Hello, everyone. I have been busy with “real life” as of late, so my apologies for not keeping up with the ‘resolution’ of bringing you interesting randomness regularly. Also for not having a ‘passionate person profile’ up yet (that one I hope to remedy by next week; title for the feature included in things to fix).

Knee deep in researching and analyzing how to present a case involving organizations I care about, I find it apt to post about a few groups that instantly come to mind when I think of the Philippine Third Sector:

World Wildlife Fund Philippines (WWF-Philippines)

Not really needing a description (since anyone who doesn’t know what this organization does must be living under a rock - and maybe should stay there to save the planet), let’s just say that WWF-Philippines works to conserve and protect the natural beauty our country possesses. From the Donsol Whale Shark Research and Ecotourism Sustainability Program (w/c contributed to TIME Magazine citing the Bicol Region as ‘best animal encounter destination in Asia’) to the Coral Triangle Support Partnership Project, WWF-Philippines has programs that you may want to support. 

Here’s a WWF video that went viral a few months back:

Philippine Eagle Foundation

I have yet to go to Davao to see this organization in action in person, but I’ve talked to one of their staff more than a couple of times and a few other people who’ve been to their facility, to know that they’re doing great work. I believe I’ve featured this organization here already before, but I have to mention them again, if only to have you go to their website and see how you can help an eaglet.

TEN Moves! (The Entire Nation Moves) Campaign

While not an organization per se, this campaign was brought to my attention by a director at the Ayala Foundation, where I used to work and the org that manages this campaign. Its strategy is to have 2 million people donate P10 per day for 10 months. For a population nearing 100 million, the Filipino people shouldn’t find it too hard to make this public fundraising initiative a success. And what’s the money for? To build 10,000 classrooms for public schools all over the Philippines. Sabi nga nila, “Barya lang po. Para sa classroom ng mga bata.”

See ways to help here.

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Well, that’s it for now, folks. Need to study some more.

To usher in 2012, here are five things from/about/in the Philippines that make me smile. They definitely do not have the same weight of significance for me, but these are the first five things that came to mind (in order of their appearance in my head), thinking about all things Pilipinas that are, to put it simply, good.

BenCab

Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, more famously known as BenCab, is a Filipino National Artist who is a painter and a printmaker. When I think of BenCab, I think of Sabel, his muse. From his bullet biography on the BenCab Museum website:

1964

Observes and sketches from his window in Bambang a bag lady/madwoman/scavenger named Sabel. To him she is a symbol of dislocation, despair& isolation – the personification of human dignity threatened by circumstances. Undergoing numerous transformations over the coming years, she becomes a landmark for every stylistic painting transition.

The lobby of one of those condominiums in Rockwell is graced by a BenCab painting. And a home somewhere in Negros has artist proofs from the master printmaker himself. Nothing quite like his work, especially these days of modern conceptual art. As he himself puts it in this Wall Street Journal feature, “Skill: That is what is missing now. A lot of modern art now is mostly conceptual. It is sloppy. I’m old school. I look for good composition… and I like artists who are innovative.” I tend to agree.

BenCab is also one of the many reasons a trip to Singapore is so enticing.

Philippine Development Foundation or PhilDev

For full disclosure, I’ve worked (and still work every now and then) for PhilDev (formerly Ayala Foundation USA). I loved the work that I did there, connecting the Filipino diaspora to worthwhile development initiatives in the homeland. Now, their focus is more strategic - zeroing in on science and technology and the field’s impact on the Philippines’ economic growth and development. All the same, I respect the work that they do and look forward to the coming years as they carry out their new mission.

You can read about PhilDev’s work on their website, but here’s a video of Filipino/Filipino-American artists, Lea Salonga included, talking about the concert they held for PhilDev:

Panlasang Pinoy

I’m pretty sure I featured Panlasang Pinoy on this tumblr already, but when you talk about the good things in the Philippines, you cannot - just cannot - leave out food. And when I thought of Filipino food, Panlasang Pinoy popped into my head. Just look at his list of Top 10 Filipino Christmas Recipes. I know Christmas is done, but hey, with this menu, it’s never too early to practice for Christmas 2012.

Interaksyon | TV5-MMDA Traffic Monitoring System

Yes, I’m including this one. Because it is pretty cool to have this system in place, updated every five minutes or so. My husband and I are guilty of checking this even if we’re not driving anywhere, just because it’s so nifty.

