A Personal Experience:
It was early morning and I was at a convenience store, waiting in line to purchase some snacks and personals before heading to work. There was a mother and her son in front of me with a basket of school supplies. The boy was wearing a school uniform and judging from his appearance, I’d say he was around third grade. I’m really not good with judging faces and age but I figured the mom was on her late 30’s. She’s got this sunburned skin which made her look older than she really is and which is typical among those who are regularly exposed to the sun for long periods. It didn’t take much for me to conceive that she probably does menial labor during the day.
After looking at her hands with clean nails and unnaturally light skin, I came to the conclusion that she probably does a lot of work doing laundry. I was secretly smiling inside as I thought of a mother’s love for her child and the hardship she’s willing to go through for her special one. Then there’s the sight that almost moved me to tears. As the line moved slowly to the cashier, the mom who was gazing around saw a sign at the liquor section saying “no selling liquor to minors.”
With some curiosity sparkling in her eyes, she bent down to her son, pointed at the sign and whispered something she didn’t want the people around to hear. The son, in his low-toned voice, told her the Visayan translation of the sign. The mom was illiterate in English and had asked his son to translate the sign for her and she didn’t want the other people around to know that she couldn’t understand the language that for many is almost as natural as the native tongue.
In that short sequence, I saw the plight of many Filipino families. There are many parents these days who were unable to go through proper education and are stuck struggling below the poverty line. The hope for a comfortable life for them might have ended, but not for their children. That is why they willingly toil away to put their kids at school with the hope of making their future brighter, even just a little. There is no certainty that their effort won’t go to waste, but it doesn’t matter. What is important for them is to at least create an opportunity through education.
It was this mother and son that inspired and guided me when I set out to participate in Globe’s #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 contest. A blog entry answering this question“If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?” This contest offers the possibility to make something happen in the community and at the same time taking home an Ipad Air. It will allow me to help other people and also giving myself a chance to win. So after giving it some thought this is what I came up with.
Free Internet Access in Public Libraries
To many, public libraries have somehow become outdated as the pervasiveness of the internet continues to grow. Why search the pages of a 20-year old book when the latest information are available with a just a stroke of a keyboard and a click of a mouse?
I myself haven’t been a public library for almost ten years now and it is for a good reason. The last time I went was during my high school days for an investigatory project. I was looking for resources to back my project at that time and I didn’t have a computer at home. I figured the library would help me save some of my research budget which I could then spend on the much more needed lab materials. However, my search was futile. There were too few materials and those that are somewhat related to the field of my project dated back to when Marcos was still the president. In the end, I had to pony up cash at an internet cafe despite being in a tight budget.
My impression was that our local library was pretty useless. This impression is further supported by the fact that in several days that I was there, there was no one except the librarian and me.
Now, what if the library was more useful? Simply offering a free-internet access in it would give it back its purpose as a hub of information. Students like those from my personal experience won’t need to have money to access important information which could go a long way in helping with their education.
This is not only useful to students. With so many companies opting to post job vacancies online instead of the classifieds on the newspapers, a free internet access in libraries will also be of great help for jobseekers.
Aside from its practical purpose as a viable source of information, the allure of a free internet in libraries will also encourage visitors to check out other interesting and important materials that could inspire people to learn more and improve themselves.
With Globe’s unbelievably wide service coverage, the concept of giving a free internet to every public library shouldn’t be impossible.
The idea is nothing mind-blowing but I honestly think that it is very realistic, achievable and can have a massive impact. Since every local government has a public library, there’s already a structure in place.
That’s it for me. How about you? If there’s one gift you can give to our country, what would it
be and why?
If this blog entry will be chosen to be the winner of this contest, one commenter will also get the chance to take home a brand new iPad 2. Now, isn’t that amazing? 🙂 Please drop your comments below. Thank you and may the odds be in our favor!!! 🙂
yung matutong sumunod sa mga batas like tumawid sa tamang tawiran at sumakay sa loading at unloading bay…
This is a noble idea Quimz, a lot of our students cannot afford to pay for internet to be installed in their homes, and this is a good way so they can use for research purposes. Libraries in public elementary schools should have this, ideally. Hope this be realized in the future.
As for me, if there's a gift I can give to our country, it is my sincere effort in proper disposal of garbage wherever I am, be at home or out of town, not burn plastics and other non biodegradable materials, not throw my garbage anywhere, ( eg. throwing outside car/ public transportation). This thing if done by many will sure be great help in curbing pollution, and in the long run, flooding and diseases.
My gift to the Philippines will be the gift of opportunity.
Opportunity for job, for education, for food, for shelter, for health services and all the other basic necessities each and every one of us will need. If there are enough opportunities for all us then equality can never be far enough to achieve. If those things will be provided crime rate, poverty, homeless, illiterate, and hunger could be all lessen. Peace in every people can be possible and we can all work hand in hand in making this country more efficient and successful.
