I am an Organ Donor

My donor card

It was in the early 2000 when I started thinking about being an organ donor. I just arrived in Germany and being in a new land, I tried to keep myself connected with my family in the Philippines by regularly sending snail mails.

I corresponded regularly with my cousins; one of them happened to be very sick. In her late 40s, she also has a daughter, my goddaughter, who is a special child. Her husband, very much older than she, is overwhelmed by the responsibility of having a special child. He became depressive, and therefore, cannot find a job and could not even left alone to take care of their child.

My cousin,  a social worker who works in a government office, tried very hard to earn money for the family and take care of her special child.

The last letter I received from her was that she was looking for donations to buy her special child a wheelchair. Her special child is growing up, and since she cannot walk, they have to cannot carry her all around. A wheelchair would make it easier for her and for the whole family, too.

I didn’t know then that my cousin, herself, was also looking for donation . Her lungs are failing her. When I heard about it after a call from my mother; I really thought about donating lung for her.

Conclusion of our Donation Drive for Haiyan Survivors

Day Eight of our donation drive:

From the mother who attended the World Youth Day 

She told me she's visited our country. She was there during the World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II. She was amazed how big the crowd was during that event. I was there, too, I told her  She has attended every World Youth Day since.

She said she also went to Boracay, Subic, the Smokey Mountains, etc. She said visiting the Philippines was an experience that she would never forget. She said the Filipino people are amazing. I totally agree with her, as I agree that German people are amazing, too. :-) (Okay, everyone is just amazing especially the generous ones!)


She told me she's visited our country. She was there during the World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II. She was amazed how big the crowd was during that event. I was there, too, I told her  She has attended every World Youth Day since.

She mentioned going to Boracay, Subic, the Smokey Mountains, etc. and added that visiting the Philippines was an experience that she would never forget. 

She said the Filipino people are amazing. I totally agree with her, as I agree that German people are amazing, too. :-) (Okay, everyone is just amazing especially the generous ones!)

Days Six and Seven of Donation Drive for Haiyan Survivors

It is now day six of our donation drive and I am completely exhausted but happy with the result.

Day Five came with a small package but before that day ended, I received a call from a hotel/restaurant owner, who wanted to clear things.

Number one, until when could they send the donations? A lot of people have asked already. That is something I should have noted in my letter. I told her until the middle of the week as I need time to check the labels before we bring them for shipment.

She gave me happy news. She informed me that she communicated with doctors in the area who promised to organize medicinal packages. And since she's a hotel owner, she would also be providing bedsheets and towels. Yay!!! I mentioned to her that underwears would also be much appreciated.

Day Six is a Sunday. Rest day. But wait, while washing the car outside in the cold, my husband was approached my somebody who said they are organizing the items for donations and would be ready in the next days.

Other Donation Drives for Haiyan Survivors in Germany

A Filipina from Ziesar in Brandenburg has already booked her ticket to visit her family in Davao end of November, but she decided to cut short her time with her family to help out those affected by typhoon Haiyan. 

She has decided to travel to Bogo, Cebu, an area located southwest of Tacloban, were 98% of houses and and infrastructures have been reportedly destroyed and as of this writing, might not have been reached by the bigger aid agencies and seemed to have been forgotten by media. 

Appealing for more donations, (she has already paid for her plane tickets); she asked for support in making this action a success.

Let's support her, please.

If you want to donate, here is her bank details: Dr. Gerhard Harfner Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank Konto-Nr.: 0007468458 BLZ.: 30060601

Verwendungszweck: Pag-asa Hilfsprojekt e.V, Spende für Bogo

*Steuerlich abzugsfähige Spendenquittungen werden ausgestellt.* (Tax deductible donation receipts will be issued when requested.)

Read here for the interview made by a local newspaper about Frau Hafner.

Meanwhile in Stuttgart:

For the Benefit of Typhoon victims Haiyan/Yolanda, the Filipino Community of Stuttgart is inviting to give and share on November 22 starting 18:30 p.m. at St Georg Gemeinde Stuttgart Heilbronner Str. 135.

