UPDATE CALL FOR PNRI AND BAYANIHAN

I was looking for a way to be able to send a donation online so at least I could help at least to the victims of Tropical Storm Ondoy. It's my daily habit to read news and I got some news sites bookmarked so I could easily browse for news. What I was looking for was an article that has any link for online donations but I can't find any.

Anyway, I thought I would send money online through Philippine National Red Cross. I was glad at first that there are options and instructions on the front page.


ONLINE DONATION - SO JURASSIC

So I clicked on the online donation for credit cards, the button that says "DONATE TO US" with the credit card image. I was hoping I could fill in the card details and the amount so I could send but I was headed to a form like a sponsor where you have the option to choose either monthly, quarterly or annually. This is not what I was hoping to be led. I tried navigating the website but there’s really nothing there where you could donate online, but there’s an option to send bank order though or to send your card details and the amount that you intend to donate. I just don’t feel comfortable with that. I’ve even read an article from another online national newspaper about the frustration of a certain Paulo Coelho, author of “The Alchemist” who I guess tried to donate through the PNRI website but failed to do so. It’s just not possible. He posted on his twitter account his frustration about PNRI’s “Jurassic methods”, his terminology of the process, of collecting donations.


PNRI DONATIONS AND PAYPAL

Maybe I can understand that PNRI might be really busy with their job. I also thought, there must be someone who is in-charge with the web updates and adding this feature won’t even take 30-minutes. I hope they could actually set up a paypal account and make that donate button for real. This won’t take 30-minutes of their time. The procedure to do it can be searched from the paypal website paypal.com. This would greatly help PNRI to collect more donations especially that we have also OFW’s who are willing to help.


SUNSTAR HELPLINE

For those who would like to donate online, Sun Star also set up a special helpline webpage to help Ondoy victims. You may visit the site here. For donations, you may donate via paypal here or by using the button below.


Please donate any amount, we greatly appreciate your generosity.




MAGBAYANIHAN PO TAYO : HOW TO DONATE

I was able to obtain a list as to where you could make donations. I got this moving list from another blogger FRAN whilst reading news. I commented on her site and asked permission to repost the same list. I posted in advance though, ^_^ and am sure it's okay with her. Please the best way you could help or send your donation from the lists below:


MALLS AND COMMERCIAL OUTLETS

Aranaz Stores (Rockwell & Greenbelt) – accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (all branches) – canned goods, water, clothes, blankets, towels, medicine, and emergency supplies (no cash)

LUCA stores (Rockwell, Shangri-la, Eastwood, or GA Towers) - Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls)

Mail & More, FedEx & Air21 outlets – now accepting donations. For locations, pls call +6328794789 or log to www.mailandmore.com.ph

McDonald’s (all branches in MM) – accepting donations as of Sept. 28, 12NN

MOONSHINE boutique (Rockwell) - accepting relief goods to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.

Papemelroti stores (91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall) – accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes – NO CASH pls.)

PowerPlant Mall – accepting donations for ABS-CBN Foundation. Drop-off at Admin Office, P1 level.

7-Eleven (all branches) – serve as drop-off points for relief supplies such as ready-to-eat goods, mats, mosquito nets and water jugs.

Starbucks – accepting blankets, rice, instant noodles and bottled water. These items will be delivered to Ateneo de Manila University.

Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk,Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.

GOVERNMENT/RELIEF AGENCIES/ OTHERS

AKBAYAN - taking donations, call 433-69-33/433-68-31 to donate or volunteer.

BAYAN MUNA – bring donations to 45 K-7th St.. Bgy. West Kamias, QC. Tel 921-3473

Move for Chiz – asking for volunteers at Bay Park Tent, along Roxas Blvd., beside Max Restaurant and Diamond Hotel in Manila, or at Gilas Minipark at Unang Hakbang St., Gilas Q.C.

Worldvision Foundation – accepting donations/volunteers to pack relief goods in QC. For $ donations, BPI: USD acct #4254-0050-08

Philippine National Red Cross – visit their site HERE for various ways to donate.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan is accepting donations @ AGS Bldg Annex, 446 EDSA Guadalupe Viejo. Contact Vina Vargas at +632917-8081247

WITHIN METRO MANILA

Cavite

NCST (Dasmarinas Cavite) – Volunteers/donations welcome. Call (046)416-6278 Ms. Angie

Makati

Assumption College (San Lorenzo Village) – Please drop donations off at the AC guardhouse.

Binalot (Greenbelt 1) – call Tetchie Bundalian at +632922-8573277

Whitespace (2314 Chino Roces Ave Ext) – Makati drop-off for relief goods

Mandaluyong/San Juan

CFC Center Ortigas (right side, immediately after you come down EDSA flyover) – open for donations in cash or kind. Call +632-7270682 to 87 or text +632922-2542819

La Salle Greenhills – drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc) at Gate 2 on Monday, Sept. 28, or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.

