During the meet up, I have learned that for only P20 a day, this amount can go a long way, especially to a child that one chooses to sponsor through World Vision.

It only takes…

• P600 monthly or P7,200 annually to sponsor 1 child
• P1,200 monthly or P14,400 annually to sponsor 2 children
• P3,000 monthly or P36,000 annually to sponsor 5 children

Your regular contributions will be pooled together with other World Vision resources so the children, families and communities may enjoy the following benefits:

• access to education, good health and nutrition
• values formation
• child rights protection
• children’s participation in decision-making process
• skills and leadership training; and
• community development projects

After the event, or even during the event, I am starting to appreciate life, how lucky I am, though I encounter several problems and other issues, how fortunate my life is, as compared to these children sponsored by World Vision. I just can’t imagine how these fragile and innocent children are going through just to survive each day of their lives. Now, it’s high time for me to appreciate what I have, what God has graced me with and where I am right now, despite the tribulations I am going through.

With this, I am now ready to support World Vision’s advocacy. As for you, my dear readers, who are interested to join me, let us take part and do our share. Together, even in a small way or a very little amount (only P20/day), we can help these children (and in a way, their families and their communities), live a healthy and productive life, as well as become successful in their own little way. Remember that before we can reach the top, we must first take small, single step and this act is just the beginning.

In line with this, I would like also to encourage you, to participate in the 1M41M campaign of Bench. The aim of the campaign is for Bench to reach 1Million Twitter followers by voting the celebrities found on their website, http://www.benchtm.com/1m41m/index.php. The celebrities who will garner the most number of votes will receive 1 million pesos for their chosen charity; Sam Concepcion has chosen World Vision as the recipient. You know, Sam has been supporting World Vision for several years already and in case he won in this campaign, he promised to donate the entire 1 Million pesos to World Vision. Since, it will not cost you anything to vote for Sam, I am asking for your help to support Sam Concepcion’s advocacy of helping World Vision by voting him in Bench Campaign.

World Vision is a Christian organization that advocates for the welfare of the children, their families, as well as, their communities to conquer poverty and injustice. World Vision is dedicated to extend assistance based on need and regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity.

World Vision is an accredited fund-raising institution that allows donors to avail of tax-deductable incentives in their donations.

• DSWD Authority No: 2003-016
• DSWD License No: SB-2004-1064 (as amended)
• DSWD Registration No: SB-R 172-04 (02-09-01)
• PCNC (Philippine Council for NGO Certification)
• SEC Reg. No: AN095-02579

To know more about World Vision Philippines, like World Vision on Facebook and visit their website at worldvision.org.ph

Together, we can make a difference.

In addition, if you think these ways are not enough, you can even choose to blog about the campaign to promote it, as well as, help spread the word. HWH believes that by using Facebook, specifically their Fan Page, they will be able to encourage social networking site users (like FB users) to become actively involved in social campaigns like HWH Pencil Project Signature campaign, while spending their leisure times online. In this way, online users can still promote social campaigns for the betterment of the world.

For every “Like” in their Facebook page, the HotelwithHeart.com will give one pencil to DTC and their aim is to have at least 10,000 “Like” (fans) at the end of this month. For those who do not know yet, Hotelwithheart.com is the first and the only online hotel booking site in the world that donates to several charitable institutions from the commission income at no cost to their guests. Moreover, Hotelwithheart.com offers over 100,000 cheap hotels, luxury resorts, beach resorts, budget accommodations, and 5 star hotels in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Now, if you’re ready to become a socially aware citizen of this country, you can start now by helping this campaign. Kindly go to HWH’s Official Facebook Fanpage, http://www.facebook.com/hotelwithheart, hit the “Like” button then share it to spread the news.

The series is a collection of short films directed by 15 of the country’s finest filmmakers. Each filmmaker is given the creative freedom and the funding by ANC and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the support of The Commission of Human Rights.

“Kinse” is the second independent film series on television after the success of Ambisyon 2010 which depicted the true state of the nation in the hope of influencing the Filipino voter.

After the success of their participation in last year’s Ambisyon 2010, directors Erik Matti, Kiri Dalena, Jon Red, Raymond Red and Paolo Villaluna return to ANC as part of 15 filmmakers that will be advocating human rights. Joining them are Ato Bautista, Richard Somes, Ray Gibraltar, Auraeus Solito, Mark Meily, Raymund Amonoy, Kidlat de Guia, Nico Puertollano, Carlos Siguon Reyna and Jim Libiran. All of these directors offered their time and talents to work pro bono for this project.

Executive producer, Patricia Evangelista, said that the films in “Kinse” will tackle various issues such as women’s rights, children’s rights, gay rights, labor rights, indigenous rights, press freedom, right to information and the freedom to live freely.

Mainstream actresses Anne Curtis and Gina Alajar will take part in one of the short films in the series. In the film “Nang Tumambad ang Hubad na Katotohanan”, Curtis plays a 28 year-old woman who, despite the firm objection of her parents, wants to appear in an adult movie. Director Erik Matti disclosed that his short film will tackle the right of the person to live freely; to live the life he/she wanted.

