A carolling we go...

Reverse Carolling 2009 in pictures..

Birthing Christ

I just spent the last week singing carols (yes, even in Tagalog) and delivering Christmas hampers to the poor living in Montalban, Philippines.


ICPE Philippines, a Catholic lay missionary organization, organizes a reverse carolling outreach to the people living near the dumpsite in Montalban every year.

In its third year, the reverse carolling intiative sees teams of volunteers fanning the area, visiting the poor families living there to sing Christmas carols, praying with them and giving each family a Christmas hamper filled with goodies that will enable them to have a special meal during Christmas as well as provide them with some basic necessities.

This year, ICPE organized three outreaches on December 16th, 17th and 19th with the latter involving their Balikatan Ministry which comprises members of the community living in that area. Some 400 hampers were given out over the three-day period.
While there were many takeaways from the entire experience - the resilience of the people, joy that can exist even in the grimmest of circumstances, the hunger for love that can be satisfied in giving to others, how beauty is a universal language, the importance of good health and what a gift from God children are - the thing that struck me most was the power of a smile.

The profound gratitude of the families I visited really moved me for despite the inability to communicate with them, just by smiling at them and trying my best to exude empathy and compassion evoked a response that said, "Welcome and thank you for visiting me. I am so happy you are here, listening to me and acknowledging my existence".

I was humbled and awed in turn by the ability to recognize Christ's presence in the other, who in turn recognized Christ in me.

It was as Mother Teresa said, "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing".

In the act of a smile given, and a smile received and returned, each moment was a blessing for both the giver and the recipient. Sacred. Priceless.

While the poverty I saw made me weep, I was reminded to do what I can and to offer the rest up to God.

He who takes care of every living creature will take care of those I met over the three days of outreach.

I return home grateful for all that I have, the opportunity to make this Advent meaningful and allow Emmanuel to be born again in the world.

This article is contributed by Jackie Pau, a member of the Woman to Woman ministry of ICPE Mission, Singapore. Eight members of the Woman to Woman ministry served as volunteers throughout the 3 days of carolling. We thank you for your cheerful singing and your generosity in reaching out to the poor in Montalban!

Merry Christmas from ICPE Philippines!

Make a Smilebox photobook

November Living Letters 2009

Nov LL 1

from another perspective...

After repeated trips to Montalban to distribute food packages, medicine and other flood relief goods after the recent Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana" our missionaries share how the relief efforts impacted them...

"My most memorable experience was when a Filipino man washed my shoes. I was helping to shovel mud from someone’s house and my shoes were completely covered with thick slimy mud. When Jun Rivera, the Filipino man whom we had never met before, saw the state of my shoes, he asked my friend and I to follow him to his house so that we could get our shoes cleaned. He then poured water over my shoes and then asked me to remove them. He used his bare hands to rub off the mud from my shoes. Even though I tried to tell him that I could do it myself, he was insistent on doing it for me. After he had washed it, he just smiled and said ‘looks like new now’. I was really humbled at the way he had served me. He taught me the valuable lesson of putting in one’s whole heart when serving others. " Andrina from Singapore

"I was very touched during last week's relief efforts. This time, we brought a very small relief package containing clothes, soap and a can of food and we stayed with each family to listen and pray with them. In one family, the mother began to cry when we started praying for her family. Although they were grateful for the package, I realized that our prayers and listening ear meant a lot more to them." Caroline from South Korea

See them in action!

To find out how you can support our ongoing Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana" relief efforts, please go to

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

Smile! Show me your new clothes!

Last weekend, we distributed 120 sets of clothes to the children who attend our Children Ministry in Montalban. As the children come from low income families,their parents are unable to provide them with new clothes regularly. Although they try to turn up in their best clothes for our Saturdat ministry, their clothes are mostly faded, ill fitting or sporting holes at the seams.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors from Korea who provided the clothes and blessed them with the new clothes!

Fifth relief mission for victims of Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana"

On 29 October, we went again to Montaban to distribute 60 bags of relief goods to the victims of the Ondoy "Ketsana" floods. Each bag contained a can of food, clothes, a bar of soap, shampoo and washing detergent.

This time, we stayed longer with each family to listen to their struggles and to pray with them.

