MANILA, JULY 14, 2010–The European sovereign debt problems loom as a fresh threat to the global economic recovery but improving the Philippines’ public finances will strengthen the country’s economic defenses against its potential impact as well as improve government spending for pro-poor programs.

This is one of the main messages of the Philippines Quarterly Update (PQU) released by the World Bank.

Early this year, concerns about rising indebtedness in European countries has generated fears that the global economy might slide back to recession and cause further difficulties in developing countries like the Philippines.   Read the rest of the story here.

Moments later Romy walked back inside and called for Aunt Elvie.   After a couple minutes of dialogue, I saw the two of them grabbing rice and vegetables.   Realizing what was going on I grabbed some of our bananas and bread and added it to the bag Romy was preparing.  He then handed her the bag and they spoke once more in Tagalog and then left.   Romy then turned to me and explained that she was looking for one of the nuns asking for alms.   She hadn’t eaten all day and neither had her family.

After yesterday’s turnover ceremonies at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City, Francis N. Tolentino, three-term mayor of Tagaytay City (1995-2004), said he has ordered a review of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme and at the same time limiting exceptions, such as ambulances and the media.

Mr. Tolentino said flood control projects will be made more effective.

In a statement, Mr. Tolentino said his administration will involve the public in crafting new programs.

Read the rest of the story here.

Katy had the isle seat; I had the middle and in the window seat sat a dark haired middle aged woman. She introduced herself as Mrs. Brown. Presenting her self as she did and introducing her self as Mrs. I didn’t need to ask what she did for a living. I already knew.  Though just for laughs I asked anyways. “I am a teacher” she replied.  I knew because she reminded me so much of my mom. Anyways I told her how we were headed to Quezon city to do some Mission work and explained what we were going to be doing.

The plane landed and we went our separate ways. We got on the next flight at around 2:30 got out to the runway and sat there. Then we sat there some more. After about two hours of literally staring out the window at the massive engine blowing the grass around the pilot got on the intercom and told us that there was a weather formation to the north west directly in our path so they were going to shut off the engines to save gas. After another hour of nothing the pilot came back on and informed us that air traffic control had rerouted our trip and we would be leaving… right after we refueled.

So finally after refueling and sitting some more we took off. That was a long ride however we did meet some interesting people aboard the plane. Including two missionaries who were traveling to somewhere 4 hours north of where we were headed. They told us how they were planning on speaking in prisons and some other things. We have been praying for their safety and hope you will too. After about twelve and a half ours we landed in Nagoya Japan to refuel. On the way down we saw some fireworks going off which was pretty neat. Since we were so behind schedule we just had enough time to get off the plane Use the restroom and board the next flight. The flight lasted about 4 hours.

When we landed we went through customs like everyone else and grabbed our bags and left. Outside we were met by Jayjay, one of the students Philippine Aid Society is sponsoring through college, and Aileen who had a cab for us.  Since the gas tanks are in the trunk of the cabs here we fit as much as we could in the trunk and the rest was in the passenger seat and on our laps.  All four of us sat in the back seat and as Aileen said we were sardines!

Finally we arrived at Tomas Morato Ave about 45 minutes later. We slept most of the trip over so the rest of the night we visited with family.  Sunday we went to Fairvew where we would be working. There was a party being held for Lola (grandmother) because it was her birthday. There were many people there.

After settling in for a while we took a walk with Romy. He took us around the community and showed us the damage from the flooding from Typhoon Ondoy last year. Many people died in this flood. The flood waters rose so quickly that those at the lower lands had little to no time to escape. The pathways are all now covered in the rubble from the houses. He showed us a tree the locals call the Miracle tree. Thirty five people climbed the tree when the flood came and they were saved.

As we walked around we could hardly believe the carnage that was set in the wake of the massive flood. Later we walked back on the way stopping at different communities here and there meeting some people and community leaders.  Finally we made it back home and got some rest. The next day we had a meeting with Tim online and then experienced our first of many Asian rains.

Tuesday we worked together with the people in what is called “Bayanihan.”  This is where everyone works together. We re-built a damaged road with them. It was very rewarding especially afterword daily walking on the road that the whole community helped build. The rest of the week was filled with random tasks such as meetings, paperwork, traveling to Morato area and more meetings.

Saturday we went out with the help of Elvira Cayabyab, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, and purchased the supplies for the soup kitchen.  Sunday we had our first weekly soup kitchen!! It was a great success. We fed altogether 300+ people plus some had seconds!. Planning for only 200, we were very blessed to have extra and gave the rest away. I hope you will continue reading the blog as we update it. May God be with you and Ingat!!  (‘Ingat’ means “take care”)

Check out some of our photos on the Facebook page.

To the many corrupt Filipino politicians, Meloto said, “as Christians, we shouldn’t judge, but love and respect them.” He described a mathematical analysis on corrupt mayors: “I don’t think there’s a human being that’s 100 per cent bad. If they are 90 per cent corrupt, then I will engage the ten per cent that’s good.” Engaging the 1500 mayors with ten per cent goodness will collectively “overcome any evil” in the Philippines.

Read the rest of the story…

MANILA — The Philippine government said Wednesday it would give money directly to poor families in an effort to fight a sharp rise in the number of Filipinos enduring severe hunger.

President Benigno Aquino’s new administration said it wanted to act after a survey released Wednesday reported that about 780,000 families in the Philippines, 4.2 percent of the total, felt hunger “often or always”.

The results of the Social Weather Stations survey, covering April to June, amounted to a big increase from the 2.8 percent, or 530,000 families, that reported experiencing hunger in the previous three months.  Read the rest of the story here.

The FACC is a Charlotte based “community of Filipino-Americans able to advance and enhance understanding, friendship, and civic unity among its members and other communities in the Carolinas and abroad.”  Visit their website to learn more about them.