February 2012
1 post
“Oil price hike. Rising hunger and poverty. Money by the millions going around...”
November 2011
3 posts
7 tags
All It Took Was To Share The Story Of Lolo Luis...
I saw this picture on Facebook on one of my friend’s walls. It touched me to see the old woman and the signage on her back. I was afraid to click it because I might cry but I did. This is what Mark Pineda posted:
Such a sad,painful but inspiring story. Inspiring to see this old woman looking for her spouse. A story of real, unconditional love. I feel her pain. I felt that it was nice of...
“Life gives a lot of curve balls. It can still be a home run as long as you know...”
October 2011
4 posts
The Important Things In Life →
I guess the answer was just there all along. Life has been more than good to me.
I’ll just keep trying to find ways to be a stubborn Filipina.
“Why does the world seem like it’s unraveling? Where there was once...”
“We keep praying “God help my friend,help whoever..” if He could...”
September 2011
10 posts
Volunteers Needed
Habitat for Humanity Philippines
Hi, guys! Do you want to volunteer tomorrow to pack the Cleaning Kits and Care Kits for the Habitat Re-BUILD Program? Packing will start at 3pm onwards at the Habitat for Humanity Office. :)
Please send a message to 09175547870, or call 846-2177 if you’re coming. See you! :)
“I worry about the homeless and have nothing,those under flood and have no where...”
“Sometimes we focus on setting sail our boat of dreams that we fail to see the...”
8 tags
Monster Crocodile & A Poor Security Guard
The past few days we have been barraged with news about a monster crocodile and a poor security guard punched by a congressman because he didn’t want a security check on his Porsche.
I love this picture. A 21 ft. crocodile was caught by villagers in Agusan Del Sur using makeshift traps. All determined to protect their community after a fisherman and a carabao was killed. Determined and ready to...
“If you are for good and what is right. Now is the time to push, do something and...”
“Tonight I-Witness presents “Pobreng Mayaman”, a documentary on...”
– @sandraguinaldo
August 2011
32 posts
“Help yourself. Spend time with family.”
“It’s not what you do once in a while; it’s what you do day in and...”
– Jenny Craig
7 tags
Keep Dancing, Candy Jane
She was 8. I met her while I was teaching 20 or so kids dance for an audition. We had no space and danced on the street. Streetdance literally on the streets.
A posse came and invited me to a “dance-off”. Teens, pre-teens..dark from the sun and had the stench of what I can only describe as poverty. There were around 10 of them. Bigger than me.
“Ano?Takot ka...
“Everyday,I pray that I find people to love and help and,who would love and help...”
5 tags
It Takes More Than A Week To Rebuild Lives
I wrote this on October 2,2009. A week after the Typhoon Ondoy. I still work with Ondoy victims now. We work on rebuilding their lives by helping them with their livelihood and finding employment. Some of them are still traumatized by what happened. They were victims then and are still victims now. I’ll write about their stories soon.
God Bless Everyone’s Efforts
Till when can I...
“Perfection is so freakin’ overrated.”
Some People Get It,Some Don't
Man: You do what “matronas” (elderly ladies) do,that’s not something a young woman should do.
StubbornFilipina: I don’t think I would be doing as much if I were old and gray. I think we have more use to this country if we had the energy to do it,don’t you agree?
Man: You’re weird. You have better things to do. You should be making money, having fun, spend...
theathoinkxzs asked: Honestly I don't like reading lengthy posts but yours is exceptional. I even saw my supervisor behind me looking at what I am doing. Still I continued reading even though I know that I am behind my hourly quota. I know I can work through it anyway. Bless your heart. And welcome to tumblr! :)
“See that person giving away flyers? Give her a smile & say “It’s...”
fyeahkpopscreencaps asked: We read your story on Mark.
We are a Kpop blog, but whoa. You are a modern day hero. It's amazing. We can't describe this. It's awesome.YOU are very good.
Love,
fyeahkpopscreencaps♥
We are a Kpop blog, but whoa. You are a modern day hero. It's amazing. We can't describe this. It's awesome.YOU are very good.
Love,
fyeahkpopscreencaps♥
“There is a price to pay when you think out of the box…but I would rather...”
limlanggam asked: Bibihira nalang ang tulad mo na willing tumulong sa mga kagaya ni Mark :) I'm not fond of reading LONG blogs, but when I started reading yours (from a reblog here), I couldn't stop until I finish reading it.
