblon next year. I can only wish that it was next week.

Donations to CERV Phillipines are more than welcome. Their immediate need is to buy a vehicle to carry water tanker.

Raymund is still buying lottery tickets so he can call you guys to paint his new house sometimes when he's lucky. We should do it as a group sometimes within the next 10 yrs! Hopefully it'll be earlier.
----------------
Magan Savant is a Physics teacher at Li Po Chun-United Word College in Hongkong, SAR.  He has led two student volunteer groups since last year.

CERV ends 2009 successfully; has high hopes for 2010

TO ROUND UP the year, CERV-Philippines helped in the complete rehabilitation of Batibot Early Learning Center, a school completely submerged and destroyed during the Ondoy (Ketsana) calamity.

Volunteers Erik Johnson (USA) and Paul Olney (GB) worked hard in repainting the school’s educational blocks and help in the delivery of books, water purifier, electric fan and medicines.

 CERV also bought paints and painting supplies which the school’s parents used in repairing the destroyed structure.

 Batibot is located in the city of Marikina, one of the most devastated localities during Ondoy’s wrath. For more of the story go here.

 CERV also participated in delivering relief goods to 17 communities within Metro Manila and Northern Luzon, particularly in the cities of Quezon and Pasig, and the towns of San Mateo in Rizal Province, Guimba in Nueva Ecija and Bambang in Pangasinan.

 These relief operations were participated in by volunteers Yusuke Nakata (Japan) and  Shafaq Varghese (USA).

 Financial donations from the GVN Foundation of New Zealand and USA and former volunteers made these projects possible.  It also enabled CERV to implement repairs to the CERV offices and dormitory in Quezon City, which was damaged by the succession of destructive storms.  Part of the donation was also used to buy additional carpentry tools for CERV’s school building repair and maintenance program.

 Meanwhile, Global Volunteer Network  decided to continue its partnership with CERV—a decision that reversed its earlier plan to abrogate the partnership that was originally scheduled to end on August of 2010.

 “I am pleased to advise you that our management team have completed the review and are happy to continue with our partnership,” GVN founder and CEO Colin Salisbury said.

 GVN is the world’s biggest volunteering network with more than 11,500 volunteers deployed in six continents since 2002.

 The year 2009 proved to be another successful, albeit challenging, year for CERV.   There was a slight increase in the number of volunteers across all months of the year while CERV’s programs benefited from several improvements introduced through its collaboration with Meaningful Volunteer.

 CERV looks forward to the New Year with renewed hope, buoyed by recent successes in its response to the “Ketsana” and “Pempe” calamities.  Together with its current and future international volunteers it promises to help more Filipino communities and social service institutions in need of the world’s kindness.

Flood relief and rehabilitation projects go full-blast

CERV and its volunteers participated in relief missions to 17 flooded communities around Luzon Island after the twin devastations of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng that killed more than a thousand people and destroyed properties and livelihood worth billions of pesos.

 Volunteers Shafaq Varghese (Pakistan/USA) and Yusuke Nakata (Japan) helped distribute thousands of relief bags containing rice, other food items, medicine and used clothing to flooding victims.

 Former volunteers came through with immediate cash donations for the relief missions as well.  Magan Savant (with wife Nitu and daughter Urvi of India and Hong Kong), Richard Kastenschmidt (with wife Renee of the USA) sent cash donations immediately after learning of the devastations.

 The GVN Foundation immediately set up an emergency relief fund drive where several GVN/CERV volunteers also sent donations.  The fund raising drive is still ongoing through this link.

CERV has committed to the rehabilitation of the Batibot Early Learning Center, a community school that was completely flooded at the height of the storm.  It serves 50 schoolchildren in an urban poor community run by a local women’s organization.

The school rehabilitation project will be funded by donations through the GVN Foundation.  Paints, books, medicines and equipment shall be donated to the school and volunteers shall work repainting and rehabilitating the school.

Relief and rehabilitation efforts are ongoing as floodwaters still refuse to subside in some parts of Metro Manila.  Millions of families still have to recover from losing their rice and vegetable crops.

Meanwhile, repeat volunteer Alan Fry (Australia) donated a netbook to serve as temporary replacement to the desktop computer lost when the CERV dorm was flooded during Typhoon Ondoy.

