TEXTILE, CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR ORMOC CITY

TCF Ormoc's Journey

2011-12-02T02:41:00.000-08:00

Presented by Jean Justimbaste at the 3rd International Conference of Fashion Incubators Perth, Western Australia

Parmelia Hilton Perth Hotel, September 11-13, 2011

This is the Philippine map showing the Island of Leyte where Ormoc is a chartered city.

A chartered city reports directly to the Office of the President and does not pass by the governor of Leyte.

Ormoc is endowed with so much natural resources: sugarcane, ricefields, old growth forest, abundant water, geothermal energy, industries, commercial establishments and a friendly people.

Most TCF Community Sewing Centers are in agricultural villages.

But, let us start from the beginning….

In January, 2007 Carol Hanlon and Mel Liley – Rom whose husband is a Leyteño, came to Ormoc for a product scouting mission and product development opportunity. They stayed in the house of Dr. Jun Yrastorza and the late Glenda Yrastorza. Upon the request of Carol, Dr. Yrastorza gathered a few NGO managers to their house where Carol explained why they were in Ormoc. Hearing many women interested and are being trained in sewing, was enough for Carol to take to Australia with them.

That was how these all started.

Emails flew rapidly from Belmont to Ormoc to Belmont – almost daily. We then found out that Carol and Mel upon their return from their first Ormoc visit, were busy soliciting for donations to be sent to Ormoc, Philippines.

In Australia Carol and Mel busied themselves in telling people to donate through mass media, through friends in their organizations and through the Rotary Club.

Wonderful Australians came to lend a hand to receive the awesome donations!

Wives, husbands and their children came to help pack the voluminous donations that poured in.

Here are all the donations… awesome, just awesome. We can’t thank you enough!

So much work done for the Ormocanons…. by the Australians…. And they finished loading them in the van way into the night….

Back in Ormoc Dr. Yrastorza & Jean Justimbaste went to the different villages where sewing trainings have been conducted and introduced the TCF project to them – their responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of TCF.

Through Jon Aboitiz, Dr. Jun Yrastorza’s cousin, the Aboitiz Group Foundation provided the funds for the shipment of one 40-ft container van from Perth – Cebu – Ormoc. The Yrastorzas lent TCFOrmoc the money to pay for the customs duties in Cebu.

Some women were present on the arrival of the goods and went with the van to the residence of Vicky Larrazabal-Locsin.

Former govt officials in their own right and good friends of the Yrastorzas, Toto and Vicky Locsin lent their big family hall as temporary warehouse of the donations from Carol’s group – TCFWA.

We did not waste time and distributed the goods the same day it arrived. The distribution lasted for 7 days at the Locsin Hall and transferred to the medical clinic of Dr. Yrastorza. For a whole year, we were still distributing.

… and the Community Sewing Centers started producing…. All 22, then 25 and now 30 of them.

In November, 2009 twenty-two (22) of the Community Sewing Centers were turned over to the Metro Ormoc Community Credit Coop. With Dr. Yrastorza already based in the U.S. it was the best move. With OCCCI, it was hoped that the Community Sewing Centers would expand and develop their businesses better. This was in time for the arrival of the 2^nd batch of donations which will be presented by Joe.

Currently, TCF Ormoc has a new partner in the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU). EVSU has the capability to provide more trainings to TCF beneficiaries and it has the technical people to provide these trainings.

Future Plans: TCF Ormoc is right now managed by a Project Management Team composed of PFI/Dr. Yrastorza, OCCCI and EVSU. It is planned that as soon as BPW Ormoc shall have been accepted as a Club by the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, TCF then will be turned-over to BPW Ormoc.

The dream is to establish a Center for Entrepreneurship at the EVSU Ormoc Campus where TCF women and others specially the younger generation, may hone their sewing and craft talents for them to use in their own businesses.

Grateful

2011-10-24T03:23:00.000-07:00

MY HEARTFELT THANKS to BPW Belmont, TCF Western Australia, Carol Hanlon and Shirley Lancaster.

Never in my dreams have I expected to be able to travel outside of my own country, the Philippines if not for - foremost, Carol Hanlon. To her I am grateful. However, without the support of all the women in BPW Belmont, BPW Perth and TCF Western Australia everything couldn't have happened.

To BPW Belmont, thank you so much for facilitating my scholarship with BPW Australia's Agnes Robertson Fund to be able to attend the International Conference of Fashion Incubators in Perth. It was my honor to have presented the TCF Ormoc project in the conference in behalf of Dr. Jun Yrastorza and the other NGOs who, in one way or another have partially or fully helped the project.

To Shirley Lancaster and husband, my heartfelt thanks for welcoming me to their wonderful home. Shirley and her husband have been awesome hosts to me. My thanks to her too for bringing me to the home of my kababayans - the Roms.

BPW Belmont and BPW Perth, you are all great!

Thanks for pursuing the 3rd batch of donations for TCF Ormoc.

Forever grateful,

Ma. Johara (Jean) Justimbaste

TCF Ormoc

BPW Ormoc

Who We Are

2011-09-29T22:48:00.000-07:00

TEXTILE, CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR ORMOC CITY

(TCFOC)

We are a group of small homegrown NGOs from Ormoc City, Philippines. With our partner - TCF Western Australia, we are implementing a Community Sewing Livelihood Project, sewing machines and materials of which come from TCF Western Australia. The machines and sewing materials are distributed in

19 Community Livelihood Centers in 17 barangays (villages) in Ormoc.

165 sewing machines, boxes of quality fabric, and other sewing materials from the wonderful people of TCF-Western Australia were shipped and handed over to us in December, 2007. Thank you to TCF Western Australia, Carol Hanlon, Mel Rom and

Rhay Rom. Mabuhay kayo!

We are managed by a Project Management Team composed of Dr. Gregorio Yrastorza, Jr., OCEF; Jean Justimbaste, PFI; Marlyn Valenciano, ECLIPSE; Nieves Coca, ORVEMPCO; and Xerxes Solon, LEYAN.

Journey to the ICFI 2011

2011-09-16T23:08:00.001-07:00

The invitation from Carol Hanlon to attend the International Conference of Fashion Incubators (ICFI 2011) in Perth, Western Australia came to as a surprise to me.

Was I glad I attended that conference (September 11-13, 2011) and my warm gratitude to Carol Hanlon for being my biggest supporter who really did a lot to get me a scholarship for this travel. I learned a lot from the conference - talk of opportunities for women in the villages!

There were hitches along the way, of course! I had to re-book my ticket and take the Tacloban-Manila flight my visa arrived only at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon and I was booked on the 3PM flight from Cebu-Manila.

Thank you so much to a Jane at ToGo courier - the official courier of the Australian Embassy in Manila. She made it happen for me.

Thank you to OCCCI staff Jane Jumao-as and MaryAnne Joriza they are both wonderful ladies who helped me book my e-ticket for Carol to reimburse later. And of course thank you to Joe Mosquite, OCCCI CEO who approved the facilitation of my e-tickets as requested by Carol.

Thank you to Spanky Muñoz who, as always, is always there whenever I need someone's help. God Bless you, Spank!

And most of all thank you to my husband, Emil for allowing me to travel and took the responsibility of taking care of my ageing father.

PAROPARO's Faye Maramara visits Ormoc

2011-07-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

On June 15, 2011 as she promised, Faye Maramara came to Ormoc for a Product Development meeting with Ormoc professionals and small business owners. Jean Justimbaste of Textile Clothing Footwear - Ormoc and Beatrice Mabitad of the Eastern Visayas State University met her at the Ormoc port.

She presented her products through her website paroparo.com.au.

She then entertained questions from the audience.

She explained how her products come into being.

... and signed Certificates of Attendance to all participants...

A good development was that even if at this time TCF Ormoc cannot yet supply her with the kind of decorative and accessories that her business needs, her designer's eye found another product that needs development that's already being produced by some women under the TCF project.

TCF Ormoc is looking forward to receiving her orders in the near future.

TCF Ormoc Mentor in Helsinki, Finland

2011-06-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Carol is in Helsinki and was interviewed by a reporter there.

The following is plucked out from the link: http://global.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=221991

Carol Hanlon, Australia

Textile, Clothing, Footwear, Leather Resource Center of Western Australia

Carol Hanlon.

"I'm in Asia and the Pacific Incubator Network. The main focus of my work is fashion and design promotion. Example, we have 29 sewing center network in the Philippines. I participated in the previous corresponding forum, which was held in Brazil two years ago. It impressed me.

Fashion

artisans are incubators for new and globally. For example, Africa has a lot of interest in them. My passion is to help women micro-enterprises in developing countries.

It will be interesting to see how the fashion industry artisans and small entrepreneurs operating in Finland. Fashion entrepreneur is often left aside - our network to help in other areas such as garment and textile sector.

I came to Finland at my own expense, and I'm going to take advantage of the journey, visit to St. Petersburg, Moscow and Berlin. I will return to Helsinki, an international business women's conference a couple of weeks. "

Photo: Marja-Leena Kultanen

UN WOMEN PRESS RELEASE

2011-03-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

UN Women Celebrates Launch as Powerful Driver of Women’s Equality

Posted on February 24 2011 | Press Releases

Press contact: Gretchen Luchsinger, Media Specialist, UN Women Headquarters, +1 212 906-6506, gretchen.luchsinger[at]unwomen.org

New York, 24 February 2011 — The UN today celebrates the historic launch of UN Women, its newest organization, with an evening including luminaries from the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, the media, music and film in the UN General Assembly Hall.

UN Women, formally known as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, combines four previous UN bodies and represents the United Nations’ most ambitious effort ever to accelerate actions to achieve gender equality. Around the world, supporters of women’s rights have heralded its debut.

“With the birth of UN Women, we welcome a powerful new agent for progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment,” says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “The challenges are great, but I believe that with the new energy, the new momentum and the new authority that UN Women brings, these challenges will be met. True gender equality should be our shared legacy in the 21st Century.”

