Escape from Dili, Part VII (Crisis Management?)

(…Continuation)

“Good ur safe. Tk security precautions. Find out how 2 exit. Contact US n Australian embassies. Wer u now?”, It was 3:53 PM, April 28 when I received the message from Nes. I answered Nes that at that moment I was still very safe inside Carla Mansion, monitoring the situation. For several times I tried connecting to Pastor Nelson and Ibu Wennie, I had no way to do so due to the communication problem. We had signals in our cell phones but there was no way to connect with others. “K, is it safe 4 u der? Find ways 2 get in2 any of the embassies or UN compound. Dis may safer. Wer praying hir 4u.”, Nes replied. To my surprise, Tots Escalada from Indonesia also texted me with the following messages: “Just to let u know dat wer praying 4 ur safety”. “Ingat lang, kng may problem, naa lang mi dre.” Those were spirit-lifting messages from a friend who was instrumental why I was able to join Habitat for Humanity. In the midst of that security threat and trouble, I managed to send back jokes to Tots assuring him that I can still manage the situation. Nestor’s next sms message was too serious in his instruction for me to fly out of Timor Leste immediately. “If flte not suspended, fly out immediately tomorrow. I assumed u had tickets”. With the instruction, I told him that since the situation looked like manageable, I still need to finish all my appointments for the week then fly out on the 6^th of May. “Make ur departure top priority. Cancel all appointments. Bring all ur stuff since ur return is not sure. Be hir b4 I fly out Phil on the 7^th.”

That message awakened me to realize that our Asia Pacific Office saw the problem bigger than how I saw it and probably they were correct as it was heard over in the radio that lots of houses were already burned, 2 policemen were killed and there were lots of people wounded. I tried keeping in touch with Joey through a landline and I succeeded after several attempts. I told him to keep alert since he has the schedule to fly out of Dili the next day. At that time we were not certain if commercial flights were not cancelled. It was 4:45 PM when me and other lodgers realized that we had bigger problem during that time. We don’t have something to eat since all shops were closed and we failed to stock file foods. Good that one Filipino friend Vida still had something to cook. We ate that night with Vida, Ofe and an Indonesian friend just like as a family. Praise God for the blessing of sharing. With the tension and threat, God’s peace covered me and was able to sleep the whole night very soundly. (to be continued…)

Escape from Dili, Part VI (Crisis Management?)

(…Continuation)

The next morning, April 28, 2006, I had the same observation when I had my early walking exercise. There were no “malays” in the jogging area and there were sporadic groups of local people outside their homes on serious conversation with each other. In my office after series of meetings and teleconferences that I had, I called up the AFET (Association of Filipinos in East Timor) President and ask him about the emergency or evacuation plan for the Filipinos in case of a worst scenario. There I discovered that the Philippine Embassy has no concrete plan at the moment. Dick Pajarillo, the AFET President verbalized of the simple plan the association had in case of a worst scenario: first, there will be a phone brigade to be undertaken so all mobile phones should be kept open at all times, second, the final refuge will the Philippine embassy where evacuation will be undertaken. It was 12:45 PM when we had that conversation.

After that conversation with the President, I tried calling Zeni Gusmao, a local friend and the Executive Director of the Hadomi Timor Oan, a locally run orphanage. I asked her about the situation and on the safety of the “malays” given the tension. She jokingly answered that its not yet time to run and will just signal me in case scenario will worsen.

Around 2:00 PM, my staff were tensed after hearing a successive gun firing near the “Palacio do Governo” (Government Palace) and that was the signal of the riot. Immediately all communication facilities broke down and there was no means that we can contact each other. The AFET plan of executing cell phone brigades collapse. Around 2:30 PM, Richard (Arlyn’s husband) arrived to pick up Arlyn. There I decided to dismiss my staff so they could also join their families. I invited Richard & Arlyn a ride and brought them to their house. Everybody was panicked. On our way to Richard’s house, we saw the ambulances went through and fro. They invited me to stay but I insisted to go home directly to Carla Mansion. I brought with me the hand-held radio to monitor the situation. On my way home, I accidentally saw in opposite direction the protesters, around 1,000 people and most of them were in fatigue uniforms. With them were bows, arrows, bolos machetes, guns and grenades. I tried finding another ways to reach home so I can avoid them.

