Being patient, book from Eckhart Tolle, hygiene kits

Wednesday, 11:47am – Mandaluyong, Philippines

View from apartment I live at with friend from the States named PJ

I talked with Moina this morning and conversation came up on being able to trust God in all that He provides and situations He allows to happen, both in health, connections with people, and even to the details of work and food we eat. People in our past have repeatedly come back into our life, to follow up with us and find out how we are doing. Moina and my relationship is special in that she has been there since day 1 of coming to the Lord, seeing how the Holy Spirit touched me and she was able to see all kinds of events to present day of how God is blessing and teaching me to learn about loving Him and loving others.

The main thing that came up was about trusting and keeping God at our centers so we don’t worry or fret about the things that come up, especially for ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends coming back into the picture. God is close to our heart and He wants us to show love to everyone. It actually crossed my mind about all the people that I used to date or be with. I wonder how they are doing. I pray to God they all have come to know Jesus Christ and they are able to constantly show love to others around them.



Eckhart Tolle
My friend Janae gave me a book that I started reading a couple days ago. I think the Church in general would be against these types of books as they are considered New Age. At first, the first few pages I read made me reject the book because the semantics didn’t make sense to me. But recently, my Uncle expressed to me that don’t look for faults in what is being exposed to you, listen and come back to the Bible to see if there are truths in what has been presented. Two things I have learned from beginning to read this book:

1. To be open and not close yourself from knowledge. This knowledge my deepen your faith or understanding with God and even becoming close to others. I will be able to read this book and talk to my friend Janae more about her thoughts and views.
   
2. God allowed this book to be in my path. Because of all that I have seen in how God has been directing me and teaching me lessons, as well as this book He allowed for me to read. I will learn and take from what’s needed. Since the Holy Spirit is guiding me, there will be no fear or worry in my faith swaying. God is with all of us, and it’s up to us to turn to Him and have faith in Him. I will keep in mind of false prophets and teachings. Holy Spirit will be my guide.

Hygiene Kits
I’m getting ready for next week to go around to a street market here called Divisoria to begin purchasing items for the hygiene kits. I will contact my friend Kengi from the States to propose to him to cross-link and promote Do Something Saturday – Philippines. I may just use the Tagalog-Filipino translation of “Do Something Saturday” to reference the project. Thank you again for all that have supported and donated. Just that act, whether conscious or not, was already thinking of others. Either they were thinking of supporting me and my cause, or thinking of the people that will be helped in the Philippines.

State of poverty, results from wanting money, my friend’s DJ gig last Sunday and new child to be born into the world

Mandaluyong, Philippines - 11:43am
I just got back from breakfast at a local eatery called Binalot that’s open 24 hours. I love places like that. It reminds me of late-night places that would stay open either 24 hours as well or until 3 or 4am back in Los Angeles. I’m a night owl so I welcome any of these places. The people there are starting to get to know me since I frequently eat there. I love being able to build relationships with people by seeing them constantly. Now it’s a matter of coming to talk more about where they come from and what they aspire to. I just love hearing people's background and where they are going.



I was reading in the Manila Bulletin and 3 stories stuck out for me to reflect on.

1. Fernando, Golez tangle over EDSA speed limit
2. Seventh fetus in 2 weeks found in Sta. Cruz
3. Kidnap-for-ransom suspect arrested

1) EDSA is the main highway that goes through Metro Manila from north to south, on the east side of Manila. Motorists of all different types of vehicles from trucks, passenger cars, buses, utility vehicles and motorcycles speed and merge dangerously throughout the day. This article was about the chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Representative of Paranaque City and their arguments over the speed limit on EDSA. In a congressional hearing about the budget, the Rep. is criticizing the chairman about being irresponsible with his remarks. The chairman as recorded he “encourages” people to speed, so as to relieve traffic. The Rep. is saying that this promotes reckless driving and deaths. Actually, a few articles down, there was another article that talked about deaths that occurred recently from buses and trucks running down motorcyclists because of driving too fast. The incompetence and desire for respect from the chairman’s peers causes him to retaliate in the media as well as lead the organization to faulty road policies. It’s important that people are put in place of leadership that can lead with integrity and righteousness, without fear of being accountable for mistakes

2) This past month, 7 fetuses have been found in different places: at a restaurant, in front of a barangay representative house, in an apartment, in a restroom in a mall and at another mall on the road. I don’t know what’s causing people to do this, but regardless, this is happening and babies are dying. Those children are not able to live a full life and the people that are leaving this babies to die are in a dark place right now, needing to be saved.

