http://www.alliancegym.com/

http://bayanusa.org/?page_id=252 [BALSA]

http://www.pnoyapparel.com/

http://www.myspace.com/eyeasagemuzikpage

http://www.myspace.com/kiwi

http://www.myspace.com/probrown [geologic]

Przypominamy, że w naszym sklepie oferujemy sprzedaż ratalną.

W swojej ofercie posiadamy:

Modele zdalnie sterowane: samochody, szybowce, helikoptery, łodzie
Modele: plastikowe, drewniane
Kolejki: Piko, tory wyścigowe
Materiały modelarskie: kleje, farbki, folia, balsa, listewki

Czynne w godzinach: pon. – pt. 10.00-18.00, sob. 10.00-14.00

Sklep Modelarski “Red Baron” wreszcie doczekał się swojej strony internetowej ! Zanim pojawią się tu ceny oraz informacje dot. najnowszego towaru, zapraszamy do naszego sklepu na ulicę Grunwaldzką 27 (przed sklepem meblowym Dante).

View Larger Map

W swojej ofercie posiadamy:

Modele zdalnie sterowane: samochody, szybowce, helikoptery, łodzie
Modele: plastikowe, drewniane
Kolejki: Piko, tory wyścigowe
Materiały modelarskie: kleje, farbki, folia, balsa, listewki

Czynne w godzinach: pon. – pt. 10.00-18.00, sob. 10.00-14.00

WHAT: Yard Sale! (All proceeds go directly to the BALSA Relief Efforts in the Philippines to provide immediate help to the typhoon victims)
WHEN: Saturday, Nov 14, 2009, 11am-2pm
WHERE: F SQUARE PRINTING (aka Fernando’s Hideaway), 519 S. Spring St., Downtown LA, CA 90013

for more info & to make monetary donations, please visit:

http://bayanusa.org

Todays LOSR (c) – too much water for the reefs, but the beach had some lumpy 1-3 foot waves that were rideable.  Glassy and nice conditions but a bit crowded (one or two wavehogs can ruin a morning for everybody, no?)

Today’s LOSR (c) – quit reading shit on the internet, get out there and SURF!   Trust me on this one.

Please join San Francisco Committee for Human Rights (SF-CHRP) in the Philippines for a benefit event with live performances/ art auction / dancing for the victims of the typhoons in the Philippines.

Sliding scale donations at the door: $7 – $1000

Your donations will be going through the Filipino Community Center and San Francisco Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (SFCHRP), under “Bayanihan for the Victims of Ondoy,” a larger community-based effort which comprises numerous grassroots organizations, church groups, non-profit organizations and concerned individuals, is coordinating actions to facilitate the distribution of aid to the victims of the calamity. We are undertaking a relief drive to raise money and collect supplies to send to the Philippines. We humbly ask for your participation with our efforts to help these affected communities to rebuild their lives. Any form of assistance would be much appreciated.

All Donations will go to:
MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL
Migrante International is an alliance of progressive organizations composed of overseas Filipinos and their families. We uphold and advance the rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos within the framework of the Filipino people’s national democratic struggle.

BAYAN MUNA
c/o BAYAN USA (oversea chapter)
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) was formed in May 1985, bringing together more than a thousand mass organizations composed of more than a million members. Represented were different classes and sectors committed to the people’s struggle for national freedom and democracy.

GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY
c/o GABRIELA USA (oversea chapter)
GABRIELA -Philippines which has a membership of 200 women’s organizations throughout the country, work with mothers and families in many urban poor communities.

GABRIELA will make sure that those who need it most, especially women and children get the relief (unfortunately, some disbursement efforts are not that organized leaving only the strong to get the goods and the most needy, still without relief. GABRIELA has the social networks and the knowing who has lost loved ones and homes and the commitment and working relationships to reach those most in need.

They are not only doing relief work, but more importantly, rehabilitation of homes and communities.

If you are not able to attend the event but would like to make an online donation, please logon to BAYAN-USA’s PayPal account at http://bayanusa.org. If you make an online donation, please let us know how much you donated at info@gabusa.org, so that we are able to track our fundraising efforts. Thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/ical/event.php?eid=191106795358

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rhonda Ramiro, BAYAN-USA Secretary General, secgen@bayanusa.org

Photos and video available for media distribution

Filipino-American Alliance Conducts Relief Work in Typhoon-Ravaged Communities

Members Deliver $15K, Medicine and 2,000 Bags of Food to Typhoon Victims

DAGUPAN CITY, PHIILIPPINES– Filipino-Americans under the banner of BAYAN-USA, a US-wide alliance of 14 Filipino organizations, have been actively responding to the needs of the victims of typhoons Ketsana (Ondoy) and Parma (Pepeng) that slammed through the Philippines in the past few weeks killing hundreds and devastating thousands. In addition to conducting on-the-ground emergency relief operations in the Philippines, the alliance reached its projected goal of $15,000 for BALSA (Bayanihan Alay Para Sa Sambayanan), a broad, multi-sectoral disaster relief organization affiliated with its mother alliance, BAYAN Philippines, in addition to gathering dozens of boxes across the US filled with in-kind donations of clothes, food, and medicine.

This week, members of BAYAN-USA traveled to the Philippines to deliver their monetary donations and participate in relief operations. In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, BAYAN-USA joined Congresswoman and Senatorial Candidate Liza Maza of the Gabriela Women’s Party and MAKABAYAN Coalition for one day in handing out over 2,000 sacks of food to long lines of families who had been devastated by the typhoon’s destructive force, but met with the inadequate response of the Philippine government in providing relief. Pangansinan, one of the most impacted provinces in the nation, was 80% submerged due to the man-made disaster of the San Roque Dam opening that unleashed more than 8 million cubic meters of water.

“We have seen with our own eyes how the Philippine government has neglected the needs of the typhoon victims at a time of tremendous need for basic necessities like medicine, food, and shelter,” commented Bernadette Ellorin, chair of BAYAN-USA and one of the members of the relief team. “It has been the responsibility of people’s organizations, like BAYAN-USA, to provide the emergency response needed for our families and loved ones back home who are suffering and will continue to suffer from the Arroyo government’s greedy, disaster-creating policies.”

In relaying its monetary and in-kind donations, BAYAN-USA expressed distrust over the Arroyo government’s recent directive for all donations from abroad to be coursed only through accredited organizations with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or face taxation and other types of penalties and fees.

Furthermore, Philippine Consular offices in the U.S. have imposed restrictions on courier services from shipping relief goods collected by organizations whose efforts are not affiliated with the Philippine government. Courier services face high penalty fees should they choose to ship goods from people’s organizations collecting donations such as BAYAN-USA.

“In this time of calamity, it is unconscionable that the Arroyo government sees this as an opportunity to make money off of suffering,” Ellorin added, “especially when its own corruption of the National Disaster Relief Funds to pay for Arroyo’s lavish lifestyle is at the root of this disaster.”

Like other donors from the U.S., BAYAN-USA is calling for the Arroyo government to lift restrictions on goodwill, including the DSWD accreditation requirement and the taxation on relief goods, as it is posing a concrete obstacle to donors to send relief to the Philippines.

“Donors from the U.S. are not responding to the directives because of clear distrust. How can they be assured that their donations will reach their loved ones and the neediest communities back home?” Ellorin questioned. “Donors are choosing to go through alternative routes to circumvent the Arroyo government’s greedy paws.”

With the approaching super-typhoon Lupit expected to hit the Philippines within the next few days, the need for long-term or permanent disaster relief efforts becomes more apparent. “In the face of government corruption and inutility, people’s organizations should develop long-term relief operations to meet the escalating needs of the people to fight off the looming threats of cholera, dengue and other health epidemics as well as widespread hunger and homelessness,” ended Ellorin.

For more information on how to donate through BAYAN USA, visit www.bayanusa.org. ###

BAYAN-USA & GABRIELA USA relief team with Liza Maza

Cris Hilo and Berna Ellorin sorting relief packages

Congresswoman Maza distributing relief packages

Children & families with relief packages

Valerie Francisco distributing relief packages

Local AnakBayan-San Diego updates on typhoon relief mission:

AB-SD provided $400 of its donations and food to be hand-delivered to BALSA by an alliance member that will travel to the Philippines on Tuesday, October 20.   Donations are still being accepted at the locations listed in the previously released statement.

Thank you all for your continuing support!

Here’s your best bet:

Prima mea pipă avea un condensator metalic, care se înnegrea cu o substanţă lipicioasă şi urât mirositoare. Operaţiunea de curătare o faceam sub jet de apă, cu săpun, aşa am pierdut (prin scurgere) câteva condensatoare. Nu eram multumit de această soluţie, aşa că am încercat să adaptez filtre de ţigări – din diverse motive nu mi-a reuşit.

Câţiva ani de zile nu am mai fumat, însă, în această perioadă, mi-am achiziţionat, cu încântare, o pipă nouă şi o cutie de filtre (Vauen Dr. Perl 9mm). Intrasem în lumea civilizată.