At home, lodgers were also panicked, but from time to time we still managed to joke and laugh. As an obligation, I texted Nestor who was in a conference in Manila about the situation. I copied Beng with the message to made her also aware on what was happening with me. “Be reminded dat JESUS R LORD HD COVERD U WD Hs most precious blood. Take care n we love u. Called up Nes but hs cp s un a10ded. Forward ur msage 2 hm” It was Beng’s reply (to be continued…)

Escape from Dili, Part V (Crisis Management?)

(…Continuation)

Early morning of April 27, I still managed to have my daily walking exercise along Roxas Boulevard (This is how Filipinos called Pantai Kalapa, a place in front of the sea where most of the embassies are). I found it strange during that time since I failed to see other “Malays” (this is how Timorese called foreigners) jogging except me. Before preparing for office I sent the members of the ManCom sms telling them on the special meeting we have to conduct first hour in the morning.

The meeting was well done. We formulated the security plan with regards to safekeeping of properties, records and funds. I assured my team that what was going on in the country is just part of the democratic process where everyone has the right to express their feelings and on what they thought were right. Because also of the order from Nestor I told my staff that I have to leave Dili on the 6^th of May for a meeting and consultation with my supervisor relative to our HFHTL operation and funding support. I did not reveal to the ManCom the fear of the Asia Pacific Office about the situation of the country and on their order for me to immediately leave the country. This is to keep them calm and not to feel demoralize. Even with the assumption that the situation will be normalized soon, we still formulated the worst-case scenario plan for the staff and the assets of the office. It was understood that Alvaro have to prepare back up records in CDs and on the email address of the National Director all the financial records and administrative assets although similar copies of such were already sent to Bangkok Asia Pacific Office. We installed a transition committee and a skeletal force to man the office given a worst scenario. Of course with the worries of the local staff, we also formulated evacuation plan for them and families. Tito was assigned to prepare the staff and orient them during the regular meeting the following day. As if there’s no emergency, I set up meetings for May 1, 2,3&4 with our Japan & Singapore networks.

“FYI, we rcvd info ds late pm dat protesters gave govt til 12hrs start 6pm knina (tym of mtg) 2 rsolv prob f solution not aceptable protstrs wil cause prob n dili. Ingat! Avoid tc3, cmoro mkt, audian, bdau, caicli. Acdng 2 informant, ppol firful 2day dan b4. Hqtr n tc3. Kip hp open & b prayng real hard. Pls pass!” It was exactly 9:47 pm when I received this sms message from Ibu Wennie and I was really thinking if I will pass the message to others or not sinced I know it will just cause disturbance and panic to the people. Finally, I prayed and decided not to send the message to others. Again, what a sound sleep I had on that night. Praise be to God! (to be continued…)

Escape from Dili, Part IV (Crisis Management?)

(…Continuation)

While viewing movie show in my television set and eating canned goods for my dinner, I sent an sms message to the Philippines for my wife Beng, informing her about the very tense situation in Timor Leste. “D2 ako sampaguita (Miracle Life Christian Church), just come from DBC (Dadiangas Baptist Church) n God gave us the asurans dat HE’s in control of the c2ation der. Fear not! dats God’s word 4 us. Take care, we ms n luv u.” It was the reply that I received from Beng and I was comforted the more believing that God has the situation in His hands. Just after cleaning the plates I used for my dinner, I received an sms message from Pastor Nelson Fernandez informing me that he is in Carla Mansion and he would like to pray with me. Pastor Nelson wore a black suit and in his black motorbike. He told me that he was with Bro Richard and Sis Arlyn praying before he proceeded to Carla Mansion. I took a helmet with me and we drove to Sands Motel to see Bro Joey (A Filipino working in Asian Development Bank for Capacity Building and Governance Project for the Timorese Government officials) and prayed together. At that time we intensely prayed for the country and its situation. We had a short fellowship together and there we learned that Bro Joey was set to fly back to the Philippines by Saturday – the reason was he cannot organized a training program since potential participants would not like to leave their areas due to the impending threat.