Many families shared the urgent need to repair their houses. Although most of them have tried to patch up their homes with bits of ply wood, canvas and other materials that they can find, they live in fear of the next typhoon that could destroy their fragile shelters. Some families still live in houses that have only 3 walls, exposing them to all the elements of the weather. Thus far, we have identified the most urgent homes in need of repairs and we would like to supply them with basic building materials for the repairs. Watch this space for more updates and information!

For more information on how you can help contribute to the ongoing relief efforts, please go to

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

from the mouth of babes... their experience of Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana"

Last week, as we continued distributing blankets and medicines in Montalban, a throng of young children gathered round the van. Their smiles and friendly grins belied the trauma that they experienced when Typhoon Ondoy (“Ketsana”) left all of them stranded on their rooftop for two hours. Three best friends, Raychelle, Janella and Jerilyn shared their experience with us.

Jerilyn, age 6, said “I was sad and afraid. We were on our roof for two hours.”
“The water was very, very cold,” Raychelle, age 5, piped in. “It came over our heads in the house.”
Janella, the youngest of the three added, “A few kind men helped us climb up the roof. I was crying." After a short pause, she added, "My mother is working in another town now.”

“Her younger brother is there too. They are only two siblings.” said the ever helpful Raychelle.

To help the family recover after the floods, Janella’s mother found a job and relocated to another town while Janella remains in Montalban with her aunt.

Looking at their house, I saw a piece of the zinc roof leaning on the wall. Grubby, damp clothes filled the whole zinc roof, apparently left to dry after the floods. Jenny, Janella’s aunt shared that everything was spoiled when the waters filled their whole house. “At least I still have a door and a window for my house,” she smiles as she cradles her toddler.
Amazingly, although they seem to have picked up and continued with their lives, everywhere around them the physical scars remain, a haunting reminder of the traumatic scourge left by Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana".

For more information on how you can channel your support for these victims, please go to

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

House cleaning of a different sort- continuing with relief efforts

Eddy, age 36, worked hard as a construction worker to support his wife and 3 young children (age 8, 6 and 2 years). To supplement the family income, the family reared pigs and were looking forward to selling their pigs when tragedy happened. Typhoon Ondoy “Ketsana” unleashed the rains that swelled the river banks nearby, washing away all of Eddy's pigs and flooding his whole house. In the aftermath of the floods, Eddy’s house was filled with forty centimetres high of mud that covered all his possessions.

Thankfully, Eddy managed to escape with his family. Discovering his plight during the food distribution efforts for the victims of the typhoon, our 3 brothers in community-Denzil, Domi and Mike have been helping Eddy slowly dig through the pile of slippery mud encasing every inch of the floor space.
“I’m so thankful to all of you for helping me." says a grateful Eddy.

The work is slow and back breaking. Gradually the men have uncovered Eddy's pile of clothes soaked in 3 weeks of rain water. "I asked Eddy whether he wanted us to help him throw the clothes away but he said to set it aside. He will wash and reuse it. You cannot imagine the stench of clothes soaked in water for that long!" said Denzil, a member of our community who helped shovel the mud.

Our efforts continue as God enables us to creatively help the different families find hope and continue with their lives.

To find out how you can channel your support for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy "Ketsana", please go to

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

More medicines and blankets for victims of Typhoon Ondoy (“Ketsana”)

Yesterday, 15 October, we continued our relief mission for the victims of the floods after the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy (“Ketsana”) with the distribution of 100 Paracetamol pills for fever, 200 anti-diarrhoea pills and 603 blankets.


As this was our fourth relief mission there, we were greeted warmly by the families. The children gathered inquisitively around the open van and offered to help fill up sacks with blankets for distribution.

We thank our generous sponsors from Singapore who provided these medicines and blessed the many who are in need. Felina, a grandmother of 3, gratefully shared “I have fever and headaches now. God must have heard my prayers and sent you to give me this medicine!”

We are still accepting donations and help for the victims as they continue to rebuild their houses and homes. For more information on how you can channel your support, please go to

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

Medicines and bedding mats for Typhoon Ondoy (“Ketsana”) victims...

Last Thursday, 8 October, our relief mission continued as we revisited the families in Montalban who were left homeless in the wake of Typhoon Ondoy (“Ketsana”). As the slight drizzle turned into a steady rain, we walked across mud covered trails to reach whatever was left of the houses damaged by the floods near the river. At the nearby evacuation site, empty shells of unoccupied structures without electricity and water supply served as temporary homes to forty families.

