MIGHTY FINGERS

In my last post I wrote of having two goals for this next post:
      First, a determination to complete this blog, a 'body of work' which began as a means to document, thank, and share with supporters the achievements their donations made possible, 
and,
      secondly, a desire to 'give back' by now supporting someone else’s project.  

 
The project that has inspired me is Kelly Sullivan’s

Mighty Fingers--FacingChange.

Similar to my vision for One Candle Schoolhouse and the Bright Lights Learning Centers, of youths creatively exploring their individuality within the community, Kelly Sullivan’s project is much more ambitious and inspiring--it is Global in scope. 

Kelly says this about her project:

     “In this Career Opus, Mighty Fingers--Facing Change, I will use my twenty years of experience and the power of artistic collaboration to stimulate, strengthen and unify the largely under-served adolescent female population. They have the ability to change the world. I want to be a part of the most exciting shift of the 21st century…
bring(ing) a unifying spotlight to the numerous organizations working to improve the lives of women around the world...ultimately leading to strengthened communities on a local and global level.”


I began corresponding with Kelly two years ago, after reading her first blog post titled, Life is Short. It is a galvanizing essay for anyone with dreams yet unfulfilled.  Since then, I have been continually touched by this amazing woman’s fierce dedication to both her family and her Art.  Not easy commitments to balance equally, but I admire the integrity with which she does it.

I believe in Kelly's project, which will be launched this September 15th, 2012.  I have chosen to help Kelly for possibly very selfish reasons:

     First, I want her to visit the Philippines so that Bright Lights can host her Team
and,
     second, I want our students be able to experience what she has to offer.

To help make that happen I have become a Mighty Ambassador for her project.

  What must a Mighty Ambassador do, you ask?

check it out and please consider choosing to support her, too...for myself, it is simply a broader way to continue helping the Learning Centers provide unique growth opportunities for our rural Community.  Perhaps it will be for you, too?

A Host of Angels

"The World isn't about You,

but about you in the World"

--Jane Alexnder

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*

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*

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.

More wonderful Angels in the next posting...

A Special Season

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be

 and you help them to become what they are capable of being." 

-Goethe

Vilma Bravo and Lilia Tuason

Earlier this year a new, bi-monthly magazine was launched in Dumaguete. It is a beautifully assembled magazine and it's name is DAYON,  the brain-child of Edilberto 'Burt' Bravo whose desire was to share his appreciation of the unique qualities inherent in the people and environment of Dumaguete and Siquijor Island.  Wisely, he chose his sister, Vilma, and her equally talented friend, Lilia, to give substance and shape to his vision...and luckily for us at the two Bright Lights Community Learning Centers, our supportive friend at GuavaTel, Fred Dael, immediately put Velma in touch with us!  

What makes DAYON stand out from other glossy magazines is not just the photography, but the humanistic quality of writing:  there is never any doubt that these two women are genuinely interested in, and stimulated by, everyone they meet.  In September they visited the two BLCLC's and, appreciative of our need for support, the November /December's Christmas issue featured us along with other worthy causes during this Season of Giving.  

In addition, Vilma has not only generously promised to send a PDF copy of the article so we can post it to our blogs, but in parting donated a stack of educational materials and her own digital camera to the students! Lilia, bless her soul, taking copious notes about our land needs before returning to Manila, was equally generous in offering her expertise to us, for writing grant proposals.

We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful circle of friends who are 
helping us to become all that we are capable of being.

(Please select 'FULL SCREEN' icon above, to read the article)

Halelujah!

 Many of us think we are different. 

But few believe they can make a difference.  

 --Suhasini Paul

Every year since the first Christmas was celebrated by One Candle Schoolhouse students, Patricia and Alan Lucas have sent gifts for the children, gifts selected over the previous months as Patricia came upon items she felt were right for each of the students she'd come to know through emails and this blog. When OCS evolved into the two Bright Lights Community Learning Centers, and the enrollment grew beyond those children she knew, other ways of supporting us were found.  Last year their financial donation made possible a feast for the student's Christmas Party.  This year, learning of the Livelihood Program of Hand-Painted T-shirts that had begun (2TKTees), Patricia ordered fifteen, individually designed, Philippine Flora and Fauna shirts for every member of her family: 

