Pictures of the Flood-Part 1

An overview of the flooded city of Cotabato






An overview of the bridge, the river and the "island of waterlilies" that is clogging the river






A picture of the house of my mother taken a week as of yesterday.






The street where my mother's house is. Since the picture was taken (week as of yesterday) the waters have risen some more and the streets are now mid-calf deep.

The Earth, indeed, is ROUND (Bilog and Mundo, P're!)

I am home, catching up on sleep and rest.
I came home last night from a meeting with a partner organization that had a change of leadership, the former head of the organization needing a break and a rest, the new one fresh with a "media" mindset.
It was very challenging and very enriching to be part of the group that had their year-end project evaluation (what was done, one thing I was proud of, what was left undone, analyzing why, and my dream for the next year) and then the planning for the next year.
The new leader of the organization was my student at Notre Dame University in my Peace Education class. We thought and talked about it a little but not much... we were caught up with the present day task.
Then, as we closed the day with a mass (yup, this guy is a priest), he ended with a short thanksgiving to me. He said
"I would like to thank our facilitator, she was my teacher at NDU for my Peace Ed class. It was in her class that I was asked to write a script for the drama we had to do on human rights. I never thought I could be a script writer or an actor. It was in her class that I discovered my gift. That gift I carried with me when I went to Midsayap and started my theater group. And that gift I carry with me now as I head the I-Watch, a small community based documentary group supported by my congregation that records community initiatives on issues that impact their lives."
My gosh... the world indeed is round! We do really reap what we sow... I am so proud of my student who is so good in his craft. I am so thankful to the Lord for making me an instrument in his self-discovery.
This lesson is teaching me to be more careful and more conscious of what I teach as it really does impact the lives of people. I am feeling so good and blessed (if I may say so!)
Be well everyone and blessings
Yes Kaloy, I do feel that I am always welcome and part of your BM Family, thank you very much for making me so.
Cy, my Mom's house is just barely above the flood, our old house has been flooded and my worry now is that food is getting scarce - money can buy canned goods but there are hardly any fresh goods as the two main markets downtown are really flooded. I think they have to go to Rosary Heights and Tamontaka to buy some fresh fish and vegies. Thanks for the prayers and kind thoughts. See you on August 12

My First Try @ Blogging

Hello Friends :)
As you can see, I needed to have my cup of coffee before having the nerve to start my blog!
Many friends have asked me to do a blog but I just did not feel I am able to do this. And now I am writing my first entree...

Why the name "EtoNaNaman"? Life is a cycle, a circle and a journey of ups and downs and dips and curves. And the road is made of smooth stones that can make me slip and fall, and boulders that have to be hurdled and blind curves that can make me bump into people and situations - which can result in having surprises or traumas. There are birds and flowers and trees along the way that can provide me with pleasant distraction and sometimes, a river bank that beckons me to rest awhile. And this is why I need friends along life's journey... to help me as I sail and move on and to enjoy the breaks (have a cuppa?). And this is why I am inviting you as my friend to be a part of my life's journey as I ponder "ano na naman ba yan?" Hahahahaha
Here I am at the office when I realized that I have left my Globe Phone behind. It is my working phone, the phone number that everyone knows, my link to family, friends and colleagues. I was going to call home for it when I realized "My, am I being enslaved by my phone? Will the world stop if I don't have my phone with me?" So I decided to let it go...
I just rang my home in Cotabato using the landline to check on my Mom, my siblings and their homes. My sister said the water has gone up and it is only the home of my elder brother and my Mom's house that is just a foot above the waters. The garage in my younger brother's house is already under water and they have to build a foot bridge across it go get to the road that is also submerged! My family have been trying to help by cooking and feeding the neighboring kids with binignit and some soup, and inviting them to Mom's house to play. Mom has been inviting the mothers and smaller kids to stay in our house but our neighbors refuse (they don't want to leave their belongings behind). Sigh... what a wet world they are having :(

Here in Davao, in my sister's home, there is a creek behind it and my room looks out to that creek. Whenever it rains, I check on the creek as it had a history of the waters rising and flooding the neighborhood. This time, the creek is keeping a comfortable level despite the rains, thanks be to God!

Be well and God bless and let's all have a safe week