Lend a helping hand, join them in raising funds, packing relief goods, clothes, collecting donations. Give and share in your own way. 

Days Four and Five of Donation Drive for Haiyan Survivors

More donations arrived late afternoon of day three.

My post ended with the bandage sortiments, right?

And I did say more people called. And there's also people who just arrived on our doorstep, not to mention those who simply left their donations leaning on the front door. It felt like Christmas, I tell you. I am so happy for the people who would be receiving these generous gifts.

There was this call about a woman who said she gave copies of the donation letter to her officemates, right? She left her bundle of gifts leaning on our front door late afternoon. She promised more items would be coming.

bandages, medical tapes, plaster, bed sheets, towels

Next came an elderly woman a house away from us. Her husband was one of the first people the girls and I approached with our letters. We found him working in the garage. I asked him if we could leave him our letter and he said yes. Then he added, 'back more than 50 years ago, it was Germany who needed help, and help came. Not it's our turn to help.'

Day Three of Donation Drive for Haiyan Survivors

And we continue our donationdrive to help the survivors of the devastating typhoon Haiyan...

Yesterday I posted the items we received here.

Last night, a friend who I have never heard for a long time, called up. She said she has been meaning to call me to ask about my family in the Philippines. I told her they are okay but their area in Iloilo needs help, too. Then she offered help and I told her I am collecting donations, reading out loud the list of suggested items for donation.

This morning, a neighbor called up informing me that she gave copies of our letter asking for donations to her officemates. She further told me that in case I am not home, she would simply leave the donations, as they come, on our doorstep.

After a few minutes, the mother of IC's friend called. Telling me that her husband would come around noontime to bring some toiletries and a number of bandages. She wanted to be assured that the donated items would be received by the people who really needed them. I said everything would be coursed through LBC Foundation.

Her husband arrived with this:

All kinds of bandages, gauzes, and wound dressings plus some toiletries!

I didn't realize how many kinds of bandages, gauzes, and wound dressings there are. There are also gloves and emergency blankets.

Another neighbor followed with a call. She asked if clothes, shoes, kitchen items would be urgently needed, too. I said it would be best to stick on what's on the list first, though this time I added that underwears are also badly needed. She said she would get in touch with me as soon as she has everything organized.

A mother of MC's classmate just called and asked if clothes and toys would be appropriate. I sadly have to say not now because other items needed priority. She would get in touch as soon as possible, too.

I am touched by the people's answer to our call for help.

My God bless them all.

I am falling in love over and over again with my neighbors.

P.S. Here's something I learned, though. Since we live in Germany, I might need to label other items that does not have English translations so that the people there would know the uses of most items.

This is a wash powder but might need an extra label so that the end user would know.

For example, this wash powder. There is no German nor English translation. Although you could smell it's a soap. To avoid any confusion, make time to place English labels, please?

No English

These are bandages and wound creams, I might not need to translate but I
would take time to label the wound cream in English as when you open the boxes, there creams are in tubes.
I might even translate it's how to use note.

Also for those donating clothes and shoes. Make time to sort and label them such as for babies, for kids, for men, for women -- let's also help make the work volunteers who would end up with our donations a bit lighter, okay?

I am sure the extra effort to translate and to sort items out would be appreciated.

Relief Drive to Help Typhoon Haiyan Survivors in the Philippines

Image from NBC News

It is day six after the super storm Haiyan almost flattened parts of the Philippines.

There are estimated 10,000 deaths, more than 10 million people have been affected among them 1.5 million children and 4.3 million are now homeless.

It is now day six and despite the international aids coming in, more and more people are begging to be fed. More and more people are suffering from thirst. More and more people are begging to be evacuated to a safer area.

Sadly, many people are also still looking for missing loved ones. Sady, people are slowly dying. Sadly, another storm is coming...adding to the misery of the survivors.

We have been bombarded by news about the typhoon. The images were horrific and unimaginable.