Oh Diane,
We arrived in Point Clare late yesterday and Kevin appeared almost straight away with your/our parcel! It was a wild moment to open the glory box and exclaim as I took each one out! They are beautiful each and every one, she (and you) have excelled in producing such gifts for all our family. I can't praise you enough I am so excited and can't wait to hear how they are received. I will try and include a photo I took of the quote from your email with a photo of Shane Mae which I will include with the shirts when I wrap them.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
My love overflows,
Patricia

2 sent to Italy

7 of the 15 in Australia

Support on Facebook

Tata Stack is an imp; a mischievous, spot-on observer of humanity, sparklingly intellectual conversationalist, and a passionately loyal advocate for anyone who has a cause. Annabelle Lee-Adriano introduced Tata & Simon to the work of Bright Lights Community Learning Centers and immediately Tata began organizing a fund-raising campaign.  Tata and Simon are truly special friends.  Here is the link to her generous project: 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tatas-Designer-Bags-and-Shoes-Sale/181847211896531

...and here is a quick link to a post for Simon, on the Learning Center's blog:  http://wp.me/plKNg-7I

...plus only a few photos of his numerous projects in his weekly help as a Guest Teacher:

Mozzarella!

Guest Teachers, Simon Stack & Joanna Bulova

Tata Stack

"Hi Diane, Just want to share with you about Joanna being featured at the New England  cheese maker's magazine  - about her trip and cheese making lesson with the kids at the Learning Center."

http://www.cheesemaking.com

Making Mozzarella in the Philippines

Note:  We did a blog article in June about Joanne Bulova who makes cheese in Jamaica (and sells it in Kingston at a shop called "Uncorked."  She sent us this update:

... At the moment I am in the Philippines for 3 weeks visiting my son and daughter-in-law, who live here.  I'm attaching some pictures of teaching cheese making to a group of Filipino kids at a Saturday program for rural children called the Bright Lights Community Learning Center.  And the cheese we're making is Ricki's 30 minute mozzarella!  We're using whey to stretch the cheese since microwaves are not available.  The milk is fresh raw cow's milk.

The learning center is a voluntary Saturday program set up by an adventurous American woman (Diane Pool) who arrived here on her boat and decided to stay.  It's run on the principles of the open classroom school: the children choose their activities, the older ones help the younger ones, and  there are two staff members to provide guidance.

She (Diane) is hopeful that the children may be able to do the cheese making and actually market their product.
Joanna Bulova

FURTHER GOOD NEWS FROM TATA:  

"...An acquaintance from NYC who owns a restaurant and wrote culinary books about the Philippines food, is creating a pilot project in Dumaguete geared  towards creating community kitchens to make healthy, nutritious and hygienec food accessible and affordable to poor communities.  Her other mission is to provide jobs and livelihoods through the community kitchens by creating a market for artisanal products so that culinary treasures here in the Philippines don't die out. ....your program has major potential for participating in this project ...definitely a perfect collaboration that will meet your mission and theirs....."

The Bill Pool Sailing School

     judge a man, then, by that

     against which he must strive

     against what

     if not this soft night

     and the wind and sea

     against the myth

     he must become

     and his own will

     the ocean waits

     to measure or to slay me
     the ocean waits

     and I will sail

                         --Webb Chiles

We owe the whole program to Doug Schuch, an American sailor from North Carolina who arrived aboard his 47' yacht, FELLOW TRAVELER, earlier this year.  He specifically sailed to the Philippines, to Port Bonbonon, looking for a Community to immerse himself in, and it didn't take him more that a week to become an active and intregal part of our two Learning Centers! 

Doug taught photography initially, then moved to swimming and sailing for the kids.  The three dinghies he built specifically for the students to learn not just sailing, but boat building and maintainence, too.  The boats are here to provide others, also, with an opportunity to enjoy sailing, while generating a small income for the Learning Centers.  

On Sundays, Doug helps the kids rig their boats and set off, then Renato Dela Cruz (co-director of Bonbonon BLCLC) assists the students from another dinghy, as they learn to handle the boats themselves.  

Doug was kind enough to make a motion (passed) at our first Board Meeting of Bright Lights Community Learning Initiatives, Inc, that the name be the Bill Pool Sailing School, to honor Bill's memory in the founding of One Candle Schoolhouse.