We distributed 300 packs of basic first aid items (band aid, iodine, cough tablets and cotton buds), 100 antifungal cream for skin infections and 300 mats as bedding. Many were overjoyed to receive the little gifts. Even more flashed brilliant smiles of gratitude in spite of the obvious mammoth task of rebuilding houses.

In one house, our intrepid community members lent their muscles to shovel off forty centimetres deep of mud that literally covered every inch of floor space. Underneath the mud, they uncovered bags of clothes soaked in 2 weeks of flood water, a solidified mattress and piles of other pieces of furniture now no longer usable.

We are continuing with the relief efforts in Montalban for the flood victims. Many families are still in need of more basic medication like Paracetamol and anti-diarrhoea medication. School-going children whose clothes and books were washed off in the floods need these items to continue studying.

We are still accepting and appealing for more support and donations. If you are interested to partner us in the relief efforts, please go to

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

for more information on how you can channel your support.
Do also feel free to write to us at : philippines@icpe.org for more updates and information.

what the receipients of our flood relief efforts say...

dedicated to our sponsors of the Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) relief efforts...

Maraming salamat (thank you in Filipino)!

More medicines for Ondoy (Ketsana)

On-going work is being carried out for the aid of victims of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana). We have, till this date distributed 1300 packages filled with an assortment of goodies, from rice, to canned goods, biscuits and clean drinking water. We are able to supply these only through the generosity of the hearts of friends and family around the world! Thanks to everyone who supported the victims with cash donations, in kind and with a lot of prayer.

In the days to come, we hope to raise funds to purchase more medications like Paracetamol, Diatabs (for diarrhea), fungal cream, antiseptic cream, mats for bedding, blankets/sheets. Many of whom have already lost everything they have and now living in huts with only a roof (and no walls).

Every US$6 donated provides a pack for these families. Do feel free to write to us at : philippines@icpe.org

For details on how to partner us and donate directly in aid of these families:

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/10/donations-for-relief-typhoon-ondoy.html

Donations for relief (Typhoon Ondoy 'Ketsana')

Thanking you in advance on your generous hearts.

Every dollar, every contribution in kind is much appreciated.

For all donations and contributions:
Please send an email with your name, contact details and donation amount to: philippines@icpe.org so that we can keep a track record of donations. If you wish to remain anonymous, kindly send us just the donated amount.

If you are contributing to us from overseas, you can send a telegraphic transfer to us directly in Philippines:
Bank account name: ICPE PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION INC
Peso account: 003-115250-040
Bank address: HSBC, Ground floor, Discovery Suites. 25, ADB Avenue Oritigas Centre. Pasig City. Metro Manila. Philippines
Swift code: HSBC PHMM
Purpose of transfer: Ondoy relief

If you are in Singapore:
You can contribute with a deposit via internet banking to our ICPE Singapore.
POSB Savings Account: 171-36923-1
Bank account name: Fong Tim Heng Esther & Chai Hui Chuan Amilia
Contact person in Singapore (ICPE Missionary) Amilia Chai - 98291382

Thanks and God bless!

1 Oct 2009 Rations distribution at Montalban, Rizal, Philippines

This is our mission! And what a way to commemorate the feast of St Therese of Liseux, who is the patron saint of missionaries! (Please mouse-over the slide show for captions)

Typhoon Ondoy and our new mission!

You’ve probably already heard and seen much on the news about typhoon ‘Ondoy’ (or ‘Ketsana’). It is reported to be worse then Hurricane ‘Katrina’ in the US and its devastation much more widespread.

Here in the mission centre, we are blessed to be protected. But all the same, our hearts go out to the survivors of the flood, many of whom are still living in what is left of their homes, many still flooded.

On the first day, we were at a relief centre, packing rations & toiletries, forming assembly lines to fill the vehicles so that these can be distributed.

We have been ministering to a place in Montalban (now known as Rodriguez) in Erap City for the last few years. And this place is not easily accessible with only one road in and out. And immediately, we wanted to bring as much as we can to Montalban. In faith, we started purchasing the bare basic rations. We have already spent S$2000 for 300 packages so far, and there is so much more needed for these families.

We appeal on behalf of these families who have basic needs to be met.
We appeal to your generosity.

As one missionary said after a day’s work of handing out rations in the rain ‘I have often wondered what I can do to help when I see these disasters happen on tv, but today I had the rare opportunity to work help in the areas of devastation to bring relief and hope with these packages.’