The Secretary-General appointed former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to be the first Executive Director of UN Women. Calling the launch the first of many important milestones in the global pursuit of gender equality, she emphasizes that the decision to establish UN Women reflects ongoing frustration with the slow pace of change. UN Member States unanimously agreed to create the new organization, following longstanding advocacy by women’s activists.

“Think of how much more we can do once women are fully empowered as active agents of change and progress within their societies,” Ms. Bachelet says. “Historically, we are at a point of great potential and change for women. Now we must seize that opportunity.”

She adds, “My own experience has taught me that there is no limit to what women can do.”

UN Women will support individual countries in moving towards gender equality in economics and politics, and ending the worldwide phenomenon of violence against women. It will assist in setting international standards for progress, and lead coordinated UN efforts to make new opportunities for women and girls central to all UN programmes for development and peace.

UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and Academy-Award winner Nicole Kidman describes personal experiences of seeing women change the world. “There are incredible testimonies of resilience, strength and dignity — and ultimately of hope,” she says. “This is why I say that the women and girls I have met are my personal heroes. It is my pleasure and pride to be with UN Women, the new, strong voice for women around the world.”

H.R.H. Princess Cristina of Spain, in her capacity as President of the Institute of Health of Barcelona, urges broader understanding of how an investment in women is an investment in families, communities and nations. Citing uneven progress on aspects of the Millennium Development Goals such as reduced maternal mortality, she calls on“all stakeholders and champions — governments, foundations, the private sector, civil society, academic institutions and individuals — to invest in women’s empowerment as an instrumental strategy to achieve the MDGs.”

Ms. Juju Chang, news anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America, serves as emcee of the celebration. Other speakers include UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss; the President of the UN Women Executive Board and former Foreign Minister of Nigeria, Ambassador Joy Ogwu; Nepalese activist Bandana Rana and former Commander of the all-female Formed Police Unit in Liberia Rakhi Sahi.

CNN founder and Chairman of the UN Foundation Ted Turner urges men and the private sector to get involved in achieving gender equality. Actress Geena Davis highlights the role of the media in promoting positive images. The singer Shakira has offered a special message emphasizing the importance of education.

The programme concludes with the performance of the song “One Woman,” which was written for the occasion, with lyrics by Beth Blatt, and music co-composed by Graham Lyle and Clay.

The celebration of the launch of UN Women can be seen via webcast athttp://bit.ly/unwomenlaunch

So many things happening everyday!

2011-03-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I have to upload all these in one sitting:

The NGO Committee on Migration

Co-sponsored by

Gray Panthers, International Council of Psychologists, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Loretto Community

Presents

Access to Education in Science and Technology: Building Capacity in Migrant Women and Girls

Thursday, 3 March 2011

Church Center, 777 UN Plaza

44^th Street and 1^st Avenue, 10^th Floor

10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Introduction: Sally Dunne, Loretto Community; Executive Committee, NGO Committee on Migration

Moderator: Eva Richter, International Federation of Business and Professional Women; Vice Chair, NGO Committee on Migration

Speakers:

Jean D’Cunha

Global Migration Adviser, UN Women

Carol Hanlon

Founder/CEO Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc.; Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia, Inc.; Multicultural Women’s Sewing Project

Sarah Ak Ahmed

Iraqi Student Project; Iraqi Refugee now living in Syria

THE NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN INC

47th ANNUAL CONFERENCE

“Power to Make A Difference”

THROUGH ACTION AND ADVOCACY.

Saturday 2nd April 2011

Hosted by BPW NZ Executive

Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre

58 Waipuna Rd

Mt Wellington

Auckland.

ONE DAY CONFERENCE AND AGM EARLY REGISTRATION:-

To assist with early planning the Conference Committee is opening Registration for

Conference 2011 NOW.

We want to get an early indication of possible numbers and an indication of interest in a

partners program.

Accommodation to be booked directly with WAIPUNA HOTEL. Please see separate

accommodation sheet.

Complete a separate registration form for each delegate.

Copies of registration form are available on the BPW NZ Website (www,bpwnz.org.nz).

Please retain a copy for your records.

BPW NZ Conference Planning Committee

PO Box 51085

PAKURANGA 2140

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF FASHION INCUBATORS

11-13 September, 2011 - Hilton Hotel - Perth, Australia

The conference aims to further professional development and to promote best practice across the industry. The International Conference of Fashion Incubators will present challenging speakers at the forefront of the fashion industry as well as a range of practitioners willing to share their experiences and expertise, exhibitors and great opportunities for global networking.

www.tcfaustralia.com

TCF Australia was launched in 2006 to assist the fashion and TCFL industries across

Australia, including regional and remote creative industries. Industry specific small

business training & mentoring is provided through the delivery of projects that include workshops, online mentoring, events and exhibitions. Buying missions are also co-ordinated to numerous global trade fashion events.

• Fashion business growth and professional development

• Incubator best practice, financing and business support available

• International fashion trade exhibitions, festivals & marketing opportunities

• Sourcing global networks: raw materials, manufacturers, agents, retailers

• Indigenous fibres, textiles, traditional crafts, global village sewing projects

• Expand the global fashion ‘helpline’ network and fashion designer exchange

• Managing Intellectual Property in global fashion & design industries

• Environmental, Ethical & Eco Friendly Sustainable fashion development

• International trend development and forecasting services in Fashion

• Virtual Business Incubation, mentoring online, webinars solutions

• Doing Business Online and creating social media fashion networks

WHO WILL ATTEND AND WHO WILL YOUR MESSAGE REACH?

The Third International Conference of Fashion Incubators will offer new opportunities for fashion business educators and fashion trade events from around the globe to network, discuss best practice and expand global designer marketing and promotional opportunities. It will assist the growth and development of fashion industry business educators and those that nurture and support emerging designers, as well as elevating Perth on the international fashion stage.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:

TCFWA is a member of the Asia Pacific Incubator Network, iDISC, InfoDev - www.idisc.net/en/Incubator.330.html

TCFWA has a strategic link with Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc - www.belmontbec.com

Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of WA Inc.

Street address: 7 Fairbrother Street, Belmont WA 6104, Australia | Postal address: PO Box 370, Cloverdale WA 6985, Australia

Phone: +61 8 9479 3777 | Fax: +61 8 9479 3888 | Mobile: +61 433 349 521 | info@tcfwa.com

www.fashionincubators.com

11-13 September, 2011 - Hilton Hotel - Perth, Australia

www.myfashionincubator.com

www.designedge.net.au

Designedge Fashion Incubator was first launched in 2003 and has since developed to be a retail incubator and more recently a virtual fashion incubator, providing online shops and designer profiles.

www.tcfwa.com

Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of WA Inc. (TCFWA) was founded in 1998 and has developed an extensive range of innovative small business training & mentoring projects for creative fashion and textile micro enterprises across Australia. TCFWA is a nonprofit community based organisation.

www.tcfglobal.com TCF Global was launched in 2007 and facilitates village community sewing

projects or assists with linkages in the global supply chain to connect fashion designers with global manufacturing, raw materials and global fashion trade and industry networks.

The conference aims to further professional development and to promote best practice across the industry. The International Conference of

Fashion Incubators will present challenging speakers at the forefront of the fashion industry as well as a range of practitioners willing to share

their experiences and expertise, exhibitors and great opportunities for global networking.

www.tcfaustralia.com

Third Day of BPW Belmont’s Ormoc Visit

2011-02-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

While Carol Hanlon continues with her Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc Community Sewing Center visits with Boy Sebidos, Christine Della Vedova was conducting interviews with prospective members of BPW Ormoc.

It was a pretty tough activity where Christine sometimes turned to me (Jean) for interpretation and somewhat heavy to us who were both emotionally inclined.

The photos tell the story of the profiling activity:

After the profiling activity, Christine had to rush to the Ormoc City National High School (OCNHS) to speak before 15 high school teachers about BPW. She finished there by about 1:00 o'clock noon of January 12. Then she had to rush to the Ormoc City Community Credit Cooperative Incorporated (OCCCI) for the Third TCF Ormoc Fashion Parade.

Hectic Second Day for Carol and Christine

2011-01-17T21:49:00.001-08:00

No time to waste for BPW Belmont girls Carol and Christine. In the morning of January 11, 2011 Carol Hanlon and Christine Della Vedova visited community sewing centers in the next town of Kananga.

In the afternoon, they were at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU).

As in the Ormoc National City High School, Christine gave a talk on being a self-starter and volunteering. This time her audience consists of more than a hundred college students.

Carol, on the other hand and in another room, gave a workshop to about 50 faculty members of

EVSU Ormoc with a few participants from the Community Sewing Centers on Starting a Business.

At the end of her talk she presented some business opportunities.

One business opportunity is the manufacture of fashion accessories made from wood, bone and resin. This is a business of Faye Maramara, a Cebuana who is now in Western Australia.

Another is upholstery business. She is in possession of donated upholstery materials that are waiting for a donee. When this was presented, the EVSU Campus Director Dr. Lillian Estorninos signified willingness to accept the donations. That’s it. Another shipment of donations from Australia will be forthcoming within this year or next year.

Carol then presented to EVSU, business books which Dr. Estorninos accepted in behalf of the EVSU Ormoc Campus.

An event can never be complete without pictures, pictures, pictures....

Dinner time was bonding time for the organizers of the BPW Belmont Ormoc visit.

More discussions happened and plans materialized. And that sealed the day for the cast and crew of the BPW Belmont Club’s visit to the Philippines.

Hectic Day for Carol and Christine

2011-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

No time to waste for BPW Belmont girls Carol and Christine. In the morning Carol Hanlon and Christine Della Vedova visited community sewing centers in the next town of Kananga.

In the afternoon, they were at the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU).

As in the Ormoc National City High School, Christine gave a talk on being a self-starter and volunteering. This time her audience consists of more than a hundred college students.

Carol, on the other hand and in another room, gave a workshop to about 50 faculty members of EVSU Ormoc with a few participants from the Community Sewing Centers on Starting a Business.

At the end of her talk she presented some business opportunities.

One business opportunity is the manufacture of fashion accessories made from wood, bone and resin. This is a business of Faye Maramara, a Cebuana who is now in Western Australia.