The following have kindly donated to the relief and rehabilitation fund.  (Names preceded by an asterisk are former or current volunteers.)

Pamela M Hackett

*DCB Dunne

*Eliza M Raymond

Sheena Lad

Amanda R Walsh

Ariel K Turner

Cayce E Chalk

*Catherine Douglass

Jonathan H Lester

K C Austin

Ruthanne Gartland

*Erik S Johnson

Tsang M Man Heem

Mhairi McAlpine

Anna Ware

*Richard and Renee Kastenschmidt

Carol G Voorhees

Pamela Tan

*Peter H Smyth

Carol Thomas

Thomas Chisholm

Johanna Lindberg

Kozlowicz Dorota

NG Every

Jeff Doyle

*Marit Hovhaugholen

Christopher A DiMarco

S Travers

Traudel Arend

Jill S Castillo

Sujay Pathak

M Harding Lee Cranford

*Carolyn J German

Lisa Brooten

Kate Davies

Rochelle T Nieuwenhuis

SA Avison

*Sophie Hamada

Barry Helfanbein

Nicole Jame Jatarra

Apetrei Sebastian

James L Mundell

Alan Hastings

Claire Walker

Wendy Brissenden

Fatma Khan

*Rachel Allitt

*Magan, Nitu and Urvi Savant

A volunteer’s impression of the flood calamity in the Philippines

Following is Shafaq Varghese’s note of the effects of the floods that hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces.  Shafaq is a Pakistan-born American and is an IT consultant in Texas.

 Visiting the areas affected by the flooding was a heart-wrenching experience. The devastation was limitless. In one of the   hardest hit areas, numerous houses, which had originally been built alongside a major river, had been flattened and the homeless victims were scattered on the streets living in temporary spaces made up of plastic sheets tied together with thread.  Garbage, which was basically household items destroyed by the flooding, was piled up on every street corner and outside every house. It was obvious that anything these residents owned, in an already poverty-stricken area, had been washed away or spoiled by the flood.

In one street corner hundreds of people were standing in the sweltering heat, in lines that stretched around several blocks, to receive aid from their local community leadership.  I was skeptical on whether enough aid would be available for the hordes of people waiting.

The family we visited to provide aid to had lost everything they owned in the flood. Their house had been submerged in water and they had survived by taking shelter in their neighbor’s two-story house. Every single piece of clothing and furniture this family owned was covered with thick mud. They had no food, no drinking water or clean clothes. And even though they had started the cleaning process, it was obvious that in the absence of proper nourishment and basic amenities, it would be weeks or even months before they would be able to have a normal life again.

The same story was repeated in the hundreds of other houses that we passed by. From the families scavenging through their destroyed goods for items they could still make use of, to the one living inside a truck because they had lost everything, to the group of people holding a vigil on a bridge for a drowned child, everywhere I looked, the only thing  visible was utter destruction and  suffering.

In the three and a half hours that we surveyed the area, we saw just two aid operations in progress, one through a UN agency and the other through Red Cross. From the size of the trucks and the number of victims standing in line to receive aid, it was clear that the rations provided by these aid operations would be inadequate.  Worst still, there wasn’t a single medical program in progress to provide temporary medical care or check-ups to the victims. With millions of dollars worth of aid coming into the Philippines just for the sole purpose of providing food, water, shelter and medical care to the victims of the flooding, I wondered where the money was being spent if not in the area with the highest number of casualties.

Clearly, the government and other aid agencies need to take additional steps to reduce the suffering of the people affected by the flooding, most of whom are now living on the streets and are highly susceptible to diseases, mal-nutrition and probable death.  This includes, first and foremost, providing additional food, clean water and medical help, in order to prevent further fatalities and the spread of diseases. Rebuilding the houses and cleaning the streets of the loads of garbage scattered everywhere would be the next significant step.  These must then be followed by providing safer and more stable housing in the areas more prone to rain and flood damage, in order to prevent such widespread disaster and loss of life in the future.

CERV is asking everyone to repost and donate to this link.

For more pictures of the victims of the flooding, please look here.

CERV mobilizes for flood victims

CERV mobilized volunteers and participated in relief operations for the victims of the latest calamity to hit the Philippines.