IC class have been receiving the local newspaper daily because of a project have been discussing the Philippines and the typhoon. She has came home so overwhelmed because of the questions thrown at her, which of course, she cannot all answer.

MC meanwhile, came home on Monday saying her friends all rushed to her and asked immediately about the typhoon, if we have relatives in the areas affected, etc.

Both girls experienced typhoon Ondoy back in 2009. I guess, that became their reference. Plus, they also watched the news reports with me.

My mother, who hails from Ilo-ilo (another area affected), still have sisters there. That means, we have relatives there. When asked, my siblings told me that they were okay, which is good news. We just don't know how okay they are though.

I cannot stop crying while watching the news and video images online as I fervently clutched my rosary to pray.

But praying at this time, would not be enough. People are starving. People are screaming for help. I cannot take the desperation I see anymore. I feel so useless with my tears. I needed to do something to help.

Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines

Dear World,

"It's like the end of the world," narrated a typhoon survivor here.

The people of the Philippines needs help. There's now an estimated 10,000 death caused by drowning and collapsed buildings after typhoon Haiyan, said to be the worst storm ever to make landfall in recorded history.

A family waiting for food relief. Image taken here.

"The typhoon barreled through six central Philippine islands on Friday, wiping away buildings and leveling seaside homes. Most of the deaths and destruction were on Leyte Island, where Tacloban is located," according to NY Post.

Interaksyon stated, "If the 10,000 death toll is proven true, the devastation from Yolanda would be the country's deadliest recorded natural disaster."

More than 330,900 people were displaced and 4.3million 'affected' by the typhoon in 36 provinces, the U.N.'s humanitarian agency said, as relief agencies called for food, water and tarpaulins for the homeless, reported Daily Mail.

This after an earthquake that devasted towns that also were affected by the super typhoon.

Red Cross Philippines are accepting donations.LBC Foundation on their Facebook stated that they are also accepting donations intended for Red Cross worldwide. Check LBC link here. 

There are many ways to help, check CNN's list by clicking this.

See devastating images of the typhoon here.

Meanwhile, I am sorting out clothes, blankets, shoes, canned goods,etc. and would try to work with our community to collect more donations for the survivors. There must be something we could do to help out despite the distance. 

And yes, our prayers continue. God bless the Philippines.

For those in the Philippines, there's a Dine for a Cause at all Yabu branches. "In the spirit of giving, all branches of Yabu will be holding a Dine for A Cause event on November 13, 2013. 100% of our profits from all Yabu branches will be donated to those affected by the recent calamity caused by Typhoon Yolanda. Go and join them to help."

Relief goods collected by the girls arrived in Manila

The balikbayan boxes filled with relief goods arrived in Manila

Remember when the girls volunteered to collect donations for the flood victims in the Philippines last August?

Well, the boxes arrived this month at the Malibay Health Center.

the boxes of relief goods in our home before being transported

I know, it took months, but that is why the relief goods are not perishable. Most of them are clothes, blankets, and toys. Of course, the girls gave a sweet pack of surprise to the Malibay Health Center staff who would end up with the work of sorting the items :-)

There were also drawings and notes from the girls, they said they wanted to let the people know, the flood victims, that everything would be okay. I guess they know that from experience, after all, they were in the Philippines when Ondoy ravaged the land in 2009.

Help send donations to the Philippine flood victims

UPDATE dated November 11, 2013: Philippines needs help after super typhoon Haiyan devastation. Click here for information on how to donate.

NEWS UPDATE: Appeal to help two million flood victims

This is for the benefit of the flood victims in Malibay, Pasay City Philippines.

Flood image taken from Facebook

My daughters, aged 8 and 10, are knocking on our neighbors doors; asking for donations of clothings and toys to be send to the flood devastated communities in Malibay, Pasay City, Philippines. As of today, the rain is still pouring and the floor water has not abated. The flood victims need your help. Please donate here.

My girls have agreed to donate their savings of 80 Euro to pay for the courier of the first balikbayan box; but the girls' first few hours of hardwork have already filled the first box. Now, they would need at least two more balikbayan boxes to accommodate the other donations. That means another 200 Euro would be needed. I hope you could help, too.