If you want to contribute, you can send a telegraphic transfer to us directly:
Bank account name: ICPE PHILIPPINES FOUNDATION INC
Peso account: 003-115250-040
Bank address: HSBC, Ground floor, Discovery Suites. 25, ADB Avenue Oritigas Centre. Pasig City. Metro Manila. Philippines
Swift code: HSBC PHMM

Purpose of transfer: Ondoy relief

If you are in Singapore:
you can contribute directly with a deposit via internet banking.
POSB Savings Account: 171-36923-1
Bank account name: Fong Tim Heng Esther & Chai Hui Chuan Amilia
Contact person in Singapore (ICPE Missionary) Amilia Chai - 98291382

For all donations and contributions:
Please send an email with your name, contact details and donation amount to: philippines@icpe.org so that we can keep a track record of donations. If you wish to remain anonymous, kindly send us just the donated amount.

Thanks and God bless!

Learning Tagalog

Contributed by: Denzil Rodriques

As a slow learner of languages I thought I will have a tough time. But learning Tagalog is quite interesting I am enjoying it. I find it difficult to pronounce Tagalog words but I hope I will do it with the help of God's grace. Other things that I am gaining from this class is that I am getting revision of the English grammar which I had forgotten. Last Saturday, in the Children's Ministry I managed to have small conversations with the little children. It was very nice that I could finally connect with them a bit through knowing their language.

We are on the lookout for a permanent place for our English Tutorial Sessions!

Contributed by: Joan Foo

So far, we’ve had most of our sessions for the two tutorial groups at the local tutorial centre in Montalban. It is a room that leaks even with the slightest drizzle. When it rains heavily, the children shout above the unremitting din of rain hitting the zinc roof just to hear one another. On dry days, it is littered with cat droppings. However much of a cleaning and refurbishment it needed, the room was our temporary venue until mid July, when it was taken up again by the original group of volunteers running tutorial sessions.

Since then, we’ve had some sessions outdoors, under a tree, surrounded by the cluster of neighbours and other inquisitive children. It is a lovely place when the cool breeze blows but terribly inconvenient when it rains and when we accidentally invade the space of the resident red ant colony!

One day, when it rained with the fierceness of the local monsoon rain, a member of our Balikatan ministry (our ministry to adults in Montalban) welcomed us in her house. It was amazing how 10 strapping teenagers squeezed into the 4 by 4 metre house! Even in the house, rain was coming through the windows and leaking at the corner. Halfway through the session, our electricity supply was cut off and our kind host provided us with candles. In spite of the inconvenience, the children participated fully right till then end.

Although every session yields its own unforeseen adventure, it is still the children’s undaunted joy and enthusiasm in learning that more than makes up for the various unconventional and unanticipated challenges. They prove that where the will is, there are no barriers to learning and growing!

We ask for your prayers as we are still looking for a suitable location for our Saturday tutorial sessions. We are currently seeking permission to use a local child care centre for the sessions for our teenage group.

Running a mission centre

Contributed by: Jitka Svozilova

It is a big task and a big blessing at the same time. It is a big task because of the many responsibilities which needs to be carried and a big blessing because through that one can only grow in relationship with God.

It all started in 2004 when I was officially asked by one member of the Council to consider taking this role. Not being in Asia and not wanting to be a leader at that time, I made a step of faith and said ‘yes’ after a time of discernment, finding that this is the direction which God is leading me.

In 2005, I came to the Philippines and realized that I like this country. All because it is very challenging just to be here – to adapt to the climate, culture, pollution etc. therefore it is a great opportunity to grow. I was also attracted to the vision ‘Empowering the poor through God’s compassionate love in the heart of Asia” which God gave to us during that time. And that too, I find it very challenging.

When I started to lead the centre at the end of 2005, it was even more challenging than I ever imagined. This includes: Pioneering the work with the new vision, starting ministries, building up and caring for the community, leading the staff formation, fundraising and facing the many challenges of mantaining the building of our mission centre.

The last three and half years has been very challenging indeed but very enriching at the same time. I’m aware it has been possible only because of God’s abounding grace and all the members of the community who have been supportive, encouraging, took a lot of initiative and carried different responsibilities.

Living Letters - our July 2009 enewsletter from the Philippines!