While asking and collecting relief donations for victims of Typhoon ‘Ondoy’ (international name: Ketsana) CERV was approached by British tourist Simon Wood (Newcastle) and Filipina nursing student Hart Odorna offering to help in repacking relief items.

Simon and Hart immediately started work sorting clothing and repacking food items at a disaster response center in Quezon City.  The next day they distributed items at two of the hardest hit areas in Pasig and Marikina cities.

Facebook and other internet sites also proved useful when former volunteers started checking in and promising to help.  Rachel Groen (Canada) was the first to pledge financial aid.

CERV itself was not spared from the effects of the deluge as its Quezon City office and dormitory was flooded.  Photos, files and some furniture were damaged as floodwaters entered the ground floor.

CERV trustee Karen Villanueva, a public high school teacher, and her students escaped rampaging waters last Saturday by scaling walls and crossing roofs to reach a nearby three-storey house.  Together with about a hundred victims, they were trapped for two days and nights, subsisting on the kindness of their accidental host and neighbors who shared everything they had until the waters subsided.

Director Raymund Villanueva later participated in one of the earliest relief operations in a CERV beneficiary community called Sitio Veterans in Quezon City.

‘Ondoy’ dumped 410 inches of rain in merely nine hours last September 27.  In comparison, Hurricane Katrina dumped “only” 380 inches over a longer period in Louisiana.

To date, more than 80 have been reported killed while dozens are still missing.  More than a hundred thousand victims are staying in evacuation centers in Manila and neighboring areas.

CERV accepts cash donations for victims of ‘Ondoy’.  Please email us at cerv_philippines@yahoo.com.ph for details.

WE LOST EVERYTHING IN A DAY

Nerve Macaspac


 We lost everything in a day.


We have lost the warmth
Of our homes
Of our kid’s laughter
Of our parent’s embrace.


We lost the fiesta of the sunset
The anticipation of the rush hour
The joy of coming home
The aroma of home-cooked dinner.


In that fearful long day,
Our tired clenched soul
Waded through the river of sadness.
There were no rocks to hold onto
Only our loved ones’ names
That we kept reciting
Between our gasps and strokes.


The flood rose higher
With more and more people
Plunging to look for their shores
Reciting names, ages, schools, offices,
Illnesses, highways, rooftops, buses.


With each word as heavy as the gravity of the rain.
With each word as heavy as the gravity of our tears.

= = = = =

The poet is a colleague of CERV director Raymund Villanueva.  He and his family were victims of ‘Ondoy’.

"CERV celebrates fourth year; is optimistic about the future of volunteering in the Philippines"

CERV-Philippines is four years old this month. Despite ever-present challenges its volunteers continue to bring goodwill from around the globe to marginalized Filipino communities.

About two hundred fifty international volunteers, sponsors and donors have helped various communities and institutions in Metro Manila and the provinces of Romblon, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Batangas and Rizal provinces.

Our volunteers build, repair and enhance public schools; conduct medical missions and dispense medical services; donate relief goods; school and medical supplies; nurture and plant thousands of mangrove seedlings; among many other humanitarian services.

Some volunteers even sponsor life-saving medical operations for beneficiary persons as well as support the education of several deserving Filipino students.

Established to be the Philippine partner of the New Zealand-based Global Volunteer Network CERV is now a partner of the newly-founded international placement organization Meaningful Volunteer, also based in New Zealand.  It is also in the process of studying some partnership applications from other similar global organizations.

CERV’s four-year journey is not without pains, however.  Barely a year into its operations it had to transfer from its original placement area in Iloilo to Romblon Province due mainly to communication glitches with the local government unit.  Its main placement site is now the town of San Agustin in Romblon where it has been operating the past three years.  Romblomanons still warmly welcome each new batch of volunteers who bring much-needed assistance.

 CERV is also suffering the negative effects of the current global financial crisis with several withdrawals by volunteers.  Still, we persevere by trying to introduce better programs in the hope that a good word-of-mouth would be an effective promotion strategy to counter the consequent decline of volunteer applications worldwide.

 We also hope that CERV not only maintains its current partners but forge tie-ups with more global volunteer recruitment networks to ensure the program’s continuity for the benefit of more communities in need.