 My family, together with my two girls, were victims of the September 2009 Ondoy storm, with a devastating damage of 1.09 billion dollars and 747 fatalities. I think my girls are doing this to shake up the trauma that they felt when they saw the water rising; when they saw that their Papa could not do anything to stop the water; when they realized that they were supposed to stay alone in the second floor of the house because the rest of the household were doing everything they can to save things in the house; when there were no food available for a time... I don't know what else they felt that time because they never did talk about it. All I know is that everytime there's a storm, they tend to cling.

Just this morning, when I showed them the photos of the flooding; they decided to help.

First by donating their savings, and then by collecting items to be donated. They chose Malibay, Pasay City because that is where their grandparents live. Please help them help the communities in Malibay. They only need 200 Euros.

Crowdfunding

Here's the link: Go Fund Me

Thank you very much. SPECIAL THANKS TO URBAN GYPSY'S CREED!

Our First Visit to the Animal Shelter

I have been looking for a legitimate excuse to convince my husband to visit the local animal shelter with the whole family.

Then I saw a small announcement in the local paper: a flea market and an open house at the animal shelter last Sunday! I marked the date, hoped for good weather and wished that my husband would be in a consenting mood on that day.

Sunday came. After a short hike to our mountain garden and the family still in the mood for an adventure; I announced my intention to visit the animal shelter. The girls asked why. I told them because there's a flea market and because I wanted to see the dogs.

MC started asking if we could bring home another dog. 'Why should we visit an animal shelter if we are not allowed to bring home a dog?,' she argued. I told her to just enjoy the visit first. Let's wait and see.

IC is a bit sceptic. The best thing is that my husband finally consented! (I have been begging to visit the animal shelter for a long time but my husband is not too enthusiastic about it; don't ask me why!)

We left our dog, Rikki, in the car. She is in heat and we don't want any accidents!

The first thing that we saw are the flea market stands. I thought they would only be selling items for animals but it looked like the normal flea market stands with various household knick-knacks and even a large book stand! But we didn't get the chance to check the items out because we heard the excited barks of dogs.

IC's a bit apprehensive so she was clinging to me; although she was, at the same time, stirring me forcefully to the direction of the barks. We skipped the small animals section (they also have cats, rabbits, etc). MC, meanwhile, is already marching alone, too excited to wait for us.

Nope, we were not allowed to touch them, nor feed them. I cautioned the girls against doing those things.

Then we saw them, the dogs. Big dogs, small dogs. Noisy ones, quiet ones. Shy dogs, friendly dogs. Scary ones, cute ones. I don't know but I suddenly felt emotional; seeing those dogs waiting for the 'right' owner. Some of them staying in the shelter for most of their lives, some of them are returnees, some of them recovering from bad experiences, some of them too cute for their own good, some of them too scared to show-off.

If I could, I would have brought half of them home! But I didn't say anything because...

I already saw MC starting to fall in love with a German Sheperd cuddled in his blanket. She wanted us to bring him home because he looks so sad.

IC was quietly making her way through. I was reading the cards with names, description and history of the dogs for her. She immediately stopped and listened with interest when I told her that the dog in front of her who is quietly oberving us inside the dog house lost an ear because of a bad experience in the past. And IC decided, this is the dog she have been waiting for a long time to have.

To help a little to the shelter's cause and to console my girls who were very much disappointed because they were not allowed to bring home their 'dogs', we bought some of the yummy homemade cakes on sale.

And I repeat, I could have brought home half of the dogs in the shelter. But I cannot. We cannot.
The next day, we decided to bake dozens of dog biscuits that we would donate to the shelter. We promised to help anyway we can.

I think I was not the only one emotionally affected by that very short animal shelter visit. And that was the reason why I wanted to bring the girls with me; I wanted them to be aware about animals in need. I wanted them to know that they could do something to help. Helping me to bake dog biscuits for the animal shelter is the first big step.

