The Earth Hour 2010 - Cebu

I had a great time with the Earth Hour celebration sponsored by the Aboitiz Group of Companies last weekend in The Persimmon Plus, a condominium complex in Mabolo, Cebu City.

I was invited by a friend in my SFC community, Lhai Espina to join the activity.

We assembled in the Aboitiz main office in Banilad. Before heading to The Persimmon Plus, there was a short talk given by running enthusiast Raymund Bontol, MD, for employees and guests. This is not related to the Earth Hour but to Aboitiz's thrust for a healthier workforce. They are planning to organize a running club.





After the talk, the walkathon started. We walked from Banilad to Mabolo.



This is the Metaphil group, that had adopted me for the activity...



It was already dusk when we reached The Persimmon Plus...



This is the facade... This is not completely filled. Construction is still ongoing for some outlet space.



Stairs leading to another section of the complex. This was set as the stage for the night's program.



The opening act was from a local band called Pandora. The band is surprisingly good, and I was impressed. They also sang one of their originals.



After Pandora, another group followed. And then, the much awaited fire dance. I was so taken by the dancers' performances that I have made so many, many shots...



Below are some of my favorites...

Notice the difficulty of the dancer's posture in this one...



This shot is quite overexposed for me, but I like how the light trails formed here...



Intertwining spirals...



Noticed the dragon head?



I'd call these as the different lemon peels...













And this lady held the fire balls dangerously close to her face...



There are other dances presented like the Igorot dance and "singkil." However, the fire dancing has magical effects when captured by a camera.

This I guess is a good endeavor by the Aboitiz group in making a stand for the environment and doing it in a fun-filled way.

Firsts in my davao trip for the SFC ICON 2010

It's 1:19AM here in Davao. So before I go to sleep tonight (errr, it's already morning), let me share some of my 'firsts' for this trip:

1. Seeing macadamia trees. Yes, the source of the nuts. Seen them first in Eden Park in Davao.
2. Eating yellow durian. I have only tried those with white flesh.
3. Seeing a durian tree. We passed them along the "ways". There were times when their fruits' notorious scent seems to fully fill the air along the roads.
4. "Dinuguan" as sauce for barbecued pork. It turned out okay. :)
5. Basking in the "Indiana Jones" rides. Still in Eden Park. I find it hard to describe this ride. Please wait for the pics. :)
6. The Philippine Eagle. With friends, I have been inside the Philippine Eagle Foundation area. And yes, I have seen and taken pictures of Pag-asa and her mother.
6. Touching and holding a fully grown python. Yep, I finally conquered this fear.
7. Late for my inbound flight. I was late for 10 minutes. I have to buy the ticket for the next day (Cebu-Pacific maintains a dubious 'no refund' policy). And so, my planned 4-day stay was cut short by a day. (Well, charged it experience (read: credit card).

Those are just a few of the many firsts... Will update more in the coming days after I have the pics developed... :)

From Our Workshops

We have already conducted 2 workshops for our photography series, Igo Tapsing Sipyat.

Both workshops had been fun and learning experiences for us "instructors" and our participants. I am sharing some outputs from both workshops under my topic on visual elements and composition. These images contain much potential, and not all them were shot using an SLR camera, further proof for the cliche that it is not the equipment that takes beautiful pictures but the person behind the camera...

From Erwin Almagro...





From Shiela Rodriguez...





From Espie Malicdem...





From Tad Montayre...



From Roux Desquitado...



From Von Behag...





Photography is both an art and a skill. With patience and persistent practice, taking beautiful pictures come with ease. Thank you for participating in the workshops!

*Our logo is the creation of one of blogosphere's top artists. Bro Eli of BLOGRAPHICS, thank you for sharing your gift with us!

Hurrahs for 2010!

Finally, a new post for 2010!

I am grateful that I once again found time to sit down and compose my thoughts... 2009 has not been THAT eventful. Aside from my Ilocos tour, I was not able to satisfy my peripatetic cravings. Weekends had always been full, and if they weren’t, it would be raining.

So what’s new for 2010?

First, I am now a dotcomista.