Palanca-awardee Jim Libiran, through his film, Batch 2011, tells the story of young men entering a ‘brotherhood’. It is his way of telling the graduates of this generation to protect democracy.

In his movie, “Intolerance”, Director Paolo Villaluna tells the story of a little boy whose life was cut short because society didn’t approve of his sexual preferences.

ANC will air a six-part TV special on “Kinse” hosted by actress and human rights advocate Angel Aquino beginning May 23, 2011, Monday, 9:30p.m. on SkyCable channel 47.

Get to know more about the films and the directors of “Kinse” at www.kinse.tv.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. They work with national governments, NGOs, corporate partners and other UN agencies as they pursue their vision of a world where every man, woman and child has access to food that they need for an active and healthy life. In 2011, WFP aims to reach more than 90 million people from over 70 countries with food assistance.

Extreme hunger is sometimes projected on TV screens as mothers who are too weak to nurse their children, infants who can barely sit up because of starvation or people lining up under the hot sun while waiting for food rations. There is also a less visible form of hunger – - malnutrition. Sadly, most who suffer from malnutrition are children. Twenty five percent of all the hungry people in developing countries are children. World Food Programme’s role is not only to treat malnutrition but also to prevent it from becoming worse.

WFP has a school meals programme which aids various nations in their quest to combat malnutrition amongst school children. In countries where parents are made to choose whether they will allow their children to go to school or make them work on a farm to help put food in the table, WFP and its partners tirelessly work toward their aim of reducing hunger. The school meals they provide have actually motivated the parents in sending their children to school because they know that they will be provided with a nutritious meal. WFP aims to eliminate hunger as an obstacle in the development of school children thereby assuring them of a better tomorrow.

In the Philippines, World Food Programme has been helping not just in emergency situations like providing food assistance to typhoon victims but also in providing aid in areas that desperately need assistance such as the conflict-affected provinces in Mindanao. WFP recognizes that in places such as these, school children are greatly affected. To address this, WFP together with the national and local government, private companies and NGOs, have launched an emergency school feeding programme. It aims to get children into school and out of hunger.

In its effort to raise awareness and money to help feed hungry children, WFP and its partners, TNT, Unilever and DSM conduct the annual End Hunger: Walk The World campaign.

Walk The World Pilipinas, to be held on May 29, 2011, Sunday, 5:00-10:00AM at the SM Mall of Asia, IMAX Parking Lot, is open to walkers and runners who are passionate about fighting world hunger. Aside from the traditional 2-km walk, there will be a 5-km run open to both male and female enthusiasts, and a 10-km group run. Proceeds from the event will support approximately 80,000 school children, particularly in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur. To show support to this worthy cause, my husband and I have agreed to participate in the 2-km walk.

Let the fight against child hunger begins with a big step, join Walk the World 2011 of World Food Programme!

See you at the SM Mall of Asia on May 29!

Actress, singer and Philippines Ambassador Against Hunger KC Concepcion travels to the island of Mindanao for a look at one of her country’s most intriguing regions. The only island in the Philippines to host a large Muslim population, Mindinao also suffers from high levels of child malnutrition. KC’s journey takes her from a school where local children are celebrating the Islamic New Year to a woman’s cooperative and health centre where food is provided to those in need.

To join, simply form a group with a minimum of eight (8) members up to a maximum of twelve (12) members to a dance group. Members may be all male, all female, or a combination of both. All dancers must be bona fide college students or currently employed as call center agents/officers. Groups may simply fill up the registration form, bring valid IDs for verification purposes and a video of the dance choreography.

The dance routine should not be more than 5 minutes and must incorporate “AIDS Awareness” as a theme. All requirements should be submitted to On Ground Activation, Co (see contact details below).

P100,000 awaits the champion while the first runner up gets P50,000 and the second runner up will take home P25,000. Plus, all non-winning dance groups will get a consolation prize of P5,000 each. The group with the most number of contingent/supporters will receive P20,000.

This special event is just one of the many advocates of Frenzy to promote awareness for AIDS. Frenzy believes that disseminating proper information about AIDS is just one of the many ways to stop the spread of this worldwide killer. This special dance competition/event is part of the company’s campaign towards that goal.

“We’re proud to showcase the best talents of the Filipino youth as we celebrate World AIDS Day. Filipinos are very talented and we want to be instrumental in spreading awareness about AIDS in a wholesome and fun way. Make Your Move is literally, a step in the right direction” says Norman Campoy, Brand Manager for Frenzy.

For more details, you may get in touch with Judy Perez at 895-2561/09063193537 or Eula Capidos at 0915987171 of On Ground Activation.

You may also check their Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/makeyourmovedance

Running for a cause is an advocacy that everyone should support and join and then spread the word and encourage others to do so. In this way, we can stay fit together, gain more friends and receive interesting freebies and mementos while helping someone or a group or an organization at the same time. Isn’t this great?