 Come. Volunteer.  Donate.  Sponsor.  Help uplift more lives and, in the process, enhance yours.

Volunteer launches sponsorship program for 30 poor children

Former GVN volunteer Kathryn Nicholas (New Zealand) launched a new education sponsorship program to benefit 30 poor schoolchildren in San Agustin, Romblon, Philippines.

 Kathryn served as a school building repair volunteer in the Philippines from November 2008 to February of this year through GVN’s Philippines partner, the Center for Volunteerism in the Philippines (CERV-Philippines). 

 After her program, Kathryn immediately started a fund raising campaign with friends and family.  (I am) “talking to friends and family about the sponsorship program… and I'll talk to you soon when I've got more people committed to sponsoring a child” she wrote CERV-Philippines on Valentine’s Day.

The sponsorship succeeded in raising 900 Philippine pesos for each child, which will be spent for enrolment fees, uniforms, bags and school supplies.   The funds arrived in time for the start of the new academic year on June 1.

 The beneficiary children are:

 Barangay (Village) Cabolutan:

1. Rose Gangga Manligas
2. Blazy Joy Manligas
3. Mary Ann Kalaw Manligas

 Barangay Sugod:

4. John Paul Muleta
5. Rachel Joy Muleta
6. Patrick Muleta
7. Jerich Muleta
8. Mylene Muleta
9. Aljon Ramon
10. Lysa Ramon
11. Grace Ramon

 Barangay Long Beach:

12. Gerich Mores
13. Jerin Mores
14. Queena Mores
15. Janilla Mores
16. Janrey Palonpon

 Barangay Cawayan:

17. Mary Joy Fabito Fruelda
18. Jomerey Fabito
19. Maria Fabito
20. Jeremias Fabito
21. Jomer Fabito
22. Anthony Riano
23. Gerald Riano
24. Alvin Riano
25. Aldrin Riano
26. Royalyn Mindoro
27. Argie Mindoro
28. Marialyn Mindoro
29. May Mindoro
30. Marvin Mindoro

 Kathryn wrote that this is her way of expressing her gratitude.  “I had an awesome experience and am very grateful for all the help,” she wrote.

 Interested donors who wish to assist poor Filipino may donate through this links:

 http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/philippines/ (tax-deductible in the United States) and

 https://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/fundraise/makedonation.aspx?c=152

 or email CERV directly at cerv_philippines@yahoo.com.ph

CERV distributes school supplies

Siblings Claudine and Loren Falcutila belong to a brood of nine.  The two are the only  ones in school while the rest have dropped out.  Both have to scale a hill on a muddy path and walk for hours everyday before they reach school and back.  Their father is a subsistence farmer but is ailing with hernia; their mother is a housewife.

 As the new Philippine academic year opened last month Claudine and Loren as well as 28 other school kids received new uniforms, shoes, bags and school supplies from former volunteer Kathryn Nicholas (New Zealand).  Kathryn and family are sponsoring 30 children on their schooling (read related story below).

 But several members of the original list of 30 have dropped out of school due to extreme poverty.  Kathryn and CERV then decided to look for other kids from impoverished families to sponsor.

 According to the National Statistic Office of the Philippines, four out of ten Filipino children do not finish elementary school due to poverty and inaccessibility of public schools in poor areas of the country.

 CERV accepts teaching volunteers to assist public school teachers and contribute to the education of 45 million school-age children.

 It also accepts donations through these links:

 http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/philippines/ (tax-deductible in the United States) and

 https://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/fundraise/makedonation.aspx?c=152

 or email CERV directly at cerv_philippines@yahoo.com.ph

Sponsored child receives Best Pupil award

Late last year, Beth Marinelle “Bechay” P. Pacaldo received a very nice Christmas gift from one of CERV’s former volunteers.  Australian Rebecca “Bec” Snell offered to support her studies with some financial assistance—specifically, to help her with the fare and lunch money as well as some school supplies like books, bags, uniforms and shoes.

 The girl just made it all worthwhile for her benefactor.

 Bechay finishes the current school year at the top of her class.  She was awarded a certificate and a gold medal for being the “Best Pupil” in her class.  She is a grade four pupil of Camarin Elementary, a public school in Caloocan City-North.  In June of this year, she enters as an intermediate Grade 5 student in the same school.

 Bechay is just one of the several bright Filipino students who are being supported by former CERV volunteers in Iloilo, Romblon and Manila.

If you are interested in helping poor but deserving students in their education, contact us at cerv_philippines@yahoo.com.ph or visit http://www.gvnfoundation.org/programs/projects/philippines/.

One hot summer for volunteers

It’s been a very busy three months for CERV-Philippines in March, April and May.  Taking advantage of the country’s school summer break, volunteers rehabilitated two school buildings—one in Quezon City and another in San Agustin, Romblon.

CERV registered its biggest batch of volunteers with 28 MBA students from University of Chicago—Booth School of Business who practically rebuilt Area V Yakap Day Care Center in Barrio Commonwealth in Quezon City last March 21 and 22.

America’s future managers proved they could tackle backbreaking manual labor as they climbed roofs and crawled on all fours to get the job done.  What was once a run down school was given a new roof, ceiling, fans, paint job, fence, wash basins, plant boxes and school supplies.

The structure services 80 students everyday.  On weekdays and holidays, it also serves as a community health clinic, a community center, a feeding area and other purposes.  With repairs and enhancements expected to extend its serviceable life to another ten years, hundreds of children and thousands of poor residents are expected to benefit from the Illinois students’ gift.

In Romblon, a state college school building was totally rehabilitated by a succession of CERV volunteers.  Romblon State College is one of the poorest public colleges in an already poor country.  It wasn’t surprising that it hardly had money to spend on periodic paint jobs.

But thanks to Maria Cecilla Pereira (Brazil), Dagmar Gaber (Germany), Chelsea Tu (USA), Amber Marcinkoski (Canada), Lucas Frenz (Germany), Vittoria Offeddu (Italy), and Andrew Weiss (USA), the students would be greeted with a new painted school building with a new roof to boot.

It has been a hot summer in the Philippines the past months, but it was equalled by the warm feelings the volunteers get after completing a job meant to help communities in need.

Volunteer with and/or donate to CERV-Philippines for life-enriching programs and projects.  Send us a mail through cerv_philippines@yahoo.com.ph

Top international school sends teacher, students to work as volunteers

Eleven students of Li Po Chun (LPC)-United World College (UWC) of Hong Kong served as the first batch of volunteers in CERV’s latest program—nurturing and planting native trees to rehabilitate Philippine biodiversity last March 7 to 13.

 Accompanied by their Physics teacher Magan Savant (India), David Kingman (Hong Kong/USA), Mathilda Destiny Shivute (Namibia), Jimmy Hu (Hong Kong), Diana Ainembabazi (Uganda), Nicholas Chow (Trinidad & Tobago), Ted Weber Gola (Brazil), Anu Noel (Estonia), Daniel Holy (Czech Republic), Michal Varga (Slovak Republic), Kayla Tam (Hong Kong), team leader Sara Estevez Cores (Spain) spent four days re-potting, watering and pruning thousands of native tree seedlings in Rodriguez, Rizal.  They also constructed additional sheds for the nursery and donated gardening to the facility operated by CERV’s environment partner Hortica Filipina Foundation, Inc.

 They also painted wooden play blocks and further enhanced the Busilak Day Care Center and Multi-Purpose Hall of Sitio Veterans in Quezon City.

 The students’ seven-day trip is a school-sanctioned activity in furtherance of UWC’s objective of exposing its international scholars to cultural diversity and giving them a chance to contribute to development programs.

 LPC is reputedly one of the top high schools in the world.

Formal Partnership formed between CERV Philippines and Meaningful Volunteer

Meaningful Volunteer and CERV Philippines are delighted to announce a formal partnership between the two organizations.  Raymund Villanueva signed on behalf of CERV and Malcolm Trevena signed on behalf of Meaningful Volunteer.

CERV Philippines has been placing volunteers in the Philippines since 2005 and has taken an active role in a wide range of educational, environmental and medicinal projects.

Meaningful Volunteer - formed in 2008 - will bring volunteers from all over the world to assist developing communities in the Philippines.

