The First Time I Got Shocked in the Course of Doing My Random Acts of Sharing

The First Time I Got Shocked

In the Course of Doing My Random Acts of Sharing

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

When I made a short stop in Luneta where I planned to take a late lunch one Sunday after I finished my rounds in Divisoria and Tondo, I met Aileen, a young woman who sells tinsel ground tarps. She was wearing a hooded jacket and who gave me her sweet smile to entice me to buy. A few steps away was a child who I learned was Tokong, her “daughter”. I bought her five tarps and began a conversation. I learned that at her young age of 23, the father of her 3-year child abandoned them. She consented when I asked to take a photo, so she removed the hood off her head.

 

After buying them snacks, I continued my queries about her life which led me to learn that she came from Samar almost five years ago to try her luck in Manila. Luck, however, did not smile at her as she transferred from one job to another until she met the father of her child. When she gave birth to Tokong, they were abandoned by the man she thought would be her lifetime partner. She lived with her relatives who ran out of compassion, forcing them to sleep on sidewalk, and thrived on junks that she collected from garbage bins, until a new-found friend, also a vagrant in Luneta told her to sell tinsel tarps to park strollers.

 

The child was barefooted so I told her that when I come back I would bring a pair of slipper or sandals, aside from clothes for them. After bidding them goodbye and started to walk away, the child shouted to bring toys, too. The shout made me look back in time to see “her” lift up and bit the seam of “her” dress, as a gesture of embarrassment. I was shocked to find out that “she” was a boy, as the nakedness down there showed the glowing evidence – a male organ!

 

When I went back to Aileen to ask if there was a problem with Tokong, she was at the verge of crying as she told me that she could not afford to buy appropriate clothes for him. That day, he was wearing a dress that was given the day before.  I found out that he gets a change of clothes only if new clothes were given. The impression that one gets by looking at the child is that he is a girl, as the hair is cut with bangs on the forehead.

 

I asked more questions till she told me that they are spending the night on the park sidewalk, as the gates are closed at midnight. After hearing this, I gave back the tarps that I bought and told her to sell them to others, and handed her some cash courtesy of Perla who is an avid supporter of my effort. I left them with a heavy heart, but with a resolve to be back soonest…..

Luneta Aileen Tokong

 

The “Funny Money” the Goes A Long, Long Way

The “Funny Money” that Goes A Long, Long Way

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The “funny money” comes from “Perla”, a kind-hearted Filipina benefactor based in America. She earns the money from her translation “sideline”, as she is on a regular call to interpret for Filipinos with cases being heard in court, and who have difficulty in speaking English. The “funny” is her lingual concoction for the job that she did not seek, but in a way, accidentally came her way. She has been consistently supporting my RAS (random acts of sharing) which started when she learned of my RAS from my blogs about such advocacy.

 

What is really funny is the reaction of friends who keep on asking where some of my fund comes from, as if suspecting me to push drugs just to earn extra. They just cannot believe that somebody would send money for total strangers who are in dire need for help. When I add that there was also a time when another friend in London sent money, and still another in America sent a “blessing” through her “balikbayan” sister, their eyes get bigger in disbelief. In exasperation, I just tell them that it is very difficult for somebody to understand the sharing that others are doing if he or she does not have the same advocacy in life….or if he or she does not extend a hand to others as a habit. As expected, these fence-sitting friends fail to get what I mean. The problem with some people is that, they are used to seeing “charitable acts” done only by people who wear t-shirts emblazoned with their mission.

 

Perla drives or commutes to courts or hospitals where her service as translator is needed. Her benevolence sometimes bothers me, as I would imagine that she could be left with a little amount or nothing for her own needs. Every time I remind her about that, she would send me a message with typed laughter with an assurance that what she sends me is “funny money” earned accidentally from the job that she has somehow learned to like.

 

The unselfish sharing of Perla always reminds me of the comment of my two “balikbayan” friends who tried to treat me to a lunch. On our way to the restaurant inside a mall, I saw an emaciated mother and her child who was holding on to a black garbage bag half-filled with empty plastic bottles. Both were staring at the customers eating fried chicken at a lunch counter near the aircon van terminal. When I told my friends to go ahead and that I would just follow in a few minutes, as I would like to buy packed lunch for the mother and her child, they told me not to bother, as “we can just pack our left- over for them after our lunch inside the mall”….they meant “doggie bag”. What they said made me adamant and which also made me decide not to join them anymore despite their pleading. When they left, I bought three packed lunch for the three of us – I, the mother and her child, and enjoyed it in the farthest corner of the terminal where we slumped on the floor. That lunch made my day….and, for which was spent part of Perla’s “funny money”.