Carol then presented to EVSU business books which Dr. Estorninos accepted in behalf of the EVSU Ormoc Campus.

Dinner time was bonding time for the organizers of the BPW Belmont Ormoc visit.

More discussions happened and plans materialized. And that sealed the day for the cast and crew of the BPW Belmont Club’s visit to the Philippines.

Christine Inspires Ormoc High School Kids

2011-01-10T02:40:00.000-08:00

This morning seventy-five kids who are “Kiddie/Youth Savers” of the Ormoc Community Credit Cooperative, Inc. (OCCCI) including 10 special kids (deaf-mute) listened to Christine Della Vedova, of Business and Professional Women’s Club, Belmont, Western Australia.

Christine is in Ormoc with Carol Hanlon who facilitated the donation of 2 container vans of electric sewing machines and materials from Perth in 2006 and 2008.

She spoke to the kids of her experiences being a self-starter and volunteer. Speaking before them to become good citizens by helping others without thinking of returns, Christine motivated the kids who listened intently to her talk, become a self-starter and practice volunteerism.

While an English teacher in Korea, Christine encouraged kids of very rich parentage to come down from their pedestals and share their talents, time and effort to reach out to poor school kids in government schools and she succeeded in making them do volunteer work.

In Peru a person with HIV/AIDS is considered dirty and has to be avoided. That was the general understanding.So, while teaching English to rich kids in Peru she volunteered with an HIV/AIDS NGO. But because she couldn’t understand nor speak a word of Spanish and concerned that she couldn’t help, she brought 5 people living with HIV/AIDS to a small group meeting and let them talk about their affliction. That wonderful initiative of Christine enlightened the group about HIV/AIDS that made the word spread out to other people in Peru.

An important person in her life made her go back to Australia. She returned to Australia and taught English at the Australian Islamic College for four years. Relentless of her desire to do volunteer work and help other people, she volunteered with Textile Clothing Footwear (TCF) after meeting Carol Hanlon through the Business and Professional Women Belmont.

At the TCF she helps teach women from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia how to sew and teach them how to start their own business.

She now teaches English to kids 8-12 years old. But on the side, she volunteers as Secretary of BPW Belmont.

Founded by Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips in 1930, Business and Professional Women Clubs are present in 80 countries, in 5 continents. It provides trainings and help women build their own businesses. In Italy alone, BPW has 7,000 members. Christine is an Italian-Australian.

Christine Della Vedova arrived in Ormoc with Carol Hanlon 8 January, a Saturday. While in Ormoc the two have a hectic schedule.

Jean V. Justimbaste

Member, BPW Belmont

Coordinator, TCF Ormoc

January 10, 2011

TCF Volunteer Monitor Passes Mechanical Board Exam

2010-11-22T02:20:00.000-08:00

Engr. Reinheart R. Malate

Reinheart R. Malate, 22, passed the recent Board Exam for Mechanical Engineers. Reinheart is now a licensed Mechanical Engineer!

CONGRATULATIONS, REINHEART.

Reinheart volunteered for a year, to the Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc project. As a volunteer, he received a food and transportation allowance provided by Dr. Jaap Poll, CEO of Ottoman Energy Limited who granted us with P150,000 to pay for the allowances of eight Volunteer Youth Monitors for the Textile Clothing Footwear (TCF) project. For one whole year Dr. Poll enabled 8 kids to enroll in college and in high school.That money also made sure that the 25 Community Livelihood Sewing Centers were monitored. The money lasted from June, 2008 to May, 2009.

Reinheart was one of those kids who benefitted from Dr. Poll's grant. Now, Reinheart is reminded how his allowance helped him and his family for a year. He is very grateful to Dr. Poll.

Reinheart with Father of Ormoc Youth, Xerxes Solon and an AGYLA volunteer.

I asked Reinheart to write his short autobiography for this blog and here goes:

I am Reinheart R. Malate, 22 years of age, and was born on

March 6, 1988. I now live temporarily at our church - United

Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ located in Barangay

Punta, Ormoc City.

I studied and graduated Bachelor of Science in Mechanical

Engineering from the Eastern Visayas State University Ormoc

Campus.

My mother's name is Nilda R. Malate and my father's name

was Rodolfo P. Malate, who died last May 26, 1999 due to

heart failure.

My younger brother's name is Rodolfo R. Malate, Jr. presently

taking up Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the

same university where I graduated.

I usually refresh myself up by listening and playing musical

instruments. I love music and this helps me unwind my

whole day hang ups. Sometimes, I spend my leisure times at

home reading books, scanning and skimming through my old

class notes and tracks, texting, and even solving "Sudoku"

booklet. These things make me feel being fruitful during idle

moments for I really love to tap my brain at times when I

frozen.

Another thing that breaks my time is bible reading. I am a

bible teacher in our church and it's fulfilling partaking and

sharing bible infos to everyone.

I took the board examination for Mechanical Engineering

students last September 9 and 10, 2010. Fortunately, I passed

the exhausting exam with an average rating of 80.03%.

Right now, I keep myself busy searching and applying for

jobs that would fit my preferences and qualifications and is

in line with my profession. I am hopeful seeing myself in the

near months as a stable Mechanical Engineer in a prolific

company.

2010-08-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Ormoc’s guest designer makes it BIG!

With so much pride and glee I am presenting here Pia Gladys Perey’s 2010 Spring Summer Collection.

I remember Carol Hanlon, TCF Ormoc Mentor, Primemover and Inspiration, having responded to Pia’s request to participate and present her collection in an Australian Fashion Week. It was in one of the emails that were shared by a few among us.

In 2009 she was invited by Carol to come to Ormoc to showcase her designs and even brought her modelling assistant to train STI students to model her collection and the clothes made by women being assisted by Carol’s TCF Western Australia and master dressmaker to train the TCF Ormoc women on pattern-making.

She then went on to parade her dresses in different fashion festivals in the world.

On August 6 Pia posted on her Facebook page this:

Pia Gladys Perey waaaaaaaaaaaaa angelina jolie wants to wear PGP for SALT premiere! heart attack!

And since, it has attracted 43 comments as of this writing. This wonderful news came a day after she came back from the hospital being gifted with beautiful twins.

Below is from one of her emails to us:

Pia Gladys Perey debuted in the international fashion scene at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in 2008 and 2009 followed by a launch in the USA at the Miami International Fashion Week and FOCUS Apparel Show in LA in early 2010 which received rave reviews from the media. Pia has also been cited as one of the top 10 designers for 3 consecutive years at the Philippine Fashion Week and is being stocked at the store of the infamous Patricia Field in New York.

Kind Regards,

Earnest Samson

Sales Manager

Pia Gladys Perey Enterprises

http://piagladysperey.net/about-us.html

Some of her 2010 Spring Summer Collection are featured below:

Pia Gladys - Perey, Filipina

2010-06-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Pia Gladys - Perey is a Filipina designer whom Carol Hanlon has invited to one of Belmont's Fashion Festivals. Since, Pia has been invited to different fashion shows in New York, Hongkong and elsewhere.

Below are part of her fashion collection:

Help!

2010-06-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

I can't find my photos on the 2009 Ormoc Fashion Parade. Anybody who has photos please send it to me by email.

Thanks!

PFI Summer Youth Camp 2010

2010-05-12T05:18:00.001-07:00

In partnership with Active Genuine Youth Leaders Association (AGYLA), Pagtinabangay Foundation is once again conducting a SUMMER YOUTH CAMP to be held on May 28-30, 2010.

Theme for this year is “Ormoc Kids on the election just past”.

Participants to the camp will come from kids of low-income families and out-of-school youth members of AGYLA. Please sponsor one or more children.

Carol visits the livelihood centers

2010-02-23T23:40:00.000-08:00

Every time Carol visits the Philippines, part of her itinerary/schedule is her visits to the livelihood centers in the villages (barangays). We started out with the farthest livelihood center situated about 600 meters above sea level in Barangay Cabintan. These Center visits were in the 14th day of January, Carol's 3rd day in Ormoc. It was raining the whole day.

From Cabintan, we came down to Barangay Cabulihan. They were waiting for us since 8:00 in the morning. Their other members have left for their homes to prepare their family's lunch.

We just passed by this Livelihood Center in Barangay San Pablo since the Coordinator and some of her members were at the Patter-Making Training at the St. Benedict Socio-Pastoral Center.

She's a member of Cabulihan Livelihood Center. She is deaf-mute and makes handbags from the first textile donations in 2007.

Cabulihan Livelihood Center Coordinator with wife and daughter.

This is the dirt road in Barangay Cabintan. It was raining the whole day of January 14, her 3rd day in Ormoc, Philippines.

This is the path walk going the house of the Center Coordinator.

With a hurt ankle, it was difficult for Carol to go up this slippery

path. So the Coordinator came down with a small bag of cooked

banana for us. They talked inside the car.

Since it was raining and the Center is at the house of the Coordinator which is on a hill above the main barangay (village) road and very slippery, it was the Coordinator who came down to talk to Carol who was nursing a hurt ankle. Armed with cooked banana provided by the Center Coordinator, they had their "conference" inside the OCCCI-rented car, hahaha.

Belmont Business Women’s Club President Carol Hanlon to Attend Prestigious United Nations Event in New York

2010-02-13T02:03:00.000-08:00

Ms Carol Hanlon, President of Belmont Business Professional Women (Belmont BPW) will be representing local women at the upcoming fifty-fourth session of the United Nations – Commission on the Status of Women to be held from the 1^st to the 12^th of March 2010 in New York.

The Commission on the Status of Women will undertake a fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.

Emphasis will be placed on the sharing of experiences and good practices, with a view to overcoming remaining obstacles and new challenges, including those related to the Millennium Development Goals, Member States representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) and of United Nations entities that will participate in the session.

Ms Hanlon will have the opportunity to attend a series of parallel events which will provide additional opportunities or information exchange and networking.

Carol said, “I am proud to be representing Belmont BPW, which is such an honour. BPW is one of the 5 member groups in the world that has advisory input into the United Nations Status of Women which provides a voice not only for Australian women, but for the women in over 90 countries in the world where BPW is located”.