Pilipinas-loving Tumblrs

And of course, my fellow Tumblrers who post about the Philippines. A few that I enjoy:

I Write As I Write: History. And Stuff.

The Wolf: A thirty-something writer who has mellowed down from the broadcast news industry. After that, he taught high school kids history and economics. Using the skills acquired in journalism, he gets involved once in a while with farmers, environmentalists, and human rights activists.

Pag-aral at Pag-ibig… Lessons & Love: newly married lit phd trying to figure out life, love and the future.

Please pass along to someone who might be interested! Thanks!

For those interested, e-mail a copy of your CV to info@balyena.org.

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It is humpback whale season again and we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join the research expedition to the Babuyan Islands,
northern Luzon, Philippines this coming Marchand April
2012!  The research will be led by researchers from Balyena.org [http://balyena.org/] and the Center for Rural Empowerment and the Environment (CREE)[http://www.conservationforpeople.org].
This survey has been conducted since 2000, making it the longest running,
continuous cetacean research in the Philippines! 
 
The aim of this research is to monitor the status of humpback whales in the islands through photo-identification and vocalization recordings.  Through
photo-identification we will be able to monitor the number of whales coming to the Babuyan Islands, their movement between other breeding grounds in the western north Pacific and their feeding grounds.  The interaction between cetaceans and humans
(particularly fisheries) will also be monitored. Research volunteers will
assist in sightings of cetaceans, recording data, taking photographs and
recording humpback songs.  Working hours are long.  Most of the
daylight hours are spent on a small wooden outrigger boat searching for and observing whales and dolphins, exposed to the sun and sea sprays while evenings are spent encoding data. The team goes out every day as long as the weather conditions permit it. At least one day will be spent to conduct an environmental education youth camp for a school in the islands.
 
The expedition will be run based partly on funding collected from the contributions of volunteers.  We ask volunteers to contribute to cover for food, accommodation and vehicle rental.  Volunteers are also expected to pay for their travel expenses to and from the research site on Camiguin Island, municipality of Calayan, Cagayan. The team will travel together by bus from Manila to Sta. Ana, Cagayan, the jump-off point to the Islands.
 
Camiguin Island, the main study site is one of the five main islands in the Babuyan group (approximately 32 kms from mainland Luzon). It is a beautiful and idyllic volcanic island. We will be living with a small community with just the basic necessities.  The team will be based in a modest house on Camiguin where volunteers will share daily household work. Sleeping quarters are shared and cooking or food preparation will be the responsibility of volunteers. As meals are shared and food variety is limited on the island, one must not be picky with food. Electricity is only available for 4-5 hours in the evenings and telecommunications are quite limited (i.e. mobile phone coverage intermittent). 
 
Volunteers are needed for three trips:  the surveys will be running for about 12 days plus travel time of 5 days (return), making each trip a total of 17 days. Please do keep in mind that ability to cross to and from the island is
dependent on the weather hence, the dates are not fixed. Volunteers must be prepared to be stationed on-site for 2-3 days longer than the scheduled trip. The first trip departs Manila on the 29th of February 2012.  
 
The expedition dates are as follows;
Team I: 29 Feb – 19 March
Team II: 17 Mar – 5 Apr
Team III: 9 – 28 Apr
 
We are inclined to accept volunteers who can commit to the entire duration of the research trip.  Previous cetacean research experience is not required but preferred. Flexibility and ability to work in a variety of conditions at
sea is a must. You must have good sea legs, high tolerance for the sun and
heat, and patience for hours looking out at sea.  
 
We would like to emphasize that this is a research trip and NOT a holiday. Volunteers are expected to participate in all project activities of the day. This is a good opportunity to help in the research and conservation of humpback whales and other cetaceans in the Philippines while learning about them. This annual monitoring of the whales is very important in understanding the status of the species and the marine
ecosystem of the Babuyan Islands. The data collected every season is crucial in completing a long-term study of the humpback whales breeding and calving in the Philippines. You will also get the chance to visit a gorgeous island in the northern Philippines and experience all its biodiversity!

Please signify interests via email on or before February
6th 2012and send a copy of your recent CV to info@balyena.org.
For further information, please check our facebook page Balyena.org or email joshsilberg@gmail.com.