3) This last article was about a person getting caught that is part of a gunrunning syndicate. In an article yesterday, I read more and more kids, ages ranging from 12 – 18 years old are participating in the kidnapping of people. They get paid ranging from P5000 and up. That’s about around $100 USD. So sad, that people would kill another person for that type of money. This goes to show just how many people need to be saved and that time should not be wasted to try to connect with people and spark that change. The people you help may end up influencing people like these kidnap-for-ransom people in changing their ways.

All these stories are happening in this world, maybe more in some places than others. Regardless, it shows how much that people need to know more about the transforming nature of knowing Jesus Christ. If people believe and follow in the faith and the Word, all is good literally and spiritually.



DJ Red-I and DJ Don-P, reggae/dancehall music
Last Sunday I checked out my friend’s gig at Karport at the Fort. Good reggae/dub-step/dancehall. Apparently this music is not that big here so there’s opportunity for them to influence the music/club scene with this great music. Their friend Sean video taped, took pics and made the video clip. Sean's a really cool guy that works with some social networking site here called Zintropia, something like that.

PJ, Jen and Jahzara Phae Martinez
Just heard from my friend and roommate PJ that his wife Jen is going to go into labor back in the States for new child into the world Jahzara. This just makes me think of the blessing God has provided these two, and now they will be guided to take care for and think of another, providing, as God provides with love. I pray that PJ and Jen raise Jahzara in love and with love for God, I pray that the whole family learn and follows Jesus Christ and that their union with God is an example for others to aspire to. Amen.

Day of Worship, more learning of the Word, and constant Light

Reading my morning verses, I came across a timely chapter that talks about Trials and Temptations.

James 1:1 – 8
1 James, a servant of God and of
the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes
scattered among the nations: Greetings.

Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Those who doubt should not think they will receive
anything from the Lord; 8 they are double-minded and unstable in all they
do.

Some of the people around me have family members and loved ones in pain and suffering from their health. Some have cancer, about to have surgery or are recovering. It is in these times, especially those that have the sickness or disease, to linger with God and to learn from what He is trying to show. It is easier said than done, and easier for the person that’s supporting the loved with it. But even then, the people that are supporting go through trials as well. Will they crumble in despair? Or remain in the faith and turn to God to be at peace and continue to show love?



Yesterday at Church and small group, I learned a lot in reiterating what Jesus Christ death on the cross meant. How much it means and should mean to Christians, and how thankful I am that God decided to show me He was real and was there and has a purpose for me. I was relaying the story of the days events to Moina, and I began to cry because of how much I love God and thankful He chose April to begin showing Himself to me even more blatantly than before. When I reflect on my life before Christ, it was such a dark time; constantly searching and dissatisfied, constantly in bad relationships and looking for all the wrong things, dissatisfied with work and direction and just searching, and constantly abusing relationships by thinking of benefiting myself. I compare my life now with others around me that don’t have Jesus close to their hearts consciously, and it pains me. I felt a deep sincere sadness for about 10 minutes while I was talking to Moina, and then the Holy Spirit quickly filled my heart with peace and joy, knowing that God is working with and around those people to have them come to Him. It is still up to those people to decide and turn to God, but as He did with me, it was so obvious and His perfect timing that there was no other decision to make but to just believe.

Thank you God and I love you so much. I was telling Moina I will do all that I can to express my love for Him and bring His children to Him. There’s a constant light now, and it feels good to be in it.

More Verses, reflecting on mentorship, and Antipolo

Another verse I came across and that my Uncle has been sharing with me is “iron sharpens iron”.

• Proverb 27:17
  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

My two mentors, my Uncle and Rocky, and actually my brother Aaron too have constantly been their for support and encouragement. All my brothers and sisters have but these 3 I turn to frequently. And in the same time that I ask questions and they give me advice and wisdom, it in turns reminds them of the Word they shall keep close to as well. We hold each other accountable for living up to God’s standard, so as we encourage and help each other, we are refining our faith and love for God and others.

