Press Release: Isang Litrong Liwanag Campaign aims to light up a thousand homes in Payatas

A Thousand Points of Light is the first large-scale activity of the Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) Project of MyShelter Foundation. The three-day activity, happening on 1-3 July 2011 aims to to bring ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’ lighting technology to 1,000 homes in the Payatas community.

MyShelter Foundation is a non-profit, non-government organization, established in 2005 by its founder and executive director Illac Diaz with a trust of finding uncommon solutions to common problems. Through the years, it has introduced groundbreaking social enterprise, appropriate technologies, and alternative construction in the Philippines, pioneering projects such as the Pier One Seafarer’s Dormitory, the Design Against the Elements (DAtE) (www.designagainsttheelements.org) competition, and the Bottle School Project. With the help and support of partners, sponsors and volunteers, MyShelter Foundation continues to create a system of sustainability and reliability through its capability-building and employment-generating projects.

There will be light...

Isang Litrong Liwanag, MyShelter Foundation’s latest venture, is a sustainable lighting project which aims to bring the eco-friendly solar bottle bulb to low-income communities nationwide. Designed and developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Solar Bottle Bulb is a device based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies – a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities.

The Solar Bottle Bulb is a contraption made from recyclable PET bottles, CG corrugated sheets and a solution of water, chlorine and salt. By using these readily available materials and the natural source of light – the sun, the people in the community are empowered to utilize a cheap and long-term alternative to electric light. With the solar bottle bulb installed in their homes, housewives will be able to work on their domestic chores; children will be able to study under better light; and households and small-scale businesses can save on their monthly expenses. To date, beneficiaries of the project have been saving Php200-400 a month on their monthly electric bills.

A Thousand Points of Light is the three-day pioneering activity with the singular goal of lighting a thousand homes in the Payatas community. From the garbage, PET bottles will be collected and transformed into Solar Bottle Bulbs. Please refer to the steps attached.

Volunteers will engage in different tasks, from the preparations (involving drilling of holes and organization of materials), to the actual assembly and installation of the bottles in the homes. Apart from displaying the power of the technology, the project aims to bring together the efforts of the community, volunteer delegations from different areas, as well as media and corporate partners namely: Meralco, IPM group, Bosch Foundation, Schneider Electric, Puyat Steel, Themeworks and Mannasoft, in order to show that it is possible for anyone, even with just the simplest of materials, to change the world.

I’d like to be part of the next batch of activities! Visit Share and Care Club for more timely campaigns!

We can measure statistics of children without the means of Basic Education, we can measure poverty, we can measure the rising crime rate, and we can even measure the cost of ignorance. But can we truly measure the potential of a child? By providing these children with the materials wherein they can continue to learn, we are offering them a brighter future.

- Dr. Rudy Sabater, HWH Director

Since the 1st day of this month, Hotelwithheart .com (HWH) in partnership with Dynamic Teen Company has been campaigning for HWH Pencil Project Signature which aims to provide pencils for the underprivileged children of DTC. The month-long campaign hopes to raise 10, 000 pencils for DTC by gathering signatures on the HWH Facebook Page. For every signup, HWH will donate one pencil to DTC to support “Kariton Klasrum Project”.

A single click from you can make a big difference! Here’s the link to get started:

You, too, can make small yet significant difference in other people's lives!

The Power of Pencil:
In the hands of artists, our minds are exposed to beauty.
In hands of inventors, our lives have been improved.
In the hands of writers, our souls are lifted to greater heights.

Share this for a cause!

I'm morena and proud of it!

This is to show my support for their current campaign – Morena and Proud! Head over to Impulsive Buyer blog now for more details.

I’m sooooo happy that more girls are so passionate about this campaign! And to quote Nancy Villarama’s post on Human Nature’s wall:

Reposting to support Human Heart Nature Morena and Proud campaign:
“Someone PMd me, asked if I want to buy glutathione injectibles.
I asked “why would I need that?”, answer was, “it’s for whitening”
Me: “why? do I look bad with my skin color?”
She said, “no it’s for your daughter”
Me: “why? does she looked so bad in a morena complexion?”
She was quiet. I wish she’d explain more and argue with me.”

Human Nature does not sell whitening products because they contain harmful chemicals that impose greater risks to your health. Filipinas are naturally beautiful even without the perfect white skin!

To all the Human Nature advocates, please keep spreading the word!

*Interested with Human Nature? Read this first – Human Nature (Earn, Help & Prosper)

I met up with Rhonz at Starbucks, Ortigas Center at around 1:00 AM right after rushing finishing my online tasks. It was already drizzling and it made us worried about our trip to Capas, Tarlac – Bloggers’ Climb For A Cause Thru Akyat Pinatubo. Is there something good to look forward to with this kind of gloomy weather? Is the worst yet to come? We hoped not, and I knew, deep inside our hearts all of the participants were praying so hard for a fine, sunny weather. Even just for that day…

We boarded the bus (KISS Tourist Bus) at 2:30 AM as soon as it was parked. After some reminders and attendance check, we left Manila and headed to extreme north to witness one of the most beautiful natural creations.

But the dawn is breakin’, It’s early morn’

We arrived at Pinatubo Spa Town at 6:35 AM. Jonel and Travel Factor handled bloggers’ registration as we prepped up, took photos and grabbed a bite before the 4X4 ride (4-by-4 land cruiser).