“I hop u nform Charli of d c2uation der so he can giv nstruction 4 precautionary measures”. It was 8:07 PM and I was already backed at Carla Mansion when I received this follow up message from Beng, asking if I had informed my supervisors about the situation. “1 sympthizr of d petitioner ws shot dead in Taibise ds pm. People r tense nd dili ct luks lyk a ghost town aftr d ncident.” This message I sent to Dr. Nestor Pestelos & Charlie Ayco, my supervisors who were attending a conference in Manila during that week. At exactly 9:30 PM, I received too very surprising sms responses from Nestor saying, “Charlie says you should be prepared to get out. Buy ur tkts n transfer responsibilities to locals. He is authorizing u to get out anytime. Tk ker” “ Provide 4 security of funds, assets, records. Follow SOP. Then leave. Rgrds.” With the instruction, I was so bothered, but focus to reply Nestor for me to convene first hour in the morning our ManCom to set up our security and contingency plans in case the situation will become worst as expected. “K, noted. U can put rcords in cds.” Nestor replied. With that response, I proceeded to pray and sleep soundly. (to be continued…)

Escape from Dili, Part III (Crisis Management?)

(…Continuation)

April 24-29, 2006 was the “big week” for the petitioners when the Government allowed them to conduct a march rally and mass demonstration specifying 5 major demands, which include asking the Chief of Staff of the army to ask a public apology when he pronounced war for the 591 military personnel sacked from the service. The petitioners multiplied into thousands when the issue was diverted into “east-west” concern. Dili, the capital city of Timor Leste was put in the state of tension as all residents were speculating something worst to happen. My staff kept on telling me to go home immediately and avoid doing overtime work alone in the office.

During those times I observed several military trucks/ vehicles filled with uniformed men in full battle gear roaming around Dili. Several times I was caught in check points by fully armed policemen asking for my credentials and vehicle documents talking to me in local language. April 24-25, Tito and I attended a Housing summit in Timor Hotel organized by the Ministry of Public Works. It was so surprising that only few had attended the summit given the chance of having international speakers. On that summit, Odette Victor, the Public Work’s Minister sought for an apology of the few attendance and sighted the on going demonstration as the reason for the few turn out of participants.

April 26, 2006, 3:00 PM, I was on my way to Oxfam Office to meet Atty. Marlon Cardinoza for a consultation on the MOU I drafted to be entered into by HFHI with the Dili University. Before I reached the office I received a call from my friend Edna Tesoro of Progressio calling me to pick her up since she wanted to go home but there was no available taxi. She further reported that there was demonstration related violence that happened in Taibise which caused someone to die. People were panicked and immediately the city became a ghost town. You cannot see a single public utility vehicle running in the street anymore. When I went on my way to pick up Edna, I manage to call up my staff and instructed them to close the office and go home, as I was afraid that they would be trapped in the office due to the unavailability of public utility vehicles. In my way to Edna’s, I saw people in groups talking with each other outside their houses and speculating worries on the incident. Wow, that was the first time that I arrived Carla Mansion (the hotel I was staying) to early and waited for few hours to attend our regular Wednesday prayer meeting in the church.

“Please stay home and pray 4 d c2uation. We advise we all b watchful & alert. God wil c us thru”, this was the sms message that I received from Ibu Wennie, the Pastor’s wife as I was preparing for the Wednesday Prayer meeting. It was already 6:02 in the evening when I received the message. The message connotes that the scheduled regular prayer meeting was cancelled and that there was a serious threat of security. I changed my clothes again and opened my television looking for any local news report but I had not seen any. I calmed my self in prayer and changed the channel seeking for movie shows. (to be continued…)

Escape from Dili, Part II (Crisis Management?)

