Peace in Mindanao means Peace everywhere: Archive

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Tandag, Surigao del Sur — a not so “distant” memory .. when i was amongst the poorest of the poor that i found in a very poor community of Tandag in rural, remote Mindanao in the Republic of the Philippines almost 30 years ago… i tried the best i could to help… because those rural filipinos only could “afford” to give me their HEARTS because, otherwise, they barely could afford the tattered shirts on their backs. i learned to love them because all they could do was to love me … they essentially could only “give” what they had to share. and, they invariably told me essentially that they knew their lives would be short and somewhat harsh, so they implored me to try to help someone else instead. i guess that must be the TRUE spirit of life, not only that of Gawad Kalinga… and the true spirit of humanity, not just that of the filipinos…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz9Uni4GCJA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78JWIbLNOmA&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5_CaYUjONk&feature=related

my former Peace Corps site, Tandag, Surigao del Sur

Dec 13, 2010

“from my Mother: “if you can’t afford the tip, you can’t afford the meal.”
from my Father: “If you want to see a TRUE professional in action, try to emulate a street sweeper or a ditch digger.”
from Rabbi Akiba: When asked to summarize the Bible [Torah and Talmud, combined, while standing on one foot]: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you … all the rest is commentary.
from Helen Keller (paraphrase)r: It is MUCH better to be blind and deaf, then to LACK VISION…
from Professor Mark Alpert, Graduate School of Business, UT Austin: The quintessential Marketer is the drug pusher, because the “first fix” is always free.
from Robert Mathis, J.D. (considered by the deaf community worldwide as the Thomas Jefferson of the deaf and civil rights community) (paraphase): I am a mere ripple in the water… in all of my efforts to effect constructive change and understanding … for the deaf community and for the world at large.
from Professor Theodore Leavitt, HBS [considered the founder of modern day marketing theory and analysis] (paraphrase of the term he coined- marketing myopia): don’t overlook the small fish — that target is more profitable and socially conscious than going after the whales…
from Professor Rohit Desphande, Phd while he ws my mentor and “guru” in Consumer Behaviorial Theory — currently Chair Emeritus, HBS (paraphrase): learn to distinguish between high involvement and low involvement goods.
also, “Rick, Rick, you must have a schtick!!!”
from the late Rabbi Sidney Steinman (who bar mitzvahed me at Congregation Beth El Zedeck, Indianapolis) paraphrase: Zedakah is an daily obligagtion.” — http://www.facebook.com/rick.passo#!/rick.passo?sk=info

Dec 13, 2010

This week’s blogger is Shivani Siroya, our CEO! Shivani began developing InVenture in late 2008 when she realized the potential for entrepreneurs in developing countries to reinvest and create change within in their own communities. As CEO, Shivani is responsible for developing InVenture’s…

See http://blog.catchafire.org/2010/12/13/shivani-for-catchafire/ for more details!

Here is a highlight from the CatchAFire.org link above:

3. Tell us something interesting that you have learned through your organization. Ex: What you have learned about your cause, about the world, people etc.

I am constantly amazed and humbled repeatedly by the quality of entrepreneurs with whom we work. An incredible story that I have come across recently has been that of Griselda Flores. Griselda runs a community clinic that provides health services to some of the most disadvantaged people in Milpa Alta. She is an entrepreneur not just because she wants to make money for herself, but because she is inspired to help her own community. We came across Griselda’s business because she needed an investment to expand her clinic by purchasing an ultrasound machine. The demand for ultrasounds in her community is extremely high, and currently the closest clinic providing ultrasounds is 2.5 hours away; while Griselda herself covers the cost to send these women to the clinic, she can only pay for a few, and is forced to turn away dozens of patients every day who have no other options for this service. Griselda’s clinic serves the most disadvantaged and rural populations of Milpa Alta and she offers lower prices than other private clinics in the area. She is truly a local hero who gives back to the populations who need her help the most, and she has shown me what a difference one person can make.

Here is a related YouTube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h5sTcEnVv98

Dec 13, 20102 notes

#gkcsi #microenterprise #development #catchafire

Organika and Peace in Mindanao ... and a personal "3rd Goal"

Between Kara Jess Rondina, Trech Ras, Hazel Yap, Angeli Pimentel Diamante, Helen Maureen Graido and You

Rick PassoDecember 10 at 5:26am Kara,

I rarely use my Tumblr blog, but your CSI/Organika posting on yours today “inspired” me to repost … and to update this blog a little bit. Now, you might have a little more insight as to why the work Organika is does and will do is so admired by me… especially when it is likely to expand its agricultural cooperatives into Mindanao, as well as throughout the Philippines.
As several of my Facebook notes will attest, I am most impressed about GK is a “generator” for PEACE in Mindanao .. as well as for prosperity. Of course, without Peace, then cannot really be prosperity.
Peace is the goal of the Peace Corps and it is essentially the “Third Goal” of Returned US Peace Corps Volunteers.
And, Peace in Mindanao remains the “essence” of my Personal Third Goal.

Mabuhay and Salamat,

Rick
cc: Organika and GK CSI
see also http://ricktandagvegas.blogspot.com/ Peace in Mindanao means Peace everywhere

“Dream of Mindanao of being independent economically will remain an elusive dream if present Mindanao leaders will always forget to empower the poorest of the poor in Mindanao.”

Dec 10, 2010

kararondina:

Why do we setup businesses?

CSI night started with this Peter Drucker question in Prof. Villegas’ presentation. As most people would have thought, business is for profit-making. But essentially, businesses MUST create value and make the world better, as exemplified by Jack Welch’s “we bring good…

Dec 10, 20102 notes

Peace in Mindanao means Peace everywhere

December 2010

9 posts