Xavier School – canned goods, bread, noodles. Please bring to Multipurpose Center (MPC). Accepted till Monday, Sept. 28.

ICA Greenhills - accepting donations and open to volunteers too

Manila

Caritas Manila Office (Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge) - call +632-5639298, +632-5639308

MINISTOP IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) – Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies

Muntinlupa

Hillsborough Village Chapel – Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.

Paranaque

Alabang Town Center Concierge – acts as drop-off point for donations

Operation Rainbow (Zac Faelnar Camara) at Ayala Alabang Village - needs Canned Goods, Ready-To-Eat Food, Bottled Water, Ready-To-Drink Milk/ Juice, Clothing, Blankets, contact (+632-4687991)

Playschool International (47 Ghana St., Better Living Subd., Paranaque) - open to receive donations (NO CASH, PLS) for relief goods. Please feel free to send your donations there. Teachers/staff will coordinate sending these to the centers.

Pasig

Miriam Quiambao – drop off point: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.

Relief Efforts for Pasig at Valle Verde 1 Village Park – contact +632916-4945000, +632917-5273616

Donations and manpower needed at Megatent, Meralco Avenue, Ortigas beside Renaissance Towers. it will be open 24 hours til Friday

RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER (2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, Meralco Avenue) – Donations can be brought starting Monday, Sept. 28/9am – 7pm. Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com

RFM Gym (Pioneer) – donations are being requested by GAWAD KALINGA. Call/text +63917-8888109 /+63917-8888304

Quezon City

ABS-CBN through Banco de Oro account number 56300-20111; account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Incorporation (NOTE: This account # needs verification because on the ABS-CBN Foundation website, the account # is 5630060113)

Ateneo de Manila University – cooked or ready-to-eat food, clothes, medicine, blankets, water. Donations may be dropped off at the MVP, University Dorm, or Cervini lobbies.

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health - accepting donations of medicines. A center in Pasig has more than 1,000 evacuees, mostly kids suffering from colds and fever. Call Louie Montalbo: (0918) 936-2095.

Bantayog ng mga Bayani, Quezon Ave. corner EDSA, QC - drop-off center for donations

Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC) – Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)

CONTEND-UP, UP Diliman Faculty Center -drop-off point for donations

Erica Paredes (Katipunan), +63917-4741930 – they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.

Kabataan Partylist, 118-B Scout Rallos, QC) – drop-off point for donations

KADAMAY (Urban Poor Group) – accepts donations of relief goods at 12-A Kasiyahan St, Bgy Holy Spirit, Commonwealth, QC Tel 427-4315

Manor Superclub (Eastwood City) – will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday, Sept. 27, at 10 am.

National City United Church, Times St., Q.C. -drop-off pt for donations

NoyMar Relief Operations – contact Clare Amador (+63928 520 5508) or Jana Vicente (+63928 520 5499). Drop-off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao. 8am – 9pm throughout the week until further notice. Donate drinking water, old medicines, clothing, blankets, canned goods, noodles. Volunteer to man stations and repack food.

Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City) – call +632-4342397, +632-9290665

Philippine Army Gym (inside Fort Bonifacio) or GHQ Gym (Camp Aguinaldo) - now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.

Radio Veritas (Veritas Tower West Ave. cor EDSA) – call +632-9257931 to 40

Tulong Bayan, Cubao – needs clothes, salt and cooking oil in sachets: 0908-6579998, 0939-3633436, 9137122

UP College of Arts and Letters (Diliman) – Hotline: 09296454102 (Prof. Roselle Pineda). Look for: Guard on Duty (in UP CAL). Operations: 24 hours until Wednesday, Sept. 30, tentatively. Donate medicines, clothes, blankets, food to be distributed by Citizens’ Disaster Response Center.

UP College of Law – Kindly drop off goods at Student Lounge or contact Dean’s Office

UPD- University Student Council, Vinzons Hall, UP Diliman, Q.C. -drop-off pt for donations

Taguig

Enderun Colleges (The Fort) – needs volunteers to chop, cook and pack food. They are on 24-hour duty.

PROVINCIAL

Bacolod

CAFE BREIZH – drop off center for donations. Text 09193651101 for details.

ONLINE DONATIONS OR VIA MOBILE

Ayala Foundation USA – click on their DONATION PAGE. Look for the link “partners’ profile and projects“, look for “Browse Organizations” dropdown menu and choose PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS.

MyAyala.com site for Jesuits (from Fr. Johnny Go) – You can use your CREDIT CARD and donate ONLINE. Go to www.myayala.com/sjph/. On the line “I would like to donate to:”, write “xs4ondoy“.

Red Cross Load Donations – Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. To donate, text RED and send to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart). You can donate 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 300 pesos. (Update as of 9/28/09: Globe has waived transaction fee for donations to Red Cross)

TxtPower – now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal.

