October 4, 2009 - Typhoon Ondoy Relief Operations in Marilao, Bulacan

After inspecting the relief operations area the day before, and thanks to the cancellation of my prenuptial pictorials, my sister and I were able to start early on shopping for relief goods.

My family and Tesha helped pack all the relief goods which consisted of rice, meds, noodles, canned goods and used clothing. Our neighbor Bebe dropped by to give us relief good packers some doughnuts for snacks. The Barangay officials of Lias provided the vehicle and manpower for our relief operations. Kudos to them for being readily available for public service!

And off we went to the site:



Before coming in, the volunteer vehicles of Ping Medina's Soup Kitchen have just finished serving food to the people and are on they way out. Earlier while shopping for goods, we have been seeing their volunteers along the roads of Marilao, Bulacan. As we were on our way to deliver the packed relief goods, one of their volunteers smiled and shouted, "KAYO NAMAN!" (IT'S YOUR TURN NOW"!)

The people line up for food inside the elementary school. We passed by this school and lots of people are still waiting outside the gate (Pic fro Brgy Soup Kitchen's facebook)


Indeed we had our turn. And my young nieces felt the joy of serving the underprivileged. We realized that people need by doing this are the following: cooking and kitchen wares and underwear. Most of the utensils and were washed away by flood and the people are still drying up what is left of their clothing when we were there. These days, most probably some of them are suffering from the world's worst pandemic of leptospirosis.

At the end of the video clip above, Tesha rightfully exclaimed "Kailangan din ng school supplies" ("They also need school supplies"). As many schoolchildren were not able to immediately go back to school the next day (we went on a Sunday) because their school materials were also washed away.

It is almost a whole day dedicated for the people in need. And time spent most wisely all of us agreed we could do this all over again. Only if we had the financial resources.

Speaking of resources, this relief operations would not have been possible without the generous donations of the Filipinos in our company and our Korean and Filipino friends. Mabuhay kayong lahat! Long live!

Birthday - Ninia

Happy birthday Mare! Miss yah! See you in Christmas! :)

BIrhday - Che

Happy birthday, Che! Miss ya! Mwah.

Birthday - Carlo Marco Cruz

Happy birthday, Carlo! I hope you get a good deal on your camera. Sayang, di tayo nagabot sa PIFF. I was able to catch Rianne and spend some time with Yoo Sun as well during my stint at the festival. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Korea!

Goodbye, Philippines

October 7, 2009 - Day 6

It's the final day of my Korean Thanksgiving '09 holidays and my final day in my country for this year. Sadly, I will be spending Christmas in Korea.

No, they did not go to the rest room. I am the only passenger in this row. Apparently, travelers to Manila at this time chickened out because of the typhoons!

I was surprised to learn that Korea got colder! Autumn has really set in and winter is just around the corner.

I'm planning to exit Korea again at the end of the year and spend the year-end celebrations again in another country. Hopefully this plan materializes.

For the meantime, it's back to Busan again this weekend to meet a couple of good friends.

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!~

Chuseok '09 Holiday - Manila Post Typhoon Ondoy

October 6, 2009.

It's my final day in the Philippines and high time that I take a break from all the Philippine typhoon relief operations (not that I'm complaining though)

Met up with university dorm mates: Doc Nino on the far end, Dennis from Japan, and Leya who I thought is also from Japan. Dennis & Leya I have not met in the past 7 years!

Oh yeah, my university room mate Ebe is also on the scene. That San Mig Strong Ice was cooled Sub Zero! Because a chilled beer glass in tropical Manila is simply not enough.

Before meeting my friends in Greenbelt Makati, I came from a fantastic Korean comedy film Driving My Wife's Lover in Edsa Shangrila where the free Korean Film Fest extended its run. But before this vacation, I did come from Seoul, where I passed by to get to the airport.

We did rock hard! Oh, they did.

It's her birthday tomorrow..Happy birthday, Leya!

Oh yeah, parang Yakal Open House party lang.

Centerstage Family KTV & Resto Bar in Jupiter, Makati deserves the Resto part of its name. The food is awesome and the service is very good. And we were lucky to be there in time for the 50% off on room rental for a group of at least 4 guys.

The rest of the day we met with another dorm mate Bob for lunch still in Makati, balikbayans Dennis & I pampered ourselves in Greenbelt, and I met with Ikka after 4 years for a Spanish film and a walk at Bonifacio High Street.

Manila may have been wetted by typhoons but life goes on. It was a good kiss goodbye before flying back here in Korea.