BAYANIhan Tayo! (photo from http://bayanihanonline.wordpress.com/)

Hi Everybody! I’m Ka Edong, a Filipino helping fellow Filipinos amidst the storm around us.

I’ve been helping out for the typhoon victims mostly online by managing information through Twitter, Facebook and Google documents.

First, referral links to essential pages that provide more information on how YOU could help.
Second, a short rundown of what I’ve done (still doing) for people affected by the typhoon.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• List of places to donate (Google Docs, publicly edited)
• Where to send donations for Ondoy and Pepeng victims http://cli.gs/jPh30
• Bayanihan Online: http://bayanihanonline.wordpress.com/
  Consolidated Tweets/FB re: No. Luzon. http://ping.fm/vzifb
• Essential links: Pls. make sure to report No. Luzon rescue calls here: http://ping.fm/I82fI
• Google’s Ondoy page: http://www.google.com/landing/typhoon-ondoy.html

Ka Edong: BAYANI-han tayo!

• http://tinyurl.com/RescueHub: I established this online document on Saturday evening, September 26. This was a response to all the information that people were passing along via twitter and SMS. There was a need to capture the information so that people can respond better.
  • Next step: Contact the people in the Missing/Found list, update status as “Safe” or “Rescued”. For eventual closure (freeze) of this document.
• @ka_edong on Twitter: I continue to provide Relief operations updates on Twitter.
  • Referral: See also @mlq3, @miriamq, @tonyocruz, @bayanihan_, @dementia for more twitter updates about relief operations.
• Ka Edong on Facebook: I spread the word via fb as well. I connect with many more friends outside the country via facebook. Good for sharing videos, photos of the typhoon, as well as words of inspiration for our countrymen. You could help too by spreading the word among your friends.
• ka edong on qik: I also post live mobile videos of the typhoon and the relief operations. Here’s one video of half-submerged buses http://qik.com/video/3010884

There are many more ways we all could help. Prayers, spreading the word, consoling people, inspiring people, donating. Prisoners in Cebu skipped a meal or two to donate for Ondoy victims! Sama sama tayo dito, BAYANI-han Tayo! :-)

God Bless the Philippines!

ka edong

When I reached Rockwell, I saw Kris Aquino with Baby James waiting for their ride. I greeted her and asked if she was watching the movie. Not that evening daw.

At the theater, I met Bam Aquino. When asked about his debut on the silverscreen, he clarified that “It’s a documentary, not a movie.” Bam has some reservations about referring to himself as an actor. “TV host, yes. Actor, ummm…” says Bam.

The film features the last interview given by Cory Aquino. The interview was done by the film’s director, Jun Reyes. After the interview, kabilin-bilinan daw ni Tita Cory kay Jun: “Pag-igihan mo ‘yan, ha.”

The unraveling of the film was utterly graceful. So intimate. It was such a masterful blend of Ninoy and Cory”s speeches, photos, interviews, watercolor paintings (depicting life in prison), TV clips of Marcos, and good music and soundtracks and voice overs to accompany the images.

Bam, of course, was a good “stand-in” (as he says), assisting the viewers in appreciating what Ninoy’s last journey was all like from Ninoy’s point of view.

There were many notables in the movie, but I’ll stick to just just a few, some of which Rapa Lopa had appropriately pointed out before the movie started.

Essentially, there were only two voices in the entire movie. One was Cory’s (a combination of soundbites and videos from two separate interviews) and the other was Ninoy’s. That made the film extremely intimate. We here in front of Cory and Ninoy, listening in on such an intimate story of their lives, from their own voice, from their own perspective. The film was made so masterfully that it was as if Ninoy and Cory “were finishing each other’s sentences”, as Bam pointed out. Awesome!

The movie also captured the spiritual transformation of both Ninoy and Cory. It was wonderful hearing from Ninoy how human he was, sharing about his “death wish” and even kidding about being attracted to the nurses in heart center after 7 years in solitary prison. Even though the couple were apart for many years, they had grown spiritually in their respective experiences. And they grew together. Such strength, such a bond is enviable.

On a personal note, the film was spine tingling. And I say it in a good way. It brought out some of my early memories of Ninoy Aquino’s death (I watched it live on TV with my mom, I was 8 y.o.). It brought out many realizations about how valuable the Philippines and the Filipino is.

Most of the youth (I included) do not realize nor appreciate the democracy that we have today. By watching this film, we will learn the story of our parents and what our country had gone through in the 70′s and 80′s. Through this documentary, we will appreciate better what Ninoy, Cory and countless other Filipinos had fought for.

And by continuing the fight for our continued freedom, the legacies of Ninoy, Cory and our other Filipino heroes shall continue to live.

Interview of Bam Aquino, The Last Journey of Ninoy

Trailer on YouTube

Watch the movie
The film will be shown on TV, August 23 Sunday, 10:30pm on ABS-CBN and ANC.
There are plans of releasing the film for public viewing, also at Rockwell (hopefully in other theaters as well).
The film will be taken for a roadshow as well around universities and high schools around the country.
Contact www.iamninoy.com for inquiries about how your school or organization can view the film.

Unit 2D Classica I Condominium
112 H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village
1227 Makati City, Philippines
Tel: +632 894.1344, 894.1345
Telefax: +632 894.1343
http://www.iamninoy.com/contactus.asp

Blogs about “The Last Journey of Ninoy”

• Just Watched The Last Journey of Ninoy
• (if you have a full article about the movie, post a comment, i’ll link to you)

ka edong
Laban!

AKO MISMO Dog Tags

My first pledge as soon as I got my Dog Tags: “AKO MISMO itatapon ang basura ko sa basurahan!”
I just noticed that for many people, they just littered the packaging of their AKO MISMO dog tags right there at the Dog Tag booth.

On the lighter side ;-) …

Booths in the concert area

There was a photo booth where folks can take their photos along-side a backdrop of life-size AKO MISMO endorsers Angel Aquino, Ely Buendia, Luis Manzano, Maxene Magalona et al.

There was a commitment wall for people to write in ink what they pledge to help the country.

One booth had PC’s setup for people to sign-up online for AKO MISMO.

And there were exhibitor booths where people can sign-up for volunteer work, know more about an organization, or buy Pinoy Pride merchandise.

AKO MISMO Videos

I interviewed three ladies from different organizations: PAGASA, Gawad Kalinga and Dynamic Teen Co.
Here are their videos (please excuse the background music from the concert).

PAGASA – Peoples Assembly fo rGenuine Alternatives to Social Apathy

• The Philippine Vision Cafe – a forum where the youth can come together and freely articulate among themselves a vision for the Philippines.

• Websites: www.pagasa.net.ph , http://philippinevisioncafe.multiply.com
• pagasayouth@gmail.com
• Mobile numbers: +639162486592, +639204169583
• Thank you Nix for the interview!

Gawad Kalinga – GK 1MB (isang milyong bayani!)

• Land for the Landless, Homes for the Homeless, Food for the Hungry
• GK 1MB (isang milyong bayani!) – We are sounding the call to recruit 1 million herouse to render at least 4 hours of community service a month in Gawd Kalinga communities all over the country.

• GK National office telephone: 02-7181738 to 41
• Fax: 02-726-7405
• Websites: www.gk1world.com , www.gawadkalinga.org
• email: gk1mb@gawadkalinga.org
• Thanks Myra for the interview!

Dynamic Teen Co

• Sa iyo magsisimula ang pagbabago. Kaya mo kung gusto mo. Halina sama-sama tayo! We are the CHANGE!
• Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) is a group of concerned young people with a mission of making a small yet significant difference in other people’s lives, particularly the small children in slum areas who have no access to education, basic hygiene and sometimes, even love from their families.

• Website: www.dynamicteencompany.org
• Efren in CNN 2009Heroes!
• Search: Efren Penaflorida in the news
• Contact: CLUB 8586 CENTER, 1177 J. Felipe Blvd., Caridad, Cavite City, Philippines 4100
• Tel No: +6346.431.8586
• Efren Penaflorida (DTC founder/adviser) 0917-5588586
• Salamat kay Angel sa interview

Related links:

• Ka Edong’s AKO MISMO post
• AKO MISMO Dog Tag Day posters
• Volunteer programs in the Philippines

ka edong
hidden video-grapher

In the meantime, there is a conspiracy happening. Heroes from above are watching closely, plotting a drastic move that will change our country.

They plot to bring the real Jose Rizal, back to the helm of the Philippines to take the lead.

Rizal is My President

Rizal is My President – A Musical Satire

I watched “Rizal is my President” last month at Ateneo. It was a musical play that had a funny, idealistic, dreamy, inspirational twist in the plot.

We see our National Heroes on stage: Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Ninoy Aquino, Melchora Aquino, Gabriela Silang, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini and Juan Luna. They watch the Philippines through the Internet. (and Melchora Aquino is on Facebook and will super-poke her friend Mother Theresa to join a rally they’re!)

Watch Rizal is My President! Visit www.rizalismypresident.com for details

Makes me want to dream once more — kung sa bagay, I’ve never stopped dreaming, I just dream differently these days.

ka edong
ka edong is my president