How Our Towns Drown

How in the downpour our towns drown, downstream of doom to sea we are returned, houses and pigs in ceaseless procession as skies boom and fall thundering spears to beat down all curses and tears to tide – among seaweed and driftwood and water hyacinths, prayer wreaths for the dead and the drowned,

downstream of doom to sea we are returned. Tottering over manholes, shivering in the blast of a blind monsoon, its hollow howl the rolling dreariness of our emptied hills, our feet doubt their ground where streets vanish in the gorge and swill of slime – to flood at last we are flotsam and scum,

houses and pigs in ceaseless procession. And rushing past our brethren, those lovelorn cats and cockroaches, amind floating roofs, lumbering cadavers of cherished scrap, our naked brats scamper and gambol over their scavenged loot of murky things, tires and handbags and bottles and shoes,

as skies boom and fall thundering spears on Cherry Hill slumping down its slope and shoveling homes in one boulder swoop – landfill of families in moaning mud! so sudden, their screams no echoes bear, abducted to questioning rage of mind by what “state of calamity” or “act of God”

to beat down all curses and tears to tide. Antipolo to Pangasinan the earth rivers and shoves down Pinatubo’s renegade ooze to our paddies swelling to ocean of muck and fishponds collapsing to swamp; for bridges are down, and mountains too far, to flee and shelter from the water’s gore

among seaweed and driftwood and water hyacinths, what word, what route? what water world for breathing space, the floors of our dreams but shiver their fittings and leak their gloom. Clutch of seaweed for hair, drifwood for limbs, hyacinths for a cloak, what new indigene, only survivor to offer

prayer-wreaths for the dead and the drowned? Requiescant in pace … vitam aeternam, so cradle the infant swaddled in rubble grime, just now excavated and no mother to hush its lost wail, no father, no sibling – surely now their wreck is deaf to cranes or fingers digging, to what end any change

how in the downpour our towns drown.             -- Gemino H. Abad. In Ordinary Time: Poems, Parables, Poetics 1973-2003                 University of the Philippines Press. Quezon City. Philippines. 2004

(This poem was written by the abovenamed famous Filipino poet after a past typhoon wreaked devastation in the Philippines in the late 1990s.  It may very well described the tragedy in Romblon after the recent Typhoon Frank. The accompanying pictures are courtesy of volunteer Peter Barnett of New Zealand who was in Romblon at the height of the typhoon, along with volunteers Denise Dunn and Andrew Hudson and recorded the devastation immediately after.)           

More pictures from the Long Beach, Sugod, the Marine Sanctuary and Carmen can be found here.  

Volunteers start Romblon relief operations and fund drive

Following is an excerpt of CERV volunteer Peter Barnett’s (New Zealand) narration of the relief operation he conducted in his last days in Romblon immediately after the devastation of Typhoon “Frank”.

“I hopped off the boat from Romblon Island. Unfortunately the damage here in Tablas Island is immeasurably worse.

“This morning I visited the crew of a fishing boat that washed up in the marine sanctuary where I've been working. Four are staying in the barangay (village) hall across the rice fields from my host family’s house, with the fifth lying in an open coffin in a room a few metres away. It was the first body I've seen and I found it far harder than I imagined. I can't imagine what it must be like for his family (who arrives this afternoon) or for those of the ferry (MV Princess of the Stars where more than 700 are feared drowned off Sibuyan Island, Romblon) casualties.

“The coastal areas of San Agustin have been flattened. So many houses were blown away, as well as huge numbers of boats destroyed.

“It's been an incredible experience walking around today, the tropical paradise that had become home reduced to strewn rubble. The scale of the destruction is completely overwhelming. People are constructing shelters from rubble, or sleeping in the public stages by the basketball courts or in schools.

“Aid from the government will be slow to come, consisting of a one-off 2 kg of rice per family…

“The father of my host family is a member of the Romblon Red Cross, a respected high school teacher and a very decent and trustworthy man. I spoke to him this morning about the possibility of my raising relief money overseas and how it would be best distributed. He said that he and his wife would be able to distribute it among those most in need in our barangay and the one neighbouring it. I didn't raise any expectation, but I wondered whether my parents and family friends would like to donate some money. The exchange rate is such that any amount in $NZD goes a very long way, and the lack of any official or NGO help here means that anything would go immediately to helping out in a very real way – food, drinking water, shelters.

“’My father my emails on to other families who helped also, and I emailed them back to say that I managed to withdraw the money yesterday in Romblon. My host family
were amazingly coordinating the whole effort - 450 kg of rice, 300 cans of sardines, 900 packets of noodles, 75 kilograms of nails, 100 bars of soap! Also enough left over to help a couple of families in particular need - PhP 1000 towards a coffin for a family that lost their father and PhP500 for medicine for a man with blood poisoning after being hit by rusty roofing iron. It was an incredible gift from them and the Hennin family. And it was a real privilege for me to oversee its distribution. It is hard to put into words how far it went and how much it meant to the people here!’

“To which I got the following reply from my father John, who is a fundraiser for the World Wildlife Fund:

‘How rewarding it was for us to read of the amounts of rice, noodles and more that the money purchased. Thank you for setting it out so well for us to read.