(continuation)

The spokeperson of the expelled soldiers (more than 1/3 of the total military population), Gastao Salsinha has expressed his disappointment with President Xanana's decision not to intervene in the expulsion decision taken by the F-FDTL headquarters. He stated in an interview that the petition presented by the soldiers has no value, which reinforced the impression that the general population continues to be in an oppressed condition, while the leaders make efforts to help each other.

In the midst of the tension, the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri expressed his support on the decision to expel the 591 soldiers stating that he believed the decision was correct and just. His statement was based on the record that the 591 soldiers has been absent from their job for more than two months already.

The tension was aggreviated when the struggle redowned to the Loro sae - Loromono (East vs, West) issue. I dont have any exact idea how it slide down to this issue but it started to divide the nation and its people.

March 25, 2006 a rumor of violence errupted between the lorosae and loromono residence which caused the general public to be frightened. I was on my way home to the Philippines to attend my daughter's graduation when I heared the news that there were 7 persons arrested, 16 houses were attacked with stones and lot of market vendors vacated their kiosks and market activities. The 7 persons were accussed of creating instability in Tasi Tolu, Bairopite and Taibessi. The PNTL (Police) General Commander Paulo de Fatima Martins confirmed that the problems occured due to the East vs. West issue related to the expulsion of the 591 soldiers. He said that it was not the concerned soldiers themselves who caused the disturbance but the groups who were taking advantage of the issue to provoke a situation of instability. It was aggreviated since some people were spreading rumors about massive disturbances. (to be continued)

Escape from Dili, Part I (Crisis Management?)

As I opened my blogspot, I saw that the last entry I had was 2 months ago. Well, I really want to keep it updated but sometimes I am having a hard time to do it due to work related schedules and sometimes... problems. Well, it is just but normal as part of the development work. In this issue let me give you a blow and blow account on the author's experience as he went into a crisis situation when the social unrest in Dili, Timor Leste erupted.

The chaotic situation started when a division from among the ranks of F-FDTL members in Timor Leste held their protest on February 8, 2006 which was followed by their eventual dismissal from the military service. This caused the initial strife in the country as the ensuing violence in the Dili, the capital of the country has been blamed on this dispute that refused to die. Slowly by slowly, this dispute caused to renew the trauma of the general public.

The sacking of the troop from military service done by Brig. General Taur Matan Ruak (Chief of Staff) failed to get the President's approval as President Xanana Gusmao publicly criticized the Ruak's decision. However, he had stood into Ruak's right to decide. As a backround, during the 1990's struggle of the country for independence, Ruak led the Timor's Falintil Guerrilla Army while Presidebnt Xanana was in prison... (to be continued)

Culture of Savings

I have with me in Timor Leste our Regional Program Manager for South East Asia, Habitat for Humanity, Dr. Nestor M. Pestelos. He arrived February 18 and from that period, we started the ball rolling and until now we are in high spirit working together. Well, knowing that the big boss will be arriving on Monday next week.

To post something in my blog, (I still don't have the time to write down all what transpired in our transactions) let me share to everyone this article posted by my colleague, Mecsexy in the "ang_bagong_pinoy@yahoogroups.com" entitled, "The Culture of Savings". Accordingly, she copied this article from an email but this is an article posted in Inquirer. Please have time to read and you can get soomething out of it.

The Culture of Savings

SOME of you may have caught the "Probe" special on Channel 5 last week entitled "Pera," focusing on Filipino problems with financial management at the individual and household levels. One of the most dramatic examples featured in the documentary was a man working as a messenger with a monthly salary of about P7,800 who had run up P80,000 in credit card debts.

On a national level, the Philippines was described as having one of the lowest savings rate in the world. In economic development terms, this means that we have very limited financial resources going into new investments that can move the country forward.