 

 

 

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The Spirited Anna….with sightless left eye and dimming right one

The Spirited Anna…with sightless left eye

and dimming right one

by Apolinario Villalobos

 

I thought the woman whose name I learned was Anna,  and who was sitting on the pushcart was just too trusting by not counting the money that I gave her for the items that I chose from among her “buraot” items, until she told me that her right eye can barely see while her left eye was totally useless. Her sight had been defective since she was a girl. While growing up, she was desperate and a loner because of her deficiency until she met her husband who took good care of her.

 

Anna and her husband had been selling junk items for more than five years. They would spread their items on a piece of tarpaulin as early as six in the morning along the old railroad track now covered with pavement as early as six in the morning, just when the vegetable wholesalers are packing up. An hour later they would transfer to the corner of the Sto. Cristo St. where I found her. With their four children in tow, her husband would leave her to clean their other “buraot” items in the railroad track.

 

She smilingly told me that she and her husband have been setting aside money for their children from the meager daily earnings. Just like most of the hardworking scavengers of Divisoria, they live on the pushcart…or rather, beside their pushcart that are heaped with their junks at the end of the day. Their children are aged nine, seven, four and three years. Just before noon, she told me that they, already with lunch bought from a makeshift sidewalk eatery, would join her.

 

Our amiable conversation was cut short by a sudden and steady drizzle. I had to help Anna gather her items on their pushcart and cover them with two pieces of tarp that I brought with me, intended to be given to the vendors like her. We stayed on the covered sidewalk, and it was at this time that Anna got worried for her husband and children.  Not long afterward, a guy carrying two children, and two girls huffily came running and joined us.

 

As the pushcart was securely covered, I invited Anna and her family to the Jollibee outlet a few steps away. The eldest girl jumped and gleefully shouted when she heard the name. When we entered, other customers threw us inquisitive stares as the husband of Anna and the kids were dripping wet. It was their first time to enter the establishment and even taste its cheapest Yummy sandwich, but for such a happy occasion, I ordered the regular burger and spaghetti for each of them. While they were enjoying their sandwich, spaghetti, and Coke, they strike a picture of a happy family…of contentment, a far cry from many families that are virtually swimming in affluence, yet, not satisfied a bit. As a practice, I did not take their picture while enjoying their Jollibee meal, for I do not want the photo opportunity to come out as one done in exchange for something. So as not to instigate Anna and her husband to ask questions about me, I stopped asking more questions about their life….that way, I was happy not to be asked for my name, though, before we parted ways, I told them that the snacks were courtesy of a certain “Perla”. I was resolved, however, to see them again.

 

Divisoria Anna 1

Sharing Need Not Be a “Big Time” Effort

Sharing Need Not Be a “Big Time” Effort

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

I ask from friends and collect myself, what others consider as “trash” – empty rice bags, used shopping plastic bags, brown paper bags, net bags, used tarpaulins, empty jars, lengths of straw rope, etc. – to be distributed among my friends who sell recyclable junks and vegetables by the pile on sidewalks. They are called “buraot” vendors and the “buraot” refers to the junks and wilting vegetables that they sell. Some of them keep the brown paper bags to be used by their children as book covers, and the sturdy plastic grocery bags as “school bags”. On the other hand, the rice bags have many uses, one of which is safekeeping of things in the absence of decent bags that are sold in department stores.

 

It takes me about two weeks to be able to collect a sizeable volume of these various “treasures”, classify the plastic bags according to size, carefully fold them and finally apportion them together with the rest of the items among the pre-identified recipients for easy distribution. I am most glad if I am able to collect big plastic cover of refs and washing machines because they can be used as extended roof for “kariton (pushcart) home” of my friends. I taught them to fold big plastic bags in such a way that they can be used as “rain coat”. I used to do that when I was in elementary during which I would scavenge the garbage dump of a bakery in our town for recyclable junks especially plastic bags.

 

One time, a friend in California, “Perla” sent plenty of blue tarps that went straight to sidewalk and “kariton” dwellers. But I told her to stop sending such kind of item because I met a couple who sell “tinseled” bags of condiments that when spread by slicing open the two sides can serve the purpose of a mat, as well as, protection against the rain – for just Php20.00 apiece.