“’As a fundraiser, it's the most extraordinary donor feedback, a closing of the loop, that I have ever seen, much less been a part of. Despite our trust in NGOs, there is an unfortunate and unavoidable element of uncertainty about how much gets to the need and about precisely what any individual's contribution to a pooled fund resulted in.

“’I think that is a point worth pushing - the current need is so great, and the help CERV (through donations) can offer is so practical, targeted and hopefully rapidly delivered, that through their donations ex-volunteers can do an incredible amount. Having so many volunteers 'on the ground' is also a huge advantage

“’As regards the website proposal below, I think something of that nature has appeal because volunteers can send the link to their family and friends, who have no doubt heard a lot about their time in the Philippines. I'm not sure how the pricing structures and establishment fees of PayPal, etc. compare, they would have the advantage of being based from CERV's website and increasing your branding efforts, though of course that could be integrated into a third party site also…Would be good to get it set up while the sense of urgency is still fresh.’

“Then my dad emailed friends from Fundraise Online, Limited to ask if it would be a possible for them to remit money direct to CERV if he pays the FOL charity registration fee and put a page up.

“FOL support manager Sharon Lee said their group ‘would be happy to remit direct to the Philippines if the abovementioned requisites are accomplished. She also raised he possibility of setting it up on the New Zealand and Australia sites of FundRaise Online.

”Now, I have left the Philippines but have committed to help with my family and friends.”

In Manila, Peter and the other volunteers helped in the relief operations of Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN, the country’s biggest media network. Leighton Wood, Colin Lee-Chee, Denise Dunn, Jill Boike, Bette Luck, Robin Greenway, Kyle Engman and Line Pedersen packed rice, other food items, medicines, clothing for victims of Typhoon Frank in Metro Manila and Western Visayas. Their operations lasted for one and a half-weeks and have processed millions of pesos worth of relief goods. Leighton worked the longest, followed by Colin.

Before Peter flew home, he donated an additional PhP6,500 for relief food items for San Agustin. Robin added 200 Canadian dollars, which she raised before flying to the Philippines. Canadian health volunteers Sharon Gershony, Edward Brooks, Rachel Han and Juliya Iosfina donated 100 Canadian dollars each for medicines.

The CERV secretariat and some former volunteers like Malcolm Trevena are hard at work setting up the online petition for FundRaise Online.

We are calling on all former volunteers and others for help. Succeeding updates and news items to follow

Vanvan: "I can see!"

Vanvan: “I can see!”

Van Mark Elisan is now on his way to a new life.

Last May 30, Vanvan was operated on by Philippine General Hospital doctors. He emerged from the operating room several hours later with a huge gash on top of his head (where the surgeons split open his skull) but only a few stitches on his face where a big growth used to be.

Upon regaining consciousness at the recovery room another three hours later, Vanvan’s first words were “I can see!” He was not blind and the operation was not on his eyes. The boy was referring to the wonderful new experience of stereo vision where the right eye can see to his left side and vice versa.

Vanvan’s operation was made possible by the Barnes family who took pity on the boy and looked around for help. They ended up financing most of the expenses themselves except the actual surgery, which was achieved through the help of the PGH and the World Craniofacial Foundation. The entire Barnes family was ecstatic about the success of operation.

Equally happy is Eden who saw the project to the end through four frustrating delays, epilepsy attacks, new discoveries of Vanvan’s health problems, red tape and Third World health care service. Everyone thought it would take only a month. But it’s been three months and still counting.

Vanvan is still recovering at the CERV dorm in Quezon City. He walks in the mornings and in the afternoons. All the staples on his head were already taken off, the swelling on his face are all but gone. Vincent has succeeded in making him stop nibbling at his right hand. And while he has to take lifetime medication for his epilepsy, he has already gained weight and become taller under Vincent and Eden’s care.

Vanvan still needs a lot of help. Because of his family’s poverty and the stigma brought about by his past physical appearance, Vanvan stopped schooling at age eight and consequently forgot how to read and write. He is also displaying a mild form of mental retardation. CERV is asking the school in his village to take him in as a first grader again next month. There will be more check ups as well.

Giving the boy a new lease on life has been a very difficult journey. But to see Vanvan smiling at himself on the mirror makes it all worthwhile. We hope the entire Barnes family would be able to witness it sometime.

You can see more pictures of Vanvan here

Two high school students start their summer break by volunteering

Tong Jun (Alan) Lee and Jun Ho Lee completed their two-week school building repair and maintenance programs last May 31.

They are 18-year olds and are natives of Seoul, Korea. Jun is also president of the Asian-American Club and both are the only Asian members of the organization.

Tong (pronounced “Dong”) and Jun worked enhancing Gold and Pinadama Day Care Centers in Quezon City. They painted chairs, desks, cabinets and gate with blue and yellow.

On their last day, both shot a video of CERV director Raymund and staff Vincent which they hope to show to schoolmates prior to organizing fund-raising campaigns.

“We hope to be able to sponsor more paints for the schools. Who knows? We might even be able to sponsor a child or two to ensure they continue their education,” the two said.