ICPE Living Letters - July 09

Children Educational Sponsorship – empowering children and youth through education!

Contributed by : Joan Foo

We are learning English!!!

The Educational Skills Development programme is our latest effort to empower children and youth through education in Montalban. After two years of providing financial assistance for the children to attend school, we found some children lacking behind academically due to various deficits in their basic educational skills with English as a major difficulty for most.

In May 2009, we started our English Tutorial with 2 groups of children currently receiving educational sponsorship. Held once a week, the tutorial focuses on improving oral English and reading comprehension- two key elements of the language in which the children fare poorly. The children are encouraged to practice their oral English through a variety of activities, games and story telling sessions. Our hope is that through the tutorial, education, the children will receive the basic foundations necessary to fulfill the heights of their ambitions.

Introducing the Foot Socks..

What is it? A pair of socks with an elastic band around the edges that you put on to cover the OUTSIDE of your shoes.

Who wears them? Children attending public school in the Philippines
What is it for? To protect the floors from getting dirty and muddy.

In the Philippines, public schools provide free education for children but the schools themselves bear the cost of school maintenance and the hiring of personnel to clean the school compound. Usually, each child contributes to cover these additional costs. In the lower income neighbourhoods, the contributions are oftentimes insufficient, placing the onus of school cleaning and maintenance on each child.

Therefore, under the Children Educational Sponsorship Ministry, we assist the children in their school contributions like janitorial fees, classroom fees to buy a fan for the class and school items like floor wax (to clean the classroom floors) and footsocks! These footsocks come in one standard size and they are placed over each side of the school shoes to help the students keep the school grounds clean thus avoiding the need for extra janitorial services and help.

Lately they are appearing in multi-colours and fancy designs. What a treat!

Joshua’s Diary - part 2

“I am happy now!” declared an elated Joshua when he found out that he could finally enroll in school. What was even more indescribable was the joy that radiated from him as he received his new school bag, start up Braille set and radio at the Philippines Resources for the Blind on 25 June 2009.

We ended our last blog entry with an entreaty to our Lord to open a new way for Joshua to go to school in view of his visual impairment. Since then, our Lord has continued to take us on a miraculous faith journey, revealing His mighty hand in the doors that have sprung open for Joshua.

Right after the need arose for special education for Joshua, the Lord sent us a volunteer to help to research on the different service providers for the visually impaired in Manila. Through her help, we finally located and visited the Philipines Resources for the Blind (RBI), a non profit Christian organization who provides educational intervention and support for inclusion of visually impaired children in the mainstream schools. To our amazement, they informed us that they had just trained a teacher for the visually impaired at the very neighbourhood school where Joshua lives! All Joshua needed to do was to enroll in the school to receive the services free of charge. As he had never before received formal education, he would begin with individualized classes and, at a later date, be included in the mainstream class, while continuing his specialized education. He would not only learn academic subjects, but other necessary skills like Braille, self help skills and social skills to prepare him for an independent living. Best of all, Joshua would be able to attend school with his siblings in his community!

What providence of our Heavenly Father indeed!

At the RBI, Joshua had a free consultation with the optometrist who specializes in children with low vision. With the results, staff of RBI would liaise closely with Joshua’s special education teacher to meet his individualized educational needs. On that same day, Joshua’s parents were linked up with other parents of children with visual impairment for support and networking. Come 1st August, Joshua will receive a free white cane as it marks the “White Cane Safety Day” in the Philippines. Talk about a conspiracy of events and timing! We believe it is the generous provision of our Father who cares for every detail and need.

Today, Joshua attends special education sessions three times a week in school and he is, in his own words, very happy now.

Interview with members on Staff formation.

What is your main motivation in joining this Staff formation?
My main motivation for joining the staff formation is to fulfill my desire to be a servant of the Lord. I would like to take the step to respond to His call to serve the poor. It certainly is not an easy task to leave the comfort of home to live in another country but learning (through the teachings in Staff Formation) to surrender my own desires and allowing God to mould me to become more God-centered and acknowledging that God is working in me gives me the motivation to be part of the staff formation. - Andrina Tan

Interview with members on Staff formation.

What do you miss most from your home country?
What I miss most is my family. I miss the time spent with them.
Every weekend we would go sightseeing or eat out together, and every morning we pray together as a family. I pray that God will take care of them while I am here in the Philippines and learn to trust God in this process. – Yoo Hana