We were so choosy of which 4X4 to ride. All of us would love to be in an open land cruiser to clearly see the view on our way to Mt. Pinatubo. Unfortunately, Rhonz and I ended up to an enclosed 4X4 with Kuya Muning as our tour guide. The sun was brightly shining as we tried to enjoy our boring bumpy ride. It was like trumping in a barren land. If not for the wild grass and streams of water, I could say we’re on a desert. Talk about the residue of volcanic eruption – rock deposits, soil dregs and sediments.

Bumpy ride begins here...

Loooong way to go!

Passed by sediment mountains and rock formations

This is a good sign...

The Earth spewed some dirt and water on us while enjoying the ride. We were thankful that we’re on an enclosed vehicle, saved us from mud! Once we reached the jump off point and took off from the 4X4, it started raining. From light drizzle to heavy rainfall, we thought we’ll never see the majestic view of Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake under the sun…

We were so tired and weary when the sun suddenly showed up and showered us with its beaming brightness and some energy boosts. We were going up the trail faster… eager to see the most astounding view at the pinnacle. Sunlight could make the most perfect view out of it.

The moment it stopped raining, I started taking pictures. Rhonz and I got the hang of trekking. We’re enjoying every step of our happy feet.

Suddenly, the scorching heat of the sun seeped through my skin. The rain had washed off my sun block but I’ve got no time to reapply since everyone was moving fast and I had to keep up, else, I’d be left behind to another group of hikers. Non-bloggers. Strangers, to be exact. Plus, we’re up for the challenge:

Finally, we see the crater lake – cerulean-blue water was sparkling like crystal while the verdant mountains looks lusciously green, incessantly dancing with the soft cool breeze… a newly found paradise.

The Majestic Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake

I had to catch my breath as I gazed through them. The magnificent view made me excited to take pictures and post with others! It was really magical, picturesque, amazing! Sugoi!

I was amused with the glistening waters and breathtaking lakefront views. The sunlight was invigorating, the breeze was so refreshing. What a lovely, wonderful sight! The scene was really captivating. I wanted to shout, I’m the Queen of the world!!! The splendid panorama enthralled my senses and triggered my unspoken fantasies. I never imagined that life away from the city could be this luxurious.

Amazing natural wonder! No more flat grassy grounds and uneven rock formations. Everything was carefully sculpted by God’s own hands. Fascinating, enchanting, charming… I’m running out of descriptive words now because I was obviously overwhelmed!

I couldn’t imagine that this beautiful haven had once been deadly… and possibly be after 10-20 years.

I went home with sore muscles, chapped lips, burnt skin and aching soles. But the thrilling experience nullified my complaints. I am not complaining at all, I can simply feel the pain but ecstasy was still all over me. I’m proud to say that I left the place with a delightful spirit, cheerful heart, and a good tale to tell. Each moment spent doing nothing but staring at the lake was so pleasant and gratifying. I just conquered Mt. Pinatubo and I am ready to conquer another mountain.

I may not have impressive shots and flowery words in this post for you to come and see the place. But still, I’m trying to convince you. The images are not the only proof to rely upon. I’m a living witness of the Philippines best – Mt. Pinatubo’s crater lake. It should be on anyone’s bucket list. It’s a view worth seeing. It’s a piece of heaven…

Thanks to Fila for my shoes, Trend Micro for my cap, and Sky Travel for my bag. Most of all, thanks to Lizzie of Pinkville (that’s me!) for providing this uber pink apparel. The perfect traveling essentials! Alrighty, enough of shameless plugging of my other blog. Thanks to Nailo (my DSLR) for the photos! Next time, I might get a Flip or trail cameras for events like this. It would be cool to share video clips, right?

Big thanks should go to Jonel of LetsGoSago, all of the sponsors, the bloggers and the Pinatubo Spa Town tour guides! It was a thrilling experience I couldn’t and wouldn’t forget!

Now the time has come to leave you,
One more time, let me kiss you…

I have to say goodbye... (Capas National Shrine, Tarlac)

Report this Page!

As of this writing, this page has 5,348 LIKES. Sick! I liked this page just to see and read what’s written on the wall. I then reported the page and unliked it. Hope all Filipinos who liked the page for the same reason could go ahead and unlike the page right now.

Philippines Belongs to the Devil
If you disagree with something/someone, turn around and walk away. If you disagree with a Facebook page, do not click on it. Why would you join something that you disagree with?

If you disagree with our belief, turn around and walk away. Don’t create a page with targeted hate to a certain race, ethnicity or religious group!

I’m not the most nationalistic Filipina out there but the mere existence of this page made me more defensive and protective about our country. There are things to hate and love about the Philippines but still, it does not deserve this kind of treatment.

Who’s Bill Waggoner, anyway?

And what about these challenging condescending posts:

Philippines Belongs to the Devil
If this post reaches 300 comments and not a single curse, insult, or copied comment, I will personally delete this page. I’d love to watch you pinoys try and fail.

Philippines Belongs to the Devil
If this post receives 250 consecutive replies of NOTHING but “God Bless Bill Waggoner”, I will personally delete this page.

I’d love to watch you Pinoys try and fail yet again.

Disgusting. This is horrible.

Now that I’ve shared what it’s like on this page, I hope it won’t get anymore likes. Nothing more to be curious about. REPORT the page until it gets deleted.