(Untitled)

Sep. 01, 2008 Newsletter by Tara C. Alverson

I have one more month left of painting. I’m not going to<br /> lie it’s been a rough go, especially since I got back from Zambales.<br /> I found out many unfortunate things that have gone on and<br /> are still going on inside the International Care Ministries. Politics.<br /> Sadly enough it’s come down to the point where my original<br /> intent on coming here to paint and donate artworks to the ICM<br /> fund-raiser, has been compromised.<br /> I probably have never gone through anything more<br /> challenging then this. It’s not easy facing the fear of coming up<br /> short, well knowing you might just let down the people back<br /> home that helped you fund-raise. I felt like a fool as I came over<br /> to the Philippines to only find out when I arrived that Sharon Tan<br /> Pastre, whom I came over with, was not the President of the ICM<br /> anymore, as she had told me she was. Her husband not a pastor<br /> as he vowed to both my parents and I, he was. Instead they were<br /> very different people then what I had thought them to be. Too<br /> make a long story short, they were after money, my money, your<br /> money. And when they found out I wasn’t going to give it to them<br /> I was quickly abandoned along with the cause I came over with.<br /> Luckily, the International Care Ministries was gracious enough<br /> to take me in and allow me to continue creating the paintings for<br /> the fund-raiser in Hong Kong. I was allowed to go out and help<br /> with their outreach programs which I am still part of. I think the<br /> move was the best thing that could have happened overall. I have<br /> been able to help out in different ways I had never expected and<br /> experience things I never planned too with the ICM.<br /> However unfortunate, the artwork I have created will<br /> not be able to fund-raise as much as I previously expected or had<br /> negotiated with Sharon. The ICM Board was not told by Sharon<br /> before I came over about the true intent behind my coming or the<br /> artwork I was creating, and so they had no plan to enter the artwork<br /> into the fund-raiser in November. Yet, I persuaded them to<br /> take the artwork to auction off anyway. I came with a purpose and<br /> I don’t intend on letting that purpose down without a struggle.<br /> And it has been a struggle, but the ICM Board has agreed to take<br /> 9 of the artworks in series of three triptychs. The three triptychs<br /> will be put into raffle prizes instead of the live auction. (Raising<br /> about 300 US dollars each) I don’t expect the artwork to raise<br /> more then $ 900 US dollars in all. It’s a low blow. I just wish they<br /> could have been sold for more. I’m informing you of this because<br /> I think it’s your right to know. You helped me get here and I want<br /> to be the one to say I’m sorry that things may not end up to be so<br /> successful. It seemed like the right thing to do, even if it isn’t the<br /> most glamorous thing, telling people you’re a big fat failure.<br /> I don’t feel like a failure though. And even if I am, I’m<br /> not ashamed of it, which I guess I should apologize for if you<br /> expected me to be. I tried to make the best out of a bad circumstance<br /> and I wasn’t able to. I hit a series of most unexpected brick<br /> walls. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help raise more money. Even if<br /> the artworks don’t sell for as much as I wish they could had, you<br /> guys still helped out with some very good things here, so don’t<br /> feel bad about it. We painted on some islands, volunteered some<br /> services to a few ministries, handed out some clothing, and we<br /> were able to help donate to many other causes within the ICM<br /> outreach. From what I saw the impact to the recipients was heart<br /> felt and real. At this point there’s no point in further negotiating<br /> with the directors of the ICM or the Board with the artworks. I<br /> have pushed as many buttons as I possibly could while here and<br /> I will do what I can to make the paintings the best they can be<br /> before the fund-raiser in November. It’s an obligation to stick to a<br /> promise, and I really want to do that, despite the outcome.<br /> I know wherever you go and who ever you work for<br /> there are always going to be things that happen behind the lines.