Former volunteer says “Hi!”

CERV volunteer Jennifer Pielak of Vancouver Canada (teaching, July 2007) dropped us a message recently. Here is part of what she had to say:

Hey Pom, Raymund, Eden and Vincent!

How are you doing?! Things are going pretty well for me over here in Vancouver. I have been very busy teaching English to Korean kids at a private school here. The kids come from wealthy families, so it is very different from teaching the kids in Romblon! To be honest, it has taken a few months for me to readjust to living here after living in Asia for almost 2 years. I think about the Philippines a lot and really miss everyone over there! It was truly a life-changing experience for me, and I have gained a lot more perspective on the world.

One of the moments that had the most impact on me was when Raymund was taking Lucie (Pfaendler, Switzerland, Teaching, July 2007) and I through the slums in Manila and said, "The greatest sin is humans dehumanizing other humans like this." That is something that has really stuck with me and I've thought about it a lot.

“Anyway, I hope all of you are doing well and that things are going well with CERV and that lots of volunteers are coming

Thanks, and say hi to everyone in Romblon for me!!

-Jen

PS: Here is a picture of me in the snow! When you are feeling hot, think of this picture!

Jenn was one of the volunteers who displayed outstanding initiative and creativity during her program with CERV. Undaunted by the local teachers’ embarrassment to give her more teaching time, she managed to convince them to give her more work. And she did it without offending the people’s unique sensibilities. She ended her volunteer program in a very busy fashion, conducting after class tutorial sessions, creating and producing many teaching aids, in addition to increased time teaching

A friend of CERV's passes away

CERV’s logo designer, Nestor Jacinto, died of lung cancer last May 6 at Manila’s University of Santo Tomas Hospital. He was 63 years old.

Nes, as friends and colleagues fondly called him, designed the simple yet striking CERV logo for free. He was Raymund’s colleague at Kodao Productions, a multi-media group that produces video documentaries and radio programs.

Nes led a very colorful life. Born just after second World War his family suffered untold difficulties, often only eating root crops instead of proper food. He was born with a blind right eye.

Despite his disability, he developed an eye for photography. He qualified to study architecture at the University of the Philippines.

When UP students rebelled against the Marcos dictatorship in the early 70s in what is known as the “Diliman Commune,” Nes captured the historic event on video. Intense persecution of activists forced him to align himself with rebels waging a guerilla war against the dictatorship. Due to failing eyesight, Nes later went “aboveground” and started working as a film editor.

In the last two decades, Nes became a top-notch digital graphics designer and lay-out artist. He produced an impressive number of designs for various advocacies and political movements, as well as commercial works. He also served as creative consultant to all of Kodao Productions' video projects.

Nes was also tapped to produce designs for local and international campaigns. These included “Stop the Killings in the Philippines!”, “Permanent People’s Tribunal Second Session on the Philippines”, “Junk WTO!”, “International Observers’ Mission” (for the 2007 national elections), “White Ribbon Movement”, and “Purple Rose Campaign” (against women and children trafficking), among many others.

All these he accomplished while being legally-blind. He often had to work with the computer monitor barely an inch away from his thick glasses. His condition also did not deter him from being a bookworm, building himself an impressive collection of books on graphic design and photography.

A widower, Nes is survived by his two sons, Mark and Sancho.

New volunteers indulge in “halo-halo”

Summer is in full swing in the Philippines. A boat dish of “halo-halo” (literally-translated, “mix-mix”) is always in order on a hot Manila afternoon.

Two new Canadian volunteers are now enjoying this Filipino summer icon. They both recently arrived on month-long programs in Romblon.

Sharlyn Briones was born to full-blooded Filipino parents who migrated to Canada after their marriage. Sharlyn is Canadian-born and is now a young staff nurse in a Calgary hospital. She is a health volunteer.

Andrew Hudson is a university student in Vancouver. Unlike Sharlyn who made her own “halo-halo” on her childhood visits to the Philippines, it is his first time to sample this popular local snack. Andrew is a school building maintenance and repair volunteer.
There are many versions of “halo-halo”, depending on the availability of ingredients or one’s own imagination. There could be as many as two dozen elements arranged on top of shaved ice made even flavorful by either milk or cream. Sweetened fruits like bananas, jackfruits, young coconut meat, mangoes, ripe papayas; gelatins of all shapes and sizes; flans; yams; rice crispies; and scoops of cheese and yam-flavored ice-cream make up the “regular” versions. “Special halo-halo” needs extra special effort to describe.

One may be forgiven to think that “halo-halo” is representative of the Filipino. (Not the balut!) The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands peopled by about 150 ethno-linguistic groups. As separate units, they represent their own unique colors and flavors. Taken together, they are just one color and flavor even more unique and special.

To begin enjoying “halo-halo”, one must futher break up the shaved ice underneath all the sweets and mix everything up (hence the name) until the tall glass or the boat dish becomes a rainbow of colors. After a reasonable consistency is achieved, one is then permitted his or her first spoonful.

A hot tropical afternoon in the Philippines is also required.