Meaningful Volunteer and CERV Philippines will work together on a number of projects including:

1. The RYE School
   The RYE School will be a solar powered school initially offering English and Computer Science courses.  Children attending the school will participate in community cleanups to pay for their school fees.
   
2. Project Lifecycle
   Project Lifecycle makes use of simple necklaces as a form of family planning.  The project attempts to reduce the average family size on the islands of Romblon.
   
3. Project Mangrove
   Project Mangrove will replant mangrove trees around Tablas Island in the Romblon province.  Mangroves are a vital part of the eco-system, provides a place for fish to lay their eggs and forms a natural barrier against tsunamis and other environmental hazards.
4. School Building
   Much of the infrastructure on Romblon was destroyed when Typhoon Frank hit.  The School Building project helps the community to rebuild.

New tree-planting program

Starting this month, CERV will be accepting environmental volunteers interested in tree nursery work, tree planting and nurturing them to full maturity.

The project entails the re-potting, trimming and nurturing seedlings in nurseries. Starting in July of this year, the seedlings will be planted along the North Luzon and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressways (NLEX and SCTEX) north of the capital Manila.

The objectives of the new project include saving endangered Philippine native tree species and offsetting the carbon emissions of vehicles on these two highways.

The Philippines is a bio-diversity hotspot. Many of its rare dipterocarps have been over-harvested over centuries for their superior timber quality. Many trees have also been victimized by the intrusive alien tree species that crowd them out of their natural habitats.

By planting native tree species along the country’s biggest superhighways, they will also offset the carbon emissions of vehicles. Studies show that a mature tree can absorb the harmful emissions of seven vehicles.

Moreover, by planting them along NLEX and SCTEX, the trees will be secured from being cut down in the future.

Volunteers for this project shall live in Metro Manila or with host families near the nurseries and tree planting sites.

Where volunteering and fun are one

 In early 2005 Global Volunteer Network was looking to expand to more countries and offer wider choices to potential volunteers.  The Philippines has always been a sentimental option for GVN founder and CEO Colin as he spent time in this country as a volunteer himself before establishing the world’s biggest volunteer network.

 Fortuitously, GVN’s Nepal partner’s director was Filipino-born whose sisters are peasants and women’s rights workers.  A brother-in-law was secretary general of the biggest teachers’ federation in the Philippines.  She convinced them to put up a volunteer placement organization which would serve as an extension of their community development advocacies.

 Thus was born the Center for Volunteerism in the Philippines (CERV-Philippines) which took its first batch of volunteers in August 2005.  It was founded by the husband and wife team Raymund and Pom Villanueva and Eden Navia.  Raymund is the teacher leader, Pom is the women’s rights advocate and Eden is the peasants’ rights activist.  CERV has since then taken in three more members into its lean staff machinery to undertake various administrative and project implementation tasks.  Nearly five years hence, CERV remains a Philippine partner with only good prospects ahead.

 The Philippines is, to put it mildly, a very interesting place for volunteers.  Because of its 400+ years of colonial history the locals were initially loathed to allow volunteers to work under the heat of the tropical sun, especially White “guests”, believing that hard and manual labour are only for Filipinos and that members of the “Master Race” must take it easy.  Lavish attention in terms of the best accommodations and food were showered on them.  This led to some excesses on the part of some volunteers who mistook it as a license to do what they wanted, expecting to be readily excused every time.

 But most volunteers were equally determined to show the communities what volunteering was all about.  They worked harder than the locals and open-mindedly immersed themselves into the colourful and complicated Filipino culture.  After early hiccups, CERV volunteers have endeared themselves to the communities they serve.  The communities have grown to be more relaxed with volunteers from all over the world while managing to remain warm and hospitable.  This, without doubt, is the biggest strength of the Philippine volunteer experience.

 In less than five years volunteers have transformed many run-down schools into colourful and more functional learning institutions.  They have rebuilt new ones from the destructions of typhoons and decades of government neglect and corruption.  They have taught tens of thousands of students and provided primary health care to scores of poor patients.  They have delivered babies and took gravely-ill patients to bigger hospitals in the cities.  Volunteers have planted thousands of mangrove seedlings to jumpstart environmental rehabilitations of coastlines.  They have donated hundreds of relief goods in times of disasters and gave even more books, school supplies, medicines, even microscopes to schools that did not have them.  Volunteers have also assisted in providing life-saving and life-altering surgeries to two poor children while even more are being sponsored with their education.

