Our short trip to Benguet was meaningful and spontaneous. We had a little time to plan. I was amazed at how well the team was formed, ideas gathered and executed – all in just 11 days! This I think is a great example of the efficiency of Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran. After all, in conducting […]
Let me start this journal entry with a confession: I hesitated a lot when I got the invitation to be part of the relief ops for Bakun. My knee-jerk reaction was to say “no” to this opportunity. Just thinking about going to a relief operation site made me anxious. The last time I went to […]
Typhoon Ompong hit Benguet province on Sept. 15. Two days later, Kaisa’s partner organization, Amity Foundation Hong Kong (愛德基金會) called to ask if Kaisa was going to conduct relief operations. They informed us that the Hong Kong government’s Disaster Relief Fund now had a quick response option, which has less stringent requirements as long as […]
The Balangiga bells will return to their rightful place. Yes, the Balangiga bells figured in the Filipino-American War, a significant but often ignored part of the history of Philippines-US relations. But only a few people know that behind the story of the bells is an interesting vignette in the intertwining destinies of the Filipinos and […]
“I am very thankful God called me to serve. I get a lot of fulfillment in what I am doing today – and the example I am allowed to share with an organization like this – the concept of servant-leadership. I never asked what’s in it for me.” Robert Kuan’s words ring like verses from […]
Place names are integral to the rich heritage and history of the locale. Often, these names tell of stories, origins and legends there.Recently, controversy arising from the proposed building of the Philippine-China Friendship Bridge spanning Intramuros to Binondo sparked renewed interest in the adverse impact of the destruction of historic places especially in Binondo.Groups such […]
The past decade witnessed a massive influx of Chinese nationals to the Philippines, coinciding with the phenomenal rise of China as a global economic power. The Bureau of Immigration reported that from January 2016 to May 2018, some 3.12 million Chinese citizens came to the Philippines. More than 70 percent – or 2.4 million – […]
In Spain, there are officially around 200,000 Chinese residents, spread out all over the country but primarily in the main cities and the most vibrant regions. There are 28,800 in Andalucía in the south while out of the 54,432 in Cataluña region, 45,636 are in Barcelona and 54,512 live in Madrid. Despite the serious economic […]
I knew of Merlie “Milet” B. Mendoza 10 years ago, before she knew me. The evil kidnapping menace was rampant then, in Metro Manila as well as in Mindanao. Mendoza was abducted and held for 61 days, together with her fellow social worker, Esperancita “Espie” Hupida, in Basilan on Sept. 15, 2008. Both of them were working […]
The spotlight this year is on Merlie “Milet” Mendoza, recipient of the Lawrence Trust Fund for Volunteer Efforts. She is a social activist involved in peace, humanitarian and development efforts. Her work experience could fill a book and then some. It is activists like her, living for others, that the Lawrence Trust Fund had set […]