8:57pm – Mandaluyong, Philippines
Just got back from being out all day. Was supposed to meet with AJ and Dominique after but I’m pretty tired so I just texted them that I would be back. The things I did today were:

• 2nd visit to Barangay Arboretum
• Went to Antipolo for Community Development workshop
• Met with Attorney Diana Lee to fill out application for Extra Mile Foundation
• First time eating Goto and Suman

2nd visit to Barangay Arboretum
This time it was just me and Zandro. Bimbo had to take his father somewhere in the morning and the others had prior engagements. We met with Ate Clarita Bautista. She was at the same place we met her last. This was around 9:00am. She took us around and we met 3 different sets of people, introducing ourselves explaining that we are looking around, surveying what help we can offer and to find out what are the immediate needs or pressing issues of the neighborhood. I couldn’t take pictures or video because it would be rude and people in the community may have suspicions of alternative motives.

The main things we saw and learned were:
-There is a lot of trash scattered in the forest. A lot.
-Drugs are prevalent, there were people smoking marijuana as we were walking through
-People were stealing the electricity cables. They can sell the metals that are found inside: copper and some other metals.

Zandro has experience in composting and his professional deals with environmental development. He briefly explained that it’s possible to organize some type of trash collecting, separating the biodegradable material that can be exchanged for money. There’s a lot of people in the Philippines, with a culture of just throwing their trash to the side of the road. There’s a lot of trash that people can use to make money, hence, Smokey Mountain trash dump where people live and work.

There is also a basketball court that we can possibly begin building a rapport with the high school kids. We will explore that. Right now we will be creating a proposal and seeing where are talents and gifts can come into play to help this community.



Antipolo Community Development Workshop
At around 11:30am,we left Ate Clarita and told her we would be back next Saturday and possibly during the week to coordinate with her. Zandro and I met with Bimbo at the Jollibee in Philcoa and later Pons met up with us. We had a briefing of the events and headed to Antipolo to go to a workshop at the local church, where several church members were meeting and learning about the steps or process of community development. From the graph below, you start at the bottom and build your way up. We will be obtaining this training module to review and apply.

Attorney Diana
Antipolo is far but super beautiful. In the hills on the outskirts of Metro Manila, it overlooks the city. We went to Attorney Diana’s place of work at around 3:00pm. We filled out some applications to apply for membership to the Extra Mile Foundation and then had some snacks. This was my first time having Suman and Goto. Suman is made with rice and coconut milk, made in a way so it’s little glutinous, almost like a soft candybar, and you dip it in some sugar. Quite tasty. Eating dessert before our snack, we then had Goto. It’s a type of rice porridge with some beef tendons, and you put fried garlic flakes and green onion. Super tasty.


Me, Bimbo and Pons

After we left and I was trying to coordinate with friends Dominique and AJ to meet up and give them some information on the things I have been doing. It took a while to get back to Antipolo so I text them for us to meet another time. Being around all these people with hearts to help others is so comforting. This is home for now and I’m loving where God is leading everyone.

Learning Verses and 2nd day of surveying Barangay Arboretum

Mandaluyong, Philippines
I’ve been constantly coming across the same verses, both in learning, and sending to others to encourage them. I am going to begin memorizing these, as they have been precious in my learning of the faith and to lift others up. Some of the ones that have been coming across are:

• Titus 2:6 – 8
  “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”
• Colossians 3:1 – 4
  “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
• Galatians 5:16 – 18
  “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”
• Galations 5:22 – 26
  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
  

Tomorrow will be the 2nd day that Extra Mile Foundation will visit Barangay Arboretum in the Philcoa region of Quezon City and Diliman. I’m still trying to get used to knowing the areas and actually familiarizing myself with what is considered a municipality, a neighborhood, a region, a barangay, etc. We will be meeting with Clarita, the barangay’s representative and coordinator and possibly meeting with some mothers or parents to find out more information of the current issues or needs of the barangay. After that, we may go to a different part of Manila called Antipolo to do some training for medical missions, lead by the Extra Mile Foundation lawyer Diana Lee.