 

Every time I come home from shopping, I see to it that the bags, both made of plastic and brown paper are properly folded and set aside instead of tossing them into the garbage basket. The brown bag can also be used in keeping extra portions of vegetables before storing them in the ref. Also, I am not ashamed in picking up lengths of straw ropes from the ground while shopping in outdoor shopping areas such as Baclaran and Quiapo, as they are also needed by my friends in tying things that they always bring along with them. As a recycling advocate, I had been doing this for more than thirty years now.

 

Every time I hit the road for my random acts of sharing my backpack is full of these “treasures”, aside from Skyflakes crackers and home-cooked pudding for sharing. I just want to show that sharing blessings need not be a “big time” effort that involves a lot of money. If I can do it, I am sure others can do it, too. Those interested to do the same can start with the plastic bags that can be collected and given to their favorite vendor in the market….by doing so, we also help Mother Nature as the plastic bags that we recycle are prevented from clogging esteros or canals.

A Friend Gave Life to My Blogging

A Friend Gave Life to My Blogging

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

A friend who is also a blogger in her own right, based in the United States, but a Filipina, gave life to my blogging when she gave me her smart phone, after finding out that I have no camera which should be an important tool of a blogger. I told her that most of my blogs need no photo to support them.

 

It took me a very long time before finally deciding to use the cellphone, but only its camera because it has not yet been “opened” for local use, being registered with a Telcos in America. Most especially, I have no heart in spending a big amount just for that purpose because I am very much comfortable with my old basic phone.

 

Of late, I found out that the cellphone is indeed a big help in supporting my blogs, especially, events such the recent Feast of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. Also, for people with amazing and inspiring virtues, so that viewers will know how they look like – such as having a seasoned face due to hard work, stooped body due to almost 24/7 toil for the much needed cash, and also for strange sounding names of food. But the said contraption is still a no-no for my random acts of charity.

 

When the same friend read the blog about my laptop lacking a key cover for letter “M”, she immediately sent me a message of her plan to send over a laptop which I respectfully declined because I have no habit of getting rid of things that are still useful to me.

 

My friend is Perla Buhay….by the way, for foreign viewers, “buhay” means “life”. Coincidence?…God works in many splendid ways. Perla also gives life to her financially “dying” relatives and friends, also intellectual nutrients to children “starving” for knowledge with her book donations. So now, viewers know why I keep on praising the All-Knowing God although, I criticize to high heavens His people on earth who “badly manage” churches and manipulate the faith of innocent people.

Ang Buhay sa Lansangan

Ang Buhay sa Lansangan

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Kung pagmasdan silang pinagkaitan ng rangya

Di maiwasang may maramdaman tayong awa

Nakapaa at nagtutulak ng kariton kung minsan

Basang sisiw naman sila, kapag inabutan ng ulan.

 

Abala palagi sa pangangalakal o sa  pamamasura

Wala sa isip nila ang sumilong upang magpahinga

Habol ay makarami ng mga mapupulot  at maiipon

Hindi alintana pagbabadya ng masamang panahon.

 

Sa mga nadadampot na styrophor galing sa Jollibee

Bigay ay saya dahil may matitikmang tirang ispageti

Kahit iilang hibla lamang na may kulapol pang ketsap

Sa maingat na pagsubo, dama’y  abot-langit na sarap.

 

Gula-gulanit ang suot na kamiseta, at nanggigitata pa

Ang damit naman, kung di masikip, ay maluwag siya

Kung pantalon naman, walang zipper, at butas –butas

Subali’t hindi alintana, may maisuot lang, kahi’t kupas.

 

Kapos sa mga ginhawa na dulot ay  materyal na pera

Puso namang may nakakasilaw na busilak ay meron sila

Walang hiling kundi matiwasay na umaga sa paggising –

Kahi’t mahapdi ang tiyan dahil sa gutom, di dumadaing.

 

May mga bagay, dapat nating mapulot sa mga ugali nila

Pampitik sa atin upang gumising at magbubukas ng mata

Gaya ng hindi maging sakim at mapag-imbot sa kapwa

Bagkus, maghintay at magpasalamat sa bigay na biyaya!

 

 

 

 

What Makes Us Share…till it hurts

What Makes Us Share…till it hurts

(I and my group)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The “us” in the title refers to the four of us in the group. The two are based in the United States, but come home every second week of November for our sharing project that commences every third week of November and strictly ends on the first week of December. On the other hand, I and the other one are locally- based.