<br /> It’s just tragic, really. I won’t get into it, because I just can’t at the<br /> time being. Sometimes hardships can make you want to turn the<br /> other direction or not bother with the cause anymore. I often felt<br /> that way, but then I would think about little Blazela on Paradise<br /> Island, in Cebu. She really opened my eyes; that even if it looks<br /> like you might fail, and whatever you do for a particular cause<br /> seems hopeless, ...it’s worth trying anyway, especially, if you<br /> have to spite the odds. Let me make it clear that I’m not a victim<br /> here, sure I may have gotten hoodwinked but I’m still going to<br /> be alive at the end of this newsletter. And Regardless of what<br /> has gone on with the ICM, I have to express my gratitude to the<br /> staff here. They have my utmost respect. Everyday they devote<br /> their lives to helping the poorest of the poor, despite their own<br /> needs. Sometimes they and their families go without meals, they<br /> do without the necessities and without common comforts, or the<br /> assurance of what tomorrow might bring. They do it because they<br /> really care for the poor. Everyday, week in, week out. They know<br /> what it takes to help others. They are the heart and soul of this<br /> ministry, period.<br /> On a lighter note, this past Monday I went to a beach in<br /> Bacong with the ICM Orphanage and their house parents Nanay<br /> Brenda and Tatay Johnny Tapuz. It was great to see a family that<br /> truly cares for all the children. I think they ate four times while<br /> at the beach, ... I lost count. Nanay makes a mean meal, which<br /> makes me inclined to hang out with the kids, a lot. I drove a<br /> motorcycle for the first time, on the road, with the horn blowing<br /> and it was great! I also painted a few canvases, with dolphins and<br /> sea creatures to hang around the orphanage, or the ‘Cool Young<br /> Person’s House’ as the kids call it. The CYPH is now home to<br /> more then 25 children, who have been either orphaned, abandoned,<br /> neglected, or their families unable to give them proper<br /> care. Lot Lot, who has Cerebral Palsy has begun going to an<br /> outreach center every week for special children with different<br /> physical conditions. They do artwork, reading, games and other<br /> events for the kids. It seems like a good outreach for her and I<br /> have heard she enjoys it.<br /> I’m going to try and focus on painting this last month, I<br /> hope to include one last newsletter before I leave in October and<br /> then I will give my last report back to you guys after the November<br /> fund-raiser for the ICM held in Hong Kong. I want to say<br /> thanks again for the support. There are a few things I’ve learned<br /> while in the Philippines. The most important being the love your<br /> family can only give. I can’t wait to see my nephew and niece<br /> Kollin and Maddy! The next, is the real need to give to others<br /> in practical ways. Sometimes money, even in large quantities<br /> can’t buy what people really need, being a helping hand. Even if<br /> a ‘ministry’ or people might like you better if you did have more<br /> money to give them, it doesn’t mean it’s going to change the<br /> world for the better. The next to last thing that I learned is that<br /> you really can’t have enough underwear. And finally, that sometimes<br /> shit just happens, but guess what, ... I’m still alive!<br /> There was news of the ‘Onward Christian Army’ in<br /> North Cotabato, killing members of the MILF, (Moro Islamic<br /> Liberation Front). Also in Negros Oriental some news of the

NPA strikes. I found out that the ‘Christian Army’ which has<br /> been known for it’s bloody attacks in Mindanoa in the late 1970’s<br /> against certain terrorist and rebel organizations have been supported<br /> by the government and it’s military. Politics, corrupt leaders,<br /> a broken government, prices of oil and rice on the continual<br /> rise, ...don’t you wish there was somewhere on earth you could<br /> just get away from it all?<br /> It’s Sunday. I’m going to the market.<br /> Take care,<br /> Tara C. Alverson / T.C. Artworks<br /> pagpipinta sa pulo: untitled. (Photo on page 2: Blazela died on June 23rd, 2008. She was 1 years old. You helped with the cost of her hospitalization fee for 40 days. Unfortunately the hole in her heart had caused severe complications to her liver. She fought tremendously for more then 10 months of her life.)


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