Opportunities, losing wallets and Faith, Small group experience, lessons with Uncle, and spending time with non-believers

Mandaluyong, Philippines
So much has been happening in the past 4 days. I've been running around connecting with people, learning, scouting areas to begin foundation work with a poor community, meeting with church friends, meeting with new friends outside church, getting more into the Word, learning more about the Bible and God's teaching...so much. Below are things I will discuss further when I get a chance. I'm hoping later today or tomorrow after some work I need to finish. For now, here is a link to pictures and videos from last Saturday's visit to the trash dump in Tondo / Smokey Mountain where families live and work on trash.

Items to talk about in more detail

• Discuss opportunities at Metro Ministries and Extra Mile Foundation
• Lost my wallet.
• Lessons of faith that God provides
• Learning about what church to devote myself to. I should stay at UPFI, not to focus on what I want, but where God wants me to be
• Balancing health and physical fitness, basketball, don’t get too preoccupied
• Church Service message: about God changing us, not ourselves thinking we can do it all by ourselves, it’s not a matter about how hard we try or what we do, but it’s a matter of letting God transform us
• Interaction and lessons from small group
• Spending time with non-believers and experience of coming closer and expressing faith
• Talking with Uncle and learning lessons of devotion of power of tongue for good and bad.
• Reflecting on verses for a week to remember and hold it close
• Rocky’s mentorship on conflict of previous, pagan beliefs. My brother and mentor in Jesus Christ
  

Many Lessons

Mandaluyong, Philippines
Below is an overview of what’s happened these past 2 days, Thursday and Friday. God is constantly connecting people and teaching lessons, both for me to learn and for me to share with others.

• Foundation Meeting
• Meeting girl in Makati and story
• Incident with Moina and Dad about Truck
• With Dennis going to Quiapo
• Inefficiences in public systems
• New Friends
• Seasons
• Testing from what has been learned
• Miracles in Africa
• Priority with Him

THURSDAY
Extra Mile Foundation
The first is my friends from Victory Church at UPFI (University of the Philippines, Film Institute). We met at Trinoma mall off of EDSA North in Quezon City and ate at Kamay Kainan, literally Hand Food although I don’t know what the local translation is. It was a buffet with really good food. Today was Bimbo’s birthday, but today is the first time I met with them to talk about the Extra Mile Foundation, a foundation that I am going to be part of to do community development projects. Present were Zandro, Pons, Bimbo, Jan and JP.



Extra Mile Foundation will concentrate on Philcoa (Philippine Coconut Authority) first , it’s in an area near UP where there is a community of poor. We talked of what we each can bring to the table, what are our priorities, and a little bit about the vision of the foundation. Zandro has experience in community site development, Pons in Foundation program management, Bimbo in business, JP is studying law, Jan in research, and me in Marketing and teaching art/computer/business skills to kids and adults.

Zandro says we will first talk to the Barangay captain, the neighborhood’s local representative, to see if they can talk to the neighborhood’s representatives to see if they will be accepting of help from a foundation like ours. I learned that there has been times where the community did not accept help for one reason or another. The next step would be to do surveys or meetings with locals of the neighborhood to find out what is needed. There are several different programs we can do from education for kids and parents, livelihood aid, sports/activities, medical, etc. We will find out what’s the immediate need. This Sunday we will be visiting the area, just to see.

Going out
Later Thursday night, I went out with my roommate to visit a club that his friend was DJing at. I was able to see and experience the difference of witnessing how people act when I do not drink. I am still able to enjoy the time talking with people and the music, but an interesting incident happen was a girl came to talk to me and we quickly got into personal details. From now on, the people I meet that are not Christian I will not mention names or go into full details of what they disclose. I will just touch upon the Godly lessons learned and share with you all.

I learned that difference of priorities that people have when God is close to their centers, and how if we don’t have God close to our hearts, we can end up on paths that are dark and lead to more darkness and despair. I was able to see how in comparison how I live my life now and how much I love God and want to stay close with Him.

FRIDAY
On patience and listening
Early next morning I get a phone call about my Dad wanting to borrow my truck back in the states. I told Moina that I don’t want anyone to borrow it, not even family, so that nothing happens to it so I can sell it. I forgot to tell Moina to tell my Dad that it’s okay to borrow it. Four lessons learned: 1) when we are in altercations or disagreements, we should not be quick to assumptions. 2) we should listen to what the opposing party has to say so that we can come to an understanding or compromise to what the situation is, 3) that we should have a patience and not be quick to lash out in anger for possibility of making it worse and 4) that there is wisdom in weighing your reactions or replies. A lot of miscommunication, time wasted in anger and misunderstanding can be avoided if we just listen and don’t let our emotions get the best of us.