Second, I’ll be starting a new series in this site. I’m calling it “For the Bookworms”.

Third, I’ll finally be able to set foot in Mindanao for the first time this February. And I am sooo excited!!!

Fourth, if God wills it to be so, this will be my last year in Cebu. Probably even shorter than a year...

But hey, the blogging won’t stop! And it begins with a new entry sooner than you expect... :)

Changes

In the coming days, I’ll be doing some radical changes in this blog.

I will start by significantly reducing my blog roll…

Blogs that will remain will be those who truly matter to me in terms of style, connections beyond the blogosphere and by visits…

I guess my short hiatus has revealed much on whom to keep…

dreams are woven free

I am yet to be convinced of the peculiarity and the importance of the ongoing fad of giving special awards based on strata-clustered votes in most award-giving bodies even in the Philippine blogosphere. For one, its doors are wide open for the lack of or for the limited criteria of making a “more justified” choice rather than a personal one.

While I ruminate on the merits of critical acclaim, popular appeal and the productive union of the two, I find it quite ironic that I, always shunning popular choice categories, am making a choice and I am voting for Joseph "Otep" Zablan's blog "Libre Lang Mangarap" as my pick for the Blogger's Choice Award in the Philippine Blog Awards 2009.

Otep's blog is a far cry from being a literary haven. It is littered with misspelled words, disagreeing tenses and redundant non-words even when it is written in his native tongue. Sometimes, his posts lack coherence and form. But then, his entries are always engaging, with the unseemly pair of pomp in his optimism and the raw honesty of a struggling young man trying to find his own place. He acknowledges his fear of highfaluting words and sticks to his own standard: self-expression. He admits he is not a rocket scientist. He chose to fly rockets instead – in dreams like most dreamers do. This I believe is the endearing quality of his blog - dreams are woven free...



Maybe the inspiration that his struggles and dreams give has appealed to his many readers. Life may serve us with different color-coated chocolates, but not all chocolates are sweet. Along with the joy of having his little dreams fulfilled come failures and heartbreaks. Sometimes, he stubbornly wallows in the sickening taste of bitter chocolate for far too long but in his own time he picks himself up, takes his own sure strides and dreams again.

If this vote would make him dream more, why not? In our current times, perhaps we need more dreamers like Otep. Perhaps, the future will be much brighter and more colorful...

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)

Allow Me To Wander

Allow me to wander.

My inkwell has dried.
Only dews can refill
Gathered from cool mists
In early morning walks.

Allow me to wander.

The brooks and creeks
Await my heavy feet.
The hills and mountains
Long for my climb.

Allow me to wander.

My ceaseless spirit misses
The wind's soft kisses,
Its silent, low whisper
To ever bowing grasses.

Allow me to wander.

I stilled long enough.
Do expect my return,
In time not far
But not that soon.

Allow me to wander.

 

 

(*photo from the archives of Al Michael Caballes)

Corona

A corona is the the last phase of a drop's impact on a liquid surface.

The corona has gained prominence in commercial advertisements of liquid products such as milk and several fruit juices.

So what does it take to capture a picture of a corona?

Drops do occur quite fast. And the corona on a surface is quite small. Perhaps one thinks of a high speed camera with a very powerful zoom.

Wrong!

We will tell you on our workshop on September 12 - 13, 2009.  Furthermore, we will give you the chance to create your own picture of a corona.

Many people think this for those who own SLR and high-end cameras.

Wrong!

This workshop is intended for all those who want to improve their photo taking skills.  There is much, much more to know than just taking out your camera, turning it on, focusing on your subject (and perhaps counting 1 - 3 and "Say cheese!"), and pressing the shutter.

We will impart to you what we have learned, not as professional photographers but as persons who also believe in capturing those moments but in capturing them better.

Most people think that this workshop is expensive.

Wrong!

Most photography workshops usually cost from PhP2000.00 to as much as PhP10000.00.

This workshop is only PhP800.00, with lunch, 2 snacks and flowing ice tea on the first day.