Suspicious-looking Men in the Neighborhood

Spring time. Warm weather. Staying outdoors. Great days ahead.

Then a neighbor called me up last night. She said she was sitting on her porch with her daughter that afternoon and noticed two strange men walking in the neighborhood. A few minutes after, a police car came patrolling our block; staying around our area a little longer. Now, that was unusual.

She called the police station and asked if there's a problem, if we should know something. The police informed her that there is no problem; BUT that the neighborhood should be extra careful.

It turned out that since last week, there has been calls coming from vigilant people in our neighborhood -- informing the police of strange men lurking around; acting suspiciously.

Now let me tell you about our place. We live in the border of the woods. Where strange people come and go because it is a great place to hike, a nice place to walk the dog and a wonderful challenge to extreme bikers. Therefore, we should be used to seeing strangers; yes, but am glad that our neighbors watch out for those suspicious characters.

I am thankful for that phone call. She said she also informed other neighbors, and I am going to do that, too.

But first, I talked to my girls. I told them that there are suspicious-looking men moving around. I reminded them again on what they learned during their self-defense course in kindergarten. This self-defense course was repeated during their first grade.

What should kids do when approached by strange men?
- If they don't feel comfortable about that stranger, shout as loud as you can 'NO' and run away
- Do not talk, do not accept anything

Since my girls usually play outdoors and we have our rules, I reviewed those rules with them:
- Leave immediately if you don't feel comfortable anymore and go inside the house; never mind your toys
- Close all doors, the gates and check if they are really closed
- Watch each others back
- Bring your mobile phone (or our wireless phone) with you
- Shout loudly if necessary
- Keep your eyes open and just be aware of your sorroundings

And now that we have a dog, another reminder: don't let Rikki eat anything that looked suspicious! In fact, I told them to check the garden first before letting our dog loose. And of course, while walking our dog, we have always been careful if we see 'food' lying on the street. We kick them out of the way or we would change directions.

My husband also told me to always bring my mobile phone everytime I walk the dog. And at night, we bring our high-power flashlight, too!

Are we creating panic? I don't think so. We are just being extra careful.

Christmas 2011 Means Helping the Flash Flood Victims in the Philippines

More than 900 dead, more than 800 still missing, with more than 250,00 individuals affected and are now in evacuation centers...

Please pray for the people in the Philippines. Especially those people in Mindanao affected by the flash flood that happened a few days ago.

Please pray for those who lost their loved onces. Especially those parents who lost their children.

Please pray for those who lost their homes. Especially those who are sick and weak.

Please pray that people would unite to help. Especially to ease the sufferings: to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to shelter the homeless, to give hope to the hopeless, to give meaning to our Christmas.

Send your donations to the Philippine National Red Cross. Here's the direct link to donate.

If you are in the Philippines, you can send your donations FREE through LBC. See above notice.

To everyone sending prayers and/or donations, thank you very much.

Preserving School Cone Memories

8

Vacation time is almost over. It's time to sort out what comes into the girls' school bags. And IC was asking if she would be getting another schultüte (school cone) for her first day in the second grade. Well, they might just get small gifts to add a little excitement to the day but the school cone is out.

This is MC's schultüte. A schultüte is a traditional first day of school gift bag to the first graders and mostly hand-crafted.

MC chose it and asked me to pep it up according to her instructions. I did but it was supposed to be a surprise so I teamed up with other moms. Instead of working on it with her.

She loved the surprise and she wanted to keep it forever. Afraid that it would be damaged if we just kept it leaning on the wall, she asked us to hang it. So there, a wall decor!

But we had to leave for the Philippines in 2008. We did pack her schultüte; packed it very carefully. Then in 2010, back to Germany. After surviving the container trip to Manila, the terrible flood, the three time house transfers, and the hundred times of being shown off to guests -- MC's schultüte is now tatterred, badly tattered.

The decision is: should we pack it or leave it in the Philippines?

MC tearfully gave her nod to leave it. On the condition that, she give it to someone else as a gift.

