Monday, June 20, 2011

One Meal Advocacy in Iloilo empowers filipino youth

1 Meal is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the public school educational system in the Philippines by getting the private sector more involved. A chance meeting with Teresa "Nene" Chan introduced me to this advocacy that is empowering the Filipino Youth in Iloilo and will soon spread nationwide. Just eat at a participating restaurant in Iloilo and find out  how far Pesos 5 will go to provide a meal and/or educational opportunities for public school children. A bill of Pesos 200 means Pesos 5 goes to fund the 1 meal program activities that givechildren in public school an opportunity for a better education. According to Nene, the program has already helped seven (7) public schools in Iloilo since it started.
Yes, I participated in the program during a 3-week visit to Iloilo recently with friends and a cousin by eating at three participating restaurants during a week end off from the biodynamic farm.  May this initiative bloom across the nation. 

Find out more about this program by logging on to http://1meal.tumblr.com/ that blogs the 1meal activities in Iloilo. Visit their facebook site http://www.facebook.com/1Meal

1Meal goes to A. Bonifacio Elementary School in Iloilo. Photo courtesy of 1Meal Facebook.




Photo courtesy of the 1 meal tumblr site shows US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas distributing school supplies to children at Uswag Extension of Judith L. Tiongco Elementary School in Iloilo  with Nene Chan ( in pink t-shirt) and members of the movement. Uswag 1Meal! Uswag Iloilo!

Workshop Courage facilitated by Nicanor Perlas & MISSION in Iloilo June 25/26


Nicanor Perlas will facilitate Workshop Courage in Gamot Cogon, Zarraga, Iloilo on June 25 and 26 from 9 A.M. to  5 P.M. The workshop is free. Pls. bring your own lunch, snacks and beverages. For more information about the venue, directions to the venue and to confirm attendance pls. text or call Jim Scharman of Mission Iloilo at 09279711460 or Cecille of Mission Manila at 09178997603. Check out the description of the workshop for your reference.



WORKSHOP COURAGE

Mastering Ourselves and Rebuilding Societies


Facilitated by MISSION

(Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies

Thru Initiatives, Organizing, and Networking)


CAUTION: This workshop can change your life forever.

Take it only if you are ready for a new You that will, together with others,

create a new World. Are you ready?


Despite the life and death challenges that humanity faces today, many do not want to have anything to do with positive social change. While they care about their future and the fate of humans and the planet, they feel they are too small, too insignificant to do anything about the massive problems that are overwhelming nations around the world.


Yet history offers a different picture. Throughout the centuries, all over the world, individuals, acting together, with courage, against impossible odds, have succeeded in shaping their societies and have altered the course of history. And scholars have now articulated how these seemingly ordinary individuals achieved their inspiring deeds.


Now we can do the same. Now we can begin the process of profound inner and outer change by embarking on an exciting and unique learning journey.


Welcome to MISSION’S Workshop Courage:

Mastering Ourselves and Rebuilding Societies.


Workshop Courage is a unique, proven, and potent integration of science, spirituality, social theory, psychology, and other disciplines – all in the service of profound inner and outer transformation. MISSION has successfully conducted this workshop in key areas of the country as well as in the United States of America and Europe.


Workshop Courage aims to awaken the creative “imaginal” in us, the Infinity within, our Real Self - our massive, unstoppable force for truth, enthusiasm, compassion, courage, good, transformation, and initiative. In addition, the workshop aims to introduce participants to MISSION’s framework of societal transformation that creative individuals (imaginals) can realize by coming and acting together.


Whether or not you ultimately join efforts with MISSION to create a better society, you will benefit from getting a glimpse of your Real Self, the Real You, that can connect to the Source of all that is, in order to shape worlds and to change destinies forever. You will learn to achieve success by harnessing the very forces at work in and in partnership with the center of the world creative process itself.