 

Many of those who know us still don’t understand why we “meddle” with the lives of others by helping them. One of my friends even went to the extent of sending me a message last year when he read my blogs about Baseco Compound in Tondo. His message read, “hayaan mo na sila, kasalanan nila kung bakit sila naghihirap…mamumulubi ka lang sa ginagawa mo”.  I did not bother to reply to that message…but from then on, he seems to have detached himself from me. The other member of the group who is based locally, too, had a misunderstanding with his wife until their eldest son interfered…in his favor, so from then, his wife sort of just supported him. The two others, who are based abroad are lucky because aside from being supported by their families, they are also able to collect donations from friends who came to know about our projects.

 

My opinion is that it is difficult for others to really understand how it feels to be impoverished because, either, they have not been through such, or refused to admit that they were poor once, out of pride. I do not know if some of you experienced the pang of hunger for having not taken breakfast and lunch while attending classes. I do not know if some of you have experienced wearing underwear twice your size – being hand-me-downs from rich relatives. I do not know if some of you have experienced catching ice cubes thrown by a friend, instead of being handed even a sandwich by him during his birthday. I do not know if some of you have experienced making toys out of milk cans from the garbage dump, etc. etc.etc. I have experienced those when I was young.

 

My other colleague in the group and who is based in Manila, admitted to have been a scavenger when he was young. He also shared how every morning before going to school, he stood by carinderias and ate the leftover food on the plates of customers. As a scavenger, he and his brothers cooked “batchoy” out of the food they scavenged from the garbage bins of Chinese restaurants. He also unabashedly admitted to having worked as a call boy when their father got sick to earn quick money to support his two younger brothers and one sister (they were left by their mother). He got lucky when he landed a job as a messenger/sales clerk of a big hardware store in Sta. Cruz (a district in Manila City). Good fortune smiled at him, when the daughter of his employer fell in love with him, which made him part of the family business.

 

The third in our group, a doctor is the luckiest because at an early age he got adopted by a rich and kind couple who were US Green Card holders. But while growing up in Pasay, he was close to the less fortunate in their neighborhood. He is married to the daughter of their laundrywoman who is now operating a small catering business in the States.

The fourth in our group found his way toward us through the doctor, as he was the latter’s neighbor in the States. He shared that he grew up in a farm in Bicol and also experienced difficulties in life, as he and his siblings would cross a shallow river and hiked two kilometers to reach their school. He was introduced to our “operations” when he got curious, so he joined us in 2009, after promising to abide by our rules – no photo taking, wearing only slippers, t-shirt and shorts when on the road to share, and no giving of true name or divulging of real identity to the beneficiaries, as well as, willingness to partake of what our friends in slums eat.

 

What makes us click together is that, as if on cue, we practically forget who we really are every time we start hitting the road just before sunrise, to share.  We would sometimes call each other unconsciously, by our assumed names…but we do not consider such slip as a joke, because we are those names every time we mingle with our friends to share. For those who insist on knowing us,  we ask them to just remember us by our acts, and not by our face and name.

 

 

 

 

To Blog and Risk Losing Life, Friends and Kinsfolks or Not to Blog and Remain Nice to All…and Stay Alive

To Blog and Risk Losing Life, Friends and Kinsfolks

Or Not to Blog and Remain Nice to All…and Stay Alive

By Apolinario Villalobos

The difference between “blogging” and “contributing” is that while the former gets published in the web of the information technology, the latter gets printed on papers. However, their common denominator is the “purpose” which is to “share”…a risky endeavor, especially, if what are shared concern politics, corruption, and religion. The risk is on losing one’s life, kinsfolks, and longtime friends.

In our province, Marlene Garcia Esperat, a courageous mediaperson lost her life when she exposed anomalous transactions in a government agency. The obviously hired killer had the gall to enter her house and pumped bullets into her head, to make sure that she was disabled for life. That’s one risk, made real – losing one’s life. Similar stories get splashed on pages of tabloids and broadsheets that many people do not take seriously, as they are perceived to be just ordinary incidents akin to road accidents and apprehension of drug pushers.

Bloggers cannot limit themselves with shares about fashion, literary, foods, travel, photography, etc. Sometimes they have to touch on controversial matters, such as politics that include corruption, and religion.  Blogs on these topics may affect the bloggers’ sensitive relatives and friends. Bloggers, therefore, wonder why, all of a sudden, some relatives and friends shy away from them. Some find themselves ignored by friends and buddies since grade school, as well as beloved relatives.

This unfortunate reality is happening to all bloggers. I found this out when I attended a small gathering of bloggers, during which blogging updates were passed around. Two bloggers shared that their sites were hacked, and another started getting threats via facebook messages when he uploaded blogs shared from other sites, about a controversial politician from their province in the north. Expectedly, the sender uses a fictitious personality.

