AUSTRALIAN PARTNERS

Southern Hills Christian College of Perth, Australia Partners with IRC Sagay to Make a Difference in Purok Bangkal. Shortly before noon today a 45 man team composed of high school boys and girls together with teachers led by the Executive Principal Scott Puzey of Southern Hills Christian College paid Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Maranon III a courtesy call at the Sagay City Gov't Center.

LIVELIHOOD FROM "DANGGIT"

We are embarking on another livelihood activity here in Purok Bangkal that of selling dried "danggit".

The enterprising Tita Bading (or Tita Anz) will be marketing in Bacolod all the danggit we could buy from the fisher folk of Purok Bangkal. Again the sisters Annalisa (Banin) Bacalso and Alma Magdadaro are lending their effort at this income generating venture of IRC Sagay.

 We will order the dried danggit from Banin and she will source the danggit and buy for us, besides supplying us with all the "danggit" her husband Marbin could catch and dry. These women are packing the "danggit" into 250 gram plastic bags and this is how we will retail the "danggit". I really do not have to overly sell the attractions of danggit and why it is a favorite of many. It is simply delicious in its fried state although I really should avoid eating too much of this piscine delight.

 Later this afternoon when I go to Bacolod, Tita Bading and I will be delivering about 10 kilos of "danggit" to Ikthus. Hopefully we could do this on a regular basis and have a steady source of income for IRC Sagay besides providing livelihood for the fisherfolk of Purok Bangkal and maybe later, even beyond.

 Selling "danggit" is all part of the IRC mission of "transformational community development" as we journey with the communtiy of Purok Bangkal. Only by the grace of God.

HELPING BUILD ANOTHER FISHING BANCA

We are helping build another motorized fishing banca for fisherfolk in Purok Bangkal in partnership with Barangay Bulanon which was given a grant from DOLE (Dept. Of Labor). Five fishermen from Purok Bangkal are the intended beneficiaries of one motorized banca.

 The DOLE grant that was coursed through Barangay Bulanon was for twenty motorized bancas for the fishermen who lost their livelihood after the super typhoon Yolanda wrecked her havoc here in Northern Negros.

 The fishermen beneficiaries (five fishermen per mototrized banca) have to pay for the cost of labor in building the 30 foot motorized bancas as their counterpart which runs between P4,000.00 to P5,000.00. We are helping the fishermen beneficiaries of Purok Bangkal by shouldering the labor cost of building their motorized fisihing boat. This morning we contracted for the sawing of an ipil log for our boat's front and rear mainframe which we need.

 The building of this fishing boat would mean a source of income for the five fishermen beneficiaries and their families. The boat carpenter helping us build this boat July Villacencio is also the local President of the IRC Farmers and Fisherfolk Assn. We also helped July rebuild his fishing boat with a grant from the Woodbridge Community Church of Irvine, California. Fishing is the main source of income for the residents of Purok Bangkal and IRC will continue to extend help in this area of livelihood. Because we live in this community we see more clearly the needs of Purok Bangkal and helping restore livehood is a priority for us in our mission of "transformational community development".

 You too could be part of this endeavor. Partner with us in our efforts at bettering the lives of the people of Purok Bangkal. Help us make a difference and transform this community of farmers and fisherfolk. If you want to give to this cause or be a partner with us just PM me and we could discuss says on how you could help.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT REPACKING FOR IRC CHRISTMAS FUND

We are repacking laundry detergent into 100 and 50 gram bags for these women to sell so that we could buy Christmas gifts for the children.

 IRC caretaker Banin Bacalso and her older sister Alma Magdadaro (who is the mother of IRC high school scholar Jayann) take charge of this project and will go house to house to sell the detergent to raise our Christmas fund.

 We had our first customer this morning fisherman Edgardo Carambacan who does the laundry for his family of ten which he claims to be more challenging than fishing.

 We would like to thank our IRC partner and friend based in Saudi Arabia who generously gave us 5 ten kilo bags of this Saudi made laundry detergent. In our product testing this detergent produced excellent cleaning results not to mention its fresh smelling fragrance which I am sure will win over many housewives here in Purok Bangkal. Partnership development is one of the five fold advocacies of IRC and it is because we have partners that help us in our mission of "transformational community development" our task is made easier.

 We will continue to share the IRC vision to others and gain more partners..... only by the grace of God.
PS. If you want to be part of our efforts to transform this community please PM me. Be our vision partner and make a difference in the lives of the people of Purok Bangkal.

LOVING A COMMUNITY...TRANSFORMING A COMMUNITY

There is simply no other way to do "transformational community development" than for us to be present in the lives of the people here in Purok Bangkal.

 IRC Sagay Administrator Antonia Uychiat-Cueva (Tita Bading or Tita Anz) shares her time with the children, serving them in the most simple way: by cutting hair. She is giving her time journeying with this community, seeing their needs and moving to meet those needs.

