Damires Hills Tierra Verde - A Great Weekend Getaway

A haven for the weary soul. That is what came to my mind when I first entered Damires Hills several months ago while I, together with a friend, was looking for a venue for a retreat. Though it was my first time to be there personally, I knew about the place several years ago when a former student posted pictures of it. They just started working on it at that time. In effect, I can say that I witnessed its transformation to what it is now. 

Owned by the Tirador Family, Damires Hills can be found in Januiay, Iloilo. Its very picturesque landscape is a sight to behold. The big and small open cottages that dot the

Lighting Up USA (University Light of Peace in San Agustin)

(Courtesy of  USA and MMI)

University of San Agustin will be the next venue of the University Light of Peace (ULOP). The administration of University of San Agustin together with Middle Way Meditation - Iloilo, Inc. will lead the candlelighting ceremony to celebrate the university's 111th year as well as to call for Agustinians and the rest of the Ilonggo community to to actively work for the attainment of peace. This event be held on November 25, 2015 at the Plaza de San Agustin, the area in front of Herrera

Light of Peace in San Enrique: How to Join

Saturday, August 26, 2015, will be a very big day for the people of San Enrique, a tiny municipality in the province of Iloilo. The Light of Peace in San Enrique will finally happen. For those who would like to know how to become a part of it, just read on.

Light of Peace in San Enrique: The Road to Inner Peace Town

Students and parents meditate in Catan-agan Elementary School
(Photo Credit: MMI)

What does it take to create an Inner Peace Town? Or some would even change the question and ask if it is possible to have one. After working with the people of San Enrique in the Province of Iloilo for about a couple of months already I can truly say that it is possible albeit challenging.

Leaders from the Church, San Enrique Local Government Unit, Academe, Barangays
and MMI light candles to celebrate the 10,000 Brightness

Challenges. Now that was a very common thing  encountered in the course of  the project and even now that the Light of Peace in San Enrique is fast approaching. Yes, there were a lot of challenges

Lighting Up San Enrique

It was only last year when I got to have a chance to join the Light of Peace in the Philippines and that started the ball rolling. After that I told myself that I won't miss the next ones and that's exactly what I am doing right now - getting involved in another Light of Peace in the Philippines event. How different is this though from the previous ones?

Signpost Philippines to Conduct an Advocacy Poster-Making Contest

Signpost Philippines Inc. (formerly Signpost International, Inc.) is an independent NGO that works hand in hand with the people and empowers them to take an active role in the transformation and development of their respective communities. To help create an awareness regarding various social concerns, we will have an on-the-spot advocacy poster making contest on August 19, 2014 at the Activity Center of SM City, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. There will be three different categories namely Elementary, High School and Open Categories. The selected entries will be used as advocacy posters that will be utilized as information and education materials in the community. 

On-the-Spot Advocacy Poster Making Contest Mechanics

Signpost Philippines Recognizes Excellent Student Beneficiaries

Some of the Awardees with Ms. Noemi Oranio, Community Development Worker for San Juan

Hard work deserves to be rewarded. That is exactly what happened when Signpost Philippines, Inc. gave recognition to their sponsored children who just graduated from their respective schools and those who excelled in their studies. The Recognition Program for school year 2013-2014 was held last June 21, 2014 in Brgy. San Juan, Molo, Iloilo City.

Signpost’s`Rain for Growth Project Soon to Be Launched in Brgy. San Juan, Iloilo

Photo taken in one of the initial visits of Signpost Intl. representatives. Courtesy of  Signpost Philippines.

Signpost Philippines Inc. will soon implement another project for the people in Brgy. San Juan in the district of Molo, Iloilo City. Dubbed as Rain for Growth in San Juan, Philippines, it will be funded by the Big Lottery International Communities Fund of UK and will be launched in the latter part of July 2014. This partnership was facilitated by Signpost International which is also based in UK.

Signpost Community Federation Officers Visit Calajunan Recycling Project

Charcoal briquettes made of recycled paper, saw dust and rice chaff.

June 27, 2014 was a special day for the thirteen leaders of the two organizations under Signpost Philippines, Inc. – the San Juan Hugpong PPEA and the North Baluarte Pagla-um Community Association. The two groups together with Ms. Noemi Oranio and Ms Loryjane Barrocamo, Signpost community development

North Baluarte and San Juan Kids Benefit from Free Dental Checkup

Volunteer dentists from the Philippine Dental Association with a Signpost sponsored child.
(Photos courtesy of Signpost Philippines Inc.)

Iloilo City, Philippines. A total of 80 people from Barangays San Juan and North Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City benefited from the free dental check-up held last May 23, 2014 at the San Juan Health Center.  

Volunteer dentists from the Philippines Dental Association prepped a patient prior to tooth extraction.
(Photos courtesy of Signpost Philippines Inc.)