Nice one baby gurl! =)
If I'd be given the chance to give a gift to our country, it would be to give more scholarship grants to the less privileged. The thing about scholarships these days is that, one can only get it if you achieve a certain average grade from the previous school year. While that's reasonable, I also think it is unfair, especially for those who have nothing to spare for their tuition fee, but wants to be educated. How could they become a good candidate for scholarships, if they weren't enrolled the previous year because they have no money for it?
So yes, more scholarship grants for our less privileged brothers and sisters. I believe that education is the only key to fight hunger and poverty.
One thing I could share to Philippines could be being Proactive : For instance, gather together neighbors in our community who are as committed to saving the environment as we are. By starting information campaigns that encourage creative people to take part. Another example, organizing programs that utilize local talents to create art out of worn items while promoting environmental awareness is a great start. We could help both the local youth and the environment.
hmm free tab sa mga students? na may educational apps na naka ready na. coz ok lng pagwalang internet, nakakapag-aral parin, at the same time hindi lang isang tao nakakabenefit. pwede.rin mga kapatid nya o like sa story mama nya, and hindi lang education or knowledge ang pwede provide nito kundi a BIG SMILE rin sa mga bata o studyante. We all know naman yung feeling maswerte ka today, yung nanalo ka o yung may bago kang toy. Abot tinga ngiti right? it sounds materialistic pero ito alam ko na mejo practical, coz i believe na DISCIPLINE lang needed ng mga tao para maging maunlad ang sarili at ang bansa. Kaya if theres one gift..ito yun FREE TAB for each STUDENT. Hindi lang para sa mga studyante, but pati family nila. Hindi lang about subject sa schools matutunan but knowledge on technology, computer etc. how it works. Masakit isipin may iba pa rin ignorant sa mga computers or kahit pag text lang. Kaya ang gaan isipin na lahat na ng pinoy o buong mundo sabay sabay mag evolve kasabay sa pag evolve ng mundo o generation. Free tab is baby step na. 🙂
Kaya if #GlobeProjectWonderful2014 magbibigay ng ipad air sa blogger and commenter, why not bigyan rin ang mga studyante kahit old ipads or just a tab. and i guess its enough na for a #WonderfulProject. 🙂
One thing I could share to Philippines could be being Proactive : For instance, gather together neighbors in our community who are as committed to saving the environment as we are. By starting information campaigns that encourage creative people to take part. Another example, organizing programs that utilize local talents to create art out of worn items while promoting environmental awareness is a great start. We could help both the local youth and the environment.
If I had the ability to help the Philippines by giving gift I would give them a Advanced Military equipment – The military served as the protection of a country, it protects not only the higher-ups people but also the overall citizen of the country. To prevent annihilation of our people and country of the possible war that could occur we couldn't afford to be possibly defenseless and just let the invaders take advantage of us without putting much a fight. And its also help and served our people at time of crisis.
Visit mine too @ http://miaamorilag.blogspot.com/2014/01/globeprojectwonderful2014-contest.html
If there's one gift I can give to our country, it would be the gift of BEING A PRIDE OF THE COUNTRY. As a Filipino citizen, I want to give pride to our country, being good and worthy citizen. Even in a small way, I know just being a good citizen by obeying its own law, I myself is already a one pride of my country. By being able to finish schooling and able to earn for a living. By being able to help my family. And most especially by being able to reach out to those who are in need. I will start to make a difference and be my country's pride.
Kung may isang bagay akong ireregalo sa Pilipinas, ito ay pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga ng mga Pilipino sa ating bayan. Kung makikita lamang nating lahat ang ganda at ituturing na espesyal sa atin ang bansang ito, iingatan at pangangalagaan natin ang Pilipinas.
Sa aking palagay dito mag-uugat ang kaunlaran ng ating bayan. Tayong mga Pilipino ang yaman ng ating bayan. Kaya sana ibalik natin ang yaman na ito sa Pilipinas. Marami sa atin ang pinipiling sa ibang bansa magtrabaho dahil sa hirap ng buhay. Kung sana lang maganda ang kalidad ng trabaho dito sa Pilipinas ay dito na lamang nila pipiliing magtrabaho. Sa loob ng 40 taon, naunahan na tayo ng mga kapitbahay nating bansa pagdating sa paglago ng ekonomiya.
Hindi ang Pilipinas ang umuunlad kung di ang ibang bansa na pinili ng ating mag kababayan na pagtrabahuhan. Sana ngayong henerasyon at sa susunod pa, pagtulong-tulungan nating mga Pilipino na ang Pilipinas naman ang paunlarin.
Kung may pagpapahalaga ang mga Pilipino sa Pilipinas, wala sana tayong polusyon ngayon. Katulad ng isang bahay, hindi mo hahayaang madumi ito at hindi mo din ito dudumihan. Hindi ka magtatapon ng kalat sa kung saan. Ituturing mo ang bansang ito bilang iyong tahanan na hindi mo kailanman pababayaan na masira.
Sa tulong ng Globe, maaari nating bigyan ang bawat tao sa isang komunidad na gumawa ng isang resolusyon (kagaya nang hinding hindi nako kailanman magtatapon ng basura sa maling lugar) para sa bansang ito na personal at espesyal sa kanila. Isang bagay na sa tingin nila, na kahit maliit, ay makatutulong sa ating bayan. Maaaring bawat taon, kapag natupad ito ng mga mamamayan, bigyan sila ng Globe ng gantimpala. Ngunit kung iisipin, hindi ang gantimpala ang mahalaga kundi ang mga maliliit na resolusyon na natupad sa loob ng isang taon.
Sabi nga ng aking propesor, pahahalagahan mo lang ang isang bagay kapag nakita mo na ang tunay na ganda at espesyal na parte nito sa iyong buhay.
Maaaring mapangarap ang regalong aking napili pero hindi ito imposible. Magsisimula ito sa ating mga sarili. At sana sa pagdating ng panahon na lahat tayo ay natutunan na ang tunay na halaga ng Pilipinas, hindi pa huli ang lahat.
-Bernadine B. Bautista
bernadinebautista25@gmail.com
I want to give the gift of light to the Philippines. More specifically the gift of SOLAR POWER. As a victim of the super typhoon Yolanda, wherein we totally had no communication due to power outage for a while and even until now electricity has not been fully restored in many places that were in Yolanda’s path, having backup power coming from SOLAR Energy is truly indispensable. Too much chaos occurs in the dark at night when a lot of people cannot rest easy for fear of thieves and looters. Having light (literally!) in these dark and trying times is what we truly need. But I do also wish for every Filipino household, Yolanda victim or not, to have 100% sustainable hybrid homes and eco-friendly houses that combine rainwater harvesting and clean energy generation (THINK: UNLIMITED WATER SUPPLY & SOLAR POWERED HOUSES!). This way our electric bills and carbon footprints will be largely diminished as well as we can show our love for Mother Earth.
– Maria Velasquez-Franco of http://www.bastaigatsikat.com for #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
I’ve been a Globe user for 14 years and through this #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
contest, I am glad to be given the chance to possibly contribute something to my country in collaboration with a brand and company I trust and believe in.
If I were given the chance to give a tangible gift to the Philippines in partnership with GLOBE TELECOM, I would like to create a mobile app dedicated to encouraging and acknowledging acts of kindness. The mobile app will be called Good Vibes, or simply GV.
Good Vibes is about doing, noticing and cultivating simple acts of generosity that ultimately, make an impact and create a difference in other people’s lives.
A simple call, text or email are just some of the ways we can extend our friendship and show concern to others. Just like Globe, the Good Vibes app is ultimately about relationships- treating people with compassion and kindness and enriching each other’s lives. It is a testament to how little things can make great things possible, how selflessly reaching out to others brings people together and therefore, makes the world smaller.
twitter.com/daydreamglitter
This is a great idea! My gift to the Philippines though is a little different.
One thing I noticed is that whenever someone posts a picture showing the beauty of our country, Pinoys are quick to say, "Wow ang ganda! Parang wall ka sa Pinas!"
Why is that?
Our country is beautiful. I'm not only talking about white sand beaches or amazing waterfalls all over our tourism posters; I'm talking about beauty in the unexpected – a cozy little cafe in an eskinita in Quezon City, or an ukay haven hidden away in Paranaque. Our country is bursting with culture and stories to tell, but when Filipinos look around, they focus on the negative.
People don't see the food trip opportunities around Katipunan, or the art and culture of The Collective, or the musical playground of Cubao X. How can we expect foreigners to appreciate our country when we can't even do that ourselves? How can we expect to grow as a nation when we lack a very important aspect: love of country?
With this in mind, the idea I came up with is a website or app that shows the unexpected beauty of our country.
The purpose of the website/app is simple: Become a tourist in your own city, and fall in love with it. Just like how Parisians love Paris, or New Yorkers love the Big Apple, it's possible for the people of Manila to fall in love with Manila – dirt, pollution, culture and all.
"MNL 143 – Love This City" – The site or app will thrive on submissions or posts by regular people. Users take photos of both popular and popular places they think people should see and experience. They can post great food finds, events, and other happenings that people rarely see or visit. They can also include a guide to the place! (ex. Newbie's Guide to Divisoria) This gives people a chance to experience the city in a way they've never experienced before. I bet people who've lived in Manila their whole lives have yet to experience the city beyond the typical malls and will appreciate hole-in-the-wall boutiques and surprises. This project will allow Filipinos to appreciate our own, instead of always longing for the beauty of other countries.
