My Philippine Trip: A Writer's Quest- Part Two

Personal Notes: Pardon me for I am not going to feature any novels at this point. I want to share with my readers the experiences I had when I visited my home country, The Philippines. The previous blog tackled about the radio appearances I made along with my coauthor Carlos Marquez, Jr. with whom I collaborated to write The Sins of the Fathers. We launched that book three months ago. Such interviews had thrilled the two of us. Listeners asked some interesting questions about being a writer. And we answered them honestly. But on this blog, which is the part two so to speak, of my Synopsis Lounge blog, I will exactly tell you my visions why I am so eager to create these non-profit groups.

The Non-Profit Groups

I had a great chance to meet my colleagues in the Philippines who shared their interest about the advocacy I have been dreaming of. It's all about literacy enhancement initiatives that we dream in the communities that need them most. Building small libraries (both digital and traditional) in areas where such opportunities are limited will be the first step. But the most ambitious plan of all is to encourage young people to read and write at the early stage of their life. It means that summer camps, learning centers and literacy enhancement drives should be the main goal. A National Reading and Writing Competition on a yearly basis is one of the ambitious plans we have in mind. Though it's a long way to go, we believe, we are going to make it happen.

I wasted no time meeting these gentlemen to get the new non-profit GALE Philippines, Inc. formed. Joseph Nikolai Chioco (right) will be the CEO, while Edwin Santos (second to the left) will be one of the members of the Board of Trustees. My coauthor Carlos Marquez, Jr. (extreme left) will be in the Advisory Board. GALE Philippines has been  registered to the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission.

In November last year, I was chatting with my childhood friend Nhel Padre who lives and works in Singapore. Not too long ago, we discussed about the ways how we could contribute to the young people in our hometown to have a better and stable life in the future. We both grew up in the same village. I implied that education is the key. We must root it out from the early stage of their childhood and continuously nourish them as they grow older. That's why we focused to concentrate on the young folks. Then the two of us formed Tambayang Adorable ("Tambayan" is a Filipino word that means a place to hang around and Adorable is the name of our village in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija in Northern Philippines). I set up a Facebook page and invited some of our friends who also grew up in our village. Surprisingly, even the current residents, young and old joined the group. Then we formed a working committee that will administer the implementation of whatever projects we might have.

After forming the Tambayang Adorable, both of us were truly delighted by the online support coming form our childhood friends who also grew up in our home village. They're from different parts of the world. We reached more 500 members in just a few months. Then we launched our first project : The 2013 PAMASKONG HANDOG PARA SA MGA BATANG ADORABLE (A Christmas Tribute to the Children of Adorable). I would say, the first project was just a trial, an experiment to test the water. But we were amazed by the outpouring  supports coming from the members themselves. When we announced the Christmas Tribute project, financial supports came in and we successfully made that Christmas event happened. About 700 children ages 4 to 6 had attended and shared the spirit of Christmas.

The Christmas Tribute to the Children of Adorable was a success. About 700 kids had attended to the party. The first photo (left) is when the Mass Offering was held. The second photo shows us the energetic working committee who administered the event, while the third photo tells us how happy these children were while eating their food. The fifth picture shows how this kid patiently waiting for Santa Claus to show up for the night.

The outcome of the first project had motivated us to do more. Then we planned about how to help the parents of these kids on their needs of school supplies in the coming 2014 school year. Then we focused on the daycare pupils. Adorable has two daycare centers with about 60 pupils on each site. To make our next project feasible, we targeted these two daycare centers. We launched the GAMIT-ESKUWELA Support Program (School supplies support program for daycare kids). Our generous members from all over the world had shown their encouraging supports for the project and they sent monetary assistance for the cause. Just last Father's Day, June 15th, distribution of school supplies was made and we reached  170 beneficiaries that included

grade 1 pupils that belong to the third section (parents of these kids were having a hard time accommodating the budget for school supplies due to lack of financial resources).

The successes of both debut projects had greatly inspired the whole group and focused to launch more projects in the future.

As a co-founder of Tambayang Adorable, this truly inspired me to push through a bigger plan with a bigger scope. That's why Global Alliance for Literacy Enhancement (GALE Philippines, Inc) came to life. Tambayang Adorable will focus on the welfare of Adorable children and Gale Philippines will focus on global initiative for literacy enhancement. I will form the same concept of a non-profit firm here in Dallas, Texas where I reside, work and write. This will be my advocacy while writing my novels and proceeds of my royalties  will go to these non-profit groups.                              This little kid patiently waits for Santa Claus to show up during the Christmas Party tribute in December, 2013.
                                                                                                                                                  

The success of the second project SCHOOL SUPPLIES Support Program for Daycare kids had greatly inspired all the members to launch more projects in the future. Batang Adorable already got their school bags with school supplies inside.

                                                     

When I came to my home country, The Philippines, I met the working committee of the non-profit group I co-founded TAMBAYANG ADORABLE, to finalize the group's plans for 2014.

These kids are the reasons why I am so determined to push though this advocacy: Literacy enhancement. They need to start improving their writing and reading skills at the early stage along with other sports activities they need while growing up. Lots of volunteers, like teachers and literacy enthusiasts will be needed for the project. Summer camp sites are highly needed for the project. 

Members of Tambayang Adorable around the world had sent their monetary assistance for the project. It encouraged the working committee in the village to implement more projects in the future. Local school officials had shown their appreciation for the projects. The next non-profit that is on the horizon, GALE Philippines, will focus on how to build a library in both daycare centers and the local school compound as well. Tambayang Adorable will be the implementing partner of GALE Philippines in all projects in that village.

Grade 1 pupils lined up to get their bags with other school supplies. Thanks to TAMBAYANG ADORABLE members around the world who sent their monetary assistance for the project.

Nhel Padre (center), my co-founder of Tambayang Adorable is one of the generous supporters of the organization's cause. He and a Filipino group based in Singapore have shown their endless commitment for the projects in the long run.

In just about six weeks when I came back to America, our non-profit group Tambayang Adorable had already finished distributing school bags and school supplies to almost 200 daycare and grade 1 pupils in our village in Northern Philippines.