For more details, please visit our site:

http://igotapsingsipyat.wordpress.com

* photo credit: Al Michaael Caballes

Igo, Tapsing ug Sipyat - Photography Made Accessible

This is it!

If you are in Cebu, we are inviting you to a photography workshop on September 12 and 13.

So what's the difference of this workshop to the other photography workshops?

1. We are professionals but we are not professional photographers. As such, we have no trade secrets to keep, instead we have learnings to share. These learnings come from more than 5 years of high spirited photography.

2. This is not our sole source of income, as such the price is kept at the lowest possible. During the first day of the workshop, snacks will be served in the morning and in the afternoon, lunch will be buffet styled, and flowing iced-tea for the entire day.

3. We will demystify photography for you. And that means you don't need high end gears to make great (or "OMG!") pictures. We will help you how to make great pictures with the camera that you have.

If you are interested, please visit the site below for details.

http://igotapsingsipyat.wordpress.com

 

among other things...

I am now itching for new adventures. I am crossing my fingers for the weather to be cooperative in the following days so as not to spoil my peripatetic plans.

But before that new adventure post, these are just some things that I want to share with you...

• 
  
  IGO, SIPYAT, TAPSING.  My friends and I have decided that the time has come to share the joys of photography to other people. As such, we are now finalizing the details and materials for a 2-day basic photography workshop here in Cebu (this will keep me busy for a month or so). It is designed for those who have a camera whether P&S or SLR. And since the concept and the rationale is to share, the workshop fees will just be enough to cover the logistics.  And we mean, break-even!!! [Read: it's affordable, below PhP800.00, and where in the photography world will you find this price for a workshop? :) ]

So if you are in Cebu, and you are interested, you may email this address for a reservation: coolwaterworks[at]gmail[dot]com.  There will be three instructors (myself included) and there are only 20 slots available. We will be publising more details soon...

• 
  
  MAREEYAH DOT COM. This site is worth a visit. It is an archive of knowledge, fun, and adventure. Plenty of ideas are in store to spark your everyday life: from the sensible how-to articles, fantastic wedding planning, entertaining fiction, and many more. Well, what would you expect from a person whose mind is like a cornucopia of knowledge. I know, because Mareeyah is a friend, and she took everyone by surprise when she once represented our school in THE prestigious Academic Excellence contest in our province. Like me, she is a staple of many academic contests, and definitely a mind to beat.

• 
  
  A DASH OF DEJAVU. Another blog I frequently visit. Although, I still try to find the connection of dejavus in the posts, the blog gives a mixture of book reviews, random thoughts, delicious recipes and travels. This is owned by another friend whose mind and opinion I greatly respect - I should because he is one of the best minds I ever met.

• 
  
  SFC-MEPZ Chapter Site. I have recently published a new site, this time for my Singles for Christ chapter. All achievements would not be of use and of meaning if not brought back to the service in the Lord's vineyard. And this is one aspect I am also passionate. Together with my brothers and sisters in the community, we will prove to you that being in a Christian community is more fun than you think it is.

So that's it for now. Bear with me... :)

Matters of Fact

I am back.

In my short existence here in the blogosphere, I have received and declined many tags... Recently, I was tagged as a "kreativ" blogger. I ruminated whether I needed to respond to this misspelt tag or not. :)

Out of having no new adventures to post, I decided to list down several facts about me, some of which you may have read somewhere in my old posts... Just to set the record straight, this is not in accordance with the rules of the recent tag (so no ill-feelings for those who have tagged me before).

Here goes...

>>> I sang Gary V.'s "How Did You Know?" three times in public. In all those times, a bride was walking down the isle.... Yes, I used to croon at weddings. The first time I sang this song was during the wedding of my household head in Singles for Christ.

>>> I have been to every province of Western Visayas when I was in high school. I joined many regional academic contests and a field trip. The first of them was the Philippine Math Olympiad. I developed lasting friendships through this contest. The last was a field trip. I woke up late. I caught up with my classmates after 4 hours in another island (that's without the aid of cellphones, just pure guts).

>>> I have joined in only one photo contest. I was my school's representative in the Regional Secondary Press Schools (RSSPC) Photojournalism contest. I lost. The film I submitted to the contest was entirely exposed.