Filtrele de pipă se prezintă sub forma unui cilindru de 9 mm (sunt unele pipe cu filtru de 6 mm), umplut cu un material absorbant. Până în prezent am testat filtre cu cărbune activ, cu spumă de mare şi filtre din lemn de balsa. În afara acestor filtre care se montează în muştiuc, mai sunt şi cristale de siliciu ce se pun pe fundul vetrei pipei înainte de umplerea cu tutun. Din câte am auzit, ar mai exista încă cel puţin două tipuri de filtre de 9 mm – umplute cu bucăţele de gips, respectiv cristale de siliciu ; cu aceste filtre (de-a dreptul exotice) nu am avut plăcerea de a mă întâlni.

Un filtru bun trebuie să îndeplinească câteva condiţii : să filtreze fumul de particulele grosiere, să absoarbă umezeala (care la pipă, spre deosebire de narghilea, nu este de dorit), să permită o bună circulaţie a fumului şi să nu îi schimbe gustul/aroma.

Filtrele cu carbon sunt corecte, îşi fac treaba bine şi nu dau coloraţii fumului.

Când am folosit pentru prima oară un filtru cu spumă de mare am fost puternic impresionat, credeam că am descoperit cea mai bună soluţie. Din păcate, încă înainte de a-mi termina prima pipă, aveam deja indoieli – parcă, spre sfârşit, optura puţin circulaţia fumului şi îi dădea o uşoară notă aparte.

Filtrele de balsa apar sub forma unor cilindrii brăzdaţi de şanţuri prin care trece fumul, astfel se asigură creşterea suprafeţei de contact, care cu cât este mai mare, cu atât filtrul este mai performant. Lemnul de balsa este poros, aproape ca un burete, de aici rezultă capacitatea sa de absorţie. Fără a avea eficienţa filtrelor cu cărbune activ, filtrele din lemn de balsa îndeplinesc funcţia pentru care au fost făcute. Unii fumători de pipă le preferă, considerându-le drept cea mai noninvazivă metodă de filtrare. Deşi prospectul acestor filtre arată că ele pot fi folosite de 3-4 ori, eu după a doua pipă am aruncat filtrul, era îmbâcsit şi nu mirosea chiar apetisant (asta deşi îl spălasem şi îl lăsasem la uscat).

Dintre cele trei filtre, eu le prefer pe cele cu carbon activ şi pentru a avea meniul complet folosesc şi cristale de siliciu în vatra pipei. Consider că cea mai bună soluţie ar fi una hibridă – filtre cu siliciu şi cărbune activ, sau alte combinaţii.

Nu pot încheia fără să spun că mulţi fumători grei preferă să nu folosească filtre sau orice alte găselnite din această categorie. Eu, însă, prefer artificialul – un fum uşor şi cât mai cremos.

Virada de tempo inesperada!
Nunca duvidei da força da natureza…mas hoje tive uma demonstração fantástica disso.
Saímos de barco com destino a uma praia que em geral é deserta chamada Praia Brava de Guaicá…o Sol estava tímido mas o mormaço já dava conta de me deixar parecendo um camarão de vermelho.
Atracamos bem no meio na praia e não havia qualquer outra embarcação lá. Ficamos de bobeira…demos uma volta de bote…caminhamos pela praia e sentamos um pouco.
Enquanto estávamos sentados, olhei para cima e vi umas nuvens bem carregadas se formando rapidamente…comentei com a Isa..é melhor voltarmos pois o tempo está mudando…ela disse, ok…vamos esperar um pouquinho para esquentar um pouco mais…quando ela acabou a frase, ela sentiu um pingo de chuva…subitamente veio um vento SURREAL…..isso tudo em questão de 3 minutos…não mais.
Corremos para água para nadar até o barco…o spray das ondas era forte e batia no rosto….já estávamos a uns 30 metros da praia e sentíamos a areia batendo na gente….olhei para frente e o barco tinha se soltado…ainda bem que o Sergio estava a bordo e tratou de recolher a ancora e vir nos resgatar…
Subimos no barco e enquanto o Sergio guardava tudo que podia voar eu saia com o barco e a Isa foi pegar o telefone para tirar umas fotos…
As ondas cresciam e sumiam na frete do barco…víamos colunas de água subir do mar com a força do vento….ficamos olhando um barco menor e um Jet a uns 70 metros a nossa esquerda…eles por vezes sumiam de traz das ondas…
Ouvimos no radio uma serie de barcos em apuros…resolvemos acelerar mais para entrar logo no canal…abrindo mão do conforto e batendo bastante. Atravessamos o canal e fomos direto para a Marina onde deixamos o carro. Pela primeira vez paramos em uma Marina em Caragua para não usar a balsa Ilhabela-São Sebastião. Seguimos um outro barco para encontrar a entrada do Rio que leva até a marina.
A arrebentação estava forte, mas conseguimos passar….e a traquilidade do rio se fez presente.
Foi muito boa a experiência….quando vemos na TV ou lemos a respeito, nunca acreditamos que pode ser tão rápido….
Quando chegamos na marina vimos a embarcação do Salva-Vidas saindo para fazer um resgate…o radio não parava com vários barcos em dificuldade…mais um barco saindo a marina para ajudar outros navegadores a entrar no Rio.
Banho tomado….hora de encarar o trânsito de volta a São Paulo.