Bloggers are just human instruments of the information technology, so that what they do should not be taken against them. A lot of sacrifice is made, aside from exhaustive effort in coming up with blogs, not to mention the precious time spent and money saved from scrimping on other necessities. Some bloggers earn, but most do not…as they bring out ideas, mainly due to their ardent love for writing and sharing.

Why I Write About People

Why I Write About People

By Apolinario Villalobos

Long before I got hooked to blogging, I was already an ardent people-watcher. Most often, I am surprised by the flow of my thought that would touch on people as I begin to write. They become important element of my blogs about corruption as victims of exploitation. The same is true when I write about destinations in which they become one of the reasons why a certain place should not be missed by travelers. People who do benevolent acts should be cited and exposed to the world so that others will emulate their acts. On the other hand, people who exploit others must also be exposed so that others will be warned, and the guilty must be stopped from doing more harm.

It is not easy to write about people and their act, as appropriate words must be used so that the situations are clearly “painted” in the mind of the reader. I don’t use “bribe” in the form of material help or promises so that I can get their photos. In the first place, I do not take photos of people to whom I extend random charity. That is my case as a “small time street friend” who uses personal fund and donation from trusted friends. For honest and big foundations, however, that use donations from NGOs and individual philanthropists, they need “action photos” to support their projects, to show that the huge donations in their care, indeed, were received by deserving people and communities.

Materials for my people-blogs come randomly, from unexpected places, time, and situation. I am guided by the values in developing materials about them. These values are actually within all of us waiting for the right and timely motivation or “tickle” to be activated. But the people with negative attitude seem to be already bent on doing what is the opposite of the righteous. I do not find it hard to determine which is which because of the universal standard, that see-saw between the good and the bad. My best gauge is the “Golden Rule”.

What’s nice about people-blogging is that most viewers can relate to them. Conclusions can be derived and be made as basis in realizing a bad act, thereby, changing their bad habits for the better, or getting confirmation that they are doing just the right thing.

Ang Feeding Program ng Barangay Real Dos, Bacoor City, Cavite…hindi pinagmamalaki ng tarpaulin!

Ang Feeding Program ng Barangay Real 2

Bacoor City, Cavite…hindi pinagmamalaki ng tarpaulin!

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Mabuti na lamang at natunugan ko isang hapon ang gagawing feeding program o mas gusto kong tawaging “food sharing” ng Barangay Real 2. Nakiusap ako kay Kagawad Ana Lyn Sagenes na baka pwede akong magmasid ng kanilang gagawin. Angkop na angkop ang gagawin ko dahil sa mga napapabalitang “food poisoning” ng mga kabataang beneficiary ng feeding programs, na ang pinakahuli ay ini-sponsor ng isang malaking NGO.

Tulad ng nabanggit ko noon sa mga naunang blog, Real 2 ang may pinakamaliit na budget sa buong Bacoor at curious ako kung paano nilang gagawing makibahagi ng palasak nang pagkaing lugaw sa mga kabataan. Chicken arroz caldo ang kanilang ihahanda at gabi pa lang ay nagayat na ang mga sangkap, pati ang manok na nahimay na rin. Ang paghanda ay ginawa nina Kagawad Lando Sagenes, Danny Sagenes, Ana Lyn Sagenes, at Baby Diala. Nakaistambay naman ang mga Tanod Bayan na sina Lito Alegonza at Ed Belmonte na nagsilbing mga runner para sa iba pang mga pangangailangan. Ilang sandali pa ay dumating din si Kagawad Rhea Endaya. Napag-alaman ko na tuwing magpi-feeding program ay sila mismo ang nagluluto at hindi pinagkakatiwala sa iba.

Kinabukasan nang alas dos, isinalang na nila ang lugaw sa tatlong malalaking kaldero na sa tantiya nila, bago mag-alas kwatro ay maluluto na. Nang oras na yon naman ay siya namang pagdating ni Barangay Chairman BJ Aganus na nag-check ng mga iba pang kakailanganin bago magsisimula, tatlumpung minuto makalipas ang alas otso ng umaga.

