You’re invited to join the NEXTGEN Volunteer Program in the Philippines this summer 2011

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Dale Asis

'Salakot' (native hat) arch and welcome rotunda in Clark, Pampanga signifying US and Philippine friendship

NEXTGEN: VOLUNTEER PROGRAM In the Philippines For Filipino Americans and Anyone Interested in Learning More about the Philippines and Making a Difference in the World

I would like to invite you to join the NEXTGEN: Volunteer Program in the Philippines a second look. To apply for the program, click HERE and fill the online application form.

When? June 19 – August 15, 2011

Where is the volunteer program located?

You will be volunteering with Alliance for Bases Clean Up Philippines and WeDpro near Clark, Pampanga, about 60 miles north of Manila.  Participants will stay with a host family that will offer you safe and comfortable accommodations and will help you feel welcome.

Why join NEXTGEN: Volunteer Program in the Philippines?

  • Get valuable experience that could give you an edge in job and graduate school applications
  • Work with reputable nongovernmental organizations (NGO) in public health and other sectors
  • Learn about the Philippines and your Filipino heritage
  • Travel safely with ongoing oversight and support during your entire trip
  • Take advantage of a low-cost program that includes international airfare from Chicago, accommodations, most meals, two sightseeing trips, and weekly workshops
  • Share your skills and make a difference in the world!

In 2007, I received a fellowship from the Chicago Community Trust and I got a rare chance to travel back to my mother’s village in Bicol, Philippines. I stayed there for six weeks where I was confronted by the poverty of my distant relatives, many of whom wanted to literally be inside my luggage and join me back in Chicago.  At that time, I was the Executive Director of the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII), one of the largest immigrant led coalitions in the country.  I saw the connection between their desperation and the overwhelming number of immigrants who feel they must migrate to seek a better life.  That visit was a turning point in my life.

In 2008, I decided to encourage Filipinos in the diaspora to donate, volunteer and improve the situation in the Philippines in substantive and sustainable ways.

I hope that the NEXTGEN Volunteer program will also provide you the unique opportunity to experience the Philippines firsthand, learn, share your knowledge and make a difference in the world.  But most of all, I hope that this volunteer program will foster your continued connection with the Philippines and that you become a long-term partner for change.

For more detailed information about the program click HERE

Posted in Diaspora Giving, Volunteerism | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Support James Castillo and his efforts to support youth educational and environmental trainings

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Dale Asis

Many complain about the growing apathy of many young people and how they seem not to care. A recent blog entry, “The Apathy of the Young American”  mentioned about the apathetic disposition of many young Americans. I disagree.

Meet James Castillo of Los Angeles, CA, a young Filipino American. He is currently raising donations for the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center and provide critical youth educational and environmental trainings in Cebu, Philippines. The environmental youth camp will give 100 participating youth leaders to learn about environmental sustainability in a fragile tropical island like Cebu. The next environmental youth camp is scheduled for April 1 to 3, 2011.

I’m sure James is not alone.  There are other young people out there who want to make a difference.

So consider donating $50 or any amount that you could afford and offer one youth the chance to join an environmental youth camp and become a leader in environmental sustainability.  You can donate online by clicking here

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Amerasians: America’s Forgotten Children

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Dale Asis

In January 2011, I visited the former US military bases in the Philippines: Subic Naval Base and Clark Air Base. In 1992, the United States military left the Philippines. I thought they took everything with them. But they left behind 50,000 Amerasian children whose fathers were American sailors and their mothers were assumed to be prostitutes. These Amerasians are America’s forgotten children.

Mark Gilbore (standing on the right) gives Dale Asis (on the left) a tour of Angeles City's red light district with the infamous bar girls standing outside the bars

Meet Mark Gilbore.  He’s 6’4”. He’s black and he would not be out-of-place in Chicago. However, Mark has never been in Chicago. In fact, he’s never been in the US. He doesn’t even know his father. He grew up with his mother in Angeles City, near Clark Air Force Base. He speaks fluent Tagalog and the local dialect, Kapampangan. I never heard him speak English.