BPW Belmont was chartered in March 2006, meets monthly for networking, and bi-monthly for a casual dinner, guest speaker or other activity. BPW Membership is open to women who would like to share their skills, talents and fellowship for the benefit of women, their community, locally, nationally and internationally.

Belmont BPW co-ordinates an extensive list of innovative and creative programs and projects for the benefit of its members and those it seeks to support that include networking events, mentoring, youth projects, micro enterprise, scholarships and the celebration of women around the globe.

Whilst in New York, Ms Hanlon will visit the offices of Info Dev / World Bank, where she has been invited to join the Info Development Global Committee on Women’s Business Incubation after recently attending the 3rd Global Forum Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Brazil in October 2009.

For further information on Belmont BPW please contact:

President: Carol Hanlon E: carol.hanlon@belmontbec.com

BH: 94793777 M: 0417 963231

MEDIA RELEASE: TCF ORMOC COMMUNITY SEWING PROJECT GAINS MOMENTUM

2010-02-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

TCF Ormoc was commenced in 2007 by the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Resource Centre of WA (TCFWA) with support from Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Belmont & Western Australia (BPW) and the Matilda Bay Rotary Club. The project was established in a partnership with local Ormoc community organisations led by Pagtinabangay Foundation.

TCF Global community sewing project aimed to assist women to start a small sewing business in Ormoc and the project provided the necessary sewing machines and raw materials to the locals to assist develop their creativity and produce evening wear, children's wear, uniforms, and home wares.

The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Resource Centre of WA (TCF WA) has previously sent two container loads of pre-loved sewing machines totalling 280 machines, textiles and hundreds of cartons of sewing haberdashery to Ormoc and its surrounding villages. Carol Hanlon, Manager TCFWA & Belmont BEC recently volunteered for a week in Ormoc, providing business skill workshops, visiting sewing centres and assisted with the staging of 2^nd annual Ormoc Fashion Festival. Carol was thrilled to see the progress of the TCF Ormoc project which is expanding rapidly and to witness once again the creative talent of the local community.

The project has recently grown from 21 community sewing centres to 25, and 8 more are expected to commence shortly. It is expected that more than 250 Ormoc men and women will now be a part of this project also. The Ormoc project is has now moved under the umbrella of Ormoc Community Credit Co-operative (OCCCI) and there are plans to establish a retail TCF Ormoc showcase at the market centre. The community organisation is also planning to start a Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) type support centre to assist the micro small business operators.

Belmont BEC is providing a mentor role to assist OCCCI BEC develop under its BEC Global program to develop a business centre for the region and for the benefit of micro enterprise in the Ormoc region including the TCF Ormoc participants.

For more history and information on the project please view www.tcformoc.com

TCF WA Contact:

Carol Hanlon
TCF Resource Centre of WA (TCFWA)

TCF Global
Designedge Fashion Incubator

Belmont Business Enterprise Centre (BEC)
Ph: (08) 94793777 Mob: 0417 963 231

Email: carol.hanlon@tcfwa.com

Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia Inc. (TCFWA)

PO Box 370, Cloverdale WA 6985 Phone 08 94793777 Fax 08 94793888

Email info@tcfwa.com www.tcfwa.com

www.tcfaustralia.com www.tcfglobal.com www.belmontbec.com www.designedge.net.au

The designer with a heart...

2010-02-06T01:32:00.000-08:00

"Pia Gladys Perey, the designer behind the label White Kitten, was born and raised in the country town of Tagaytay in the Philippines. As a child Pia was exposed to fashion, sewing and pattern making through her grandmother. Pia would spend her school breaks not playing with her friends but watching her grandmother make clothing patterns. Pia has worked for various fashion companies – both retail and made to order before launching her own label white kitten. 2007 was a major milestone for Pia when her label was featured at ‘The Source’ of the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Sydney, Australia. Since the launch, White Kitten has gone on to be featured in Rosemount Australian Fashion Week at the New Generation fashion show during 2008, and the Ready To Wear show during 2009.

Pia’s work has been featured and reviewed in Fashion TV and by top fashion magazines and newspapers in Australia and South East Asia such as Who Australia (Aug 09), Stella Magazine Philippines (Jun 09), Mx (Jul 09), Sense and Style Phils Cover (Sept 09), Passions Malaysia /Singapore May 09), The Sunday Telegraph (April 27, ‘08 issue), Fashion Journal (June and July ’08 issue), Cleo (July ’08 issue), international forecasting magazine Fashion Trend (second quarter ’08 and 09 issue, Australia and Milan), and Elle Hong Kong (July ’08 issue), Harper’s Bazaar Indonesia (Dec 08). Pia was also cited by local publications in the Philippines as one of the top 10 designers in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 at the Philippine Fashion Week. Since 2007, White Kitten has exploded onto the international fashion scene with sales made in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore with further interest in the label showed in New Zealand, Europe, USA, and other parts of South East Asia." - http://piagladysperey.net/about-us.html

Pia came to Ormoc on invitation of Carol Hanlon, TCF Ormoc sponsor and adviser. At the Pattern-Making Training of the Ormoc Fashion Festival in January this year, she inspired the 60 livelihood center coordinators and cutters of her humble beginnings. She spoke of how she started as a designer and struggled until today when she is able to parade her clothes in prestigious fashion festivals and events internationally.

Acknowledging this, she did not hesitate to come to Ormoc to help the village-level sewing centers. She not only said yes to Carol to show off her recent collection, she even volunteered to bring her pattern-maker and ramp modelling assistant.

The women said that they are very thankful to Pia and Carol for the training. They learned sewing secrets that they haven't yet encountered and which are not as easily offered by other dressmakers.

Linking with Rotary Clubs

2010-02-03T01:30:00.000-08:00

On her 3rd day in Ormoc, Carol Hanlon of TCF Western Australia met with the Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay. ROC president Anna Bumagat and Aileen Suarez discussed with Carol the possibilities of ROC assisting TCF Ormoc in any way they can. The meeting that day was very productive with ROC even going to the extent of making TCF Ormoc (under OCCCI) a partner in one of their programs. Cool!

Later in the day she also met with Michael Berndt, president of the Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay. It was again another productive meeting with Michael there who's together with his wife, Imelda Sacay, were very supportive of the project.

OCCCI will have very good partners for the Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc project.

Good Luck to all of us!

Training for ramp modelling

2010-01-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

On the same day, while Carol was in the other room for her business workshop with livelihood center participants, students from STI Computer School were doing the catwalk with Pia Gladys Perey, guest designer for the fashion parade on the 15th.

Sixty students came for the training.

Carol's 2nd Busy Day - January 13, 2010

2010-01-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

Today is Carol's 2nd day of visit in Ormoc this year and her schedule was such that she had to be in four different time slots in one day:

At 8:00 in the morning she had to be at the Mayor's office for her courtesy call but because the Mayor was not yet around, she had to move on to her other schedule which was for an interview with POWER FM. From PowerFM she was back at the Mayor's office.

At about 9:00 in the morning she had to go back to OCCCI building to meet with the Livelihood Center Coordinators. In this meeting she was able to learn about the status of their centers, their effectivity and their needs.

After a quick lunch, she's up and on to another room at the OCCCI building for a workshop with Livelihood Center operators on Business in the Fashion industry.

Second day of Carol's visit to Ormoc Jan 2010

2010-01-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

In 2008 Carol with Mel Rom made a courtesy call to the Mayor of Ormoc. This is her second courtesy call to the same Mayor

Carol left the Mayor some brochures....

Jean, Carol and Claire inside the Mayor's office

Carol was invited to POWER FM

... answering questions and discussing about the TCF project in Ormoc

Carol Hanlon of TCFWA comes back to Ormoc

2010-01-18T02:26:00.000-08:00

She arrived in the afternoon of January 12, 2010. She came in from Cebu by fast craft. There was no car to meet her. The OCCCI car that was supposed to meet her was still at the airport to meet the Filipina-Australian fashion designer that she invited for the Ormoc Fashion Event. There was only me and my umbrella, it was raining the whole day. Actually, it's been raining the whole week.

Ormoc folks are known to be kind and sweet. A certain Mr. Tumampo approached us to offer us a free ride. His house is just a block away from OCCCI.

Brought her to the De Luxe room of the OCCCI Hostel. It seems that we do not want her to rest because at 2:45 in the afternoon we fetched her to be in the Business and Professional Women exploratory meeting at the St. Benedict Socio-Pastoral Center. We finished by about a few minutes after 5.

At 8:00 in the evening the Coalition of Ormoc Women (COW) set a dinner for her where the OCCCI Chairperson of the Board and also the Chief Executive Officer were present. Because we also invited media people, there was a lively discussion after a dinner of Sinanawan nga Monggos, Native Chicken in Soup, Ginagmay'ng Baka and Sweet and Sour Fish.

And that wrapped up the day for Carol Hanlon's arrival for the 3rd time inOrmoc. Bz, bz, bz....

OCCCI Staff tour to TTCFWA First Donation Beneficiaries

2010-01-16T03:14:00.000-08:00

The last week of December, 2009 and first week of January, 2010 were spent by TCF Ormoc to guide the OCCCI staff to the barangays where the Community Sewing Livelihood Centers are located.

Here are some of the photos on the tour:

Concepcion Sewing Livelihood Center Coordinator Nelia Diano with Boy Sebidos of the Metro Ormoc Community Credit Cooperative, Inc. (OCCCI)

Gregorio Soria of Juaton CSLC with Boy Sebidos of OCCCI

Leticia Bacus of Cogon CSLC with Boy Sebidos of OCCCI

Cabintan CSLC coordinator talks to Boy while some

members of the family are busy picking corn grains

from husks.

Cabintan children use a home-made grains picker to

separate the husks from the corn grains

USE A BIG HEART AND GIVE A BIG SMILE THIS CHRISTMAS.

2009-12-23T03:15:00.001-08:00

US$53.64 can sponsor 1 young person to the PFI 2010 Summer Youth Camp on April. For 6 days, your sponsored kid will learn about Adolescence, Love of

God, Love of Country, Enjoy Nature and have Fun, Fun, Fun.