>>> I wanted to be a doctor. However, my father told me that if I decide to take the course, he might only be wearing his underwear. I took up Engineering instead. No regrets, I was on full academic scholarship when I was in college.

>>> My weakest subject in college was Physics. Due to the lacking one percent in my grade for this subject I was immediately disqualified from the "laude" spot, and so I stopped dreaming. Ironically, I ended up doing tutorials (and making money) on this subject for many years.

>>> I don't drink and I don't smoke. I am allergic to alchol and I have sinusitis.

>>> I am a stickler for general information. When there are discussions and I am really sure of my facts, my expression would always be "I'll bet my one-month salary!".

>>> My favorite writer is Khalil Gibran. The imagery of his words are just brilliant. However, some of his essays suggest that he is a panentheist.

>>> My most favorite Bible verse is Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God." I read it during the time when I was having my on-the-job training in Laguna Technopark. My allowance got delayed for a week. God sent many angels that week...

And that's it... I'll be posting a new adventure soon....

Wordless Days (i'm sick)

"Treading Light on Black Saturday" Makes a Contribution

About two weeks ago, I received a heartwarming comment regarding my post on my travels during Black Saturday of 2008. I traveled to the northern part of Negros Occidental and visited some local spots. One of them is the Dome House of Escalante City. Let me share my entry:

Escalante City is located in the northeastern tip of the Negros island approximately about 95 kilometers away from Bacolod City. With its close proximity to the island of Cebu, the language of the locals is mixed Cebuano and Hiligaynon with the majority on the former.

In 2005, the city enjoyed some limelight in national and local papers as well as in many travel and general interest television programs. It became host to the first earth bag shelter system in the country. This is the “sole” purpose of my proverbial travel itch: to finally see the dome “houses”.

A House and Not Houses
The 95 km bus ride took me about 1.5 hours and PhP85.00 to finally step on the official city streets of Escalante. I took some time to look around before going to my destination. I went into their public market. The market impressed me. It was the cleanest public market I’ve been into in all of my documented and undocumented travels.
After buying some bottled water, I hailed a tricycle and asked to be taken to the site where the dome “houses” are situated. I opted to speak Cebuano because all personnel in the store where I bought water and the persons I have overheard in the public market were conversing in Cebuano. The driver looked confused and asked me for further description in halting Cebuano. I discovered he speaks Hiligaynon. And so I switched language and asked him again, this time giving description of the “houses” – with domes as roof rather that the usual galvanized iron. With the spark of recognition, he said he knew of only one house that fitted my description. I insisted that I am referring to a number of houses, a village even, with such dome structures. He responded that he knows of the recent housing projects but knew nothing of what I am referring to aside from the single house he knew. In order not to keep the debate any longer, I asked him to take me to the house he is referring to.

Much to my chagrin, the driver was indeed correct in saying that there is only one structure with a dome in Escalante. The house stood with its faded paint and with ferns sprouting in its now parched dome near the hall of Barangay Fe, just beside the national highway leading to the city proper. I instantly recognized it from the television shows I’ve seen where Illac Diaz (the proponent of the dome house) was shown coming out of its door unto the gravel yard. 

“House of the Future” Becomes “House with Structural Failures”
With the hype it was into in 2005, in my mind I assumed that the project of the earth bag shelter or dome house was successful and was eventually proliferated into a village of dome houses. I was embarrassingly wrong. The house now is a picture of a structure crying out with impending structural failure.

After the media hype for this dome house, I wondered what could have gone wrong. I could sense that the intent was good but it seemed that this project lacked the proper follow through and no proper maintenance procedures were set. This is after all, a prototype (refer to this article: First Earth Bag Shelter) whose failure or success could spell out proliferation or termination.

The domes are parched, with layers of cement slowly flaking off and the exposed layers becoming brittle through weathering. Cracks in its walls are visible even at a distance with signs of water ingress reaching its iron structural frame due to the presence of rust stains outside of the walls. Add to the demise these factors brought is the rich presence of ferns growing on top of its domes. The natural acids in the roots of these pteridophytans may contribute to the progressive cement disintegration of the dome structure.