Quiapo and hygiene kits
Shortly after that, my cousin Dennis came over to the new place I’m staying in Mandaluyong with my friend, and we went to Quiapo and a used car dealership today. Quiapo is an area with a street market and famous church for the Black Nazarene statue that local Catholics come to pray to. The Black Nazarene is a statue of Jesus Christ carved in wood, that ended up turning black from age. Locals including my late Grandmother would be on their knees praying at one end of the church at the start of the seating, and would proceed forward on their knees in prayer until they got all the way to the front, believing that if they do this that the sins of all the past year will be forgiven and that God would bless them for the rest of the year.

My cousin and I were looking for deals on shampoos and conditioner for the hygiene kits that we’re putting together. We didn’t find any good deals so we will go back to Divisoria next week when we do our first purchase of the kits and see if there are little travel size containers to put shampoo in. Visiting the used car dealership confirmed that used cars here are ridiculously priced and I will not find one there and most likely will get from a private party. One other thing I saw was a guy taking a bath in public, as well as an elderly woman walking in a street market with no clothes on. It is common that the poor take a bath in public because their shanty homes have no shower or toilet and I think the elderly woman could have been suffering from a mental disease. I would not know about the elderly woman though because I did not hear what she was yelling about. Lastly there was yet again another little boy just on the sidewalk, playing in the dirt of the street.





Inefficiencies in public system
Earlier today we visited the bank to get some money. Going to the bank and just trying to get money and ask questions of why the ATMs card are not linked up to your checking account showed how much disorganization and inefficiencies exist here, not just in the banks, but in a lot of other areas such as businesses in food, malls and even public transportation. There are long waits, even when there are no lines, and there are long lines when a system like fast food is supposed to be efficient. Public transportation is inconvenient with the number of people that use it and that’s just because of the density of the city.

New friends and miracles
A new friend from my small group/church, Camille, introduced me to a couple that just arrived back from missionary work in Africa. Their names are AJ and Dominique. The miracles they told me about were just amazing: the blind and deaf being healed, healing of the crippled child that could now walk freely without a cane, and the number of people that came to know Jesus Christ from just a movie and pastor giving a message. God lined up even this late meeting of the new people from a last minute planning with Camille and there were several lessons learned. I later hung out with Camille and a new sister in Christ named Maradee and we all shared a little bit of our views and our experiences as Christians. A few main topics were: seasons in the faith, culture between Philippines and the United States, culture between genders, and the role of the husband in a Christian family.

As I was sharing my day with Moina, I was brought to awareness by God that I will be tested again in my faith because of all the talk of "seasons" with Camille and Maradee, as well as with my talks with AJ and Maradee. It happened last Sunday where I was distracted with all the commotion of trying to find a place to live, find means of transportation, and to deal with accounting for my business. In all that we do, it’s important to keep Christ in our heart as priority. Everything else is secondary, and if God is in our centers, there is never any commotion, never any worries and all that we do will be blessed by God in learning and loving.

Link for pictures/video for the rest of the 2 days

On God, Money, Helping Others and Your Heart

Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
I’m at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, working at Figaro coffee shop with my laptop. I’m chatting with Moina on Yahoo Messenger, sharing with her some news about the volunteer opportunities that have been coming up. There are about 5 and I’m really excited. Next week I may go to Tondo, a place commonly referred to as Smokey Mountain. This is a holding center where the government relocates people and families that are homeless. Here though, kids are exposed to mountains of trash, and some work at the facility or dump to gather plastic for money. I will meet with individuals of an organization that facilitates education for children and some other community development projects.

In my chat with Moina, we talked about faith, helping others, what money can really do, and how change really happens. Below is our chat. In a nutshell, it’s our heart that changes people. Even billion of dollars won’t end poverty because there may still be people that are irresponsible with money and irresponsible of their actions in effecting themselves or others to return to poverty. It is important of just the act of helping and loving others, whether through money or your time, but most importantly to know the love of God and how to love like Christ does. Changes don’t happen overnight, but change can and will happen. Money comes and goes. God provides all of that. He provided you with the ability, the talent, the drive. It’s up to us to be responsible what we are capable of doing and making. It’s when we are irresponsible that we lose things or lose focus. I already see change happening in others, with just spending time and talking. Watch the change that happens when you teach the youth, spend time with them in sports, talk to the elderly, spend time with people to talk about God and how you care for them. Watch change happen…right in front of you.