Unang pinuntahan ng grupo ang tatlong clusters sa Arevalo Compound na katabi ng exclusive subdivision na Meadowood. Dinagsa sila ng maraming bata lalo na at araw ng Sabado, walang pasok sa eskwela. Umabot din sa halos dalawang daan ang kabuuhang dumagsa sa tatlong clusters ng mga taal na Kabitenyo, bago pa man nagkaroon ng mga subdivision. Pinuntahan din ang Padua cluster na dikit na rin sa Meadowood. Ang kinikilalang “patriarch” o “ama” ng cluster na ito si Magno Padua, panganay sa magkakapatid na Padua na nagsaka sa lupang kinatitirikan ng Meadowood Subdivision. Dito na rin nakapagpahinga ang grupo na ang iba’y halatang hiningal na subalit ang kapansin-pansin ay pamumula ng mga mata dahil sa kawalan ng tulog.

Huli nilang pinuntahan ang Luzville bandang alas diyes na, kung saan ay matatagpuan pa rin ang isang depressed area. Ilang sandali lang pagdating nila, nagsidagsaan na rin ang mga bata…magkakapatid na magkahawak- kamay at magkakalaro na nagtutulakan pa sa pagkuha ng lugaw dahil sa hiya. Subalit nang matikman na ang lugaw, malinaw na nagustuhan nila kaya halos lahat sila ay kung ilang beses bumalik upang humingi pa.

Ang grupo ng “feeders” ay walang ingay kung kumilos, walang kantiyawan, may isa o dalawa lamang na sumisigaw upang humikayat ng iba pang mga kabataan. At, ang matindi….kahit walang meryenda ay walang nagpaparinig o nagpaparamdam man lang ng gutom. Ayaw siguro nilang pakialaman ang lugaw dahil para lang talaga sa mga bata ang kanilang inihanda. Ang pinakahuling naobserbahan ko ang nagkumpirma sa iniisip ko noon pa man, na talagang pilit nilang pinagkakasya ang budget para sa pakain ng mga bata, kaya maski isang coke solo man lang ay wala akong nakitang binili si Chairman BJ, para siguro ipabatid na ang lakad ay hindi kainan o meryendahan kundi sakripesyo para sa mga kabataan.

Hindi na ako nagtanong kung magkano ang budget para sa tinantiya kong halos apat na raang kabataan mula sa Arevalo compound hanggang sa Luzville. Siyanga pala, ang Arevalo Compound ay hindi naman talaga “compound” kundi kumpol ng maliliit na bahay lamang sa lupaing ang orihinal na may-ari ay ang Arevalo family.

Sa liit ng budget ng barangay, gusto ko mang gawin ay hindi na ako nagtanong kung may petty cash din ba sila para sa mga sariling motorcycles na ginagamit sa emergency o lakad na hindi man emergency ay may kinalaman sa operasyon ng barangay. Inunawa ko na lang na dahil sa priority nilang mga proyekto ay halos wala na ngang natitirang pangkape man lang para sa mga Tanod Bayan kung magronda sila sa gabi. Nagpapasalamat na lang ang barangay kung sila ay datnan ng donasyong kape o pagkain para sa mga nagroronda.  Ibig sabihin, obvious na ang mga may-ari ng mga motorcycle ay nagkakanya-kanya sa pagbili ng gasolina, na malaking kabawasan din sa kanilang kakarampot na “sweldo”.

Maliban kay Pojie Reyes na may importanteng lakad kaya hindi nakasama sa feeding program, ang mga kagawad na nakasali ay sina: Ana Lyn Sagenes, Rea Endaya, Lando Padua, Elena Diala, Danny Sagenes, at Fer Sagenes; mga Tanob Bayan na sina: Ed Belmonte, Gary Sanchez, at Lito Alegonza; at volunteer na si Analiza Ballesteros. Masayang ibinahagi ni Chairman Aganus na sa kabila ng kakarampot nilang budget, tuluy-tuloy ang kanilang feeding program. Halatang iniiwasan din nila ang publicity dahil wala silang ginagamit na tarpaulin para ibando ang kanilang ginagawa. Nagpasalamat nga ako dahil hindi ako pinagbawalang gumawa ng blog tungkol sa ginawa nila.

Dalawang depressed areas ang nasasakop ng Barangay Real Dos kaya ang sabi ni Mr. Aganus, ay welcome ang anumang mga donasyon para sa mga bata, tulad ng notebook, mga lapis, mga bag pang-eskwela, at sa feeding program naman ay bigas na panlugaw ang uri. Nagluluto din ang barangay para sa mga evacuees sa panahon ng baha na ang pinaka-apektado ay ang mga taga-Luzville na nasa tabi ng ilog.

Maaaring ipadala ang mga donasyon, naka-address kay:

Mr. BJ Aganus

Chairman, Barangay Real 2

Bacoor City, Cavite.