 We have committed ourselves to the "transformation" of this community according to the five fold IRC advocacy: values formation; social entrepreneurship; education; health and partnership development. but then no matter what one does if there is no genuine love for the community our efforts would just be exercises in manipulation.

 After all, "TCD" is a matter of the heart, a heart that the Lord has prepared before hand for this self-sacrificing effort at touching lives. Only by the grace of God are we able to love this community and it will only be by the same grace that we will be able to transform Purok Bangkal.

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THESE CHILDREN

Here at Purok Bangkal we make sure we have time for the children now when are able...to lead and guide them..to teach them..even to play with them in our mission of "transformational community development".

 The sound of children's laughter give us the reassurance that that indeed we labor for the children and it is the children that give us reason to hope. How can we not win this community and transform their lives when we are giving the children our time...when we talk with them..when we play with them ...even when we pray with them?

Transformation for this community will take place because of the children and to these children belong the future of Purok Bangkal. We simply have to love the children and we will transform this community.

IRC SAGAY FAMILY PRAYER TIME & DEVOTIONAL

Here in Purok Bangkal, we usually have our Family Prayer Time and Devotional every Wednesday night but for two weeks in a row now, we have done it Thursday night as I have been away on the last couple of Wednesdays when we were supposed to have it. 

I came back to Purok Bangkal earlier this afternoon after having been away since last Saturday. I sorely missed my IRC family and as we gathered tonight in prayer, I let them know that I did. Again, I stressed that we are family and that we ought to love one another just as Jesus loves us.

Tita Bading had a surprise gift of T-shirts for all the IRC scholars which she gave out before we shared in a dinner of chicken tinola, spicy chicken feet (adidas) and grilled fish. We are truly bonding as a family here in Purok Bangkal and I love the children whom I look to as my own.

 We are praying as a family for "transformational community development" in Purok Bangkal as we also pray for strength, courage and faith to take on the IRC vision of transformation into our lives. We will continue to pray.

IRC BUENOS AIRES LAUNCHED

IRC Buenos Aires is the latest addition to the lRC family of communities that has become a movement of transformation all over the Philippines and even beyond.

Earlier this Wednesday morning Pastor Steve Indino gave encouragement and inspiration to the gathering of men, women, youth and even children who share the IRC vision of transforming communities where ever IRC is present.

Lending support to IRC Buenos Aires were other IRC communities tasked with the same mission of "transformational community development" through its five fold advocacy of values formation; social entrepreneurship; education; health and partnership development.

IRC Buenos Aires now stands as a beacon to the community to effect genuine transformation as she continues to serve the most needy members of this community. IRC is simply finishing the great commission. IRC has become "the movement".

BEING PRESENT IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

This is what IRC and "transformational community development" is all about: being present in the lives of others in Purok Bangkal. 

Late last night we had to take nineteen year old Sheila, our 4th year high school IRC scholar to a hospital in Escalante as she was suffering from extreme stomach pain. She was immediately put on IV and had to be admitted. 

I really felt sorry for Sheila. Her eyes were swollen from crying even as I silently prayed for her. Both Sheila's parents were present and stayed to watch over her while I drove back to Purok Bangkal with my neighbor Marbin who also came with us. Before I left, I made sure everything was okay with Sheila who by that time was already given pain medication through IV. I welcome the opportunity to serve even in such a simple task as driving Sheila to the hospital. 

This is part of our journey at affecting lives at Purok Bangkal as we convey our message to this community that IRC cares..

IRC Sagay: MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN

We are meeting the needs of our school children here in Purok Bangkal through the generosity of friends who support our efforts at making a difference in this communty. 

Tonight, we gave our school children rubber boots so that when they go to school tomorrow they could easier negotiate the mud layered road of Purok Bangkal. 

Even in such a simple gesture as this we'd like community to know that IRC cares and will continue to care by meeting the needs of our school children. 

We would like to thank our friend from Illinois, USA who provided for the rubber boots for the school children of Purok Bangkal. May the Lord continue to bless you sis Zarah as you continue to be a blessing to others. Thank you Lord.

IRC SAGAY: SEEING THE NEEDS IN PUROK BANGKAL

The other day I went to see this cluster of four houses on the fringes of Purok Bangkal which were badly damaged by super typhoon Yolanda. 

Now, close to a year after, no rebuilding assistance has arrived for them. Our presence here in Purok Bangkal began with our distribution of roofing materials for seventeen families last March. Just last month, we were able to finish building one house (measuring 10x16) for a family of nine, whose house was also devastated by Yolanda. 

The house we built had one bedroom, a living room, kitchen and toilet (w septic tank) with an all concrete floor and GI sheet roof. Purok Bangkal was one of the places here in Sagay that bore the brunt of the super typhoon and many residents saw their homes and bancas damaged or lost in the wake of Yolanda. 

There is more work for us to do in Purok Bangkal helping rebuild houses. We simply cannot wait for the government to act. We are moved to help ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters here in Purok Bangkal because we see their needs. 

Join us in our efforts to help rebuild these four houses. Help us better their lives by building for them adequate shelter. We need building materials: cement, GI roofing sheets; nails, lumber etc. You can give in cash or kind. Pls. PM us if you want to help. Together we can make a difference in Purok Bangkal.

IRC SAGAY PARTNERS WITH CITY GOVERNMENT

IRC Sagay is partners with the Sagay City government in its pursuit of "transformational community development" for Purok Bangkal. We are working closely with the city administration headed by Mayor Alfredo Maranon III through the Sagay Marine Reserve, the city agency tasked with developmental efforts for Sagay's coastal areas. 

We began our partnership with the City of Sagay early this year when we built twenty bancas for fisherman who lost theirs in the aftermath of Yolanda. The Sagay Marine Reserve helped us in identifying beneficiaries and provided for the labor component to the banca building project. Presently, our local IRC association has an ongoing mangrove planting project with the SMR and the BFAR. 

Our clean, drinking water project for Purok Bangkal which we accomplished last April was inaugurated by the mayor who lauded our community development efforts. We met with the mayor yesterday morning in line with a visit this late November to Purok Bangkal of a 45 man team from an Australian association of Christian Schools that will undertake two projects with IRC Sagay in the community. 

This missions exposure trip for the students of this organization will see them help build a public toilet/shower and cement a 15x30 meters basketball floor. A motor for a banca we are helping rebuild will also be given by this group from Australia.The Australian students together with their teachers will also engage the community in livelihood activities such as fishing and farming. The mayor will host a welcome dinner and cultural night for our Australian visitors when they arrive this late November. This Austarlian group's trip to Purok Bangkal was arranged through the efforts of IRC partner Pastor Gary Visitacion. 

IRC is building bridges to people's lives as we expand our network of partners. You too could partner with us. Share our vision and help us meet the needs of this community of farmers and fisher folk. PM me if you want to be part of this endeavor. Together we truly can make a difference in the lives of people in Purok Bangkal.

GONE FISHING....

Early this morning my godson and IRC Sagay volunteer Kristoffer Trono and I set out with fisherman and Yolanda survivor Marbin Bacalso, his ten year old son, Shan and fourteen year old nephew Marjohn to go and fish.

 Kris has already gone fishing with Marbin several times before and you might say he is already a seasoned veteran although Kris admits he doesn't know how to swim. Actually what Marbin does is go to his fishnet pens set a distance from the shore which trap the fish.

 He then catches the fish trapped inside with a net or with his bare hands, an experience I was able to try this morning. We caught just enough fish for our lunch although there was an 800 gram squid that Marbin caught that is now a cooking: adobong pusit, fish tinola and kilaw which Marbin already prepared when we were out at sea. 

The Lord provides and in truth this bounty from the sea came from His hands to meet our needs. The IRC Family in Purok Bangkal is dependent on God as we acknowlegde that He is our provider. 

This morning we went fishing but we hear Jesus' calling us: "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. At Purok Bangkal we are more than fishermen. We are "fishers of men".

IRC: TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The concept is simple. The strategy basic. IRC is just following in the footsteps of Jesus...touching lives..bringing healing...meeting needs.

 IRC is translating the Gospel message into compassionate action and lives are transformed as we realize a knowing and intimate relationship with God.

 God is bringing people together, people who are their "brothers' keepers", people who realize God's call and respond to it with love. IRC is now movement. Only by God's grace.

PASTOR STEVE VISITS PUROK BANGKAL

Pastor Steve Indino, IRC Philippines National Director together with Sis. Antonia Uychiat-Cueva (Tita Anz) IRC Sagay Administrator paid Purok Bangkal a visit earlier today underneath sunny skies that made the road into our community passable.

 It has been awhile since Pastor's Steve's visit last June together with our friends from Woodbridge Community Church of Irvine, California who helped us with our intial efforts to better this community with our "water project".

 This has been a big boon to the welfare of the community as it provides clean drinking water to the residents. Pastor Steve also toured the other projects we have udertaken in partnership with Woodbridge such as the house we built for Harold and his family; the rebuilding of the motorized fishing boat of Manong July and the newly built fishing boat of Marbin, who survived the fury of Yolanda in open sea. 

Marbin's new fishing boat bears the name "Woodbridge Community Church". We also showed Pastor Steve our newly leased 500 sqm lot which Tita Anz will be turning into a veritabe vegetable farm to augment not only our dietary needs but our income as well. Pastor Steve was happy most of all with the IRC Family here in Purok Bangkal and how we are establishing relationships that even now he sees as the unfolding of "transformmational community development" for this place.

 In the next few months more projects will be undertaken with partners from the IRC network that will directly benefit the residents of Purok Bangkal. The truth is IRC Sagay's efforts here in Purok Bangkal sprang from Pastor Steve's vision and we will continue to find inspiration and guidance from him as we journey with the people of Purok Bangkal. 

Thank you Pastor Steve for sharing with us your passion for God and compassion for people as IRC Sagay seeks to make a difference in the lives of the people here in Purok Bangkal.