Via www.philippineaid.com – some of the people behind this site are blogger friends. Donations are via Paypal or credit card. The ChipIn widget visible on the site tracks all donations.

Worldvision Foundation – For $ donations, BPI: USD acct #4254-0050-08

IN THE USA

New York

Ondoy New York Disaster Relief drop off center - @ Pandayan Center, 406 W 40th St. Between 9th and 10th Aves.



Please act now and together let’s save lives. We must renew the spirit of “bayanihan” in us. However small, if we act collectively we can make a difference. I’ve done my part, I’m hoping you would too. God Bless to you and your family.

GOD BLESS US ALL AND OUR NATION!

Ondoy's Fury

This is a bird’s eye view shoswing the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally known as Ondoy) in Manila. Houses are submerged and cars are carried by the strong current. The one on the picture showing mostly rooftops shows the extent of water levels in Marikina City, one of the most badly hit wherein more than 50 people reportedly died. Heavy rain poured continuously last Saturday overflowing rivers which resulted to flooded streets. (Photo by MARK BALMORES, taken from Manila Bulletin online.)

This is the first time Manila sank completely, according to Bayani Fernando, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman. Initially, the typhoon wasn't expected to hit this far. It was even broadcast at around 65-75kph only. Philippines sadly is located in a strategic place wherein tropical storm originates, the Pacific Ocean.

This photo you see on the right shows the large areas of Taguig City which is still submerged in water. This photograph taken from a plane after taking off from the NAIA Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday afternoon.

Another aerial shot shows a mass of survivors and vehicles stuck in a bridge in Cainta, Rizal. Pinning their hope to elevated places, they flocked to the bridge in multitudes and once can only hope the bridge won't collapse. (Photo taken from Manila Bulletin.)

*A Pacific typhoon or tropical storm like Ketana is a tropical cyclone that forms in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The basin is demarcated within the Pacific Ocean from Asia, north of the equator, and west of the international date line. Storms from the Eastern and Central Pacific crossing the date line are re-designated as typhoons; prior to entering the basin they are respectively called "hurricanes" and "severe tropical cyclones." This basin features the strongest cyclones on record. Nearly one-third of the world's tropical cyclones form within the Western Pacific. This makes this basin the most active. Pacific typhoons have formed year round, with peak months from August to October. The peak months correspond to that of the Atlantic hurricane seasons.

Since July, there has been intense reporting about brewing storms and I've even received an email that circulated through the internet that there might even a tsunami that would occur on the southernmost part of the archipelago. That was estimated to be around the 3rd week of July, thanks heavens it never occurred.

*Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_typhoon

Unloading History: Anglo-Saxon Era

The pictures below are some of the great finds in one of the English farms in Burntwood, England. These pictures depicts that of an elite Anglo-Saxon army I suppose, judging from the finished and beautifully crafted artworks on gold. It is estimated to be dating back between 565 and 725. This is simply amazing, a great find indeed! These would probably rewrite the history of medieval England. Click on the picture


scabbard boss & hilt fitting


The man holding the artifacts is Terry Herbert, the man who is responsible
of the hoard and a gold strip with Latin writings taken from the bible.


a gold plaque and a horse-shaped terminal


Various items from the hoard and a folded golden cross


and this is the map where they unearthed the hoard, the exact location is being kept secret for some obvious reasons. An elderly man in his 50's, an amateur treasure hunter and unemployed, he detected something on earth while searching for a fortune using his metal detector on his friends farm field. He's been searching on the field for a few days and later asked assistance from the authorities to evaluate what's in there. It turned out to be a stash of golden artifacts and other stuffs used in battle.

According to the news from Yahoo, the hoard was officially declared treasure by a coroner on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 which means it will be valued by experts. Once valued, the proceeds will be divided equally by Terry and his friend, the owner of the farm. An expert estimated two of the items to around a sum of 7-digits each, whoa! He surely had fun out there with his metal detector, and eventually became a millionaire!

Find out more about the story from AP at Yahoo and about these artifacts here.


Photos taken from Yahoo and the Staffordshire Hoard site.

Thanks Google!

Smile ^_^ or wink ??? Am just happy :) Why?

First I got this message then after few minutes, yes, just few minutes, I am like a child rolling on my bed to kid my GF. She's been bullying me that I can't do it. Although I know she's supporting me, we sometimes bully each other. It's our way of showing fondness.

I've blogged about this last month and I've been contemplating on how to realize it. I've searched online and read numerous sites so I can decide what's best for me. I think am just a notch higher than a beginner here so i thought it's not practical for me to do it like many experienced bloggers do. I just want it simple and I just want my presence on the web. I was thinking that if purchase a domain with hosting, it would cost me much, per month. Though I've found some free hosting sites, there are also limits to your storage. With blogspot, I can have unlimited storage since it's with google.