Relief Efforts continue for Victims of Typhoon Disaster.  BALSA drop-off locations in San Diego are up and Running!

Support “BALSA” Bayanihan Alay Sa Sambayanan = “Raft” People’s Cooperation for the People as we raise funds for victims of Typhoon disaster in the Philippines.  We are accepting money donations and BALSA drop-off locations in San Diego are up and running.

All donations will be going to those that have been most effected by typhoon disaster.  BALSA is integrated with the Filipino masses, ensuring all donations will be effectively used to help the urban poor, peasants, women and children, and other sectors of society.

In the coming days more drop-off locations will be announced.  Due to urgency we ask that people consider donating financially before donating drop-off material.

SEE VIDEO BELOW FOR IMAGES OF TYPHOON DESTRUCTION

ONLINE DONATIONS via paypal can be made at:

http://www.bayanusa.org.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS:

Cristy’s Bakery: 9178 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92126-4804
(858) 271-6135

Mira Mesa Senior Center: 8460 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92126-2311
(858) 578-7325

Fava Hall: 2926 Market St. San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 234-1360

Kalasugan Community Services: 1419 E 8th St National City, CA 91950-2602
(619) 477-3392

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate email us:

anakbayansd@gmail.com

or contact:

Eugene (916) 296-4848

Ivan (619) 370-1296

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2009

Reference: Terrie Cervas, Sisters of Gabriela, Awaken! (SiGAw), sigaw.la@gmail.com, 213 270 4982

Los AngelesFilipinas Share Their HERSPECTIVE and Raise Funds for GABRIELA-Philippines and Victims of Typhoon Ondoy

October 4, 2009 – Stories of hope and resistance by women resounded during HERSPECTIVE, an event organized by Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken! (SiGAw), a member organization of GABRIELA-USA, the overseas chapter of GABRIELA-Philippines. HERSPECTIVE marked SiGAw’s first performance and art showcase and served as a fundraiser for GABRIELA-Philippines’ 25th anniversary activities, as well as for relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Over 100 people attended and contributed over $1,000 in donations.

“Philippine President Arroyo’s administration has proven unprepared and untrustworthy in the handling of calamity funds,” stated Terrie Cervas, member of SiGAw and one of the Vice Chairs of GABRIELA-USA. “We can be sure that the funds raised from HERSPECTIVE will reach the people in need, as GABRIELA organizers immerse themselves on the ground, in communities. The burden of families’ survival rests largely on women, so the money will help GABRIELA to continue to advocate and fight for their rights, as they have done over the last quarter of a century.”

HERSPECTIVE featured DJs Em-1 and Michelle Q, as well as performances by singer Asa Lianess; poet and BAYAN Southwest Regional Coordinator, Daya Mortel; emcee Peklat; dancer Danielle Parish; emcee/singer Jumakae; singer Anne Marie Ceralvo, and more. Peklat stated, “This event was so beautiful. To see sisters get up, share of themselves and their art with the community is a beautiful thing. Everyone who came out blessed the space with their energy and spirits.” The event also featured artwork from members of Habi Arts (including two full-sized murals depicting the strength of revolutionary Filipina women and the struggle of Filipinas against militarization and sexual violence), as well as local artists, including Sistargirl, and an array of vendors from homeopathic women’s healthcare to vegan cupcakes. “Herspective was not only a means to raise funds for a great cause, but a result of a collaborative effort to create a safe, fun, and artistic space for
womyn of color and queer womyn of color who constantly have to fight to be recognized in spaces that can be very male heavy and straight-centered,” said Em “DJ Em-1″ Baraan, also a member of SiGAw.

