lights on the water

May 31, 2008 Newsletter by Tara C. Alverson

Early on in the month of May I had the opportunity to take some clothing to<br /> the center in Under the Bridge, Cebu. The clothing was donated by many of my family<br /> members. Thanks. The underwear went quick, along with the kids who grabbed it from the<br /> bag, ... I hope they fit. I also visited little Blazela, the one year old girl with the hole in her<br /> heart. She’s not doing so well. Her mother and father had to take her out off the hospital<br /> over a month and a half ago because they could not pay for the expenses. The heart<br /> surgery could cost more then 1 million pesos, or over 26,000 US dollars. Health Insurance<br /> only exists for the wealthy, and overnight stays can cost often too much for families<br /> with minimal income. But thanks to you guys we were able to give a small amount to<br /> cover Blazela’s Thyroid Medication and New Born Screen. It came to 3,200 pesos, or<br /> about 75 US dollars. It will give her the chance to gain some weight, which is what she<br /> needs right now more then anything else. You also gave passage to a pastor to travel back<br /> to his home in Mindanao. His name is Jade. Whenever I would go to the center in Cebu<br /> Jade would travel with me and take me to the squatting areas where the poorest of the<br /> poor live. He is only 27, but has a church and ministry with the tribal people in Banga,<br /> Mindanao. He had been stuck in Cebu helping at the center with Sharon for more then 8<br /> months with no pay and no way of getting back home. Many people get stranded from<br /> Island to Island if they cannot afford the cost of the transportation. Including the boat fair,<br /> bus transportation and food, it cost about 1,500 pesos (30 US $) to get Jade home. From<br /> Cebu to Banga Mindanao it’s about two days travel. It’s relatively a safe region to travel<br /> in, if you know where you are going. However at night is a different story. ‘Nighttime is<br /> not safe for anyone, especially a foreigner, at night the rebels come out from the mountains.’<br /> Jade tells me about his life in Mindanao. ‘I know the rebels, they respect what I am<br /> doing for the people, and have even entrusted their sons to me, so that they can help me in<br /> my ministry.’ The rebels he speaks of are the government rebels, the NPA (New Peoples<br /> Army), they are terrorists. There are bombings in Mindanao almost every month. Three of<br /> the rebel son’s are living in Dumaguete with the ICM, we play basketball together every<br /> night. I would have never known. Jade might be young but he has ambition to do what

he does. I figured I owed Jade his passage home,<br /> as he had helped me get around Cebu. So, I, you,<br /> we sent him home to Banga. He’s been home over<br /> a week now and still texts me thanking me for his<br /> passage home. He wanted to tell you, ‘Oh, Ate Tara,<br /> please tell your family and friends back home, I<br /> thank them so much, they helped me go home to my<br /> people and I am with my family, thank you.’ Sharon<br /> who is now the past president of I.C.M., might be<br /> angry with me, but it was the right thing to do.<br /> After Cebu I hopped onto the ferry and<br /> traveled South to Bohol for a few days leave. I<br /> got the chance to tour the island and see the I.C.M.<br /> office there, located in Tagbilaran City. If you ever<br /> find yourself with the same opportunity, I suggest<br /> you take it. It’s one of the most central Islands of<br /> the Visaya’s, loaded with some of the best tourist<br /> attractions, including dive spots. A few wonders<br /> to list; the Chocolate Hills located in Carmen, the<br /> smallest monkeys in the world, called Tarsiers, and<br /> the Loboc River Cruise. You’ll be serenaded by the local villagers with their well used guitars and the local village children will dive from<br /> the tops of coconut trees into the river for pesos. I staid in one of the national types of houses called a nipa-hut, made of bamboo and palm<br /> leaves. It cost me $10 bucks a night. Between the huge-ish spiders, rusty fan and the hermit crab outside my room it was a great experience.<br /> Each evening I watched the sun fall across the water off Alona beach. As dusk approached fishermen would make their way to their boats<br /> down at the shore-side readying them for the long night ahead. And right off the beach you could see the scattered lanterns on the water as<br /> fishermen dove looking for their catch of sleeping fish and shell creatures. The thunder clouds would gather off in the distance over Cebu<br /> and the flash of lightening would light the horizon. And for a moment you could see the lanterns tied to the edge of the boat as the fishermen<br /> went on about their work. The next day you could go to the local market and see what they had found to sell. Amongst the fish you could<br /> find sea urchins, tropical shell fish, squid cooked in its own ink, along with squid balls, which is not anything like ‘rocky mountain oysters.’<br /> The people where friendly and the island had so much to offer. It would seem that no troubles could reach this island of<br /> many wonders. And, yet, beyond the white sandy beaches and the hottest tourist spots, you can find them. The street children running in and<br /> out of small ally ways, begging in front of the large Catholic Churches, mothers with their naked toddlers, hands that grazed your side. You<br /> may not notice them at first, lost amongst the crowds of market sellers and tall foreigners. But once you pick them out and see their small<br /> hands outstretched toward you, the stained faces, and tattered clothes, it’s hard to<br /> walk on by without shedding some compassion, or wondering what’s their story.<br /> Back home, in the states I’m used to beggars, and the homeless panhandling, but<br /> these are not old and grey-bearded men. They are kids, some as young as three. I<br /> always think to myself, that’s the age of my little nephew, Kollin. The hard reality<br /> is that some of these kid’s don’t have anywhere else to go. Sure, most may have<br /> homes, but the abuse some of them receive there is worse then the neglect they<br /> receive on the streets. It’s sad. Many poor families suffer alcoholic abuse, and it’s<br /> the kids that it affects the most. Street kids as young as three are no stranger to<br /> physical, mental, nor sexual abuse, whether in their own home, or on the streets.<br /> I see them in Dumaguete all the time. I have to say walking by them everyday<br /> is one of the hardest things I’ve done while being here. I earnestly would like to<br /> do something with the street kids of Dumaguete before I leave in October. If you<br /> have any ideas please let me know.<br /> I will fly to Manila in a few weeks to have some small repairs done<br /> to my camera, I plan to take some pictures of the street children. I am designing<br /> some shirts for the ICM staff and band, painting a few things for them and staying<br /> busy. School starts for the 9 ICM Preschools in Negros Oriental this next week<br /> and I will go around and begin doing some art and craft lessons with the kids. It<br /> should be a lot of fun. I ate balut and pinoy (google it), not bad.<br /> I have to say Bohol was a great place to experience, the ICM staff is<br /> dedicated to their work and the recipients they reach out to. I know you would<br /> love it there so I included a few photos for you guys. Please enjoy the Tarsier, I<br /> named one Gizmo and another Smeagol.<br /> Pagpipinta Sa Pulo: Lights on the Water<br /> T.C. Artworks / Tara C. Alverson<br /> 31 . May . 2008

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pagpipinta sa pulo Newsletter © 2008 Tara C. Alverson. Reprinted with permission.