A Transient Home for Any Storm

The wake of a typhoon in the Philippines can leave many sleeping in places they never dreamt of. Oftentimes, the scenario that unveils is inconvenient to even see. Sometimes however, the scene becomes set for dreaming.

Perhaps it was the shattering duet of Nesat’s relentless rains and rebellious winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour that twisted my fate and left me homeless on such an unforgivable evening. Still, it has proven that in the darkest and loudest of storms, Someone hears the most silent of prayers and shines the brightest of lights.

It was the eve of September 27, the day that Typhoon Nesat started to pound Philippine ground. I braved going to Manila for an appointment the next morning that was as formidable as the storm.

I ideally intended to stay at a motel near our meeting place. But as it turned out, I didn’t have enough money to do so. I’m a fellow who is used to traveling with a meager amount of cash in hand, for thanks to technology, one electronic card usually performs the many tasks of money — in a world of permanence. In this world, the terrors of catastrophes can also rock the digital world, and everything connected to it.

Story short, I ended up technologically-handicapped to access the funds from my bank, with only enough money to get me back home the next day, and an umbrella as roof for my head. But it’s not that I had nowhere to go. It’s just that, I didn’t know if I should go there.

It just so happened that I was near the only free transient home in the country, if my knowledge serves me right. It’s the Kamanggagawa Transient Home near its media partner UNTV along EDSA. It was put up by Kuya Daniel Razon and Bro. Eli Soriano for indigents and victims of cruelty and abuse as temporary shelter where social workers can see their cases for further assistance.

I have blogged about it in the past and about the other exemplary humanitarian efforts by the ‘Didactic Duo of Philippine Philanthropy.’ But never did I think that the day (or night) would come that I would actually be there.

When I arrived, I was just in time for the nightly community prayer, hosted by the Members Church of God International or MCGI. I’m glad that they have that service there. Storm or no storm, they regularly establish a steady line of communication with God. And at that point in time, I was just really thankful for the opportunity to talk to my Creator.

I felt really comforted afterwards. However, as everybody’s eyes soon opened, I knew that they would be seeing something quite amiss — me — which is why I hesitated going there.

Of the many people around me, I was the only one with a cap and a jacket, and didn’t look like someone who really needed help. I wondered then if I looked like somebody who was just taking a greedy advantage of the transient home’s free services. I don’t know.

Nevertheless, I was humbled and honored with smiles by both the staff and my fellow transients. There were puzzled looks of course, but they were undoubtedly kind — just the kind of warmth any soul yearned for and needed on such a frigid night.

A few minutes passed and I was at the desk of a social worker who looked into my case. After telling her my tale of technological fail, she happily delivered me to one of the staff who gave me a clean bed sheet and kept my belongings.

I could see there people in slippers and shorts. Most were old people. Some were families with infants. Some were teens and children. All were refugees from the wet and windy world outside.

I finally got in bed, Bunk 13 to be exact. But I could’t really feel any luckier. I lay facing a window near me. I could hear the wind, see the rain, feel the darkness outside: a world made distant by the smiles, giggles, and timid laughter of the people inside. I actually had a few smiles myself after seeing gaped mouths, venting stress and weariness away, sleeping in pleasant care and comfort.

I woke up early, an hour or two before anyone else did. I woke up the baggage counter guy sleeping on a table to get my stuff. With a slight tap on his shoulder, he stood up and asked me where my things were — no grunts whatsoever.

After taking a shower, I finished preparing myself for travel by the baggage counter. I was almost through gearing up when a tiny old lady came to me and asked me what time Kuya’s Clinic — a clinic at UNTV that provides various dental and medical services and medicines for free — will open. I told her that it runs from 4 a.m. daily. She said that she was going to get a checkup and was waiting for her friend to take her there.

I finally put on my jacket and cap, and opened my umbrella. As I passed through the front door, I stopped to thank the only person I could give thanks to, the security guard on duty. It was really the least thing I could do — until now.

To all the staff and transients who helped me, thank you so much. To Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel, thank you for putting and keeping up a home where anyone — regardless of race or religion — can make it through the rain and weather out any storm that life here may bring. I may not be able to sing this song, but this is for you.

I Made It Through the Rain

We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive
We keep the feelings warm
Protect them from the storm
Until our time arrives
Then one day the sun appears
And we come shining through those lonely years

I made it through the rain
I kept my world protected
I made it through the rain
I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain
And found myself respected
By the others who
Got rained on too
And made it through

When friends are hard to find
And life seems so unkind
Sometimes you feel so afraid
Just aim beyond the clouds
And rise above the crowds
And start your own parade
‘Cause when I chased my fears away
That’s when I knew that I could finally say

P.S.

I really like Kuya Daniel’s version of this song. More power and health!

ADDing Fun to a Free College Run

I knew it was a philanthropic project, an opportune event to sweat out stress. I ended up being part of sports history and running around the world’s third largest shopping mall with an incessant smile on my face.

Kahit Isang Araw Lang: Takbo para sa Libreng Kolehiyo

It was the Just One Day: Run for Free College on January 31st, which garnered more than 50,500 participants and broke records in Philippine sports history.

Part of the Kahit Isang Araw Lang or Just One Day advocacy by “Kuya” Daniel Razon, the race was for the benefit of the La Verdad Christian College scholars, who will be studying Mass Communication and Nursing entirely for free this school year. So even though athletics is not on the A list of my activities, I felt really happy giving a measly PHP 400 and getting my JOD shirt just for some of my fellowmen to get good, free education.

I entered the 3-km Fun Run, which was scheduled to start at 7 a.m. In great anticipation, I got there four hours early. I soon registered my name to confirm my participation and get my runner’s bib. Since sunlight was still hours away, I turned my small bag into a pillow and a portion of the parking lot into a bed, along with many others who decided to do what’s due when it’s dark — dream away.

The Parking-Lot-cum-Sleeping-Area

The soft sunlight playing with my eyes and begging me to rise up, though poetic, is a lie. The sun — for the entire event — seemed sullen that day, giving way to an almost algid Sunday morning had it not been for the great multitude that were gathered. In short, it was the kind of weather fit for tens of thousands of runners to enjoy. I know I did.

When it was finally time for the race, I found myself in the midst of runners who didn’t seem like austere athletes, but more like a great big family joining a jovial activity in a reunion. Turns out, they kind of were.

The Fun Walk with ADD

They were members of the Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), or more formally known as the Members Church of God International or MCGI. Kuya Daniel is the VP Minister of the congregation and his uncle, Bro. Eliseo Soriano, is the Presiding Minister. And they all are always together in great humanitarian undertakings like this. (Daily, they have medical missions at UNTV and are behind the free bus, train, jeepney and boat rides across the country. Talk about charity.)

When the race started, I didn’t see anybody run. Nobody could. We were so numerous that many minutes had to pass first before any of the people around me could have enough space to even brisk-walk. It was definitely not a Fun Run, but a Fun Walk. Seriously, fun.

While running, er, walking, groups of people would be heard kidding around throwing jokes like, “Hey, don’t run. The winner already texted me,” or be seen laughing together, and people you don’t know would always flash a sweet smile to you, which of course was duly returned. If there were participants who minded the hefty prize money for the first to finish, they didn’t come there. All I saw there, were people who were having a blast in something wholly wholesome as well as worthwhile.

A Copter Capturing Countless Candid Moments on Camera

I know the event was called “a run for free education”. But for me, it was more of “an educational run for free education.” Running with ADD has taught me an invaluable lesson — many people run, but not all have good enough reasons to. The ones who do, however, finish their race with a certain smile on their face.

Brush and Shutter: The Show Must Go On

I was about to join the other people sleeping in the van when thoughts about the Manila I would soon be seeing busied my head.

It had just been two days since Tropical Storm Ketsana tore the city and nearby provinces apart with a record-high rainfall leading to flashfloods and landslides that killed many.

I thought about how fortunate we were in the van, about how many people outside that vehicle would have wished that they too could sleep comfortably, how they would have wished that they could go on with their lives normally, as we did. And though I was excited to go to my very first art exhibit, to which a close friend invited me to see his work, a part of me felt troubled by my thoughts.

When we arrived in Manila, however, I saw that it was just the same—the rush of many vehicles causing traffic jams, people eating in restaurants and going to malls … the same. At least, the part that I saw.

I soon saw my stop and got out of the van and took a jeepney to the Tala Gallery. I got there just before the exhibitor, “Kuya” Daniel Razon, was introduced to give his speech.

In front of the Man Behind the Public Service

In his speech, I found out that the exhibit, Brush and Shutter, was far more than just strokes of paint and clicks of the camera brought together for art’s sake. It was for the benefit of the scholars of the soon-to-rise La Verdad Christian College in the Metro where poor students will have the privilege to study college with their tuition, books, uniform, and even lunch for free.

It was actually something unbelievable to hear; in fact, it is unheard of in the entire history of the country. But Kuya Daniel, together with his uncle, Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), did it. I was also surprised to learn that they have already helped our distressed fellowmen in the Metro and in provinces like Cavite, Rizal, and Pampanga.

My friend then sees me and gives me a tour of the gallery that was overwhelming with Kuya Daniel’s photos transformed into paintings and people gawking at every piece in admiration.

An Pale Face in a Vivid Place

She May Be the Face I Can't Forget

Later, a man calls my friend, ending our tour.  After he politely leaves me, I soon found myself sitting at a flight of stairs near the string orchestra that has been soothing every soul in the setting with the classics that they play.

Soon, I sink into my thoughts again and am reminded of the sadness of the many other Filipinos outside the gallery’s walls. The orchestra then plays “An Affair to Remember” and my eyes begin to focus on the wall that seconds ago was but a blurred image. I see the paintings that artists like my friend have voluntarily done for the noble causes of Kuya Daniel. And then, I felt peace … knowing that there are still people like Kuya Daniel, gifted and giving, and all the artists who lent a helping hand (with brushes) for the sake of their fellowmen.

I’m glad I came to see the show go on despite the threats and travails the recent storm has brought. For such a show with noble roots really must, not for art’s sake, but for humanity’s.

A Good Movie Night Thanks to “Just One Day”

“Good… Do good.” This is what kept ringing in my soul as I walked away from the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where I had just watched the movie, Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day), by digital filmmaker/humanitarian Daniel Razon.

The movie is Mr. Razon’s directorial debut, and about it, nothing could be said but “Good show!” And in every sense of the phrase, it is.

“Ang paggawa ng mabuti, dapat tuloy-tuloy… Wala namang mabuting gawa na magbubunga ng masama.”  One success of the film is that it was able to perfectly resound the message of the Isang Araw Lang advocacy in every line and deed of the lead character, Kuya Daniel (Big Brother Daniel).

(Doing good should be unceasing… There is no good deed that will yield evil.)

Kuya Daniel is a cop-turned-jeepney driver who tries to make a decent living for the orphans he raises. However, alongside all the sacrifices he faces as a single parent are others more for his fellowmen. And thus was he called kuya.

I admit that when I saw the trailer of the movie, I thought to myself that I had the ending all figured out. But boy was I gobsmacked. I thought that this was just another action movie where the martial-arts-expert-turned-civilian battles his way through hell just to get the justice he deserves. But as I said, “gobsmacked”.

Come to think of it, it wasn’t only the story that surprised me, but also its clever adaptation of biblical lines. Well, it isn’t a surprise considering that Mr. Razon is the VP of Members, Church of God International (MCGI)—a group well-known for being Bible-based (Really.) But I was surprised how such scriptural passages were inserted effortlessly into the movie’s script.

I arrived early at the venue and got seated before the multitude arrived. I could tell that most of them were members of MCGI because of the women who were dressed modestly. I confirmed this when hurrahs would break the silence every time Kuya Daniel delivered lines that have profound wisdom in them. Biblical, perhaps? Undoubtedly.

An hour and forty minutes have passed and the movie came to a close. I was so happy that I shouted “Congratulations! Great Movie!” to Mr. Razon who, surprisingly, was there on that special screening night.

As I exited the theater with thousands of other people, I noticed that no armed security personnel were there to put the people in order. We just were. No pushing, no arguments, nothing. Everybody got out happy.