PLEASE USE YOUR AMMADO GIVING CIRCLE TO DONATE TO US! THANK YOU.

Merry Christmas,

Pagtinabangay Foundation

Ormoc City, Philippines

TCF-OCCCI Ormoc Meeting

2009-12-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

This morning the TCF-OCCCI Ormoc met to finalize preparations of activities relative to the visit of Ms. Carol Hanlon of TCF-Western Australia.

Detailed schedule of her visit to Ormoc will be posted next time. For a peek on the schedules, Carol will be making a courtesy call to the Ormoc Mayor, conduct a fashion business workshop, visit CLCs, Judge at the Fashion Event and meet with local civic clubs.

Posted by Hera Zulueta, Core Team at Create Abundance 2020

2009-12-23T02:03:00.001-08:00

Please vote for KOLISKO WALDOF SCHOOL, the ONLY Filipino entry for Pareto Fundraising and competing against PETA, World Vision etc. Currently on 7th place. Voting ends DECEMBER 24.

Here's the catch: If Kolisko will get the highest votes, they will win $2,000 which they can use to send more INDIGENOUS, DISABLED and STREET CHILDREN to school.

Please click this link and vote for KOLISKO WALDOF SCHOOL:
http://apps.facebook.com/paretofundraising

(Note: I am doing this in behalf of a friend who is one of the founders of this school.)

Best Regards,
Hera

Metro Modelling Academy Certificates of Completion

2009-11-24T19:53:00.001-08:00

Adam Barralet

http://www.metromodelling.com/

Adam Barralet of Melbourne, Australia has been kind enough to provide Certificates of Completion to the participants to his modelling workshop done in Ormoc City in July, 2008.

The following may now please collect their certificates from the office of Pagtinabangay Foundation, Cataag compound, San Joaquin Street, Ormoc City, Philippines. Please look for Jean Justimbaste. Contact numbers: 255-3516 or 561-3363:

1. Michael Francis M. Alvarado

2. Bonard B. Torres

3. Xerxes M. Solon

4. Victor S. Recaña

5. Ingrid Martina Alyanna S. Luna

6. Rozenie T. Lavezares

7. Fatima B. Jaballa

8. Rogelio A. Mangpoc

9. Arden M. Generale

10. Maragusan Daffon

11. Rodelio Jr R. Clemente

12. Raquel Anna M. Buzon

13. Marian Lou P. Beslig

14. Jan (Ian) Bacho

15. Ma. Angelica Solace C. Alcuino

16. Joselie T. Ando

17. Kara R. Asinas

18. Jacqueline P. Gabriel

19. Raymond P. Torres

20. Roger Arellano Ladarde

21. Giresi Janin G. Sanchez

22. Candy C. Sotto

23. Clint C. Sotto

24. Ma. Virginia C. Sotto

25. Rica Rose Torcino

26. John Ray Yap

27. Louie Aaron C. Yauna

28. Patricia C. Zamora

29. Anita Marie M. Lucero

30. Ma. Teresa Fe M. Lucero

31. Rans Dane Benedict M. Lucero

32. Windee Mendoza

33. Charline Meting

34. Joy B. Meting

35. Angelie M. Monte

36. Jess Muyrong

37. Katherine Rose Araba Nabong

38. John Paul M. Pole

39. Dormie A. Ricarte

40. Gina M. Ronquillo

41. Maida Sabenicio

42. Elmerita Moreno Abapa

43. Jonathan D. Aparis

44. Cecil V. Bantiles

45. Michaela S. Berndt

46. Edwin Butad

47. Analie Cormanes

48. Joan Marie Cormanes

49. Jennilyn C. Delmo

50. Analyn P. Ejada

51. Lina Gendoy

52. Razella L. Gatmaitan

53. Jose Paulo Gatmaitan

54. Ervielyn G. Mansueto

55. William B. Joseph

56. Jennifer P. Hingaray

57. Flordelyn A. Lacorte

58. Michelle Labrador

59. Norjee Marie D. Llanos

60. Rose May D. Llanos

61. Wildy Lopez

62. Alyssa Marie M. Lucero

Sorry, these have been on my desk for some time now. I have no idea how to contact you.

Anybody reading this and knows people in the list please let them know. Thanks!

Ondoy and Uring parallelism by Emil J

2009-09-30T22:50:00.001-07:00

Ondoy reminds me very much of Typhoon Uring 18 years ago when Ormoc was devastated by a horrendous flood that took thousands of lives and destroyed millions worth of property. Like Uring, Ondoy was estimated to be a minor typhoon that had a center wind of 55 kph, moving at the speed of 12 kph. Uring was moving at the speed of 11 kph. Pag-asa's announcement didn't create much stir because the figures were not threatening enough.

Thus, people were caught by surprised when Ondoy brought torrents of rainfall that broke records, flooding entire cities that spared no one. Rich and poor alike share similar fate. While Uring left thousands killed and wiped out entire families, Ondoy devastated properties that left hundreds of thousands homeless and nowhere to go. Its flood didn't subside until days later, and hundreds could not be rescued because the waters had not subsided. Uring's flood lasted only for 30 minutes, leaving sprawled bodies in their agonies of death.

But Uring's flood was not caused by heavy rainfall. In fact, there was only a slight drizzle in the city. The heavy rain fell in the upstream sections of the two river systems, Anilao and Malbasag rivers, cascading down to the city in a rampage that caught those living along the riverbanks swimming for dear life. In Ondoy's case, the heavy rains fell on the helpless population and on cities built near the riverbanks of Marikina, Cainta and Pasig, flooding even middle class subdivisions once thought to be immune to floods.

The cities' drainage systems simply could not cope with so much rain water. This was made worse by the clogging of water ways and esteros caused by human settlements Add in the climate change factor, a phenomenon recognized only recently, and you have a perfect recipe for disaster. The media called the event a "deluge", comparable to the Biblical Noah's great flood. It is a shocking wake-up call to the realities of climate change especially to those who treated issue as an academic one. All along, a lot of people thought that the issue was still debatable and that its impact would not reach our shores until decades later.

But Ondoy is probably just a precursor of things to come. To me the Metropolitan Manila is a disaster waiting to happen. It is simply too congested, and its infrastructures are bound to give way under extreme conditions. Millions work and live in areas unfit for human habitation - near riverbanks, under bridges, in squatter colonies in makeshift hovels, over esteros - clogging waterways with tons of wastes and plastics, so that drainage systems malfunction and flooding occurs even during slight rainfalls. All of these because factories, offices and schools are all in the big cities, attracting hordes of migrants from the country's rural areas.

I used to live in the big city for 11 years in the '70s, and even then, I thought Manila needed to decongest itself of its factories and schools. Now more than 30 years later, the congestion continues as Metropolitan Manila continues to attract job hunters and fortune seekers. I have not heard of any government policy encouraging manufacturing firms and offices to relocate themselves to the poorer, less developed but labor-rich provinces.

Maybe Ondoy is that alarm call telling our government policy makers to heed the call of nature. In the light of the climate change phenomenon, maybe government should rethink its policies. Maybe, just maybe, it's time for an exodus from the big city.

78 dead in devastated Marikina

2009-09-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/28/2009 12:47 PM

MANILA - Mang Emilio could not stop crying as he surveyed what remained of his home in Provident Village in Marikina City.

"Walang natira sa lahat ng aking pinaghirapan (Everything I've worked for is gone)," he told ABS-CBN's Sol Aragones. He said he barely had time to escape to the roof of his home when the flood hit the village on Saturday.

He said, however, that he is thankful that he was able to bring his two in-laws to the roof before they got carried away by the flood.

Another Marikina resident, Bartolome Robias, also could not stop crying as he searched for his mother in an evacuation center and among the corpses that had been retrieved from Provident.

Robias said he last saw his mother, Leticia, when she went to Provident last Friday to iron clothes for some of the residents. Fearing that she was affected by the flood that devastated the area, Robias went to the village early Monday to see if she had been rescued.

Hours later, he finally received a call from his brother who said that Leticia had finally come home to their house in Antipolo.

Two days after tropical storm Ondoy brought the worst floods in Metro Manila, life has yet to return to normal for many residents of Marikina City. In a little over six hours, hundreds of lives were changed as the floods swept away houses, vehicles and people in the city.

One of the worst hit areas in the city was Provident Villages where most of the residents climbed on rooftops to escape the deluge. Unofficial figures received by ABS-CBN News said as many 58 people were killed in Provident and a total of 78 dead in the whole of Marikina.

Scores of overturned vehicles on mud-streaked streets paint a picture of the devastation wrought by the flood. Power lines in the area are still streaked with debris, which showed how high the flood reached on Saturday morning.

On Monday, Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando appealed for more food, water and blankets for residents staying in evacuation centers. She also appealed for more volunteers to help in the task of clearing the roads of debris and retrieving bodies in various parts of the city.

Some residents of Provident Villages have returned to their homes to clean up and guard their houses from looters. Others also lined up at a local market to buy food and get their first meal after two days.

One rescuer, Manuel, however said it will be a long time before everything returns to normal in Marikina.

"We found one corpse, a man. His hand was still clutching to a tree but his whole body was submerged in mud," he said.

He added: "We weren't hit by the flood so we came here to help. This is something that will affect us for a long time to come." With a report from Sol Aragones, ABS-CBN News

as of 09/28/2009 1:45 PM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/28/09/78-dead-devastated-marikina

DEED OF DONATION

2009-09-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the members of the Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia Inc. of 7 Fairbrother St, Belmont WA 6104 Australia, represented by Carol Hanlon, Manager, as an act of generosity, hereby donate the herein identified items/materials to the TCF Ormoc Community Sewing Project, through the Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative (OCCCI) in OCCCI Central Office, Arradaza St., Ormoc City, Philippines to be used solely for charitable purposes.

The donation shall consist of the following:

229	Cartons of Sewing items and family use items
99	Sewing Machines
4	Over lockers
123	Assorted part rolls of fabric
24	Typewriter
2	Ironing Board
1 4	Mannequin scales

Full detailed manifest are attached

We further certify that this is a free gift and that there is to be no

payment or exchange of monetary value for the shipment or distribution of

said merchandise.