MISSION is a cultural, spiritual, scientific movement of individuals from civil society, government, and business. MISSION was founded in 2010 and aims to create a better country, a better world, on the basis of profound inner transformation. MISSION has active network nodes in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Baguio as well emergent nodes and beginning work in other provinces. For more information, especially on the meaning of the word, “imaginal”, kindly visit www.imaginalmission.net.




Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy 150th Birthday Pepe Rizal

Happy 150th birthday to the Father of Filipino Nationhood, Dr.Jose "Pepe" Rizal, hero, genius, artist doctor, athlete,linguist,freemason,libertarian,spiritual scientist,great lover,author,& most of all  IMAGINAL. May a million flowers/initiatives  bloom & millions of butterflies soar like Rizal.

I braved the rain,( yes it was pouring and I was soaked to the bones despite the cap, the umbrella & the windbreaker) to greet Pepe Rizal at the Rizal Park a Happy birthday. Laid 5 roses with the help of Lourdes. 3 red & pink ones to say I love you and 2 pink & white to say Thank You. There were about a thousand people mostly students at the park most shouting like me, Happy birthday Rizal, as we made the offering of love and remembrance.  


Apolinario Mabini viewed Rizal as  the  "most eloquent example of  the triumph of duty ove r personal convenience, of idea over physical force & of virtue over egotism.



Mi Ultimo Adios

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed, 
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost, 
With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed; 
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best, 
I would still give it to you for your welfare at most. 

On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight, 
Others give you their lives without pain or hesitancy, 
The place does not matter: cypress laurel, lily white, 
Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom's site, 
It is the same if asked by home and Country. 

I die as I see tints on the sky b'gin to show
And at last announce the day, after a gloomy night; 
If you need a hue to dye your matutinal glow, 
Pour my blood and at the right moment spread it so, 
And gild it with a reflection of your nascent light! 

My dreams, when scarcely a lad adolescent, 
My dreams when already a youth, full of vigor to attain, 
Were to see you, gem of the sea of the Orient, 
Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held to a high plane
Without frown, without wrinkles and of shame without stain. 

My life's fancy, my ardent, passionate desire, 
Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that will soon part from thee; 
Hail! How sweet 'tis to fall that fullness you may acquire; 
To die to give you life, 'neath your skies to expire, 
And in your mystic land to sleep through eternity ! 

If over my tomb some day, you would see blow, 
A simple humble flow'r amidst thick grasses, 
Bring it up to your lips and kiss my soul so, 
And under the cold tomb, I may feel on my brow, 
Warmth of your breath, a whiff of your tenderness. 

Let the moon with soft, gentle light me descry, 
Let the dawn send forth its fleeting, brilliant light, 
In murmurs grave allow the wind to sigh, 
And should a bird descend on my cross and alight, 
Let the bird intone a song of peace o'er my site. 

Let the burning sun the raindrops vaporize
And with my clamor behind return pure to the sky; 
Let a friend shed tears over my early demise; 
And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me on high, 
Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in God may rest I. 

Pray thee for all the hapless who have died, 
For all those who unequalled torments have undergone; 
For our poor mothers who in bitterness have cried; 
For orphans, widows and captives to tortures were shied, 
And pray too that you may see you own redemption. 

And when the dark night wraps the cemet'ry
And only the dead to vigil there are left alone, 
Don't disturb their repose, don't disturb the mystery: 
If you hear the sounds of cithern or psaltery, 
It is I, dear Country, who, a song t'you intone. 

And when my grave by all is no more remembered, 
With neither cross nor stone to mark its place, 
Let it be plowed by man, with spade let it be scattered
And my ashes ere to nothingness are restored, 
Let them turn to dust to cover your earthly space. 

Then it doesn't matter that you should forget me: 
Your atmosphere, your skies, your vales I'll sweep; 
Vibrant and clear note to your ears I shall be: 
Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song, moanings deep, 
Constantly repeating the essence of the faith I keep. 
My idolized Country, for whom I most gravely pine, 
Dear Philippines, to my last goodbye, oh, harken
There I leave all: my parents, loves of mine, 
I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen
Where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign. 