Kelly Hart of earthbagbuilding.com was pointed by a reader (probably the one who collects pictures of dome houses and draws inspiration from the philosopher Rumi) of my blog to this entry. She is involved in documenting earth bag buildings all over the world. She has then re-written her original project page about the Philippine clinic to include some of my observations, with the hope that others would be aware of the potential pitfalls with finishing earthbag domes.

So what went wrong with the first earthbag building in the Philippines? You may want to check this site .

This project has been once again a victim of the "ningas kugon" attitude (fiery at the start but easily gives up) that afflicts most Filipinos. After all the publicity and media hype, no follow through was made to check whether this project has really served its purpose. There was a school in Siargao Island that was also built using the same concept as this project. One may wonder what happened to it. This writer also wonders what the hype and publicity has generated: better public imaging of the persons and organizations involved or an innovative housing solution...

Farewell to a Life Well Lived!

The world recedes; it disappears;
Heav'n opens on my eyes; my ears
With sounds seraphic ring:
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy Victory?
O Death! where is thy Sting?
-Alexander Pope

Maria Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino
11th President of the Republic of the Philippines
Pious Leader, Restorer of Democracy, Mother and Tita
(January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009)

Today, August 1, 2009, the Philippine beacon of democracy passed away. In 1986, this beacon has united the Filipino people in the unprecedented display of peaceful revolution.

In her last days, she has once again united the nation in prayer - thousands of candles burned, hundreds of Healing Masses and millions of prayers knocked on heaven’s doors.

In the announcement of her passing, her consistent message was echoed by her son: “Pray for one another.”

With all these, the skeptic may ask, “Why was she still taken?”

The answer lies in the yellow ribbons tied in the electric posts, trees and buildings of Metro Manila; in the outpouring of people who flocked to the hospital where she was confined; in the stuffed toys from children, flowers and candles offered outside her home in Times Street in Quezon City; in the long line of people, young and old, to see her one last time in La Salle Greenhills in San Juan City.

People continued to flock to see her – even in the heavy rains which seem to be heaven’s sign of mourning. Young ones who were not even born in the time of the EDSA revolution flashed the “LABAN” sign before her. Men did not withhold their emotions. And tears flowed, and continues to flow…

Why was she taken still?

For us to remember what true democracy is all about…

For us to always evoke the power of prayer…

For us to continue to ask ourselves the question that she has imbibed: “What can I do for my country?”

Today is a sad day in history but a glorious day in heaven. God’s faithful daughter has returned. I believe in my heart God’s welcoming message will be: “Well done My child, for a life well lived!”

And the winner is...

Who do you think won? Visit this page.

Farewell Frank!

One of my literary heroes passed away today (July 19 ’09 in NY, but July 20 ‘09 here in the Philippines). The best selling and Pulitzer Prize winning author succumbed to melanoma.

I read the news with a heavy heart. For me, there is no other author who has written about extreme poverty with arresting candor, joy, sadness, resiliency and hope. From Limerick, Ireland, he went to New York and worked his way to become a teacher. And a good teacher he was. He inspired many with his stories and his innovative teaching style.

And just when he thought life has completed its servings on him, he became a bestselling author. His book Angela’s Ashes became a bestseller and earned for him a Pulitzer Prize. And he thought it was over. He eventually wrote two more books – ‘Tis and Teacher Man.

Ever the optimistic, he wrote about his life with compassion and zest, so much so that while writing about extreme poverty in Angela’s Ashes, his memoir is filled with nuggets of joy and love for family.

Farewell Frank! Thank you for the stories. Thank you for the inspiration. And most of all, thank you for giving me hope to fulfill the rest of my dreams!

*photo credit here

Contest Update and the Answers...

The contest is officially closed! These are final blog entries:

Redlan's Web of Arts- One of the most creative bloggers I know. He tinkers with postcards, turns pillowcases to body bags, transforms paper scraps to exquisite paper covers, and many others. Visit and discover creative ideas.

