These are the top 10 reasons you shouldn’t volunteer for any Typhoon Ondoy relief operation: 10. You’re not getting anything out of it. 9. You’re scheduled to go to Caliraya in a motorboat. 8. Yuck, make tapak in the putik? Kadiri, noh. 7. You’d rather go shopping for alcohol. 6. You’re too emotionally attached to every single item of clothing in your closet that you can’t part with them. Every t-shirt. Every...

I’m sorry I haven’t been able to post regularly. Since Sunday, Cathy and I have been volunteering at the Typhoon Ondoy relief program of the church in the Philippines for which I work, Victory Fort Bonifacio. It’s been hectic but not chaotic; it’s fast-paced but it’s organized. I cannot begin to emphasize how important it is for us to come together as a nation to do this. Civil society is getting more vocal –...

September 26, 2009, may very well go down in Philippine history as one of its darkest days. Typhoon Ondoy – known internationally as Ketsana – slammed into the Philippine island of Luzon, carrying with it strong winds of up to 100kph and very heavy rains. The Philippine capital of Manila turned into a virtual river, with flash floods sending thousands fleeing their homes in search of higher ground. You can view images here (excuse...

As of September 26, 2009, these are my top 10 favorite songs. 1. One Reason (1) Chynna & Vaughan 2. Blessed Be Your Name (2) Ashmont Hill 3. Hey Soul Sister (4) Train 4. Reborn (new) Avalon 5. Arise (3) Avalon 6. Make Me (9) Janet 7. Rehab (8) The Glee Cast 8. Cowboy Casanova (10) Carrie Underwood 9. The Lost Get Found (5) Britt Nicole 10. No Other Name (7) Freddy Rodriguez & Champions Live

I’ve been on near-total vocal rest the past four days. Last Sunday, I fought a cough and cold that threatened to escalate into a full-blown sore throat, and, well, after all the talking I did manning the Information Booth at the Philippine church where I work, well, Monday just knocked me flat off my feet. I decided to go on full vocal rest from that day on, so until today, I’ve been pretty faithful in not talking. (Well, save for a...