She gave her schultüte to a poor couple with a small baby girl leaving in the streets of Manila. And she gave it with a smile.

As for IC who celebrated her first day of school in the Philippines in 2010? She's already said goodbye to her schultüte earlier. She just made sure that there's no more gifts inside and threw it in the waste basket.

Well, to each his own!

This post is to preserve the memories of my girls' school cone!

Norway in Our Minds

Think of this...

Your child kid asked permission to join a youth meet in a popular vacation island.

You said yes. Helped him/her pack. Added his/her special snacks as a surprise. Told him/her to have fun.

You said goodbye knowing he/she would indeed have fun. Plus, he/she would have the opportunity to meet the most important man in the country. What fun, indeed.

Then a few days later, here's what you saw on the television: explosion in the capital city. And an unconfirmed report that the island where your child is, is under siege; unconfirmed reports that there's a lot of dead. That to escape the terror -- some hid in the bushes, some tried to swim...

You will pray. You will try to call your child. You will try to call their friends. You will try to call the authorities. You will try to call your friends...

You will do anything to know more. You will cry. You hope. You will pray.

You will do anything to know more. You will cry. You will pray. You hope.

Then the next day, more than 80 people dead in the island (seven dead in the city).

Where's your child? Where's hope? Where's your child?

You will cry. And we are crying with you.
To the parents of victims in the island of Utoya, we are thinking of you.

To all the people of Norway, we are praying for you.

Dear people of the world, let's pray for peace.

We're off cleaning a beach shore!

It is 3:51 in the morning, I am already up. I need to finish a writing project because I am starting a new project.

In a few hours, I would wake up the whole household.

We are going to the beach. This time, not only to relax and bum around; this time we have a purpose; this time are have no space for all the rubber duckies and shovels and beach toys, this time I wont bring a book, this time we are going to work, this time we have a car full of cleaning materials!

We are off to the Dulong Buhanging Beach in Mulanay, Quezon to clean its shore!

We were in Mulanay, Quezon; a province around 300 kilometers away from Manila, the Philippine capital. Mulanay, Quezon is a coastal town with a population of 50,000.

We realized we need to do something when we visited the place two months ago on a whim; with an eenzy, weenzy goal. We dropped by the beach and boy, we had a great time! The thing is, if you forget what you would first see before reaching the beach; you would really enjoy the place.

The usual thing: dirty beach shore, with broken glasses almost everywhere you step! It was not a nice thing to see.

In fact, my girls were the ones who opened my eyes and gave me the idea. Always being warned to watch their step -- as a result, both of them were very meticulous on how to move around when in a strange place and particularly on a beach shore, we were picking up debris and broken glasses before we knew it!

When we reluctantly left the area after a short but unforgettable visit, at first, we wanted it to be just a family project. Visiting shores and cleaning up, just like that. And then somebody said we could ask the city officials to help our, or even ask for sponsors.

Well, why not? After all, there are a lot of shores to clean. And this is just the initial stage.

So our family project, turned into an advocacy. To make a better place for the future generation.

Presenting, our first

Renew and Re-Green Project -- at the Dulong Buhangin Beach in Mulanay, Quezon.

In cooperation with the Mulanay, Quezon city officials led by Mayor Prudencio Maxino Jr., City Engr. Delio de Leon, its SK group -- with the generous sponsorships of:

Pilipinas Shell, Pepsi-Cola, at Clorox Phils. Intl.

The International Filipino, the newspaper for Filipino OFWs and migrant workers and Deutsch Resources Management Inc.

Wish us luck!

The Village Cleaners

Driving home after a visit to their playmate, MC looked out of the windows and shook her head.

'Papa, the world is not beautiful anymore,' she said. Not only my husband was curious but all of us inside the car; we also glanced outside.

We saw garbage all over and sort of agreed with her.

'Why could people not throw their garbage in the trash cans?,' she continued. 'I also saw people in our village throwing something on the streets.'

IC also pointed out that the vacant lots are being used as a garbage area. 'It is yucky,' she smirked.