Another Run for a Cause is up on April 18, 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia and this is brought to us by the National Geographic Channel. This time, the National Geographic Channel, being the organizer of this run to save earth, have chosen DAtE or the Design Against the Elements Competition to be the recipients of the proceeds because of the DAtE’s innovative solution to build a community that can withstand adversities and calamity brought about by climate change. The Earth Day Run 2010 is not just any ordinary run for a cause program that will simply give the proceeds to a group of people who will, in turn, bring relief goods, for instance, to the victims of these calamities or catastrophes.

NGC (National Geographic Channel) have chosen DAtE to be the beneficiary because everybody wants a long term solution to the mishaps that climate change brings. DAtE Competition is intending to challenge contestants design a sustainable housing community here in the country that can endure the damage that typhoons, like Typhoon Ondoy and Peping, have and can cause us, which is amplified by the distressing consequence of climate change.

This run for a cause is better known as the Earth Day Run 2010 in celebration of the Earth Day on April 22nd. All students, celebrities, professional and amateur runners, other athletes and the whole family are encouraged to support this cause, sign up and join everybody else on the 18th of April. You can register online at www.natgeorun.com

or by visiting the participating Nike (Bonifacio High Street) and Timex (SM North EDA and Mall of Asia) outlets for cash registrations which runs on March 8 to April 11, 2010. As for the online registration, where all major credit cards are accepted, it also started last March 8 and will end on April 4, 2010.

Registration fees are as follows:

• 3k – P500

• 5k – P600

• 10k – P700

There will be courier charges of P 100 for online registrants coming from Manila and P150 for those outside of Metro Manila areas.

The schedule of the activity On April 18, 2010 at the Mall of Asia is:

5:30AM – Registration

6:00AM – Gun start for all races

8:30AM – Announcement of Winners

Hurry, register now and get a limited edition of NatGeo Earth Day Run technical shirt for free!

Shirt colors are gray for 3k and 5k runners, while black for 10k runners.

Time for a Vunerable Population to Adapt to a Changed Environment – Illac Diaz

It’s time to MOVE on climate change and go beyond PETITIONS. We need to move to 90% local on the ground actions, 10% campaign ad registrations. Addressing climate change requires a mix of mitigation and adaptation. This requires a separation of urgency for more mitigation for industrialized countries and more adaptation for developing countries. The Philippines will not be a significant carbon emitter by a long shot, but as a country we are the top five in the world when it comes to property and human lives lost because we don’t have a plan “b” for when the impact of climate changes HIT us. The day ONDOY (Ketsana) put 80% of the capital city of Manila underwater must not be forgotten and marks the day where climate change became very real for all of us.

“Stand Up,” is a collaboration of over 40 local artists united in song to stand up and be ready against climate change.

STAND UP

Seasons come, seasons go
Why won’t the rain stop falling?
Did you notice?

She’s suffering the world is weighing on earth
Bring their home, bring them home
Bring them, bring them home
Bring them home, oh..

We gotta join hands with shield
We gotta do our part and start from within
We gotta stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Get ready

One heart, one soul, one world
Stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Yeah, yeah
Get ready, get ready, yeah

[New climate situation we have to customary to be able to be more resilient to the world]

Bring hope amidst change
Bring home our brothers are need to be safe
They need to be safe, they need to be safe
Today, today they need to be safe

Bring love in one world
We must work together to persevere
One world, oh…

We gotta join hands with shield
We gotta do our part and start from within
We gotta stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Get ready

The time to moving up
Stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Get ready, get ready to face the storm
Get ready

There are no better people to do this
than you and I (you and I)
There’s no better time to do this
than now
Bring them home

[We need the one people and see all of ourselves as solutions rather than part of the problem]

Stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Get ready, get ready

[This is a local problem that needs a global solution - Illac Diaz]

Stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Get ready, get ready
Get ready for the storm
Stand up, rise up, stand up

Stand up the world is changing
Rise up get ready to face the storm
Get ready, get ready

Let’s bring them home
We gotta bring them home

[It could be a better world for the next generation simply because we are learning from lessons to the past and we have great hope for the future.]

This is very timely with the worsening El Nino phenomenon. We really need to learn more about managing our very precious water resources.

Let’s support this campaign… Water is life. Save it for the future… Clean water for healthy world!

Objective: Participation is easy. By flipping off your lights on March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time you will be making the switch to a cleaner, more secure earth. Support Earth Hour 2010

Support Earth Hour 2010

80 recording artists participated in the ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti’ album and video including artists from every musical genre including pop s like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, rappers Snoop Dogg and LL Cool J, country artists Sugarland and Julianne Hough, rocker Carlos Santana and a host of other performers. Actors Jamie Foxx, Jeff Bridges and Vince Vaughn also lent their voices to the ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti’ project.

A new non-profit organization named the We Are the World Foundation will collect and distribute funds collected via cash donations and the purchase of the song and the video.

Click here to see the Full list of ‘We Are the World for Haiti 25′ performers

Anyway, here’s the We Are The World 25 for Haiti Video on Youtube