The patients who took part in this annual event conducted by Signpost Philippines, Inc. (formerly Signpost International, Inc.) were the sponsored children of the organization and some of their parents. The services rendered by the volunteer dentists from the Philippine Dental Association, a partner of the organization in the

Thanks to You, Light of Peace Volunteers

(Courtesy of Claire Jasmine Jeongco)

Iloilo has a new record. It would not have happened if not for all of those who worked really hard for it. The organizers, the volunteers, the sponsors and the thousands of people who believe that world peace can be achieved through inner peace made it happen. Personally, I would like to thank those who heeded the call to volunteer. I may not be able to thank all of you personally or may even miss your name/org/institution but it does not mean that your contributions aren't appreciated. Thanks,Ruben Magan Gamala, for inviting us to volunteer or should I say, volunteering Maita G Magalong, DMCG and iSERVE. The people of VOICE are always ready to volunteer. Thanks also to iSERVE (Raymond Salvilla, Raji Jimenea Alvarado, Dhay Centino etc.), YVG (Charles Gallo

Light of Peace - Where to Get an Event Pass

Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/lightofpeaceevent

The event day is fast approaching. The excitement can already be felt all over the City and Province of Iloilo. The  question is where to get the event pass. Though the volunteers can get in and out of the event area without it, the participants are required to have an event pass. This is quite important because the pass will determine the number of people who will attend the event. This will be monitored closely since it will be used by the organizers and the Guinness Book of World Records.

Be a Part of the Light of Peace 2014

T-shirt Design for the Volunteers
photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/lightofpeaceevent

It's possible that you were there personally in Miag-ao for the Lantern of Peace event last year or it might be that you only heard about it or saw it on TV and the internet news. This time around there are tidbits of information for another undertaking and that is the Light of Peace 2014. You are interested but might not really know the details. So here it goes.

There are two ways in which you can be a part of the event.

Light of Peace 2014 - A Gathering of Thousands for Peace

Please click on these links for the video of a live interview Part 1 and Part 2 in Angtanay sa Katin-aran in the CPU Channel. The video clips are courtesy of Ven. Pisut Thanasudtho.

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As we go around  to invite people to join the Light of Peace 2014 event many questions were raised. Some were as easy as those just asking for the venue or the date  but there were also those who would like to get to know more than that. They wanted to find out what exactly motivated the main organizers as well as their partners to hold such a grand event.

Let's Dance for Peace @ Robinson's Mall Iloilo

(Courtesy of  https://www.facebook.com/lightofpeaceevent)

Things are heating up. We don't have much time left since the event will be next week already. There are still many people who might want to know more about Light of Peace event but there's no need to worry. Volunteers from Thailand and Philippines will be at the Robinson's Mall Iloilo this evening (April 6 @ 6pm) will be most happy to share information about it. Actually, they will even share their talent in dancing to make it even more interesting.

Light of Peace 2014 - An Event Not to Be Missed

I was taking a short nap right after my morning classes when suddenly my phone started ringing. It was a good thing that the ringer was on since it is usually off whenever I have my class. A very familiar voice greeted me. I thought he called because of some business transactions but I was mistaken. He asked me if I remembered the Lantern of Peace event held last year. Though I gave him an affirmative answer I also told

Missed Opportunity...Lantern of Peace 2013

Video Courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/user/simplyiloilo

Goosebumps...touched...overwhelmed...teary-eyed. Those are just some of the things that I can remember feeling when I saw the thousands of Lanterns of Peace floating in the air last May 2013. I would have

Discovering the Foods in the Visayas

(Talaba, Backribs from Tonino's, Pata, Lechon in Tapaz)

The dictionary might define food as something that is taken to nourish the body but for me it is more than that. I have this love-hate relationship with it. I really love eating and it is really apparent even if I won't verbally declare it. That is where the hatred comes in. I hate the fact that it seems like whatever I eat would directly go to my hips. The thing is that I would rather waddle like a duck than give up all the scrumptious food that I can have.

I love foods and when I eat I can really say that I eat a lot. Eating for me is not just to appease hunger. It is an interesting experience for me. One of the things that I tend to do when I eat something new is to try to guess the ingredients and the process used in preparing the dish. There

Iloilo...My Home

Iloilo is such an interesting to live in. It has a very diverse culture and a much laid back atmosphere compared with other cities in the Philippines.

What makes Iloilo interesting?

Hhmm...It might be the Ilonggos themselves - what they do and have achieved. There are many Ilonggos who made a name for themselves and excelled in their respective fields. They can be found in almost all fields

Remembering the 90's Dunkin' Donuts Experience in Iloilo City

It was in the 90's when Dunkin Donuts first opened its doors to the Ilonggos. The first store was opened in Iznart St., Iloilo City. It was just beside a movie theater which has long been closed down. I can still remember the anticipation of the many doughnut lovers because it was the first ever doughnut shop in the city if not the whole island.