Done on this 18^th day of September 2009, in Belmont , WA, Australia

____________________________

Carol Hanlon

Manager

Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of WA Inc

Going global from www.ragtrader.com.au

2009-09-11T00:11:00.000-07:00

Chinese exhibitors at the recent Hong Kong Fashion Week were so keen on securing new clients, many were openly advertising they had no minimums, TCFWA manager Carol Hanlon says. She tells Ragtrader about global trends in sourcing and buying for new and emerging designers.While there is no doubt the global economic downturn has hurt the traditional TCF manufacturing giants like China and Hong Kong, there is also no doubt that they are rising to the challenge. In the recent past, many small clothing labels had a great deal of difficulty in finding offshore manufacturers prepared to do small runs in reasonable time – or small runs at all, for that matter. Now, however, even China has to present itself as more nimble, more flexible and more creative when it comes to servicing existing clients and finding new ones.

Carol Hanlon, head of the TCF Australia small business network, has recently returned from several overseas buying missions and noticed some definite trends. At Hong Kong Fashion Week in early July, Hanlon says she spotted numerous Chinese manufacturers exhibiting signs announcing “no minimums”, and it was obvious that people were very keen on meeting new contacts and clients. In India, where she took a delegation to the India International Garment Fair (IIGF) in New Delhi later in July, Australia was a prime target for government support, particularly with the Commonwealth Games being hosted in India next year. “The Indian Government targeted 23 countries to invite buyers to the [fair], with Australia being a key target,” Hanlon says. She took 10 labels with her to India, including Alison Cotton’s Joveeba, Sylma Cabrera’s Pure Soul, Battaglia, Colourspirit and Quotau.

Like many other governments eager to assist their local industries by encouraging international trade, first-time buyers were provided with free air fare and accommodation support.

In Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong Trade Development Council offers free accommodation to all first-time buyers, Hanlon accompanied 15 small and emerging Australian companies, including Assodani International, Morgan Marks, Henryetta and Carmels Designs. There, she noticed a definite trend. “Obviously it goes without saying that the downturn in the US, UK and European markets has had a huge impact on all manufacturing ex China,” she says. “But ragtraders are adaptable and can restructure, and I believe there will be an increase in fast fashion – working closer to the season in regards to stock levels required.”

There are still major problems facing small labels trying to source materials and manufacture offshore, including minimum order quantities, logistics and reliability of supply, as well as quality and timeliness. “It is also the continual sourcing of the right supplier to suit your needs, which can change from season to season depending on your ranges and direction,” she says. In terms of fashion trends, the most obvious was the continual move towards eco-friendly and organic fabrics. “Fashion trends still lean towards oriental, traditional finishes and themes,” she says. “Throughout the world, people wish to connect with the real source of manufacture and fair trade.” This is a theme Hanlon herself has been working on for many years. As well as establishing TCFWA a decade ago and more recently TCF Australia,

Hanlon has been working hard on TCF Global, which she defines as a non-profit community-based project, designed to provide an online platform to assist new and emerging Australian designers to link with global TCF industry organisations. She has set up networks in Sri Lanka, Bali, Hong Kong, India and Papua New Guinea, but perhaps the most impressive is TCF Ormoc in the Philippines. There, she has assisted 21 community sewing centres by donating sewing machines, textiles and equipment, allowing 130 men and women to set up their own small sewing businesses.

The network is also assisting a fibre project in PNG, a wool hand-weaving village project in Sri Lanka and the Seeds of Hope women’s sewing project in Afghanistan. It has also helped to buy sewing machines for women in Peru and is looking into projects in Mauritius and Tanzania. A local Perth firm is importing hand-woven plaid check fabrics and kilts from Sri Lanka for the school uniform market, and the supplier can also organise hand-woven wools in small runs for Australian designers.

TCF Global also works with a wide network of small businesses in Bali, many of which are run by Australian ex-pats, to set up village support projects aimed at young people While these are noble projects, they are not yet commercial enterprises, Hanlon says. “Village projects are about micro-enterprise empowerment at a local level, and they need to grow and develop with local ownership at their speed. These projects are not to be confused with commercial manufacturing facilities. These areas lack resources and training, and that is what the projects I assist are trying to create or build on. “Then we will try and assist the projects to develop towards commercial manufacture as time goes on.” ■

New CLC opened

2009-09-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

United Village Homeowners' Association Inc. (UVHAI) has its own Community Livelihood Center through the efforts of its outgoing President and CLC Coordinator Mrs. Gregoria Soria.

This CLC has 3 members and will be called UVHAI CLC.

2009-08-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

Glenn Ymas reporting to the PFI office from a visit to Alta Vista CLC to get one more sewing machine from the abolished group. He requested a friend to go with him to carry the machine for him. The motorcycle is his brother's that he borrowed for the monitoring work to the CLCs.

Tambulilid CLC splits into two

2009-08-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

Tambulilid CLC has broken down into two. The newest CLC in Tambulilid is called Ladislawa CLC taken from the unique name of its Coordinator - Ladislawa Jordan.

Tambulilid CLC remains and is still coordinated by Diosita Aquino.

Impact of ammado fundraising initiatives

2009-08-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Because we have a CLC Monitor, we are able to spot problems and provide solutions without so much delay.

Problems at the Center level like the need for a trainer on Pattern-making and measurement, the need for a sewing machine technician and the like are responded to as fast as Glenn and I could. Without the CLC Monitor all these problems would have gone unattended. So, to ammado.com again, thank you!

Ammado.com remits 2nd tranche of donation

2009-08-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you to ammado.com for remitting another 200 US dollars to the coffers of PagtinabangayFoundation. This means an extension of two more months (until November, 2009) for our Community Livelihood Center Monitor for the Textile Clothing Footwear project of the Coalition of Ormoc Women with TCF Western Australia.

Since it was PFI that first moved the project forward, we cannot afford to see it go to waste by just letting it go unmonitored.

Since July, Glenn has accomplished a lot. He has withdrawn some sewing machines, fabric and patterns from the Alta Vista CLC which has never taken off since their cutter left them last year to transfer to another barangay (village). Instead of Alta Vista, it is now in Malbasag.

Per Glenn's report, we both went to Valencia to patch up a problem between the CLC Coordinator and the Cutter. We have given them the option to break into two CLCs which the Coordinator happily accepted with Glenn contacting a person who can train them on pattern-making. The cutter, opted to form her own group given the fact that the current sewing machine operators do not want to go with her.

We were also able to visit the Inopacan Christian Sewing Ministry of the Inopacan Grace Bible Church.

AMMADO HELPS RAISE MONEY

2009-07-29T03:01:00.000-07:00

Twenty-four year old Glenn Ymas, a fifth year Mechanical Engineering student of the Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) couldn’t be happier. Pagtinabangay Foundation informed him that he can continue being the Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc Volunteer Monitor. This means he can also continue his college education for at least one semester.

Glenn is working his way through college doing odd jobs from gathering news to messengerial work.

Last year, Dr. Jaap Poll, CEO of Ottoman Energy Limited granted us P150,000 to pay for the allowances of eight Volunteer Youth Monitors for the Textile Clothing Footwear (TCF) project. For one whole year Dr. Poll enabled these 8 kids to enroll in college and in high school. That money also made sure that the 25 Community Livelihood Sewing Centers were monitored. The money lasted from June, 2008 to May, 2009.

Ammado.com raised US$ 296 for Pagtinabangay Foundation which was remitted to PFI in June 30, 2009. Converted to Philippine Pesos this amounts to Twelve Thousand – 3 months worth of allowance for Glenn to be able to monitor/visit all 25 Community Livelihood Centers of the Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc project. These 25 CLCs are located in 21 barangays (villages) in Ormoc five of which are hard to reach.

With the 296 US Dollars, donors at ammado are helping Glenn achieve his ambition of finishing his dream of becoming a Mechanical Engineer - - - soon, very soon.

With the US$ 296, ammado.com donors are helping reach out to the 25 CLCs encouraging the garments makers to continue making garments which are providing them with additional income.

This is just great! 296 US dollars! 126 individuals assisted directly and indirectly! THANK YOU, AMMADO. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS AT AMMADO.COM

Glenn with Carol Hanlon and members of the Valencia CLC during the visit of Carol to the CLCs in July, 2008

Two more bodies, please

2009-07-21T02:48:00.001-07:00

I wish I have two more bodies to do all these activities at once!

See, I have this Change Politics Movement, and we are right now doing the rounds of Ormoc colleges in preparation for the 2010 national elections. Then I have this Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc where I do all the necessary documentation, OMG! Then I have the Coalition of Ormoc Women where Pagtinabangay Foundation holds the current chairmanship. I have to check 5 email inboxes. I have to update 4 blogs. I have to visit 9 or I guess more social networks where I am a member. I have to write articles to upload to all these blogs and in ammado. I have house work. Good there's Spider Solitaire so I won't get crazy!

2nd Donation for Ormoc launched

2009-07-06T00:37:00.001-07:00

Carol and Miss Poppy are seen here urging their fellow Australians to donate to the Textile Clothing Footwear Ormoc. Sewing machines and materials are intended to be used by the 25 Community Livelihood Centers in 21 villages in the city of Ormoc.

TCF Western Australia already shipped one 40-foot container van full of sewing machines, assorted off-cut fabric and many other sewing materials in November, 2007. These gave rise to the 25 CLCs.

The second donation is intended to bring the project up one step - product development.

Already a few designers and garments makers have registered their help. There are offers of free service to hold a lecture on design, another on pattern making and yet another to train the local dressmakers of TCF Ormoc to learn better sewing applications.

TCF Ormoc and TCF Western Australia welcome all those who can donate cash for travel expenses of these good samaritans to help our dressmakers in Ormoc.

Please contact Carol Hanlon in Perth and Jean Justimbaste in Ormoc.

God Bless You!

Carol Hanlon wins scholarship

2009-07-06T00:17:00.001-07:00

Our friend Carol Hanlon just won a scholarship of $5,000. She is using this to attend the International Conference for Fashion Incubators in the US this year. While there, Carol intends to explore the possibility of Perth to host the conference next year.