I was interviewed for that "Probe" documentary, and I shared several insights on why we have this problem, which I thought of recapping in today's column, together with some additional insights.

Nothing to save?

The usual answer to why we save so little is that, given the level of poverty in the country, most households have nothing to save. So many of our people live hand-to-mouth, their earnings not even enough to cover basic expenses. And yet, people will point out, too, that those with very low incomes still spend on non-essential items, like buying a DVD player and TV set, or cigarettes and alcohol, or as in the case of the messenger featured in the special, P20,000 for a party to celebrate his child's first birthday!

How do we explain this? That’s where we get a host of other explanations, many of which cluster around the "culture of poverty" thesis. One variation on this thesis is that when you’re poor, you live for today. Without hope of a better future, you spend whatever comes your way.

One of my friends calls this the "one-day millionaire" syndrome. I've seen it so many times, the most heartbreaking examples coming with many of our overseas workers, especially those who come home after working as entertainers in Japan. They come home with lots of dollars and yen, check the whole family into a four- or five-star hotel, host several parties and, of course, give away all kinds of "pasalubong" [gifts], and in a few weeks, all there earnings are gone.

Sharing our blessings?

I don't buy that argument completely. We all know these birthday parties are often intended more for the adults than for the child, a way of building alliances. In fact, lavish parties are the general norm, for children and for adults, and these are done more for social reasons than for anything else. We host the parties to build business and social links.

There's also something tribal in all this. In many societies, there is the "big man syndrome": a tribal leader is expected to sponsor big feasts from time to time as a way of redistributing his wealth as well as asserting his authority and influence. As cultural practices go, the "big man" and the elite get imitated by the lower strata of society and in the end, you have even the poor trying to outdo each other with extravagance. I've heard it time and time again, the concern that neighbors will talk if you hold too small a baptismal party for Junior.

Conspicuous consumption.

The "big man feast" is only one of several historical hindrances that work against an ethic of saving in the Philippines. The fiesta was actually a modification of "big man feast," this time a community effort to show off a town's wealth. In the social sciences, we call this conspicuous consumption.

Ironically, such behavior may actually come from our norm of sharing good fortune. Even the idea of the "pasalubong," gifts you bring back from a trip, is a way of sharing your blessings. I recently had some debates with relatives over the lavish parties thrown for a one-year-old child and the explanation is that a child is God's blessing and we need to celebrate and share this blessing by hosting a grand affair.

I've also wondered about the post-World War II era contributing to all this conspicuous consumption. Because we were wealthier that many other countries in the region, we were busy flying off to Hong Kong on weekends, holding lavish parties where champagne flowed from fountains (I am not kidding here), in other words, grand opulence. Other countries, in contrast, launched austerity campaigns, urging citizens to save and to patronize local products. We laughed at them, boasting of our imported goods.

Now, of course, those countries that practiced austerity are importing Filipinos to work for them and, in turn, our Filipino overseas workers spend their hard-earned money to buy other countries’ goods.

We are now at an added disadvantage because not only did we skip an era of austerity, we leapfrogged into this 21st century of massive consumerism. We are told, "Buy! Buy! Buy!" and we are flooded with all kinds of goods, including fairly cheap ones with which to tempt the lower classes, from cell phones to DVD players. We also have liberal credit card policies, which allow even messengers to get one, and to rapidly rack up debts.

Reversing the trend. It's a dangerous situation we're in, and we better start thinking of strategies at home, in schools and in offices, to create what the Asian Development Bank calls a "culture of savings." (The ADB had a study noting how our overseas workers tend to spend their money on other countries' goods rather than plowing the money back into the Philippines for economic and social development.

We have to start especially with children, the current crop being a generation exposed to a bewildering variety of consumer goods -- and advertising to push those goods. Schools can incorporate budgetary management into math classes. And we really should include credit card management in our college courses.