We applauded both girls for being aware of proper garbage disposal. We have disciplined them that if they couldnt find a trash can, they simply give it to me or to my husband. I admit, my bag is one garbage bin :D

My husband and I decided to challenge the kids with the following suggestions:

- start talking to people you see throwing junk on the street and tell them it is wrong
- tell your friends to dispose of their garbage properly
- ask our village officers to install garbage bins in busy areas
- declare yourselves as the village cleaners
- start a project to keep our village clean
- ask the help of the adults
- keep the discipline instilled in you that if you dont see a trash can, you keep it in your pocket or give it to mama and papa to dispose of

Well, both girls agreed with enthusiasm. In fact, they added the following ideas, too:

- papa should collect money from the people caught throwing junk on the street
- we should inform them who doesnt follow their rules as village cleaners just in case they missed on someone
- they will draw warnings for people and paste them around the village
- they will ask another friend who properly disposes of her garbage to join in the project

After the list was made, the girls got themselves plastic bags and used gloves to collect the junk in the vacant lot beside our house. They found cigarette butts.

They know the culprit, too. Our driver.

Guess who got a lecture and was fined by the girls that afternoon :D

Watch out, the village cleaners are on the move!

Lynn, 17 years old

Remember our trip to rescue girls from hell?

I met Lynn there.

She was sitting in one corner.
Tears flowing. Watching everything.
Hugging her newly-born child.

I noticed things.
Scars on her arms.
I hoped that those scars would only be on her arms.
She wont look me in the eyes.
She wont answer my questions directly.

She's got a chance.

How old are you? 18 years old, she said.

Are you really 18? She closed her eyes.

'Do you want to go home?' She stared.

Where do you live? She said Naga, Bicol.

How long have you been here? One year.

Do you want to go home? She cried and shook her head.

I wanted to bring her with us. Give her a chance; with her newborn child.

Lynn wont move. She is paralyzed with fear.

There were too many people around. Then a new face surfaced, a man came.

We must go. We left Lynn; and her newborn child.

I wanted to apologize to Lynn, to her newborn child; and to the other girls. But we could only do so much.

Through the other girls we rescued, we learned that Lynn is only 17 years old. That means she's been there when she's 16 years old. That Lynn's child is covered with bruises and burns because they use normal rubbing alcohol to clean him. That Lynn's child doesnt get formulas but only boiled rice.

But there's good news. A few days after our trip to hell, they let Lynn and her newborn child go. But what about the other girls? This is not the end of it. I promise.

My Little Miss Charity

'Mama, Mama,' shouts MC excitedly.

'Do you know that RTL (a local tv station) is collecting old yet still usable things to be given to poor kids all over the world?' she said. 'We could send those toys that IC and I dont want anymore.'

And then she stopped and added in deep thought, 'of course, those toys that dont function anymore we could send to the other poor kids who might still want them despite them being broken.'

I am happy that MC is really very open when it comes to sharing -- to being charitable. IC, too. I guess it helped when we exposed them to the Bahay Kalinga Foundation during out last visit to the Philippines this 2008. And I am grateful for Bahay Kalinga for a very warm welcome.

And we encourage them, too. In fact, in one corner of our storeroom is a big box where they place all their 'dont want anymore' toys and clothes for the poor kids. When that box is full, then it is time to send them to their favorite charity house in the Philippines, the Bahay Kalinga. It is a charity house that takes care of girls from ages 0-18.

They say those girls are their playmates, therefore, they would share their things to them. After all, as MC said, 'sharing is fun.'

The Fireman's Hat

After asking the girls to tidy up their rooms, MC found her fireman's hat then she run to me saying: 'Mama, when we dont want to play with our fireman's hat anymore, I want you to give it to my group in kindergarten.'

Of course I said yes and though I didnt ask why I heard the reason.

It turns out that in her group, there is only one fireman's hat and she's been seeing a lot of big fights breaking out because more than one kid would want to use the hat at the same time.

Yes, she wants to avoid those fights so she's giving her fireman hat away. She's an angel, my MC :D