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR LEFADO-ORMOC

2009-06-23T23:29:00.001-07:00

It always saddens me to hear of an NGO project ending, or of an NGO field office in Ormoc closing or of colleagues that we have been working with for years, moving on to greener pastures. Accepting this reality is a burden and causes me so much heartache and frustration.

This brings me to share with you an interesting survey conducted by the Basic Ecclesial Communities of the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Social Action Commission of which is a member of the Coalition of Ormoc Women and whose chairman is a good friend to all COW member NGOs.

The SAC segregated the survey results programmatically thus – Livelihood, Health, Education, Political Governance, Environment, Justice and Peace, Basic Needs and Infrastructure and Other Concerns. They presented this to BEC Cluster Leaders, Government as well as Non-Government instrumentalities; to the government to respond to the issues at hand and to the NGOs for information purposes.

But in all the issues presented from No Money and No Work to Shelter concerns and Disasters, the government has programs going and serving the barangays. So after all the talking and the handshakes and other goodbyes and everybody’s gone, I asked Jiggs Maglasang, SAC’s chairman: “Jiggs, if the government has programs in the barangays to respond to all the issues presented to them as a result of this survey, why in the first place did these issues come up?”

“Not enough. The government’s programs are not enough to handle all the needs of the citizens”, was Jiggs ready answer.

It’s never enough. When is it going to be enough? Why is it never enough?

It’s never enough because our population is growing by the minute. See how more and more nations on earth are resorting to Nuclear Energy and therefore nuclear weapons to respond to the growing needs of their peoples?

NGOs were born to supply the missing link and be the conscience that they are to government program implementers. That is why we are here and that is why I am always saddened when an NGO is closing a project or an office in Ormoc. It means more work for the NGOs left behind and additional burdens to carry for the government personnel assigned to continue the project left by the NGO which cannot usually be duplicated by a different agent.

Alvin Acidre and Ernie Solano did a great job in Ormoc. But, as Jiggs said: “It’s never enough.” The problems left behind that have not been taken on by LEFADO-Ormoc will grow easily like bacteria. If nothing will be done to continue LEFADO’s program in Ormoc soon, the problem like bacteria, will become a malady and difficult to treat.

And this brings me to another issue among NGOs – fundraising. We NGOs are so dependent on big grant-issuers. Big grants are good. It provides the NGO the much needed fund to implement a project to respond to a problem; but for only a couple of years – one up to a maximum of three years. And this is really, really frustrating. NGOs therefore are alive for the next three years and silent the next year or so. So my personal advocacy among my NGO colleagues whether Field Office or Main Office – let’s do individual fundraising.

By asking donations from individuals – be it only 25 centavos or 25,000 pesos – it doesn’t matter. Twenty-five centavos from 10,000 individuals is P2,500 pesos which can provide a survival and transportation allowance to an unmarried volunteer for one month. One month’s volunteer work can make wonders, mind you. IT CAN MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.

Twenty-five thousand pesos from only 5 individual donors is P125,000.00. Imagine what that amount can do to our work as NGOs!

One Euro from a donor in Czechoslovakia or 25 cents from another in the US can make a lot of difference. Pagtinabangay Foundation is doing this through www.ammado.com. We now have more than 30 individuals from around the globe donating to Pagtinabangay Foundation through the Ammado Giving Circle.

So, Alvin and Ernie do not be tied up to what your main office can provide because you can do better.

Again, Alvin and Ernie, mga hijo, Good Luck to both of you and to LEFADO-Ormoc. NEVER SAY GOODBYE!

Ate Jean Justimbaste

June 23, 2009

On the occasion of LEFADO’s ending its HIV & AIDS Prevention and Care Project

Apologies to THE BEATLES - A Little Help From My Friends

2009-06-17T04:33:00.000-07:00

What would you do if I ran out of funds,
Would you stand up and walk out on me.
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
And I'll try not to sing out of key.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
I heave a sigh with a little help from my friends,
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.

What do I do when my project is gone.
(Does it worry you to be alone)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you're on your own)
No, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I heave a sigh with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I'm gonna to try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody?
I need somebody to lean on.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to lean on.

Would you believe in a love for GIVING?
Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.
What do you feel when you see the impact?
I can't tell you, but I know it's heaven.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I heave a sigh with a little help from my friends,
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody?
I just need someone to lean on.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to lean on
Oh...
I get by with a little help from my friends,
I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends
I heave a sigh with a little help from my friends
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends,
with a little help from my friends

Fundraising at ammado.com

2009-06-12T03:43:00.000-07:00

There is a new development on ammado.com. Some of the people in ammado are into fundraising themselves since ammado is a fundraising site.

Pagtinabangay Foundation, Inc. (PFI) has been a member of Ammado since it was first launched in December, 2007. One year and six months later PFI has raised E20.53 and US$190.98 with a total of 27 donations from only 12 people, all ammado members.

Just this morning, however, when I opened my email I was amazed at the number of donations coming for PFI through ammado. Intrigued, I checked our ammado page to see what’s going on. OMG, everyday several donations are coming PFI’s way.

Joeri Gianotten, ammado.com’s Asia-Pacific director who is a monthly contributor to PFI, has created his own fundraising community and this link will explain better what he is doing http://www.ammado.com/community/107600.

The children of Terry Farris, a more or less regular donor of PFI on ammado also has their own fundraising community and here is the link to their page on ammado http://www.ammado.com/community/107609.

I just thought, you readers, might want to jump into the bandwagon of the Ammado Giving Circle.

Remarkable Joeri, remarkable Farris kids!

Thank you, guys. YOU ARE ALL GREAT. PFI loves you.

Goodby to our Youth Monitors

2009-05-21T00:51:00.000-07:00

This month of May is the last month that TCF Ormoc will avail of the services of our Youth Monitors. The donation of Mr. Jaap Poll in June, 2008 is only up to this month.

I do not know how I can monitor/visit all 25 CLCs.

Anybody who has an idea, please let me know.

Thanks.

TCFWA Festival 2009

2009-05-13T00:14:00.000-07:00

Back to TCF Ormoc

2009-05-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

It's been two months or so that we have not posted something about the Community Livelihood Centers. But we have been in the move. It's just that I've been busy with other activities in the past few days that I did not have much time to sit down and update my blogs.

Okay, we're back.

We initiated a contest for CLC coordinators. CLC Coordinators with a perfect attendance in the regular monthly meetings of CLC Coordinators for three consecutive months are given a prize from the last donations.

For the period October to December, 2008 only one had a perfect attendance - Valencia Community Livelihood Center. The Coordinator accepted the prize of one unit ironing board.

Nita Lucero (back to camera) talking with Carol Hanlon.

Nita is the Coordinator of Valencia CLC

For the period January to March, 2009 two CLC Coordinators had perfect attendance to our regular monthly meetings - Valencia and Public Market. Valencia requested that their prize be a Flat Iron this time and Tanya Perater of the Public Market CLC accepted the prize of one unit Ironing Board.

Adam Barralet with Tanya Perater of the Public Market CLC

Nora Lucero, Designer & Master Cutter of Valencia CLC

TCF Western Australia Innovation Festival

2009-04-19T01:18:00.000-07:00

TCF Wednesday

Official Launch by Belmont BEC Patron, Ben Wyatt, MLA

WA Program of Australian Innovation Festival

2009 Designedge Innovation Festival

BEC Australia Innovation Festival

6pm-8pm, 22^nd April 2009

Door Prize – Small Business Centre Belmont & Australia Post $250 *Direct Mail Sponsorship

Guest Designers & Speakers

Showcase & Sale of Malaysian Designer ‘Hideaki’ Evening Wear

All sale proceeds will go to assist the TCF Ormoc, Philippines Community Sewing Project

Hideaki is one of Malaysia’s leading cyber designers specialising metallic and space age design work

Peri & Gabrielle Lawlor - Passion Girl

Parade featuring a range of footy-inspired clothing

and accessories by designer duo Peri & Gabrielle Lawlor – sisters who

share a passion for sports especially Australian Rules Football

Lila Dara Design

Indigenous Kimberley Artist Leanne Manado from the Bardi, Nyul-Nyul people

Will showcase her artwork and launch her new designedge online shopping site

Update on Indigenous product collaboration and licence agreements available

Rayannes Design

Rula Jneid, BPW Business Woman of the Year, Belmont Small Business Awards

Will share her recent experiences of setting up off-shore manufacturing in China

Updates on Intellectual Property

Carol Kane from Watermark will update on changes to EMDG, where you can now claim

IP international trade marking; will also update on new rulings on the copying of original & distinctive designs

Complimentary copies of IP Australia ‘Fashion Rules’ booklet will also be available

Belmont BEC One Stop Shop Low Cost Advisory Services

New service available - ‘Ask an Expert’ Free Legal and Accounting appointments are now available!

Complimentary copy Australian Innovation Festival Magazine will be available for attendees

Carol Hanlon will update on TCFWA, TCF Australia, TCF Global projects

TCFWA Buying Mission Jinhan Fair, Guangzhou for Apparel, Home Textiles and Fabrics May 3-7

TCFWA Buying Mission Hong Kong Fashion Week, July 6-9

Shenzhen International Apparel Fair 9-11

Hand Woven wool tartan checks ‘small runs’ available from Sri Lankan Village weavers

Updates on TCF Bali, TCF Ormoc, TCF Sri Lanka

Meet the TCFWA Committee and bring your questions and queries along

Models supplied by Metro Modelling Academy, Morley

Venue - Ferrara Karaoke Bar, 67 Milligan St., Perth

(Parking around corner at Murray Street car park)

$10 Entry – Complimentary to TCF WA members (nibbles provided, drinks at bar prices)

Carol Hanlon Elected National President of Australasian Institute of Enterprise Facilitators

2009-03-28T04:48:00.001-07:00

Carol Hanlon has a vast and impressive resume which has seen her serve the local Belmont community in numerous roles for 15 years. Carol’s diverse experience also includes being Founding Manager and Facilitator of the Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc. (BEC) - Small Business Centre Belmont (SBC), Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia Inc. (TCFWA) and the designedge fashion incubator.