There's much we can do at home, with those children's parties, for example. I have nothing against celebrating birthdays, but let's reinvent these parties. My godchildren, Tess and Dennis Batangan, give birthday parties for their children but tell friends to bring toys to donate to indigent children. When one of Doctors Delen and Boying de la Paz's sons asks why they can't get a newer cell phone model, they remind the kids: a cell phone is for communicating, do you really need the camera and the MP3 player? Another couple working with me at the University of the Philippines, Zen and Leo Quintilla, tells their son that instead of spending for some non-essential item, they're putting the money into his educational plan, preparing for college. Last Christmas, many offices canceled their Christmas parties and donated the money instead to disaster relief. These are encouraging signs that we can build a culture of savings, linked as other important social values: compassion, foresight, mutual help. We better move fast. Already I see dangerous new cultural beliefs emerging. On the "Probe" documentary, the messenger said he doesn't save because there's a belief now that by doing so, you actually invite financial emergencies like illnesses! The distorted reasoning: don't save, and you won't have the emergencies.

Good stuff right? One of these days, I will share to you something in support to this article. Thanks to Mec, although I have'nt told her yet that I will post in my blog this article.

Shalom and God bless. I really have to go back to my work...

Nation Building...(On Valentines Day?)

Today is one of the significant days for people who are in loved. Likewise, this is significant to people who live in a life full of love. As I waked up early this morning, I received the earliest greeting from my only wife, who is in the Philippines sending me an SMS saying, “Happy heart’s day to a wonderful man that God had blessed so much. Jesus loves you so as we do.” This message made me say “Amen!” I came to meditate how good is God to me, my family and loveones. I realized how He spared us from daily risks and danger, how I was blessed with a Godly family. How he leads me in times of troubles. Besides, I was refreshed and assured that He loves me so much. I was really reminded of Psalm 23 which says,

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He maketh me to lie down in a green pasture, He leadeth me besides the still waters. He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me into the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; His rod and His staff, they comfort me. He prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies; He anoint my head with oil, my cup overfloweth. Surely goodness and mercy will overtake me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

On this very special day, I have a business appointment in Tibar, Liquica. Minister Arsenio Paixao Bano of the Ministerio do Trabalho e da Reinsercao Comunitaria (Ministry of Labor and Community Reintegration) invited me to join the ground breaking ceremony of their joint project with the Community Housing Limited (CHL) building a center for disadvantaged women and abused children. After my short devotion, I prepared going to the office to meet Nina, our Resource Development Manager in Habitat for Humanity who joined me with Pak France going to Tibar. There we met my friends in CHL, Mari Contini (She’s a French) and Steve (He’s an Australian), the Executive Director of CHL. We met a lot of Government officials from the Ministry of labor, Sr. Eugenio Soares, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labor, Sra. Carmen da Cruz, the Director of the Social Services Unit, Sr. Mario of the Labor and Sr. Simon of the Training Center. I heard a lot of greetings in different languages like Happy Valentines Day, Selamat Hari Kasisayan, Parabens, Loron Domi Nian. Those are all greetings of love, though I still would like to hear it in a visayan language which is “Malipayong pagsaulog sa Adlaw sa Kasisngkasing”.

The ceremony started at around 10:30 AM and there I started to here speeches in Tetum bringing the theme, Nation Building. Sr. Eugenio Soares highlighted their partnership with CHL as a vehicle towards nation building and this was concurred by Steve when he was given the turn to speak. I personally agree on the messages for as a social worker, I do believe that all efforts done for the marginalized sector and poor will ultimately helped the effort towards nation building. However, talking about nation building during valentines day would also be very significant. It would significantly emphasize that nation building is not only a political battle cry but a movement that would start from the heart. Well, nation building, depends upon who is talking and what was the motivation for that talk. Let me share to you an article written by a 15 year old young lady on her view about Nation Building and the youth should do as stakeholder of nation building…

YOUTH ON PATRIOTISM; HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR YOUR COUNTRY?