Over time, the website/app can expand by including other cities like Cebu, Davao, etc. This project will do so much more than just supply Filipinos with information that will change the way they look at the country / the city. Instead of seeing Manila as overpopulated and dirty, maybe we can all start appreciating the culture and all the things Manila has to offer.
When you love someone, you are willing to do anything and make sacrifices to make that person happy. In the same manner, when you love your country, you become more cooperative if it means you'll be contributing to its growth and development. Improving our country can't come from political reforms or mass-feeding projects if we can't even cover the basics. First, we must love our country, and the rest will follow.
hellotonichi.blogspot.com
I want to give the gift of light to the Philippines. More specifically the gift of SOLAR POWER. As a victim of the super typhoon Yolanda, wherein we totally had no communication due to power outage for a while and even until now electricity has not been fully restored in many places that were in Yolanda’s path, having backup power coming from SOLAR Energy is truly indispensable. Too much chaos occurs in the dark at night when a lot of people cannot rest easy for fear of thieves and looters. Having light (literally!) in these dark and trying times is what we truly need. But I do also wish for every Filipino household, Yolanda victim or not, to have 100% sustainable hybrid homes and eco-friendly houses that combine rainwater harvesting and clean energy generation (THINK: UNLIMITED WATER SUPPLY & SOLAR POWERED HOUSES!). This way our electric bills and carbon footprints will be largely diminished as well as we can show our love for Mother Earth.
– Maria Velasquez-Franco of http://www.bastaigatsikat.com for #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
Though I have an extensive explanation of my gift on my own post for #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014, here's another gift I would give to my countrymen if can:
Helping hands. A million helping hands.
After Yolanda, I realized that a LOT of people are willing to help. It was my first time to volunteer and repack donations and it was amazingly heartwarming to see strangers talking to each other, hand in hand and helping each other with only one goal for the day. And I want that again, not only during calamities but every single day.
There are still people out there who needs help, RIGHT NOW. Just look at the street children and displaced people everyday.
Here's the plan inside my head: An organization where people of ALL ages — from grandparents to high schoolers, can join and browse for "projects" online, much like browsing for available jobs, where they can volunteer/donate. This organization can build a lot of projects for different kind of things!
Example:
San Andres Area: Soup Kitchen — 2/3/14 @ 7pm.
Needed: 5 volunteers to cook, 5 volunteers to distribute, 10 Males for crowd control.
Materials: 4 tables, Bring your own cooking utensils and casserole.
Poblacion area: Basket Ball Court Rebuilding — 3/15/14 @ 3pm.
Needed: 10 Males for rebuilding bleachers, 10 volunteers to repaint
Materials: 3 Red paints, Nails, Bring your own hammers
Boni area: Basic Tutoring Class — 4/20/14 @ 8am – 6pm
Needed: 20 volunteers to teach, 10 volunteers to make food.
Materials. Teachers must bring 5 recycled papers and pencils each. Food makers must bring 10 eggs and bread.
NOW, let me ask you, if this website were real. Wouldn't you click that JOIN button?
A million helping hands. Think about it. 🙂
Given the chance to give a gift for the Philippines, I think it would be the "Gift of Light". We are all aware that some families here on the country still don't have access to light, for they don't have the means to pay for electric bills.
Now, an organization called the "Liter of Light" had the same advocacy – to bring lights to Filipino homes by just using PET bottles, water, bleach, and other materials that improvises the light bulb that we use today. Since most of our activities occur in the morning and in the afternoon, this may not cover the whole day, but can help these families most of the day. Not only this project is attainable, but it is also affordable.
If Globe and Liter of Light work hand-in-hand, through my wish, I think that the Philippines would be a brighter place with a brighter future.
If there’s one thing that I can give my dear country that would be …. The gift of Health.
I want to do a medical mission with the help of Nuffnang Philippines and Globe thru #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
Health is wealth. No amount of money, time and effort can ever, ever, bring the best of your health back, once it’s gone.
In my 6 years of practice as a nurse, I have seen how our healthcare system struggles to provide quality care for our countrymen, may it be in manpower, medicines, or equipments both in the community and hospital.
I’ve seen people deteriorating day by day because they can’t afford to go to a doctor. I’ve seen patients die because their families didn’t have enough money to buy basic medicines. I’ve also seen families giving up their sick loved ones and literally, waited for their last breathes, since they cannot afford another day for the life support of the deteriorating loved one.
I am believing that we can do something about this. One of those needy, ailing, indigent patients could be your mom, dad, grandparent, relative, dear friend, loved one…
In short, we are all CONNECTED, one way or another. So it is not just a matter of “about them” because it is ABOUT US — ALL OF US.