KUDOS to you, Ms. Zarah :)
KUDOS to you, Ms. Zarah :)
Stubborn Filipina Is A Tumblr Newbie
Hi! My Tumblr is only a few weeks old and I’m still trying to get the hang of Tumblr. Thank you for bearing with me.
I love the feedback, comments & questions and really encourage people to do so. So I have added a comments button for all posts but may migrate the Anonymous comments & questions somewhere within the site so that we don’t clutter everyone else’s...
Anonymous asked: Has the fight for social justice in the Philippines been taken to the government policy level? At some point, the government has to become accountable for the unacceptable, unsustainable inequities that have persisted for so long in the Philippines. Empowering the poor and disenfranchised cannot be limited to simple acts of kindness by folks like you; it must be a larger movement than that.
Anonymous asked: Hey Zarah - Quick question. What do you do in the Philippines? Do you work for a non-profit in the field, etc? I'm just curious because I work for a U.S. social justice-oriented philanthropy, supporting anti-poverty measures in the United States. It would be interesting to share thoughts and ideas. (As an aside: I got into this kind of work precisely because of my experience in the...
societal-outlier asked: It's people like you who are a rare find in a country like this. Not many people I've encountered have the same finesse and character as you. Truly, it is rare. And I find that a welcome relief. You have inspired me to go beyond blogging what I feel, and to put words into action. Thank you, and cheers!
ceciliaristocratic asked: The country and the rest of the world needs more people like you. You are an absolutely amazing person. Your post made me realize that there are still good hearted souls out there. God bless you and everyone else that helped you help Mark Castillo get back home, and him too.
iiiloveyougypsyeyes asked: I'm not kidding when I saw I cried when I read your post. Especially at that point when he was sharing about his National Bookstore and Powerbooks incident. This inspires me to reach out to people. You're a kind person and you inspire me. I’m so glad that I chanced upon this blog post. I am so overwhelmed with your kindness and humanity. This is so inspiring and it's a great...
Anonymous asked: I was wondering for an update about the probinsyano that you sent home :)
“It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture and a lot of money. The little...”
5 tags
Anonymous asked: God bless your heart for helping Mark Castillo
I would love to hear an update regarding him :)
Ruth
I would love to hear an update regarding him :)
Ruth
Anonymous asked: I read your entry about Mark Castillo. I was so moved! You have a beautiful heart. I hope you update us (your followers) about Mark. I'm sure we'd all like to know that he arrived home safely. :)
Anonymous asked: You are a very rare person. The stories on your blog has opened my eyes to a lot of things. Thank God for people like you. You are blessed with a big heart, talent, intelligence and beauty. Are you married? Is there a way to get to know you better?
Anonymous asked: i cried when i read your blog about mark, most of us would not even bother to talk to him but you were kind and sincere to listen and get to know him. God bless you and if everyone will do this kind gestures then this world will be a better place. - keli
Anonymous asked: Thank you for sharing Mark Castillo's story and for reminding me that one random act of kindness can make a huge impact on someone else's life. Bless you and your stubborn heart! =)
Anonymous asked: Sana lahat ng tao kagaya mo. Nakahandang tumulong. Pagpalain ka ng Diyos. :)
8 tags
Not All That Glitters Is Gold, The Poor Syano In...
DISTURBING BREAKFAST
9:30 in the morning. I decided to have coffee and work at Pancake House. Armed with my laptop and a notebook,I hie off and sat comfortably at the tables outside with the umbrellas. It wasn’t raining, the wind was blowing and I’m glad I could have this opportunity to write outdoors. I hear a mumble from a man two tables away. A poor man. He was of medium built but skinny. He...
“They say that when you help & it hurts,it means you’re doing it right....”
5 tags
Juana Dela Cruz
A Short Story Of The Filipina In Poverty (Part 3 of 3)
Turning Points
Change only comes to people who desire it. We Filipinos have a saying “Kung gusto,hahanapan ng paraan. Kung ayaw,maraming dahilan” (If you want to do something,you find a way. If you don’t want to do it,you find reasons not to.) Some people are internally motivated to change themselves but for most, sometimes they need a...