pagpipinta for the kids

Aug. 18, 2008 Newsletter by Tara C. Alverson

Okay, I’m back. It took me two weeks to complete the mural in Castillejos, Zambales. I painted more then expected, as usual. It was fun<br /> though as I had some help from the kids at the Jireh Home there. The home houses over 30 children, who have either been orphaned, abandoned,<br /> abused, neglected by their parents and or, their families cannot afford to give them a proper lifestyle or education. The Jireh Home offers children<br /> in the surrounding community a place they can live and go to school. On the grounds there is a large elementary school that includes K through 6th<br /> grade. The home also offers junior high, high school and college for the students who wish to continue their studies. The ministry is run by ‘Action’<br /> a group of Japanese college students and volunteers. They have been running the Home for over 15 years. On the property the Japanese have set<br /> up a pig farm, a rice terrace, gardens, a laundry mat and a fish farm, all which go to self sustaining the Jireh Home Ministry. It’s a huge place. It<br /> was fun to see the kids running around and enjoying themselves while I was there. I was fortunate to have a handful of eager students who helped<br /> me paint in the Jireh Home and School Library. On one of the walls we painted a large map of the world. The kids helped me paint in the countries<br /> and we lost a few in Europe, ... countries not kids, but they did a good job anyway. On the other wall which stretched over 30 some feet I painted a<br /> tropical land/seascape with animals. One of the boys, Kevin who is 17 painted a zebra. He had never painted before and I was impressed with what<br /> he accomplished. I hope he keeps on drawing because he has a talent. However it is sad to know that most of the kids with artistic talents here will<br /> never be able to go onto higher schooling because they don’t have the money or resources.<br /> It was fun to see another region of the Philippines and experience the culture under the shadow of the Zambales Mountain Range. Unfortunately<br /> I was not able to make it up to see the lahar or Mt. Pinatubo. When they say rainy season here in Zambales, they really mean the rainy<br /> season. It’s just too difficult to get up the roads and over the lahar.<br /> I’m living in a new house right now, until I leave. It’s not far from the ICMPI in Dumaguete. It’s a native house, and it comes with the full<br /> deal. Bamboo, concrete block, palm leaf, cement floor and tin roof. I have wolf spiders that are the size of your hand or larger. I run outside and<br /> make one of the guys go in and kill them. I hate spiders. There are also cockroaches 2 and a half inches larger then they should ever get, and they<br /> fly, a cute mouse, too many ants, flies the size of your thumb, and they’re pretty dumb, a handful of lizards, big and small, which I love because they<br /> eat everything I hate and coconut beetles whom I am fond of because they strangely resemble my old friend Hector the dung beetle. Unfortunately<br /> I killed a coconut beetle the other day. A case of mistaken identity, ...he shouldn’t have been playing behind the wall boards anyway. If you would<br /> like to pray or hope, or wish me luck, or send a nice thought in my general direction, then send it in hopes that all the spiders will stay away and or<br /> die.<br /> I have to say that I don’t have much to say this newsletter. I’m a little tired, and I’m trying to focus my time and efforts to painting and<br /> taking more photos before I leave back to the states in a month and a half. I will still be helping with the International Care Ministries Precious<br /> Women’s Outreach. Please enjoy the photos of the trip I took, they have more to say then I do anyway. Take care.<br /> Tara C. Alverson / T.C. Artworks<br /> Pagpipinta Sa Pulo: Pagpipinta for the Kids<br /> August 18, 2008

Photos on page 2: The main mode of transport in the Philippines is by trike or<br /> bike. For a ride in or out of town it cost about 15 pesos in<br /> Castillejos. (About 30 US cents)<br /> On the walk into Jireh Home from town we passed many<br /> rice feilds where men would be working along with women<br /> fishing in the ponds just filled by the rainy season.

Photos on page 3

Photos on page 4

Photos on page 5

Photos on page 6: Bernie was very helpful<br /> moving the books and cleaning<br /> the walls.<br /> Joshua on lower left did<br /> a great job drawing in the<br /> borders.

Photos on page 7: Kevin and his zebra.<br /> Pretty good for never<br /> painting before.

Photos on page 8

Photos on page 9

Photos on page 10

Photos on page 11: Here’s the map. Unfinished. I gave some paint to the peace corps worker who looks over the library and puts on activities for<br /> the kids. Her name is Lisa. She will have them label the countries and hopefully send me a picture of the end result.

Photos on page 12: Went out to take some night shots in Dumaguete,<br /> Negros Or. Downtown.


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