Tanging Yaman- Sandi's blog is profused with positivity and kindness. A much needed breather in the many rants inside the blogosphere. Visit and be refreshed.

Going Beyond a Hidden Sanctuary- Isay's blog reflects the beautiful person inside and out. Her blog is a testament to her inner strength. Visit and be encouraged.

Dencios - The architect from the Middle East who blogs about body building, politics and even religion. Visit and be prepared for a lively exchange of ideas.

Ax Realm - Ax dreams of being a superhero and writes haikus, short stories and open letters. Visit and be amazed of the abundance of ideas he has to offer.

Libre Lang Mangarap - Otep believes all dreams are free and continues to fuel them to reality. Visit and see that some dreams indeed are without charge.

No changes to these post will be allowed. Comment count will go on until 12MN of July 25, 2009.

And for those who wonder what are the answers to the questions for the first part, here they are...

1. Since the migration of Nooks and Crannies from Blogspot to WordPress, how many blog posts has been made?

Answer. 56 posts were made between June 17, 2008 until June 17, 2009.

2. Among the bloggers in Coolwaterworks’ roll, who was the very first to comment after the WordPress migration?

Answer. Kwan of Palagpat: Mga Paugat kag Paugtas ni Kwan

3. Name one out of the top 5 persons who have made the most number of comments in Nooks and Crannies.

Answers. DFish of DesertFishing, Sandi of Ang Tanging Yaman, AC of Awefull, Isay of Going Beyond a Hidden Sanctuary, and Jorge of Certified Palaboy.

Any of these 5, even if paired with other bloggers will make the answer correct.

4. “Nooks and Crannies” was not the original title of this blog. What was it?

Answer. A Serving of Grace.

5. What is Coolwaterworks’ profession?

Answer. Product/Test Engineer. Kudos to Redlan for being able to find my Friendster page... :)

6. Name two of the advocacies that has been promoted by several blog entries in Nooks and Crannies.

Answer. There are only two advocacies that were promoted here: Pens of Hope and World Vision.

7. Aside from photographs, Nooks and Crannies has also featured videos. Name the owner of the very first video posted in this site.

Answer. Matt Harding.

8. To date, there is only one post with a comment expressing dislike for the featured photograph. Name the blogger who made the honest comment.

Answer. Brother Utoy. See it here.

9. What is the significance of February 11, 2009?

Answer. I had an accident. I was hit by a passenger multicab.

10. Name the only blogger in the blog roll (aside from personal friends) that Coolwaterworks has personally met.

Answer. Now this is going to be bloody. :) My silent readers (those who email their comments and thoughts, you know who you are) has bullied me for the answer. And most of them say it is Howie Severino of GMA7. Yes, I met him even before I transferred to WP. That meeting was purely accidental. And we met in his capacity not as a blogger but as a topnotch journalist. And trust me, he does not know me at all even if we met. Haha! :D When netizens decide to meet, we call it EB. So my meeting with this blogger was formal and planned. In one of the clues I have given, I said it was "implied" here that we met. All meetings start with an invitation. And here it is... The answer to this question is Beero of Beero's Intoxicating Misadventures.

All the answers of the participants above through their comments have been disclosed in the anniversary page. You may want to check who has gotten the most number of correct answers.

Winners will be published after July 25, 2009 after the closure of the comment counts.

Thanks and goodluck to all...

Update. Update. Update.

First update...

Thank you to all who showed support for my contest in one way or another. As of this writing there are three participants who have completed all the required entries... I am asking you all to support them by visiting their blogs (and a little spamming on the comments won't hurt... hehe...)

Redlan's Web of Arts- One of the most creative bloggers I know. He tinkers with postcards, turns pillowcases to body bags, transforms paper scraps to exquisite paper covers, and many others. Visit and discover creative ideas.

Tanging Yaman- Sandi's blog is profused with positivity and kindness. A much needed breather in the many rants inside the blogosphere. Visit and be refreshed.

Going Beyond a Hidden Sanctuary- Isay's blog reflects the beautiful person inside and out. Her blog is a testament to her inner strength. Visit and be encouraged.

The success of this activity lies not in the number of participants but in finally giving the book and to help the winner to explore the craft of photography and to help him or her to be better in taking pictures.

The contest is still open for everyone until July 18...

Second update...

Before I even ventured in photography, I have always been trying to be a better writer. Through the years, I have accumulated many materials out of the many moments I mused and wrote in about any material I could find at that moment, from cardboards to tissue paper...

Thus, I am adding another blog to this one. The blog is entitled "A Series of Duration". This is actually the title of my compiled (better) works through the years. I'll be adding new reading materials from time to time. So if you feel like just reading (and really reading), you are welcome to visit this site. You will also find that some entries here in the Nooks and Crannies blog are taken from this compilation. Criticisms are more than welcome. They would make me better. The links in the new blog however will be for selected bloggers who tend to be on the literary side.

Third update...

Since I am now maintaining two blogs, my pseudonym "Coolwaterworks" will be linked to a portal that will let visitors select which blog they would want to enter.

Thank you so much for all the support, and I hope you would also take time to visit my other blog.

God bless you!

This is a sticky post. Regular posts follow below...

On Tour

I won't be lurking around the blogosphere for a week...
I'll be off to a key destination that has always been in my list of places to go to...

Ilocos, here I come!

The First Great Step: The Story of White Jade

"Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." 

The time was 1947. The place, China. The communists under Mao Tse Tung had begun "The War of Liberation", and Chiang Kai-Shek's government armies were being pushed hack.

Nonetheless a young American evangelist by the name of Bob Pierce had preached with good success in Shanghai, Hangchow, Nanking wherever Christian missionaries could arrange meetings. His last stop was at the University of Amoy on Amoy (now Xiamen) Island in the Formosa Strait. Hundreds of college students made decisions for Christ. Upon hearing him, a tall Dutch reformed missionary named Tena asked Bob to stay over and speak to the 400 children who attended the mission school she ran nearby. He agreed. He spent four days telling, as simply as he knew how, the good news of Jesus to the Chinese schoolchildren. When he felt the time was ripe, he appealed to them to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, then go home and share with their parents their new faith. Many young hearts were gathered into the Kingdom.

The next morning, as Bob prepared to leave Amoy, he stopped by the school to say goodbye to Tena and thank her for the opportunity to minister to the children. Instead of the gracious early morning reception he had expected, a distraught woman met him at the Front door. In her arms was a child. The little girl was still sobbing. Her back was a lurid pattern of red lines and purple splotches. She obviously had been whipped and beaten. Her thin dress was soaked with blood. Her eyes were puffy from crying and she hold on to Tena's neck as if her life depended on it.

"What happened?' Bob asked. "White Jade did just what you asked, Tena replied. "She went straight home and told her parents she had become a Christian and would worship only the one true God. Look what it cost her! Her Father screamed that she had dishonored her ancestors, beat her and threw her out of the house. Tena thrust the traumatized little girl into Bob's arms and asked, "Now, what are you going to do about it? I have six other children already sharing my rice bowl!

Bob held the child awkwardly. White Jade wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Every few moments, she shuddered with the residing sobs. Tears streamed down Tena's red face. Her lip quivered, but her jaw was clenched. The pain in her eyes demanded an answer. Pierce was shaken to the core of his being. The enormous social implications of Christ's gospel began to unfold in his mind. The incredibly vulnerable child in his arms was a child of the King. And she needed to be cared for.

Tena stood, unmoving, waitinq for an answer. "All I have is five dollars.." he said meekly. The bold, confident evangelist-before-thousands was humbled and quieted by the needs of the precious child he held, "That's fine", she answered. "I'II take it. Five dollars will buy enough cloth for a new dress, some rice and a new slate for school. When you get home, send me five dollars every month. I'll let White Jade sleep in the kitchen. I promise you I'll take care of her."

World Vision was born with that five dollars; a ministry dedicated to caring for the white jades of this world, propelled by the prayer Pierce wrote in the fly leaf of his Bible- "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."

(Excerpt from One Life at a Time by Robert A. Seiple, compiled by Burce Brander, WV Information and Communications Group)