Charity Travel: A Rare Christmas Treat

Sheldon. A nice name indeed. Very contemporary. Very novel (reminds me of Sidney Sheldon). Hmmm- very American?

But when you see who Sheldon is (he is the solo kid on the picture), you will be surprised he is one of the recipients of a feeding program in Banawa, Cebu City. I mean- with that name, he must be having a complete meal everyday, has modest clothes to wear, lovely skin. Well- I guess I am just being narrow-minded and very good at labeling people. But reality is-- he is nutritionally-imbalanced, a new term I’ve heard just today. Is this the politically correct term for a malnourished person?

Anyways- what I really wanted to convey is the benevolent act being facilitated in by Marketman (he prefers to be called that way) to Banawa Elementary School pupils and Sheldon.

When Market Manila (http://www.marketmanila.com/) suggested they will print shirts for readers to wear and readers hungrily responded, an idea came up from Marketman (he owns the site by the way) to sell shirts and tote bags and part of the proceeds will fund a feeding program in Cebu. (I bought one shirt that has I BEAT MY EGGS TO MAKE MAYONNAISE on it and wish I could have bought more so I can donate more. Sadly I am financially-incapable of getting more shirts and totes. In three words: I am poor! That’s another story.) The response was overwhelming as Marketman told us. Market Manila would have to “deny” donations from outside the country because of legal impediments.

But sadly only seventy-five pupils qualified to be fed. Because Marketman would have to make a painful decision to feed the most malnourished, uhmm excuse me, the most nutritionally-imbalanced among the hundreds of school kids in Banawa. My heart was bleeding when I see the more healthy kids trying to see what was happening inside the library. I know my heart will be broken more when they knew the kids inside were eating a load of rice, fried chicken, sinabaw nga baka, pineapple as dessert and fruit juice. The chosen few also received a fantastic toy after eating. (The child in me could not resist the temptation so I also asked one for me. The toy is actually a hybrid of the spin-top I used to play when I was a kid. This one is equipped with lights and music as you press them to spin. Very cool. Thank you, Marketman.)

The feeding program started today and will be done three times a week until March 2008. Imagine how much funding is needed for that. And I can imagine what Sheldon would be like after March. I want to make a visit and see his progress.

(If you want to make donations, please drop a line or two, explain your intentions at Marketman’s website http://www.marketmanila.com/. As of now, Marketman is still finding ways to accept your donations. So far, the best way is to purchase the marketmanila shirts and tote bags.)

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Go. Be YOU. Explore.

It's a common saying that cream rises to the top -- meaning of course, that premium quality becomes obvious when it's put in comparison to sub par quality. To find the quality in your life today, do some comparing of your own. If you have grown too comfortable in your routine, you might be settling for less than what you deserve. Try a new market, visit that new intriguing restaurant, and when you see someone with a particularly fetching haircut, ask them where they go. Refresh your routine. -from zorro_25

Rainy Days and Sundays

I became a frog today.

It was raining outside and I have to leap and play so to speak. I hate staying at home when the rain pours. So took a bath I did. Got out from my room that has served me as my shell. (Wait. Di ba palaka ako?) Walked the road, I mean hopped the road that has always been traveled and trampled. From Capitol Site to Fuente-Osmeña I did walk.

Despite the rain.

Nice feeling, indeed. Yeah despite the rain, it was nice. Wetty. Slippery. Clingy.

Had Beef Wanton at Chowking. Juice. The crew constantly erasing my presence. Then off to Robinson's. Bought fruits and toothpaste. Pa-cute. Window shopped at Handyman. After a while went home and started walking (hopping actually because I was a frog that day) again.

Got home tired. Perspiring but inspired. Rested. Scratched.

Damn! Got itchy feet instead! Ewww.

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McDonald's: Managing Environmental Impacts?

McDonald's claims: While each McDonald's restaurant is a small local business, there are more than 30,000 of them around the world. As a global family, their operations have significant environmental impacts. We seek to manage these impacts responsibly and to exercise leadership where we can.

Our diverse initiatives flow from a global commitment to environmental leadership. Within this framework, we are:

* Helping to control emissions that contribute to climate change by effectively managing electrical energy uses at the restaurant level and exploring alternative refrigerants.
* Conserving natural resources by recycling and reusing materials that would otherwise enter the waste stream.
* Combating litter to help keep our neighborhoods clean.
* Addressing water management issues related to our restaurants' operations.

McDonald's claims further: McDonald's believes it has a special responsibility to protect our environment for future generations. This responsibility is derived from our unique relationship with millions of consumers worldwide, whose quality of life tomorrow will be affected by our stewardship of the environment today. We share their belief that the right to exist in an environment of clean air, clean earth and clean water is fundamental and unwavering.

FACT (Philippine scenario): McDONALD'S DOES NOT SEGREGATE WASTES FROM THEIR RESTAURANTS. I have eaten at McDo in Glorietta, in Eastwood, in Tacloban, in Tagbilaran, almost all branches in Cebu but NEVER these restaurants share the responsibility of an environmentally clean earth simply by plain segregation. And where in the Philippines and what facility can handle such wastes from fastfood chains? Nada. Maybe in Manila. (Is there such a facility in Manila? Forgive my ignorance. Payatas you mean?)

Is McDonald's all blah-blah in its environmental programs?

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Sunshine

I found this video in the Banned Commercials Club. I am not sure if this was really banned but surely when Greenpeace initiates an ad campaign, this would mean the ad is wholesome. Or is it?

BE A PART OF THE ENERGY REVOLUTION!