I was already by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex, and I still couldn’t recall the last time I watched a Filipino film, on the big screen or not. I admit I am not very fond of local films as I have seen (or heard from my friends) many whose stories and characters are mere copycats of foreign ones. But those of Isang Araw Lang are undeniably unheard of—well, at least by those who do not read the Bible. Indeed, one can only wish that there will be many more movies like it, local or not.

Why July 27 should always be remembered

On the Philippines’ Independence Day (June 12), the incumbent president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, signed Republic Act 9645 making July 27 of every year Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) Day.

Obviously, this is a major suck up to the organization mentioned above as it has, over the years, imprinted in the minds of Filipinos that they count up to millions. And with their doctrine of bloc voting, what politician could ever forget such a proclamation, especially, when only 12 months away is the 2010 presidential elections?

Before you suck-up. Think.

If the Iglesia ni Cristo or INC really count to millions and they’re really solid in their votes, why do they have to choose from a pool of presidential candidates  (once the polls show who is leading), and not just have one from their organization?

If bloc voting is such a “holy” obligation that their members who will not vote for their politician of choice are excommunicated, wouldn’t it be holier if the representative they will be voting to rule the land will come from them?

But why? Why haven’t they, in their 95 years of being in the Philippines, ever been able to elect someone from their ranks to sit in the president’s chair?

Seriously, why?

Before you become suckers. Think.

Why does the incumbent president, on the day of our independence as a nation, make into a law something that is a clear and outright breach in the doctrine of separation of church and state? Mind you, we are not a communist country whose political leader is also their god.

Is not democracy about fairness, equality, justice for ALL? What about the Jehovah’s Witnesses founding day? What about the El Shaddai’s founding day? What about the Church of God’s founding day?

Are we a country of INC members? Or perhaps, maybe the president is theirs only?

Everything that the heroes of our nation have given their lives for, before foreign oppressors, have been put to nought by our own politicians who mind nothing but their bellies and asses.

July 27 should not be remembered as the day the president gave her last State of the Nation Address and the day the INC have influenced the former to make it into their own. Let all Filipinos remember that July 27 is a day that proves how ours is truly a country divided and disgraced by the influenced and the ignorant.

What makes a “leading media network”?

What makes a “leading media network”?

Apparently, the idea of the two giant networks in the Philippines—Channels 2 and 7—is whose ratings are higher, who the people want to watch more.

And so, they do all sorts of stuff to achieve the said goal—showing barely clothed women on their noontime shows, copying the ingenious ideas of foreign programs, and making a tasteless version of quality, hit shows abroad (If you watch their versions of Korean soaps, you know what I mean.)

These are enough reasons for one to be truly thankful of having cable. But the latest addition to such is the obvious abuse of a well-known Filipino in their hands—and all for publicity’s sake.

Last night, June 19, 2009, Case Unclosed touched a very sensitive topic—the undecided rape case of a Filipino dear to the hearts of many—Bro. Eli Soriano.

Bro. Eli is not your typical preacher; he is very frank when it comes to the Bible, and is bold in his exposure of the frauds of other religions. Many people dislike him for this character of his.  But he doesn’t care if anyone gets angry with him, so long that what he says is the truth in the Bible. And it is this familiarization with the truths in the Bible that, though many hate him, a lot more feel otherwise.

There has been no man in the history of Philippine broadcasting that has a question and answer program that has lasted for nearly three decades now. He has been called as “The Walking Bible”, “The Bible Authority”, and by the flock he leads, Ang Dating Daan (ADD) or more properly, Members Church of God International (MCGI), “The Most Sensible Preacher In Our Time”.

For numerous years, he has had the reputation of being the one to ask when it comes to matters of faith and spirituality. And with so much recognition by different peoples and organizations, his contemporaries cannot be but envious. Actually, one even “prophesied” years ago that Soriano will be stricken of a serious disease and die within six months. Not contented,  he also said that all those who will not leave Soriano’s flock will be doomed with him.

Until this day, Soriano is alive, and so is his ever-growing flock.However, false prophecies are not the only things that Soriano deals with.

Nothing ever happens with false prophecies, aside from the people knowing that the one who spoke it is infallibly a false prophet. False accusations, on the other hand, are a different matter. Rumors can outlive far much longer the person whom they tell of. Therefore, taking care that a fellow person will not suffer such a fate is every person’s responsibility, much more a media network’s.

A certain Daniel Veridiano was the star of the said Case Unclosed show last night (Read his story here from a fellow WordPresser.) He was said to be excommunicated from the MCGI due to acts of lasciviousness to other men and other money related transgressions, and later joined the Iglesia ni Cristo of Manalo (INCM).

What, then, can anyone expect for him to say about Bro. Eli?

Well, the GMA network obviously had a good enough reason—for them, that is. For had they consulted sound logic, good values, and media ethics they would not have allowed such garbage to be aired.

What Case Unclosed displayed last night was something against a man presumed INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, something against what the supreme law of the land wills. Anyone could invent something and make it a legal case against anyone else. Anyone could make a claim, but not all can prove it. So why sensationalize something unsure, and by a supposed journalist at that.

I wonder what Bro. Eli must feel like, suffering this from his fellow Filipinos, and in the month of June—the month supposedly when 7,107 islands were declared free to enjoy the liberties and rights every human person should.

Perhaps, he is used to it already, as this is not the first time. The very same incident happened to him years ago with Channel 2′s Ces Drilon and Channel 7′s (Score two for them!) Mike Enriquez. Again, these are the two stations that claim they are the leading networks in the Philippines.

But what really makes a leading media network? I realized now that that’s not the more important question to ask. Rather, “Where does your media network lead you?”

Does you media network lead you to think that originality is unachievable by its numerous copycat shows?

Does it lead you to think evil of your fellow, to have baseless dislike or hate against another?

Does your media network lead you to think that they care for you, that they are your “Kapuso” (of the same heart) or “Kapamilya” (of the same family), and yet, for the length of their existence in the country that they were not able to give you the different public services a young media network like UNTV is able to do?

What makes a leading media network?

In the end, it’s really not the ratings that will decide. But far more importantly, YOU. Where do you want to be led?

National Telecommunications Commission of the Philippines’ Perturbing Proposition

Even if you aren’t a blogger, but just a Filipino using your common sense, you too would be looking up the thesaurus and dictionary for words greater in strength than convulsed, infuriated, and outraged, once you read the NTC proposition posted on its website last December 22, 2008.

Here is Google’s cache of the perturbing proposition.

Have you ever seen an opening more defensive? After the the title, we are immediately given constitutional references of the action they propose to make, subliminally saying that “This isn’t against the law.”

Really?

The NTC commissioners used Republic Act 7925 (RA 7925), which, as they say, “mandates that ‘a healthy competitive environment shall be fostered, one in which telecommunications carriers are free to make business decisions and interact with one another in providing telecommunications services, with the end in view of encouraging their financial viability while maintaining affordable rates.’”

I don’t know, maybe the commissioners overlooked it, but don’t they know that the rate of social networking sites for the use of their site is $0.00? Even the e-mail that they require from the user was given free by providers like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. These telecommunications carriers known worldwide have made it their decision, their business decision, to offer use of their site for free. Why would such a commission from such a small country like the Philippines charge the users of these sites for a registration fee and a filing fee that totals to PHP 6,300.00 ($130.00 plus)? Does this act agree to what the constitution says?

Quoting again the said proposition, “WHEREAS, RA7925 further defines the role of the government to ‘promote a fair, efficient and responsive market to stimulate growth and development of the telecommunications facilities and services‘”.

How is the proposition fair to the people, to the Filipino people, who have long enjoyed the liberties given by the Internet if they are to be taken away from them, to be singled out from the rest of the world? In any way possible, no matter how great the tone or quality of voice of the speaker, this statement will never ever sound right: “I’m a Filipino, I pay our government just to have a blog on WordPress and an account on Facebook.”

If the proposition does get to be an order, the NTC will be assured that it will be doing the exact opposite of the goals that RA 7925 wills for its people.

And “Yes,” these are the kind of people who sit behind the Philippines’ public office desks.