 All these are reciprocated with genuine gratitude and long-lasting friendships.  Some volunteers have been made godparents in Catholic christening and weddings—effectively making them integral parts of the family.  They have been asked to keynote school graduations and serve as judges for school and beauty contests of various genders and age.  They have been invited to attend fiestas and festivals, family picnics, watch local and international soap operas on the telly, or to simply hang-out—an intimate Filipino predilection.

 Volunteering in the Philippines disappoints in terms of the romantic (sometimes misguided) notion that the placement areas should be abjectly destitute, even dangerous, communities.  They are nothing of the kind.  CERV’s  placement areas are—while definitely poor and in need of assistance—beautiful with crystal clear sea and fresh waters, good snorkelling sites, breathtaking views of verdant mountains and limestone cliffs, lots of fresh sea food,  and a very safe environment.  Coupled with the famous Filipino’s hospitality some volunteers may be excused to sometimes think they are vacationing for a substantial part of the time.

 For sure, there are things that could qualify as the “requisite hardship elements” in the volunteering experience.  Travel to and from the main placement area of Romblon is an 18-hour affair involving bus, ferry and tricycle rides.  Internet is grindingly slow—unless you travel on a boat for an hour to commercial broadband internet shops on another island.  There are regular power outages.  Volunteers must get used to eating rice at least three times a day.  And roosters start to crow long before sunrise (so earplugs may be a good idea for your first few nights on the island).  Volunteers must also accept the fact that the Philippines has many holidays that cause schools and clinics to suspend operations.

 But CERV is not making excuses for these.  The Philippines is what it is.  And based on its’ experience with hundreds of volunteers from all over the world this unique combination of work and play, volunteering and ‘vacationing’, being a ‘tourist’ and being a citizen of the world is just the “right mix.

Children Reaching Out

Children from halfway round the globe reached out to poor Filipino kids with a donation for the procurement of additional school supplies.  The 4-H Club, Maple Shade Chapter, of Holmen, Wisconsin, USA donated US$50 to buy crayons, glue, pen and coloring books to a community-operated day care center for urban poor children.

4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The four "H"s stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The organization serves over 6.5 million members in the United States from ages 5 to 19 in approximately 90,000 clubs.  4-H clubs and related organizations now exist in many other countries as well; the organization and administration varies from country to country.

The goal of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, and life skills of youth through mostly experiential learning programs. Though typically thought of as an agriculturally focused organization as a result of its history, 4-H today focuses on citizenship, healthy living, and science, engineering and technology programs.

The Maple Shade Chapter of 4-H decided to make Busilak Day Care Center in Quezon City one of its beneficiaries after hearing a presentation made by former CERV volunteer Richard Kastenschmidt.

Richard is back for a short time in the Philippines, his third in as many years, to visit his beneficiary schools in Quezon City, Philippines.  As a volunteer in January 2007, Richard built cabinets to house multi-media equipment and installed exhaust fans in two day care centers.

In Christmas 2007, Richard and wife Renee decided to forego giving each other gifts to save up for regular annual donations to CERV programs.  In January 2008, Richard visited the Philippines for the second time to make the donations personally, in addition to buying Busilak Day Care Center’s first desktop computer.

This year, Richard donated a laptop computer to be used as a teaching aid to day care, elementary and high school students in poor communities around Metro Manila.  He also donated a mobile internet device to make it easier for the students to conduct research on the internet for school projects and assignments.  He and Renee also made a “Christmas Gift” donation for the second straight year.

Richard saw and was impressed by the great accomplishments of the community organizations that operate Busilak.  From a door and window-less shed of rough concrete, the center is now housed in a three-storey building.  The first floor serves as the classroom; the second floor shall serve as a library and health clinic; and the third floor shall be a small activity center.  This small building is the same structure painted by Australian engineer Scott Dennis.

Richard is a retired teacher while Renee is still teaching.  Aside from their shared passion for motorcycling, they also share in the deep gratitude of many children beneficiaries in poor communities in the Philippines.