Money to donate helps thing of course, but it does not solve the problem. Why even donate any money at all? Because it’s still part of the small change that does happen “enabling” for people to connect with others, for it to be a starting point of a relationship, or even a starting point or reinforcement that there is hope that a person’s life can change and that there are people that care for them. More importantly, that Jesus loves them and knowing Jesus moved and motivated someone to help another person in need.

Ryan Regalado: you know, E messaged me back
moevlo: oh really?
Ryan Regalado: gave me praise on what I was doing but he questioned why do so many of the churches spend millions on the churches and don't spend it on the kids or the poor
moevlo: interesting
Ryan Regalado: i will email Rocky and Aaron that
moevlo: how do you answer something like that
Ryan Regalado: Holy Spirit filled me one time
Ryan Regalado: that the people that adorn those churches is out of love and respect for God
Ryan Regalado: God will provide for the poor in other ways
Ryan Regalado: through other people
moevlo: yea..it's like decorating it for God
Ryan Regalado: even millions of dollars, as we see, doesn't fix the problem right away ($20 million/year budget for Union Rescue Mission)
Ryan Regalado: throwing money to a situation doesn't solve the problem
Ryan Regalado: God does
moevlo: yup
Ryan Regalado: adorning the churches is respecting god
Ryan Regalado: even $1 billion dollars doesn't fix poverty
moevlo: yes...
Ryan Regalado: it's people's heart that will change the world
Ryan Regalado: remember this
Ryan Regalado: this is both of us to learn
Ryan Regalado: but we can be part of that change
moevlo: nope it doesn't especially not in the philippines
Ryan Regalado: and it starts small and grows bigger
Ryan Regalado: that's the whole point, it's not about the money we have that fixes problems, it's the heart
Ryan Regalado: that's what government, corporations, and individuals get caught up in
Ryan Regalado: that's what I saw my uncle got caught up in
Ryan Regalado: he thinks "money" will solve problems, and his own happiness in his life
Ryan Regalado: but I can see, not even he is happy with money
Ryan Regalado: and then he projects his thoughts on others, and belittles them
Ryan Regalado: but i know his heart can change
Ryan Regalado: i know my dad's heart can change
moevlo: yea...they definitely can change
Ryan Regalado: i know my friend's that don't believe in Christ and follow His ways right now, can and will change
moevlo: it's about planting that seed
Ryan Regalado: no amount of money in this world changes poverty moi
moevlo: nope.. you're right
Ryan Regalado: because people can be irresponsible, or evil or bad and get themselves right back to poverty
Ryan Regalado: it's their heart and love for God that changes them
Ryan Regalado: it's the Word that changes them if they study
Ryan Regalado: it's love if they learn and follow and spread that changes
Ryan Regalado: remember this
Ryan Regalado: and this is truth
Ryan Regalado: for sure
Ryan Regalado: that's why I said
Ryan Regalado: don't get caught up with working more to make more money and you can help more people
Ryan Regalado: you are already helping all kinds of people, with no money
Ryan Regalado: ministering
Ryan Regalado: going to small group
Ryan Regalado: helping people at work
Ryan Regalado: and now, i see opportunity for case work, and talkig to people, like this depressed mother who ended up killing her children
Ryan Regalado: you can prevent stuff like that
moevlo: yea..you're right
Ryan Regalado: in an entire barangay, town, city
Ryan Regalado: village
Ryan Regalado: it's your time and love moi

Researching items for hygiene kits in Divisoria, Philippines and Community Development Foundations

Went with my cousin Dennis today to Divisoria, a place in south west Metro Manila to find hygiene kit materials. Man, forgot to take pics of the places we went to. I got really excited because it is really inexpensive to get a lot of these items. Here’s the conversion: Php 45 (pesos) to $1. So here is the following list for the items in pesos, they are all great bargains and will be able to get over 100 kits for the kind donations made so far from the states:

• Php 120 for 12 face towels
• Php 95 for 12 handkerchiefs
• Php 10 for 1 bar of soap
• Php 18 for 1 soap container
• Php 50 for 1 shirt (can find wholesaler for this)
• Php 23 for 6 pairs of slippers (bargain!)
• Php 20 for 1 travel size toothpaste
• Php 75 for 24 travel size toothbrush (bargain!)
• Php 100 for 6 underwear boys/men
• Php 100 for 10 underwear girls/woman
• Php 100 for 3 shorts (can find wholesaler for this)

I can’t wait for this Friday. My cousin Dennis will go with me to again to a different placed called Quiapo to find deals on travel size shampoo. I’m still trying to figure out how were are going to transport these things when we purchase in bulk. We don’t have a car and public transportation is very crowded and difficult carrying large items. We may make multiple trips but I’m very excited to begin. I'll be sure to take picturs of all the street vendors and the places that I will be visiting to buy the items for the kits. Again, check out http://www.dosomethingsaturday.org/ to see what my friend Kengi is doing in southern California. His program inspired me to do the same here in the Philippines. Kengi himself was homeless for almost 2 years, with the love and support of others, as well as his continued heart in serving the poor and loving God, Kengi has been spreading love to the people he comes across, both homeless and those that want to help homeless alike.

Below are pictures from riding the public overhead train around and again the same place in Recto near Malate/Ermita, Philippines.

I will be moving in with a friend in a city called Mandaluyong which is great. I will be able to save money and provide for living costs at bare minimum so I can concentrate time and energy in volunteer work opportunities to assist the poor and create and run community development programs from foundations I have come across.

Friends from church are forming a foundation called Extra Mile and I will participate in a meeting my first time in Trinoma mall in Quezon City off of the MRT train station called North Ave. I am very excited for that as well to see what people are doing. A member named Pons will be helping form this foundation and he was part of Real Life Foundation. You can view more here: http://www.igivetolife.com/

Two days ago in service, I was able to attend small group and talk over verses for prosperity or being prosperous. It’s not just about having wealth or good fortune. We referred to verses that explained how Jesus provides us to be prosperous: 1) in our offspring, ability for wombs to be blessed, us to have children, 2) by what is given to us, such as blessing in our harvest or our work, in providing us with the means to live and survive and 3) how we give back, both to community of believers and non-believers with our time and money. I will update this with what verses those are.

On worldly things and the boy from the Jeepney

Last night went to PJ’s pad and had dinner. Downloaded MP3s, finally got my hands on his buddy’s DJ Red-I’s tracks. Really dope DJ, has the essence of selecting a group of hits that are on point. I ate a spam sandwich and we cruised to Red-I’s pad in Valle Verde neighborhood in Ortigas with Nick.

We all hung out and I took of around 11pm. I was able to take notice of what people have interests for. Some people get really into finding the happiness in the moment: good music, fun people, good feeling. It’s interesting to note what happens when those times and feelings go away. What is left when those are not around? This really makes me reflect on Christ and what He wants us to keep at our centers: Loving God and others, and living for eternity. I caught myself really getting into the moment, and then I thought about God and knew what He wanted me to learn. We should be careful not to get caught up in the moment, and look to live in His standard.

Today went to the mall to relax, read a book, and pay Mr. Lagman a visit to let him know I won’t be renting his place. It doesn’t make sense to get into an unfurnished place, get a lease for 12 months when I’m only set to be here for 10 months, and pay twice as much than living with a friend whose place is already furnished with all the utilities that are needed.



There was a little boy on the Jeepney, while I was waiting to go back to my Aunt’s house. He was just sitting there. He was probably a year older than my nephew Chase who is 4 years old. He had a whole bunch of bumps on his face. Everyone in the Jeepney ignored him. I want to carry kits with me so I can just give hygiene kits to these kids, with a note so their parents or guardians don’t think they stole it. It will say “A gift from Jesus Christ. Turn to Christ and He will provide you with eternal life. Believe in Him and love others. Empower yourself to set yourself free.” I will revise but also have it in Tagalog. I don’t need the people to necessarily see who gave it. For the first few people I give it to I will take pictures of them receiving it. But it’s not needed. I do want to record what is happening here and positive changes from organizations and individuals, and stories from those in poverty.