By: SARAH KATE TIAM WATT BATILONG

Young people always want adventure an excitement in life. They can easily be inattentive in routinely activities. They have all the time to pursue the good, and waste their time and life on useless things depending on their self-motivation or on the motivation of the people they respect. As interdependent beings, it would be productive for the youth to take on challenges primarily for their own benefit and for the community they are in.

How far could I go for my country? I have to thing of this question a million times. What can I do? How can I help? How can my country rise again as high as it was before? That question comes into my mind each day I watch the news. For now as a youth I think it would be better to start in helping myself, by studying hard and not wasting my parent’s money and my life on useless things.

What is happening to our country? All I can see are children and young people roaming around the streets begging for money just for them to live. Where are their parents? Shouldn’t they be working to give their children a better future? Or are they just soaking their selves into vices, drugs and useless things. This keeps our country down! What will happen to their children? How could they give them a bright future?

We youth are the next generation of parents, professionals, workers and politicians, this will only happen if we will persevere for our future now! Not later not tomorrow but now! Help yourself before you help others that is the only way you can help our country!

This stage of life, being a youth happen only once in our life, this stage of life is the most beautiful and fruitful, so, why waste in useless things. God doesn’t want us to be poor, to be suffering, but he doesn’t have the power to tell us what to do. He only gives us a choice whether we are going to follow him or not.

Nowadays, the Philippines is known to be one of the homes of the most corrupt politicians. We are also one of the poorest countries of the world. These are the problems we youth should find a solution. If we study, persevere, and build our future at our young age, by the time we graduate, some of us will be politicians, politicians that are honest, reliable and brave, politicians who are God fearing, has wisdom and knowledge, politicians who has a teachable heart. Professionals who will provide us jobs. Parents who are responsible of their families, responsible of their selves, parents who will give their children a bright future, young people who are willing, obedient to their parents, to the law and to the laws of our almighty God.

Are we, youth, ready to do everything for our country, you don’t have to die, be executed to be called hero or patriot, all you have to do is help yourself, respect yourself, others, your parents, respect our country and our flag,

Philippines is the land, where I was born, the land of the loyal people, the paradise, the land of the brave, patriot hearts. We have been under the leadership of the Spaniards for a long time, we have been called "Indio" or stupid, we have also been treated like animals.

Our ancestors have felt lost, left out in the dark, being kicked when you’re down, feeling like you have been pushed around. But they fought for this abuse; they fought for freedom and kicked the Spaniards out of our country.

What is the use of my young strong body, if I cant protect my country from the problems and challenges of my times. So bring it on, I can do it, I’ll do better than my best, I have confidence even if you put me to the test, I’ll make you see I have confidence in me. With each step I am more certain, that, everything will turn out fine, I have confidence the world can all be mine. I believe that the sun will rise again in the Philippines if we are going to help each other. I as a youth encourage everyone to trust or selves, GOD, let us not put our country into shame, rise Youth of the Philippines, hearts full of hope, wisdom and knowledge.

We are talented, educated Filipinos, we can beat every challenges, we have a God bigger than any problem we have so why worry, God said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Where are you youth of the Philippines? Do you still have the brave spirits that our hero’s use to have.

I will not let my country down, I promise that I will help my country rise. Again! For I have realized that I must change my self, my attitude, my stand, how about you are you not going to change, are you not willing to do everything for your country? Do you not want your country to be known in the world, not to be known because of terrorism, poverty, corrupt, uneducated Filipinos, isn’t flattering to be known as intelligent, industrious, honest, obedient Filipinos, remember young people we are the hope our nation. Help now or you will regret it.

Well, that’s Nation Building in the kid’s perception. We adults, let’s do our part. We need not to write an article but we need to show what we can do. I agree on the kid’s statement, this would start from within us. One thing more, let me tell you that I am her father. Above is her picture taken at Yulia Hotel in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia during her school break last summer. Shalom. Happy Valentines! God bless.

