At estimated 1,100 people have been killed in the massive earthquake of 7.6 magnitude that strucks Indonesia and the toll is still expected to rise...
From Typhoon Ondoy to Tsunamu in Samoa...
Situation is indeed alarming!
Tragedy is everywhere...
I don't know whether I need to right my own version of news and data or simply post tolls and updates.
It's all over the web now. In every pages the I browse.
Photos of people mourning.
Death tolls.
Declaration of State of Calamities.
Flooded areas.
Collapsed buildings.
Washed out villages.
I'm searching for good news.
Or rather, I am hungry for some positive information...
And unfortunately, very seldom that we can see some encouraging pages these days.
Most discussed about calamity...
We'll because that is the reality.
Yesterday, I was talking to my Nanay and we discussed about the situation... she mentioned about the Book of Revelation from the Bible. Her voice was about to break as she told me to just come home, stay with them... not because we are thinking that it is the "end" but simply because she wants us to be together, when another disaster comes. The hardest thing in such trial is to face it, a thousand miles away from your loved ones.
I replied, "In sha allah" which means "If God permits."
Because we cannot plan according to what we always wanted... it won't come to reality without His grace. If there are lessons that I learned from these 3 disasters... these are:
1. We don't own tomorrow.
"Now, listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow, we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money, why? You do not even know what will hppen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes." - James 4:13-14
2. Do not live for money.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust drstroy, and where thiees break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not break in and steal. For where your treasure in, there your heart will be, also." - Matthew 6:19-21
3. Be thankful.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Many have lived for their tomorrow. Many secured their future through material things. They invest their lives in securing their future financially... yet, ignore living from day to day. Regretfully, time passed unnoticed.
Moments passed without realizing how blessed they were... disregard their gift of life. Instead, became proud what they have materially and complains when things didn't pursue according to their plans.
Unfortunately, many has disregard the real meaning of life and overlooked the importance of God in our existence.
And maybe, these tragedies are wake up call to us. To all who have lost their goals and who lose their souls.
"God is our refuge and strength, our ever present help in trouble." -Psalm 146:1
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Mula sa malayong ibayo kung saan kami nagta-trabaho, isang malaking tulong ang hatid ng TFC para patuloy na kaming maging updated sa anumang kaganapan sa ating bayan. 
the fees will costs more than 2 thousand pesos... and an ordinary laborer in our country cant really afford such amount PLUS the processing fee of 150 thousand pesos in the agency... 
they have presented these copies of post - dated checks that they signed as payment that reached almost half a million pesos: 
they have reached the final stage... had debts that is payable for lifetime. well, maybe not! with the declared salary of 5,200 Dirhams or around 65,000 Pesos per month... 500,000.00 is nothing compared to the better future that awaits these drivers.
as they reached Hongkong, they were surprised that they were given a new visa that should be presented in Dubai Immigration: TOURIST VISA.
from there, they realized that they were illegally hired.
and definitely, the original visa issued to them by Dubai government is Tourist, since they cannot enter the Emirates illegally. 
in less than a week, these people were able to gather monetary donations, collected goods and organized the mission of helping these innocent Kabayans in the nearby Emirate, Ajman.
11 April 2009 - Black Saturday.
Where they stay: the accomodation building of Al Tomooh, CYM's partner agency here in UAE. the buildings are still under construction. this area is also being used as an storage area to keep the chemicals (being used for gun powders). these are flammable... in the middle of the desert where the heat reaches 50 degrees - danger is just within their reach, aside from the germs that they can get from a nearby dumpsite. 
NO Air Condition. Only generators provide the electricity, which is only from 6-12 midnight. with the dump site as their neighbor, they have to keep their windows open despite of the polluted air. Summer is fast approaching. these men are not camels that can resist the hot temp in this desert.
while some of us are talking to these men, others were preparing the lunch for them. with these Filipino dishes, the lunch has been a little "fiesta" that makes the "salo-salo" more special.
after lunch, they invited us to come inside and show their rooms, tell stories on how they are managing to survive... 
Filipinos creativity and funny side were seen as we walk the hallway... in each doors, their group and names were posted...
yet these doors are open to those who want to enter their world.
as we come inside... their smiles welcomes their visitors. the glow in their eyes were enough to express their gratitudes for all the help that they received.
Aside from the goods that are seen on the hallway... each room has their own stocks too. for sure, these goodies will last for atleast 3 months, but of course, none of them is hoping to be there for that long...
they were positive in telling us that they will no longer consume everything, and soon they leave, it will be hand over to other Filipino Organizations to help others as well...
somehow, their voices were heard.