Farewell, parents, brothers, beloved by me, 
Friends of my childhood, in the home distressed; 
Give thanks that now I rest from the wearisome day; 
Farewell, sweet stranger, my friend, who brightened my way; 
Farewell, to all I love. To die is to rest. 

Jose Rizal, before his execution by firing squad at the Luneta , his last poem Mi Ultimo Adios or My Last Farewell
His original writing was said to have no title, the title Mi Ultimo Adios was given by Mariano Ponce.




Mi último adiós
Adiós, Patria adorada, región del sol querida, 
perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestro perdido edén, 
a darte voy, alegre, la triste, mustia vida; 
y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida, 
también por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien. 
En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio, 
otros te dan sus vidas, sin dudas, sin pesar. 
El sitio nada importa: ciprés, laurel o lirio, 
cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio. 
Lo mismo es si lo piden la Patria y el hogar. 
Yo muero, cuando veo que el cielo se colora 
y al fin anuncia el día, tras lóbrego capuz; 
si grana necesitas, para teñir tu aurora, 
¡vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora, 
y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz! 
Mis sueños, cuando apenas muchacho adolescente, 
mis sueños cuando joven, ya lleno de vigor, 
fueron el verte un día, joya del Mar de Oriente, 
secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente, 
sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.
Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo. 
¡Salud! te grita el alma que pronto va a partir; 
¡salud! ¡Ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo, 
morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo, 
y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir! 
Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar, un día, 
entre la espesa yerba, sencilla humilde flor, 
acércala a tus labios y besa el alma mía, 
y sienta yo en mi frente, bajo la tumba fría, 
de tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor. 
Deja a la luna verme, con luz tranquila y suave; 
deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz; 
deja gemir al viento, con su murmullo grave; 
y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave, 
deja que el ave entone su cántico de paz. 
Deja que el sol, ardiendo, las lluvias evapore 
y al cielo tornen puras, con mi clamor en pos; 
deja que un ser amigo mi fin temprano llore; 
y en las serenas tardes, cuando por mí alguien ore, 
ora también, oh patria, por mi descanso a Dios. 
Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura; 
por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual; 
por nuestras pobres madres, que gimen su amargura; 
por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura, 
y ora por ti, que veas tu redención final. 
Y cuando, en noche oscura, se envuelva el cementerio, 
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí, 
no turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio: 
tal vez acordes oigas de cítara o salterio; 
soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto a ti. 
Y cuando ya mi tumba, de todos olvidada, 
no tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar, 
deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada, 
y mis cenizas, antes que vuelvan a la nada, 
en polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar. 
Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido; 
tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré; 
vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oído: 
aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido, 
constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe. 
Mi patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores, 
querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adiós. 
Ahí, te dejo todo: mis padres, mis amores. 
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores; 
donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios. 
Adiós, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía, 
amigos de la infancia, en el perdido hogar; 
dad gracias, que descanso del fatigoso día; 
adiós, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegría; 
adiós, queridos seres. Morir es descansar.
José Rizal, 1896.
(Texto editado por el Instituto Cervantes de Manila)


It s a useles life that s not consecrated 2 a great ideal.It s lyk a stone wasted on d field w/out be coming a part of any edifice.-Jose Rizal

Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores- Jose Rizal

Love alone realizes wonderful works, virtue alone can save!-Jose Rizal


A people denied the truth must resort to lies, and he who makes himself a tyrant breeds slaves.....Jose Rizal


Resignation s not always a virtue;it s a crime when it encourages tyrants: there r no despots where there r no slaves! - Jose Rizal


Redemption presupposes virtue, virtue, sacrifice & sacrifice,love! Love alone realizes wonderful works, virtue alone can save!- Jose Rizal