Kuusela Hilo, Vice Chair of BAYAN-USA, highlighted the efforts of BAYAN-USA and GABRIELA-USA’s relief work through BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan or “People’s Cooperation for the People”) during the program. “This is a critical time for the Filipino people. It is imperative that we contribute to the efforts which the Arroyo regime is unable to provide for its people. Having taken over $17M of the people’s emergency relief funds, it is up to us, the community, to help.”

HERSPECTIVE, along with other events coordinated by BAYAN-SW are part of the regional efforts to raise $10,000 for BALSA by the end of October.###

To watch the Channel 11 Fox News coverage of HERSPECTIVE, go to youtube.com and search “Herspective 2009.” Or go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CekqDBPj-hA

For more information on Sisters of Gabriela, Awaken! (SiGAw): http://sigawla.wordpress.com
For more information on BALSA and the relief work of BAYAN-USA/GABRIELA-USA: http://bayanusa.org, http://gabusa.org or http://bayanihan4ondoy.wordpress.com

Asa Lianess

Emcee Peklat

Singer Marie Ceralvo

DJ Em-1

SiGAw!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2009

Contact: Eugene Gambol
anakbayansd@gmail.com
(916)-296-4848

Anakbayan San Diego Launches Emergency Relief Drive for Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana).

Details: San Diego – Anakbayan San Diego are organizing efforts to raise funds for victims of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana).  On Saturday September 26th, Typhoon Ondoy struck the Philippines with the heaviest rainfall recorded followed by the worst flooding in 40 years.

There are at least 277 people dead or missing and over half a million displaced, injured or have lost all of their belongings.  There are still as least 1 million people without electricity.  Scenes are eerily similar to “Hurricane Katrina” and the devastation of Typhoon Ondoy has only just begun.

Anakbayan San Diego is calling upon Filipinos and allies in the San Diego community to lend a helping hand.  This is our chance to make a difference and save lives.  This is a chance to help heal our homeland, help our fellow Kababayan (Countrymen/Countrywoman).

Anakbayan San Diego is a member of both Anakbayan Philippines and the umbrella organization BAYAN USA.  Anakbayan San Diego is also an ally of the Filipino women’s organization GABRIELA USA.  Donations will go to the relief efforts of the three groups: BAYAN’S “Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan”, Anakbayan’s “Tulong Kabataan”, and GABRIELA USA’s Typhoon Ondoy Relief Fund.

On an ordinary day, balsa in Filipino means “boat” or “raft.”  But post-Ondoy, BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan, or “People’s Cooperation for the People”).  Established 12 years ago by BAYAN Philippines, BALSA is a grassroots initiative coordinating everyday people like you and me to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crisis.  Tulong Kabataan is a donation and relief drive of Anakbayan and other major youth organizations in the Philippines to mobilize youth power to help victims of Typhoon Ondoy.  GABRIELA-USA is the first overseas chapter of the Philippine-based organization GABRIELA, extending the Filipino women’s mass movement to the United States.  All three organizations are integrated with the Filipino masses, ensuring all donations will be effectively distributed to those most in need.

Anakbayan San Diego is also in the process of developing Drop-Off locations in the San Diego area for people to donate: Rice, Water, Canned Goods, Cooking Oil, Cooking Utensils, Medicines, Blankets/Banigs, Toiletries, Clothes, and other basic necessities.  All cash and drop-off donations will be divided amongst the three relief efforts.

All donations will go to relief efforts in the Metro Manila area and surrounding provinces that are in dire need of help.  Anakbayan San Diego is asking the San Diego Community to support these heroic relief efforts during this time of tragedy.

Online donations via paypal can be made at:

For BALSA http://www.bayanusa.org.

For Tulong Kabataan http://3.ly/tulong

For GABRIELA USA http://bit.ly/ornJy

Drop-off Centers: Anakbayan SD is teaming up with the Kuya Ate Mentorship program (KAMP) and will have a drop box at San Diego’s FilAm Fest on Saturday October 3.  The Festival starts from 11 am – 6 pm.  It is located on Paradise Valley Rd. between Woodman St. & Gilmartin Ave.  We will be located at the Cultural Tent.  Other drop-off locations TBA

From: Rhonda Ramiro
Date: Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 9:32 AM

Hello friends and supporters of the Philippines, On Saturday September 26th, Typhoon Ondoy struck the Philippines with the heaviest rainfall recorded followed by the worst flooding in 40 years. BAYAN-Philippines’ “BALSA” (Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan, or “People’s Cooperation for the People”, an organization that was formed 12 years ago to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crisis that the government fails to address), is calling upon compatriots and friends to gather financial donations for the victims of the Big Flood.

