AMCI Commserve voluntourism program at Bago-Iglit, March 5 to 7

February 3, 2010

Sam Lapena 0915 2165483
Mike Magana 0905 3347129
Dennis Adriano 0906 5150441

The Day Mom Freecycled

February 2, 2010

Coming home from school one day, I was surprised to see a vertical piano in the living room.  My mom, who had no difficulty finding connections in Hong Kong’s expat wives’ community, was able to get the musical instrument for free after learning that a family was disposing of it.  What potentially would cost thousands of dollars cost her a few hundreds to pay the movers. 

This happened in 1998.  12 years and dozens of fingers later, we still have the piano–a prominent fixture in our living room–and a couple of people in our household continue to play the instrument from time to time, in addition to our cuddly one-and-a-half-year-old neighbor who visits occassionally.

What happened in that  fateful day in Hong Kong, just a few months after the British turnover, is known as “freecycling”.  Freecycling is the act of re-using old or unused items by putting these up as gifts (meaning for free) to people who may find them useful.

I recently learned, after reading MentalFloss‘ “Five ways to get closer to your garbage“, that there is a global community dedicated to this cause.  After visiting Freecycle.org, however, I found that only half a dozen cities in the Philippines are into this activity.
 
Maybe there’s an application currently in the pipeline, but I nonetheless took the liberty to create a group for Metro Manila.  Maybe I’ll find takers for some items lying around my room.

Have you freecycled?  What items have you received/given away?

Enervon donates 1M pesos to Virlanie Foundation

January 30, 2010

27 January 2010, Makati, Philippines – As part of its Share the Happy campaign, Enervon, with the help of the Filipino public, has donated one million pesos to the Virlanie Foundation, an organization dedicated to uplifting the lives of street children.

United Laboratories Incorporated (Unilab), owner and manufacturer of the Enervon brand, has been a staunch supporter of the Virlanie Foundation for years now. In December 2009, the pharamceuticals firm launched a campaign called, “Share the Happy” wherein the public was enjoined to contribute to the cause via a text drive. The progress of the text drive was represented by an interactive billboard along EDSA. Each donation made was symbolized by a light bulb on the billboard. When the whole billboard has been lit, Enervon pledged to turn over the proceeds to the Virlanie Foundation on behalf of everyone who supported the campaign.

Visit the Virlanie Foundation Multiply site for the rest of the story.

Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) in Ifugao, May 22 to 23, 2010

January 29, 2010

BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER

Dinosaurs roamed the earth 65 million years ago …  now they are extinct.

Children roam the streets because their parents cannot afford the school supplies to send them to school … will you let literate children become extinct?

The Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) Community Outreach Program is here to fill that need for these children in the Philippines, especially those who live in remote mountain areas.  Each year, sponsors and volunteers carry the school supplies and trek through mountain trails to give them to the children in person.  On May 22 - 23 this year, BBBS will visit the communities of Cambulo and Batad in Ifugao province, Northern Luzon to distribute school packs.

For only THREE HUNDRED PHILIPPINE PESOS (P 300.00) or approximately SEVEN U.S. DOLLARS (USD 7.00), a big brother or sister may sponsor one student’s school supplies for one year.

FIVE HUNDRED children need big brothers and big sisters like YOU!

Here’s how you can be a big brother or sister:

1. Pledge to sponsor one child or more
Email to helpbbbs@gmail.com or contact Joanne Del Mindo +639163444404 / Marilet de Guzman +639285032075.
2. Come and meet the kids yourself, sign up as a BBBS volunteer*
For more information, visit the BBBS websites:  http://bbbs2005.multiply.com or http://www.bbbsoutreach.com.

It’s too late to revive the dinosaurs, but it’s not too late for the children.  Don’t let educated children become extinct!

BIG BROTHER BIG SISTER
Big dreams begin with small steps!

Click on “More…” to see last year’s BBBS event at Cabatuan Elementary School, Buhi, Camarines Sur.

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AIJC 2010 school year opens

January 13, 2010