Then I noticed a colleague the other day doing rounds on his site. With my usual thirst of curiousness, asked him what his host is. He said he's hosting it on google. He said he only paid for the domain. I thought it's a good idea, just exactly perfect with what I have in mind. In fact, that's one of the reason why I can't easily give up my blogspot. I've been accustomed to blogger and just not ready yet spending another amount for hosting. Fact is, I've already tried the idea with a free domain account from my other site but I was so excited and impatient. I got the same error but I did not want to wait, although I found an article that it's normal since it's still updating I guess, but I was too impatient and reverted back the url. I am afraid of losing my little traffic, eh. So when my colleague said he's done it with google, he actually nailed my assumption. I said I'd try it at home and so I did today, and became impatient again at first but eventually gave it a try. What convinced me was the information from google that "it would take 24-48hrs" for the site to be active. I thought that's a long wait, but wait... there's another line that says it could also take some few minutes or upto 30minutes only. This line really convinced me so I waited and became impatient again. I thought it says upto 30 minutes so why won't I try it (after just 3 mins. i guess). So I typed my blogspot url on the address bar and wooollaahh, I failed my GF, I got it redirected, hehehe. Now we're both happy :). Weird? Yea, I am.

So that's why am happy, got something done today. When my curiosity got fed up, that's a doze of happiness for me. I am not an all-time google user but I guess I have a good reason to love google now. I am still not 100% sure though about this, if what I am thinking is absolutely right, I still have to figure out. Please let me know if you have knowledge about this. Anyway, thanks Google!

Friendship Blog Award

I am still a novice on blogging so I am still learning a lot. Recently, I received a message from my shoutbox coming from My Pink Shoelace that I got an award. This is my first time to receive an award for a blog.

Thanks much MPS, nice trophy :buttrock:


The Friendship Blog Award above implies :

Green: to symbolize the new buddies
Yellow: to represent the guys who are always active
Blue: to symbolize with high performing PR Bloggers
Red: to symbolize that our blood is red and therefore we are all brothers.


If there's one blogger who inspired me to blog, she's the one. She's been to many places, traveling here and there, local or abroad and she's getting much I think from her blogs. I thought it's cool to blog and earn something out of it, so that thought made this blog possible.


The Friendship Blog Award comes with a few DO’s and these are:

1. Create a post as above
2. Include a link Giver Award.
3. For colleagues who have not followed this site or not exchange links, please follow or exchange links with me.
4. Copy-paste the image to be replicated at your Blog Post.


I am now sending this award to some online friends, mostly entrearders, who frequented my site. They are:



Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Downed by Flu

It's supposed to be my last day of my work week before my day-off. Yesterday, whilst on my usual work routine, I've been feeling dizzy and sensed some heat coming out of my nose on exhale. I know something is not right.

Truly, when I woke up after couple hours of sleep, I could feel the weight of my body. I felt heavy and pain lingers on my back. As I switched position and feeling the heat surrounding me like chakra* heat waves, it was then I was certain that I got flu.

Guess I got another day off but not really happy though, I feel sick. I can't make the most of my rest days. Good thing though I was able to call the office 2hrs. before my scheduled shift - trying to be safe. I hate it but I have to buy drugs medicines and more fruits.

So long guys, enjoy your weekend!

*When I say chakra, I am referring to energy like wave surrounding the body like those we see in Naruto or Dragonball animes, :)

Free Blog Modification

For months I've been wondering how other bloggers come up with a nice theme. I've searched online and there are those themes that are available for a fee. There are also themes from wordpress that I like but since I am hosting blogger, I don't think it's practical to sign-up for wordpress and transfer my posts there.

I've been patiently browsing for more possibilities and I feel like it's really possible since I had encountered lot's of blogspot hosted sites boasting excellent themes. I guess I've been loathing around while doing my search, impatient to wait for the web results. Found out it's not really that hard to find one. Simply search for blogger templates and you'd get millions. But what makes it hard for me to find one anyway, when there are millions returned from the search? If you've guessed I'm looking for free, you guessed it right. I just can't afford to dole out extra amount for the template, so I thought I'd rather learn the basics. I just wanted a simple one, clean and won't itch my eyes.

I continued feeding my curiousity until I found out that there's actually someone who's actually willing to convert wordpress templates to blogger. You can even request for it. You can even download the templates for free. The author only asked that you retain the credits since these are are licensed under a Creative Commons License, thus removing the credits would be using an illegal copy of the same. You can simplify the credits or relocate, but not remove them. I guess he's kind enough to share the template so he deserved the credit. That's also another way of thanking him for his efforts. There are also tips and tricks on tweaking your template. If you have extra funds, you may donate any amount to keep the site going.

If you want to give your site a make over, try visiting his site and don't forget to spread the love!
 

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