June 2008 Archives

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.5 at 54mm/14.0mm iso100

Power has returned to portions of Bantayan just prior to 8am yesterday; both Mama Rose & Mama Helen's Families were texting me as soon as their phones were charged.

Both Families small nippa/native houses (dwellings actually - they were very small) have been destroyed, meaning the roof and walls are completely gone, and a portion of the bamboo foundation is what remains.

Mama Rose's children have told me they are still sleeping outside in the elements and trying to find tarp to create a makeshift roof, while they try to salvage their personal belongings: pots & pans and a few pieces of their bamboo furniture they kept outside is still intact.

Mama Helen's children have told me they are sleeping in the local school, while Papa David salvages what's left and begins cleaning up.

Both Families are desperate for help, as this is the worst disaster they've had to endure in quite some time.

Readers can help me help them by using PayPal - they currently need rice, drinking water, clothes & baby diapers etc.

* If any reader wishes to direct ship any needed items vis FedEx or UPS, please contact me for shipping address info. on Bantayan Island.

Thank you for reading today,
PJAMES

As of this morning, power is still out on Bantayan Island, and both Familes cell phones most likely have dead batteries - I'm waiting to re-establish contact as soon as power comes back on.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Thank you for reading today - those of you who can help Mama Helen & IRose's Family on Bantayan at all are welcome to use the PayPal button at the top right of the main page.

I've known both Families for some time now, and try to keep them in rice & children's clothing/baby diapers as best I can, through the generosity of a few personal friends of mine, and with my own pocket money.

Both Families have lost almost everything and are still sending me text messages within the hour from their cell phones before their batteries die, as there is no power as of 11:15pm Wed. June 25th.

PJAMES

June 10, 2008: Manila Philippines: Ricardo photographed at Ana's Family Canderia in Manila at 8:14am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso800






























When I got back to Manila, all the street people I know there found me, and they were all hungry - so I got them as many meals as I could afford (the small amount of projectrice money raised last year lasted only until Feb.2008 for these purposes, and after that I used my own money and then came to rely on my good friend and pRice supporter Kevin Weir for food & clothing for these people - and Ricardo kept finding me at Ana's Family store for fish & rice)

I've been away working all last week, and had to try to force my body to adjust 12hrs behind Philippines, and it was absolute hell trying to do that due to the jet lag (I ended up with severe sleep deprivation and terrible pain in my hip & shoulder joints, as well as my feet, all from trying to force the time change within 2 days after arriving back in the USA - a time change that normally takes a month for me to adjust)

It was all I could do to hobble home and crash into bed at mid week; I had zero energy for anything else, and I had to continue working 12hr. shifts at the PGA Tour Event, staying locally with a Police Sgt. & his Family who adopted me for the week.

I've been trying to catch up on some sleep, and take stock of what was taken from my Father's house while I away, as it was robbed twice and the house looks like a Typhoon moved through it, and what wasn't stolen was trashed - so I'v got to spend a lot of time cleaning up.

More later, and thank you for reading today,
PJAMES

June 12, 2008: A scene from Hong Kong Int'l Airport photographed at 8:32am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/5.6 at 54.0mm iso100

I'll be off line for a few days - I just got back HK & USA and I'm rushing to get back to a week's work away from home.

I've been editing new content over the weekend (I can't sleep; jet lag is hammering me again) and as soon as things calm down by Tuesday I'll be back to posting.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

June 10, 2008: Manila Philippines: Donny Boy photographed in Manila at 8:56am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/120s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso800






























I've been in the typical travel rush the last few days, as I've left the Island and headed to Cebu for one night, then arrived in Manila yesterday for the flight back to the USA early tomorrow morning.

Donny Boy found me at Ana's Family cantina in Manila yesterday and we had some yogurt and chatted a bit; he's still roaming the streets trying to survive.

Ana's Family is doing ok and I've been spending some time with all of them - they are still care takers for the old abandoned building that used to be a movie theater. (I've posted many images of that building here over the past year), and all the kids are in school.

Rosa actually showed up at Ana's and although she says she still attends her school, her biological mother is still keeping her out on the streets 10pm-4am each night, begging money "selling flowers", so I don't see how she's attending school regularly.

Today's another busy day for me today, finishing up some photography & editing, then packing it all away to leave for the airport at 2:30am, so I'll either post again from the airport in Hong Kong (Manila's not wired as well as other Asian airports are for WiFi)

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Bantayan Island, Philippines: Kuji photographed at 4:39pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400







































I'm heading off the Island tomorrow to begin the trip back to Manila and the USA, so I'll see little Kuji in the morning and see if I can manage to convince the Family that Kuji's medicines are free for his TB treatment as long as they register him in the local program at any hospital or clinic - the obstacle has been that the Family does not understand or believe that, the many times I've told them, and since they are too poor to see a doctor when anyone's sick, they have zero experience and prefer not to deal with Pyhsicians.

Good Sunday Evening to you all,
PJAMES

Yahoo News reporting here:
http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080526/17/1rcnp.html

MANILA, May 26 Asia Pulse - "Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Friday he had assured Philippine President Gloria Arroyo of Thailand's willingness to sell rice at a reasonable price for the sake of the amicable relationship of both countries."  (fair usage quote from their website)

Bantayan Island, Philippines: Crowds gather at a local rice vendor to purchase vouchers at 8:14am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/400s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso200






























Locally here in Philippines, rice prices are over P40 to P45 per kilo, up from the mid and upper 20's just 18 months ago.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

June 2, 2008 - Bantayan Island Philippines: Kuji photographed at home 9:54am
Nokia E61i phone camera: f/3.2 at 5.0mm






























I'd just learned yesterday that Kuji's Mama Jenna got her 1st. job at a Resort here on the Island, and I saw her later that day to tell her I was proud of her, etc.

Then I went to see Kuji and I just don't think he looks good - he looked smaller and thinner then when I saw him last month.

I've only got a few days before I leave the Island, and I really don't know what I'm going to do.

I saw LittleFish this afternoon, and when I asked about Papa David, she said he wasn't doing well - fishing was terrible and not producing any catches & that means the Family is not able to have an income.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES