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"The World isn't about You,
but about you in the World"
--Jane Alexnder
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I have to confess that, since last December 29th, 2011, my world shrank to a total focus on myself, my own small world aboard my home, my boat, PILAR.
All my life I have been strong and healthy, seldom ill, and never incapacitated...until the Christmas Party at the beach for the Learning Centers' students. There, foolishly forgetting how old I was amid the heartening calls for me to join them in jumping off a rock into very shallow water, I jumped...and heard three separate CRACK!'s as I landed on my right heel. It was a blow to more than just my calcaneus: It shattered illusions of my ability to stay in control. Succumbing to a helpless, hopelessly narrow focus--one of simply learning how to navigate life on crutches, afloat or ashore--I had no energy for anyone or anything more.
Coinciding with being physically demoralized during the following months, there came the emotionally draining transition of stepping aside as Board President/Executive Director of the two campus' of Bright Lights Community Learning Initiatives, Inc. After six years of sole responsibility for One Candle Schoolhouse and four years of mentoring Volunteers for the Learning Centers, the envisioned goal of BLCLII as a Filipino directed (not foreigner directed) organization, finally became a reality. Positive as the event was, I knew I would miss the personal gratification that future leaders would rightfully claim.
In March, the annual Board Meeting elected Renato Dela Cruz to be President, and though the new Vice President, Simon Stack, is an American, for the last year, with his Filipina wife, Tata, he has been one-half of a very strong, supportive team for the Learning Centers.
Simon and Tata Stack recognized early on that, along with the new Board's authority, came a large financial responsibility in the transition, and had begun preparing for it as early as Fall 2011. Previous posts have not done justice to all their work--nor have I been reliable about posting the generous support of many other friends who have given donations of time, money and materials to our students. While my personal world shrunk to a citizen of one, for others who continued to live within a world larger than themselves, I will now begin to honor their commitment.
*Angels*
Tata, May Uy, Annabelle Lee Adriano, Clotilde Arzaga, Myrna Balana-Mclean, Josephine Barot, Irma Pal, Engr. Geronica Martinez, Ninotchka Yoldean and Anonymous Donor, THANK YOU for supporting Tata's Fund Raising project.
Due to your help, termite control was made possible for Siit, in addition to the vital, financially costly completion of necessary papers for our SEC/BIR documentation.
*Angel*
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| Mercy Porras |
Manila-based Mercy Porras, sent a huge box to us through her sister-in-law, Annabelle Lee-Adriano, after a visit to Tambobo last year. The photo of Mercy's donation of Livelihood Manuals for numerous handmade soaps, Massage Techniques, Specialty Foods, plus a dazzling array of Cross Stitch and Sewing Patterns, doesn't begin to do justice to enormity of potential industry she has opened the doors to, for our students and the community at large. We are still overwhelmed by the bounty but will post photos of our progress as we gain expertise.
*Angel*
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| Mimi Davis |
As a result of an open letter in Dumaguete's newspaper, MetroPost, thanking the many supporters of Irma & Alex Pal's 2009 Christmas Project that brought NINE HUGE BOXES of clothes to One Candle Schoolhouse and the students of Bright Lights, I learned of Mimi Davis' desire to donate money to the children at Sto. Nenio Children's Home*. With so much abundance from the Pal Family, the BLCLC students shared what they had with several other organizations' children, by hosting a Christmas Party for them, and Mimi resolved to remedy the mention of a need for extra vitamins at Sto. Nenio.
After delivering Mimi's donation to the Sto. Nenio children, we then visited GP Rehab** where Mimi met Gabrielle.
Seven years old then, Gabrielle was born with Cerebral Palsy. He loves books, loves throwing a ball with his stronger left arm, and is unbelievably smart. Mimi provided the means for doubling Gabrielle and his mother's food allowance by 250Php@week (from less than $5.00 to nearly $10.00), for the next four months.
*Sto. Nino Children’s Home Foundation, Inc. is a non-government and non-profit child institution for abandoned neonates/newborn infants and children needing immediate medical and home care services. The foundation provides shelter and homecare services, psycho-social services, educational support program, assistance for hospitalization and other medical needs and value formation and spiritual services. The Institution aims to create a child responsive health and home care program with integrated and sustainable support services that will promote and enhance children’s growth and development. It was founded by Reverend Father Marcelino “Butch” Malana, a religious missionary (with the help of his friends) who have strong concerns on the plight of unwanted, abandoned and homeless neonates/newborn infants and children especially those with mental or physical defects.
**Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. (GPRehab) is an organization whose main purpose is to support Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in their struggle for inclusion in society. Its main objective is to provide high-quality physical and occupational therapy services to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. Since September 2004 GPRehab has been implemented Caring Hands to Inspire and Link with Disabled Children (CHILD), a children’s rehabilitation project, in Metro Dumaguete, the province of Oriental Negros. Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Corporation Noradf) and NDCF, the overall objectives is to provide a better quality of life for children with physical, motor and intellectual disabilities through rehabilitation and education. Implemented with all of the same program components, GPRehab is currently providing free physical therapy, occupational therapy and special education services to 100 children with various disabilities from indigent families. In order to make its work more comprehensive, it has come up with 6 programs: community-based rehabilitation program, holistic functional development program, networking referral and advocacy program, human resource and development program, asset building for sustainability program, and information, communication and educational program. Operating on a very stringent budget for quite period of time, GPRehab has been able to move forward with the
implementation of its programs.
implementation of its programs.