Carol has now been elected the National President of the Australasian Institute of Enterprise Facilitators (AIEF). Founded in 1997 as a result of the recommendations of the Industry Task Force on Leadership and Management Skills, the AIEF has a mission to advance the profession of enterprise facilitation.

Of the appointment, Carol said, ”I have been an active member of the board of the AIEF, and am honoured to now be elected Australian President, and look forward to this role”.

The aims of the AIEF revolve around establishing and upholding professional standards of competence, responsibility, objectivity and integrity in enterprise facilitation. They advise and inform government, industry and business at all levels on matters relating to the development of business facilitation and development of an enterprise culture in Australia.

Carol Hanlon has always been a strong community leader, serving on numerous Advisory Committees including restructuring of TAFE courses, tourism and regional economic development. Carol has received extensive community and business recognition for over 35 years and in 2006 Carol was a nominee of the Western Australian Citizen of the Year Awards - Industry and Commerce category and awarded Best National BEC Manager in 2004 and 2008.

Other community based projects inspired by Carol have included the creation of the Belmont Clothes Library, a Racing Industry Business Development project and Multicultural Business Services Support Services and various Indigenous projects.

For more information on the AIEF, www.aief.org.au.

Cherileen's gift

2009-03-14T03:13:00.000-07:00

Cherileen sent these "Loop Turners" from Australia for our Bantigue Community Livelihood Center.

Thank you so much, Cherileen.

First CLC Coordinators 2009

2009-03-01T03:15:00.000-08:00

The first CLC coordinators meeting for this year, 2009 was held the same day as Bobong's Sewing Training Graduation. The graduation was in the morning and the meeting was in the afternoon.

We were honored by the presence of former City Councilor and perennial enterpreneur Jose "Bing" Serafica. Bing comes from a family of landlords owning thousands of hectares of sugarcane lands. Despite this however, Bing, as always the humble servant, never says "NO" to requests from the grassroots - like us.

He shared with us his "Cost Sheets" that we very much need in making our prices acceptable to our West Australian partners.

Thank you, Bing!

Honor graduates get ribbons and cash incentives

2009-02-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

Our Samaritan couple enjoying "Lechon nga Baboy" during chowtime after the graduation ceremonies. Bobong manages his family's properties in Ormoc and his own landholdings while wife Aque is the Branch Manager of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) in Ormoc City, Philippines

Evelyn Panta, garments making trainer at the Inopacan Christian Sewing Ministry gives out gifts to all her graduates.

Cash gift from Bobong...

Aque pins a ribbon to one of the honor graduates.

Husband, wife, sibling, kin pin ribbons to their respective graduates.

Ribbons were pinned on the graduates who did very well compared to the rest of the sewing trainees. The ribbons were courtesy of the two teachers and the cash incentives were from our samaritan couple Bobong and Aque Martinez.

Graduation proper

2009-02-06T00:31:00.001-08:00

The following photos tell of the graduation and the graduates:

Christian Sewing Ministry Joint Graduation

2009-02-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Roberto Martinez's Christian Sewing Ministry had a simple graduation last January 31, 2009 at the family house of the Martinezes which was converted into a sewing center for 18 Saturdays. This big house has been abandoned by the family for quite some years now. It is good for Bobong (Roberto Martinez) to make good use of it by accepting lodgers and using the spacious living room as the ministry's sewing training center.

The Christian Sewing Ministry graduated a total of 24 garments makers they will enter the community livelihood center scene right away, to practice what they have just learned. The ministry is in two areas namely: Inopacan Christian Sewing Ministry and Ormoc Christian Sewing Ministry. So a joint graduation rite was held in Ormoc.

Two males and 9 females graduated from the Inopacan ministry in 14 Saturdays and in Ormoc 13 women finished a grueling 18 Saturdays of training.

The graduation rite started with an Opening Prayer.

After the Opening Prayer another pastor from the Inopacan ministry read passages in the bible that concerns clothes like the multi-colored coat of Jacob's son, Joseph and the intricacies of that story which almost all christians know.

I am a practicing catholic and I regularly hear mass on Sundays and I was just amazed observing two hours of what we call in catholic lingo as "homily". Two hours just listening to the story of Joseph that I have heard since I was in Grade 2. The most amazing part is that I never saw a soul asleep! I say wow!

Right after the homily the program started with Bobong's message. He narrated how he became involved in TCFOC. He recalled that he wanted to provide his fellow church members with a hook and line rather than fish caught by the hook & line. But he said, he wouldn't have done it without the support of his lovely and loving wife Aque. He reminded everyone not to be market-oriented but rather serve the sewing needs of their villages foremost. This way, they will also help the church because they will now be able to afford to give tithes.

Bobong knows his bible, too. He said that "we are doing this because we want to work out our own salvation rather than just wait for it to happen". He encouraged everyone to go on with their respective organizations and take good care of what they have just learned. He said that he was reminded by Proverbs 21:21 and almost tearfully brought home the point of how January 31, 2009 was a memorable day for him which he hoped would also be memorable for us all present in that graduation day.

The teachers/trainers did their share of talking too:

The Ormoc ministry teacher, Mrs. Ormencita Mahusay spoke about how her sewing sent all her children to finish a degree. She advised not to aim for wealth but to help our fellow for God's glory.

Our awardee friends!!!

2008-12-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

It's been a year of good harvest for our friends in Australia. For the second time, Carol Hanlon was presented with the Best Enterprise Center Manager Award (Best National Business Enterprise Centre Manager Award – 2004 and The Australian Taxation Office Award for Best Business Enterprise Centre Manager (BEC) in Australia, 2008). This is one more award to her many others.

Photo L to R

· Peter Murray, Chair BEC Australia

· Carol Hanlon , Manager, Belmont BEC

· David Baumgarten, Vice Chair, BEC Australia

· Rod Ettridge, Assistant Commissioner, Australian Taxation Office

Also, Metro Modelling Academy whose Managing Director, Adam Barralet came to Ormoc in July this year to train 160 budding ramp models in 3 days, was presented the Judges Award. Adam's mother, Gill received the Judges Award for the Academy.

Here's a link to the Belmont Small Business Awards: http://www.belmontbec.com/awards2008.html

I can't upload a photo of Gilly accepting the award here. The photos in the Belmont Awards site, although in jpg format, are in Bit Torrent program which is new to me.

More from the October 2008 Regular Meeting

2008-10-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

Nora Lucero is Valencia CLC's trainer. With her creativity, she keeps the center afloat. They have a new recruit and is right now on training with her.

Ingrid, our fashion jewellery entrepreneur in the making...

October Regular Meeting

2008-10-31T05:11:00.000-07:00

This is Linao CLC's coordinator - Josephine Ross. She reports that she is slowly carving a niche in her neighborhood. Her simple but beautiful curtain designs are particularly attracting customers among her neighbors.

This is Genia. She's being noticed by her neighbors, too. She has contracted cheerleaders costumes for a class of elementary kids.

This is Nelia Diano, coordinator of Concepcion CLC. She is currently scouting for committed dressmakers.

A Good Samaritan

2008-10-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

There are two new Sewing Livelihood Centers opened by a good Samaritan called Roberto Martinez in Ormoc City, Philippines. He is a farmer by profession (landlord/haciendero, that is), a businessman and passionate in helping the less fortunate.

After learning that TCF Ormoc has sewing machines available for less-fortunate women in the barangays (villages), he came, got the sewing machines that are just sitting around waiting for some souls to help them come to life, and had the sewing machines serviced.

With the machines, two ministries sprang to life: Christian Sewing Ministry - Ormoc City and Christian Sewing Ministry - Inopacan.

The photos here are from Ormoc ministry.

2008-08-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

For the month of August, the CLC Coordinators met and discussed the July 4 fashion parade. The parade helped all of us understand the fashion industry. And because we want to let more people know about our talents in fashion, we are scheduling our own fashion parade - no more boutiques this time - on October, 2008.

The newest donation from Western Australia, the Techology and Resource Center learning tapes were presented. The coordinators present were interested to borrow and watch the tapes.

In the same meeting it was also decided that the group right now will soon be converted into a cooperative and will be called the TCF Ormoc Multi-purpose Cooperative. This will give us more opportunities to grow.

Part of TCF Ormoc Herstory...

2008-08-24T02:53:00.000-07:00

Hi! Wonder how all those wonderful donations of 165 sewing machines and boxes and boxes of sewing materials came into being? Well, thanks to Marianne Liley Rom for uploading these photos in her Facebook pages.

They started out with appeals for donations thru the media.

And not for long donors came a-flocking....

kids, too...

They volunteered not just their time and money....

but efforts, too!

What an amazing display of generosity!

... and commitment!

And that was how it came to be...

The Hideaki Collection

2008-07-23T04:11:00.000-07:00

Hideaki Lim of Malaysia was kind enough to be the guest celebrity designer in the First Ormoc Fashion Event. After the parade, he told the audience that he also was once a village boy. He studied, worked hard and is now one of Malaysia's sought after fashion designers. He specializes in futuristic designs as evidenced by his garb.

Paraded as the main event in the recent Ormoc Fashion Event, was the Hideaki Malay-Vietnamese-Chinese inspired collection.

The Hideaki Collection

2008-07-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

The Ormoc Grassroots Fashion Event had a guest celebrity Fashion Designer in the person of Hideaki of HideakiFashion.com. Below is his latest collection that he donated to TCFOrmoc. These beautiful Malay-Vietnamese-Chinese inspired gowns are for AUCTION. All proceeds will go to the operations fund of TCFOrmoc.

Please place your bids and help TCFOrmoc continue its work helping barangay folks make money from their sewing livelihood activities.

First Ormoc Grassroots Fashion Event

2008-07-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

After 11 hours of training and practice by Adam Barralet, we could now show Ormoc what women and men from the Barangay Community Livelihood Centers have been busy about.

THE FIRST ORMOC GRASSROOTS FASHION EVENT. July 4, 2008. 6:00P.M. Ormoc City Superdome.