I had dinner with Mark. Before we ate, he rolled up his pant leg and put his leg up in the wooden stool.  He ate with his hands, Filipino style. He likes to eat rice, a lot of rice.  At that moment, I knew Mark was more Filipino than I was. However, Mark does not ‘look’ Filipino. He looks like he belongs in Chicago.

The children of African-American soldiers are especially singled out and ridiculed.  Mark confided in me that he suffered a lot of discrimination growing up. They called him names. But most of all, he grew up with the social stigma of being an illegitimate child and unable to elude prejudice because it shows in his physical features.

Many Amerasian children are labeled Iniwan ng Barko (left by the ship). I met some of them during my visit there. They were eagerly planning a celebration for ‘Amerasian Day’ , one of the rare occasions where Amerasians are acknowledged officially.  A local organization, WeDpro, Inc. is giving them support in their upcoming plans.  Each one of them shared with me their tragic stories of discrimination and prejudice.

Dale (second from left) with Amerasians in Angeles city, Pampanga

In 1982, the United States Congress voted to grant U.S. citizenship to Amerasians from Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, and other Asian countries, in what was known as the Amerasian Homecoming Act. Although the Philippines has been a United States ally for more than a century, Filipino (and Japanese) offspring of soldiers were not included: they must be claimed by their former American G.I. fathers if they wish to claim their U.S. citizenship.

I asked Mark if he was also looking for his father in the US. He said no; he’s at peace not finding him.  I asked him what made him such a strong person despite growing up in the midst of discrimination and prejudice. “My mother. He raised up me to be proud of who I am,” Mark said.

What does the future hold for these forgotten children of the post-war world? What moral obligation does the US have to America’s forgotten children?  Do they have to find their fathers in the US to find peace? Will their fathers and their families accept their Amerasian offspring? Will these Amerasians even adjust to life in the US after living in the Philippines all their lives? Or does the local Filipino society have to accept these forgotten children and not discriminate against them?

You can also watch the trailer of the upcoming documentary, “Left by The Ship” to be shown in PBS soon: LEFT BY THE SHIP trailer English from visitorq on Vimeo.

Posted in Bases clean up, justice, Philippine poverty | Tagged , , , | 111 Comments

The unfinished task of cleaning up the toxic contamination left behind by the US former bases in the Philippines

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Dale Asis

Myrla Baldonado stars in the documentary film, Vapor Trail (Clark) by John Gianvito

Myrla Baldonado, Organizing Director of the Bayanihan Foundation shares her personal thoughts about her recent visit to Clark and Subic, US former bases in the Philippines:

In January 2011, Dale Asis and I visited the area of the former Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Base now Special Economic Zones and major tourist destination.  This meant passing quickly thru four provinces of Central Luzon namely, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales.  We travelled past Crow Valley to the Red Beach in Zambales, which were once both live bomb target sites of the U.S. military.  I felt my mood changed as we entered the valley that reminded me of the unfinished task of bases clean up.  I closed my eyes briefly and the images of the victims and the long hard struggle to achieve environmental justice popped up.

I worked for two decades as the founding Director of the People’s Task Force for Bases Clean-up before I became the Organizing Director of Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide.  I relentlessly advocated for the victims of toxic contamination and for the environmental clean up of both bases.  During that time, we successfully unraveled and lobbied for studies that confirmed serious environmental and health problems in these areas.  We also provided medical help to over a thousand victims of contamination.  Countless media and a couple of filmmakers both local and foreign came up with documentaries highlighting the problem and the consistent refusal of the responsible party to fulfill its legal and moral obligation of cleaning up the toxic wastes left behind.

(standing far right) Myrla Baldonado with members of Saup in Clark, Pampanga

We’ve met with the members of Saup (Help), an organization of families of Pinatubo victims who lived in an evacuation center inside Clark called CABCOM which we later found out was a former motor pool of the US Air Force that was contaminated with mercury and arsenic.  Approximately 350,000 people went thru that evacuation center and were exposed to contamination.  Anecdotal evidence and health studies confirmed effects of contamination from prenatal birth, disabilities, neurological disorder of unusual proportion and the presence of heavy metals in the blood of residents.  In Subic, we’ve met with the members of Yakap (Embrace) an organization of former US Naval Base workers and their families who were exposed to the toxics and hazardous chemicals such as asbestos in the course of their work in the US naval shipyard. All of those we’ve met confirmed their commitment to continue working on the campaign for bases clean up and acceptance of partnership with the Bayanihan Foundation.

For the first time, I met the residents of a former target range called Red Beach of the US Navy in Zambales Province, right across Subic Naval Base. Many of their neighbors like in Crow Valley and Green Beach died, had their limbs maimed, or blinded by the explosions and accidents with unexploded ordnance (UXO) specially unsuspecting children and fishermen.  Some parts were cleared recently to give way to a Korean shipbuilding company Hanjin and they shared many reports and sightings of many UXO’s.

In February 2011, as soon as we got back in Chicago, I received the news that I should head quickly to Los Angeles, CA to introduce the film “Vapor Trail (Clark)” at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).  Documentary filmmaker John Gianvito produced and directed the film.  He initially found out about the contamination issue at Clark and Subic from a news article he read in the Boston Globe.  From 2006 till 2008, my organization, the People’s Task Force for Bases Clean-up provided coördination and technical support for Mr. Gianvito for three summers.

As he was finishing the film, he flew me to Boston to help with the editing and that’s when I realized that I became the center of the film.  My life story in the film tells how I matured politically. I realized how oppressed we were as a people and how we lived like squatters in our own land from the experience of living with scavengers, prostituted women and urban poor dwellers.

Mural portraying the toxic contamination left behind by the US former military bases in the Philippines

Being able to continue working on this unfinished task for the Philippine environment and the health of the Filipino people affected by the toxic contamination is one of the many rewards of being with Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide.  Obviously, Dale Asis, the founding director also saw the reward of making this one of the foundation’s development projects.

I am glad to find out, too, that Alexander Lacson, author of the popular book “Twelve Little Things Every Filipino Can Do” also considers the bases clean-up campaign as his “unfinished business”.  Last January 22, 2011, Alexander offered a congratulatory toast at the cocktails after the successful US – Diaspora Partnership Workshop at Adamson University in Manila, Philippines.

Indeed, our recent visit to Clark and Subic gave me the renewed strength to continue working in the US for the homeland no matter how lonely it could get to be so far away from home.

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Visiting Clark and Subic, Former US Military Bases in the Philippines

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Dale Asis

On January 2011, I visited the towns of Clark and Subic, former US military bases in the northern island of Luzon, Philippines.

Map of Clark and Subic, former US military bases in the Philippines

First, I wanted to give a brief historical background about the two military bases. Then, I wanted to share my personal insight and experience of my visit there.

Brief Historical Background

In 1904, the Subic Naval Facility was established for the US Seventh fleet. In 1945, the Clark Air Force Base was established as a military base which became the home base of the 13th Air Force and 55 units of the Pacific Air Force Command, which supported US forces in Korea and in Vietnam conflicts. They were the largest military installations the US operated overseas. Then in 1991, the Philippine Senate rejected the extension of the Philippines-US base treaty. At around the same time, Mt. Pinatubo volcano erupted located near Clark Air Base. The volcanic eruption expedited the departure of the US troops from these two military installations.

(from (From left to right) A guide and Myrla Baldonado, Bayanihan Foundation's Organizing Director, looking over Subic Bay, Philippines

Visit to Clark and Subic: my personal views and insight

Myrla Baldonado, the foundation’s Organizing Director and the staff of the Alliance for Bases Clean Up Philippines were very generous of their time and they gave me a grand tour of the site of the two former bases. I wanted to share these three personal insights.

1. I was impressed by the vast area that the US former bases covered. I initially thought that we will be visiting small but developed towns left behind by the US former bases in Clark and Subic. I was astounded by the vast area that the US former bases covered. The former US naval base in Subic Bay was the about equal to the entire San Francisco Bay area covering 16,452 acres (International Summit on Military Bases Clean Up Report, 1999). Subic naval base was the largest military installation that US ever operated overseas.

The former Clark Air Force Base covered 158,277 acres that spread out into two Philippines provinces, Pampanga and Tarlac (International Summit on Military Bases Clean Up Report, 1999). The former US Air Force base covered about four times the size of Washington, DC. Both bases covered huge tracts of land that is was almost impossible to see the entire area in one visit.

2. Traces of the US former bases are everywhere even after almost twenty years since they left the area.

The former US bases are busy transforming themselves into an economic and family friendly tourist destination as the Clark Freeport Zone and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  However, I only need to scratch the surface to find the vestiges of the past.

Dale standing in front of a sealed US military bunker in Subic Bay, Philippines

Myrla Baldonado, the foundation’s Organizing Director and our guide showed me hundreds of hidden bunkers that dot large tracts of jungle that cover the former Subic Naval Base. I even took a photo of one of the sealed bunker doors. I wonder what lies beyond those sealed doors?

Mark Gilbore (standing on the right) gave Dale Asis (on the left) a tour of Clark's red light district with the infamous bar girls standing outside the clubs

The US sailors have left but Clark’s red light district with its infamous bars and nightclubs still continue to thrive. I thought that they all have packed up and left when the US troops departed in 1991. “Unfortunately, the US have left but the situation has not has changed. There is still deep poverty in the area,” Myrla Baldonado lamented. When I visited Fields Ave., the famous street where many of the girlie bars lined up, many of the clubs were getting ready for ‘Australian Night’.  I guess many Australian tourists now frequent the area.

3. Finding unassailable evidence of toxic contamination in Clark and Subic could be complicated.

For the last 20 years, the US former bases in Clark and Subic had been transforming themselves to be an economic development hub and tourist destination with a new airport, export processing zone and even a theme park with sea dolphins and sea lions. I sense that the towns of Clark and Subic just wanted to move on, forget about the toxic contamination left behind by the US military and perhaps sweep it all under the rug.

Local residents explaining unexploded ordinances in their fishing village in Subic Bay

Myrla and I visited a nearby fishing village in Subic Bay and the local fishermen were eager to tell us vivid stories of how they would catch unexploded ordinances from the fishing nets. Many enterprising young men would dig metals left behind and sell them for scrap. Unfortunately at many occasions, they would find unexploded ordinances that would explode and at times injure or kill them.

A potentially contaminated area in Sapang Bato village, Clark, Pampanga

Myrla showed me a small fenced-in area that the Philippine government marked for being potentially contaminated. However, this small area was just a stone throw away from the large residential neighborhood of Sapang Bato. In addition, this contaminated area sits right in front of a brand new building of a Korean multinational engineering firm! I saw countless similar situations during my visit there.  A shopping mall was built on top of a potentially contaminated site. Another contaminated site is now a watermelon patch. So it will be difficult to find unassailable evidence of toxic contamination that the US military left behind. However, both the US and Philippine government should not ignore this environmental threat and just sweep it under the rug.

Watch the upcoming film, “Vapor Trail (Clark)” by documentary filmmaker John Gianvito to have a more in-depth insight into this complicated issue.  Catch the film in an upcoming film showing at the University of Los Angeles California (UCLA) or at other upcoming screenings.

Posted in Philippines, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Why I’m Doing This Work: A Personal Essay

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Dale Asis

On January 22, 2011, I presented this personal essay on why I’m doing this work with the  Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide at the US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership workshop in Manila, Philippines.

In 1964, I was born in Sampaloc, Manila. I grew up modestly in this Manila neighborhood known for local flooding even during the mildest rainstorms.  When I was eight years old, I would always rejoice that school would be cancelled with the slightest hint of rain.

In 1973, my father died of lung cancer due to his heavy addiction to smoking two to three packs of unfiltered Old Gold cigarettes everyday.  A few years later, my mother remarried an American and next thing I know I was going to the US with my younger brother as soon as the school year was over.

In 1986, I graduated from graduated from college and I went to work right away. In 1988, I started volunteering and tutoring immigrants to learn English.  I found my calling; I found my inner reward of helping others.

In 1998, I cofounded the Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois (CAAAELII), one of the largest immigrant led coalitions in the country. In 2001, I received a Ford Foundation Leadership Award for my work helping many immigrants in Chicago.

In 2007, I received a yearlong fellowship from the Chicago Community Trust.  I have traveled to the Philippines occasionally but only on short holidays. During my fellowship, I traveled to my mother’s native village in Bicol, Philippines, where I was confronted by the poverty of my distant relatives, many of them physically wanted to be inside my luggage and join me back in Chicago.

In 2007, I stayed with my cousin for the entire day; he patches tires of tricycles for a living.  Many tricycle drivers opt to patch the tires and not buy new ones to save money.  My cousin and I stood in the heat of the sun all day in front of the public market looking for tricycles that need their tires patched up. My cousin earned about 80 pesos, less than $2 for the entire day. His earnings were not enough to buy rice, fish and vegetables to feed his family.

During my visit, I saw the connection between my relatives’ poverty and the overwhelming number of immigrants who feel they must migrate to seek a better life. It was a turning point for me.  I decided to address the root cause of migration by leveraging the financial and technical potential of the growing Filipino diaspora to improve the economic situation in the Philippines in substantive and sustainable ways.  I realized that many Filipinos like myself are living abroad and that collectively we could make a difference by giving sustainably and responsibly back home.

In 2010, I established the Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide based on Filipino traditional values of community spirit, trust and helping each other.  I hope you will join me in this journey of partnership of Filipinos abroad helping Filipinos at home.

Posted in Diaspora Giving, Immigration, Philippine poverty, Philippines, Poverty | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Songs sung at the US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership Workshop

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Dale Asis

I wanted to share with you three songs sang at the US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership workshop last January 22, 2011 at Adamson University, Manila, Philippines. This was also my first time to take part in a workshop where I was serenaded by music. Enjoy!

1. The first song titled ‘Pagbabalik’ (Coming Home) is also the main theme of the workshop. Huzanna DeVera, 12 years old, sang the song during the opening of the workshop.

2. Boojie Juatco sang this second song titled ‘Uha’ (Crying). He also wrote this original song depicting the children allegedly affected by the toxic contamination left behind by the former US military bases in the Philippines.

Boojie sang the song at the reception and serenaded the participants.

3. The third and last song titled ‘Dakilang Lahi’ (Pride in Filipino Heritage) was sung by Huzanna DeVera.  This song is about being proud of your Filipino heritage and shedding away many Filipinos’ low regard of their cultural traditions due to colonialism.

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Personal Reflections: US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership Workshop January 2011

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Dale Asis

On January 22, 2011, the Bayanihan Foundation hosted a US-Philippines diaspora partnership workshop at Adamson University in Manila, Philippines. 45 participants attended including diaspora donors from the United States and Israel and homeland partners from the Philippines.

I’ve included my three personal reflections of the workshop:

1. Traditional values of giving should become the anchor of Filipino diaspora partnerships.

The foundation  should anchor its work in Filipino traditional values that promote giving and partnerships:

  • ‘Tiwala’ (trust)
  • ‘Kabalikat’ (interdependence, sharing responsibilities)
  • ‘Pagkakaisa’ (mutuality, helping each other)
  • ‘Tradisyon’ (traditional values of giving – ‘bayanihan’)

During the workshop, participants acknowledged the current fragmentation, distrust among groups and the cultural challenge of ‘crab mentality’.  The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless “king of the hill” competition (or sabotage) which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise. The analogy in human behavior is that of a group that will attempt to “pull down” any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of jealousy, conspiracy or competitive feelings.

2. Homeland partners that participated in the workshop understand the value of partnership in long-term sustainable development.

I was pleasantly surprised how sophisticated the homeland partners that attended the workshop. They knew right away the value of partnership between the diaspora donor and the homeland partner. They understood that both sides have a voice and that the foundation is trying to change the traditional model that donors know best and that the homeland partners are passive recipients of charity.

3. Throwing money at the problem is not the solution.

Money and financial support are important but it is not the only solution. Diaspora giving is only one part of the solution.  I realized that there are tremendous local resources, ability and best practices that the partnership could tap into. The most important challenge is to build trust or ‘tiwala’ between groups and gain everyone’s confidence that we are in this road for long-term sustainable development together.

I’m so glad I learned this important lesson.  It will be too sad to reflect back ten years from now and learn that diaspora giving has created a negative dependence and that we have not empowered people locally for long-term sustainability.

Posted in Diaspora Donors, Diaspora Giving, philanthropy, Poverty | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pics of the US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership Workshop in Manila, Philippines

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Dale Asis
I’ve posted some pics of the Bayanihan Foundation’s US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership Workshop last January 22, 2011. The successful workshop was held at Adamson University, Manila, Philippines.
Approximately 45 participants attended the workshop where they learned about the Bayanihan Foundation; the value of diaspora donors and homeland partnerships; and long-term sustainable development.
I’ll also be posting the workshop summary and my personal reflections as well.

(foreground) Participants from Tucuma, Paranaque joined the US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership Workshop

Group photo of participants joining the US-Philippines Diaspora Partnership workshop on Jan 22, 2011 at Adamson University, Manila

Participants from Buguias, Benguet and Lina Caasi from Tel Aviv, Israel (far right)

Posted in Diaspora Donors, Diaspora Giving, philanthropy, Philippines | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Two more potential projects: Law book library in Tarlac and book drive in Benguet

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Dale Asis

This is the third installment in a series of posts during my trip to the Philippines in January 2011.

Myrla Baldonado and I met with two potential projects that the Bayanihan Foundation is considering to do next.  I also added my own personal reflection on the value of education as shared by many Filipino diaspora donors.

1) Law book library for Tarlac State University

 

Barbara Alban (seated in the middle) poses with her kindergarten students at Ravenswood Elementary School in Chicago.

Diaspora donor, Barbara Alban from Chicago has made some valuable contacts and she is also planning to donate law books, in addition to the books she had collected for the elementary school library in Iligan City.

Myrla Baldonado, Bayanihan Foundation’s Organizing Director, has identified a potential homeland partner, Tarlac State University that could receive the law books and put them to good use right away. The university has recently opened its law school and has expressed their sincere appreciation of the potential donation.

Myrla Baldonado and Augusto Salonga of Tarlac State University

In fact, they already have shelves ready for the law books!

Myrla Baldonado viewing the shelves ready for the upcoming donation of law books

2) Book drive in Benguet

(from left to right): Myrla Baldonado and Dale Asis visiting Benguet State University in northern Luzon, Philippines

Next, Myrla and I traveled to Benguet State University in La Trinidad city, northern Luzon.

Myrla Baldonado and Dale Asis visits members of the Benguet State University Alumni Association (from left to right: Myrla, Rossillie, Julius, Dale)

We met with some of the members of the Benguet State University Alumni Association who will be helpful homeland partners as we plan to distribute books for elementary schools in Benguet. Two potential diaspora donors include community members of the Association of Ifugao Migrant Workers of Israel (AIMWI) and the Baguio Ifugao Benguet Bontoc Apayao Kalinga (BIBBAK) of Chicago who have expressed their interest in donating the books for Benguet.

Reflection

Many Filipino diaspora donors value education as a vital key to improving one’s future. I also saw a lot of universities and colleges as I travel all over the islands.

I agree that education is an important key but it is NOT the only ingredient needed for success. The Philippines has to create jobs at home for these college graduates or else the pressure to migrate and seek employment elsewhere will continue. In the end, the Philippines will just end up being a college factory exporting its educated workforce abroad and continue its dependence on their remittances.

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