Making Things Work at the Planning Stage

We had to be backed to Vatunao last February 9, 2006 to meet the Hospital Administrator in Maubara (this is the sub-district of Liquica). Since my team cannot do it in the morning, we agreed to meet Dr. Shing's group in the afternoon. After our Management Committee (ManCom) meeting in the morning, we took a short lunch break and prepared to proceed to Liquica. Pak France, our ever active Driver, prepared all the needed documents and resources for the travel and we moved on. It was 2:15 PM when Dr. Shing called up from Vatunau, checking how we were doing in our trip. At exactly 3:00 PM, we saw the group of Dr. Shing (from Love Singapore) waiting for our team from Habitat for Humanity in the house of the Aldea Chief. I really saw the commitment of these guys to help the people in that Aldea. I know that they were already in that place early morning and started to handle the class for the health volunteers. This reminded me on the love that Jesus shared to us. Giving His life to save us from our sins. A King who abandoned His Kingdom to show to mankind His everlasting love.

After few seconds of fellowshiping with each other, we moved towards Maubara proper for our purpose. Senhor Domingos Boavida Dos Santos, the Hospital Administrator met us and we discussed on how the Government can probably assist the community in running the clinic, in case this will be built and operated. Sr. Domingos seemed to be very interested and immediately committed to provide a government health worker who can visit the area for at least 3 times a week and likewise commit to send a volunteer Cuban Doctor working in the District for at least once a week. What a victory! That was the original intention why we pushed to meet the Administrator. Remember folks that at that time we were talking in different languages. Dr. Shing's group (Singaporians) tried to talk in Bahasa (although they were much comfortable in speaking SINGLISH) and I tried to talk in Tetum (athough I was so tempted to talk using my native tongue - Visayan). It was so amazing how, the Holy Spirit of God had made us understood each other. Sr. Domingos cannot speak english language, but only Bahasa Indonesia and Tetum. It was Tito from our team, a Timorese who helped us by trying to express himself in English. We were introduced by the Administrator to the two young female volunteer Cuban Doctors (folks they are Spanish speaking people). We do most of the time sign language than any other else. After few minutes of fellowship, we bid goodbye and proceeded to Liquica proper Hospital. There, we met Senhor Cansio dos Santos who briefed us on how we can go through the proposed partnership. What a great day! We went back to Dili City with happy hearts and with big smile in our faces. Well, that's how God gives His reward to His people who would like to work for His ministry, the blessing of a joyful heart. It was really a victorious moment for a development worker. However, I know that action will not stop there. There will be lot of things to do to ensure that everything will be done according to plan. I know further, that if I will not stop writing now, I cannot do the work assigned to me. Shalom folks and see you next time. God bless!

A Trip to Vatunao

It was a great day today as my team in Habitat for Humanity Timor Leste joined in with the Love Singapore team adopting the sub-village of Vatunao as their "Ministry Area". This group is headed by Dr. Shing, my friend from Singapore. We all went to the place looking into the proposed site for the village's clinic. We met the Head of the Aldea (sub village), Leonito dos Santos and the Pastor of a Born Again Church, Rev. Miguel Ballo da Costa. These people while they cannot talk in english had tried their to communicate with us, explaining the need of the community and their desire to be helped.

Engr. Boyet, a member of our team, took the measurement of the clinic and even suggested to make the clinic to have a wider space. Everyone agreed as they enjoy visioning on what will happen in the future. Someone expressed what she thought of people coming to the clinic instead of having a long journey going to the Hospital site in the District of Liquica. I enjoy the moment of discussion as I felt the sense of responsibility of the sub villagers. I recalled how we do it in the Philippines where most of the villagers are very responsive on activities such this. Well, I do have lot of things to say, but anyway I am just testing this new blog. Thanks to Arnold Seloterio, our Filipino Data Base Consultant for helping me to establish this site. I may tell the whole story, the next time. Shalom and God bless!