As of this writing, there are at least 100 dead or missing and 435,000 victims who are homeless, injured or have lost all of their belongings. There are still as least 1 million people without electricity. Scenes are eerily similar to “Hurricane Katrina” and President Bush’s response in 2005 (or lack thereof).

President Arroyo’s lack of preparation and priority to acquire hundreds of big rubber boats (officials admitted they only had 13 rubber boats), amphibian vehicles, dump trucks, thousands of life vests and food/medicine kit for our compatriots who are trapped in rooftops has led to a humanitarian crisis.

We are making this appeal for financial support as the current administration is woefully unprepared and unable to help the hundreds of thousands of our compatriots and friends. BALSA will be coordinating efforts to distribute food, medicines, clothing and other basic necessities to help the people through this crisis. Because BALSA is firmly linked with the masses, aid will directly go towards the basic sectors of society – the workers, peasants and the urban poor who make up the majority of the victims (despite media attention that “the poor and rich are equally impacted”).

Please make a donation through BAYAN-USA or a local member organization of BAYAN-USA. Donations can be given to your local member organization of BAYAN-USA or online at www.bayanusa.org.

Please make checks payable to “BAYAN-USA.” Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rhonda Ramiro, Secretary General of BAYAN-USA at secgen@bayanussa.org, or Jeff Rice, Finance Officer of BAYAN-USA.

*Checks payable to “BAYAN-USA” can be sent to
Pinay sa Seattle
5740 MLK Jr Way S, Room 106
Seattle, WA 98118

Kodao Productions in partnership with people’s organizations in the Philippines and abroad are raising resources for the relief operations to the communities severely affected by the devasting floods in Metro Manila and Rizal brought by typhoon Ondoy. Click to help!

You can also coordinate with Tulong Kabataan!

Hello friends and supporters of the Philippines,

On Saturday September 26th, Typhoon Ondoy struck the Philippines with the heaviest rainfall recorded followed by the worst flooding in 40 years.

BAYAN-Philippines’ “BALSA” (Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan, or “People’s Cooperation for the People”, an organization that was formed 12 years ago to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crisis that the government fails to address), is calling upon compatriots and friends to gather financial donations for the victims of the Big Flood.

As of this writing, there are at least 100 dead or missing and 435,000 victims who are homeless, injured or have lost all of their belongings. There are still as least 1 million people without electricity. Scenes are eerily similar to “Hurricane Katrina” and President Bush’s response in 2005 (or lack thereof).

President Arroyo’s lack of preparation and priority to acquire hundreds of big rubber boats (officials admitted they only had 13 rubber boats), amphibian vehicles, dump trucks, thousands of life vests and food/medicine kit for our compatriots who are trapped in rooftops has led to a humanitarian crisis.

We are making this appeal for financial support as the current administration is woefully unprepared and unable to help the hundreds of thousands of our compatriots and friends. BALSA will be coordinating efforts to distribute food, medicines, clothing and other basic necessities to help the people through this crisis. Because BALSA is firmly linked with the masses, aid will directly go towards the basic sectors of society – the workers, peasants and the urban poor who make up the majority of the victims (despite media attention that “the poor and rich are equally impacted”).

Please make a donation through BAYAN-USA or a local member organization of BAYAN-USA.

Donations can be given to your local member organization of BAYAN-USA or directly deposited into the following account:

Bank: Chase

Account Name: BAYAN-USA

Account Number: 340-209749-3

Please make checks payable to “BAYAN-USA.”

Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rhonda Ramiro, Secretary General of BAYAN-USA at secgen@bayanussa.org, or Jeff Rice, Finance Officer of BAYAN-USA.

Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness
by: Nahoko Uehashi
published by: Scholastic Inc. (Arthur A. Levine Books imprint)
summary: Balsa returns to her native Kanbal to clear the name of Jiguro, her dear mentor, who saved her life when she was six years old. But what should be a visit of truth and reconciliation becomes a fight for her life when she learns that Jiguro had been a member of King Rogsam’s personal bodyguard. After Jiguro fled Kanbal with her, Rogsam sent the other bodyguards after them one by one–Jiguro’s best friends, whom he had to kill to protect Balsa. Now, with the help of two Kanbalese children, Balsa must unwind the conspiracy surrounding Jiguro and the mystery of the Guardians of the Dark. (from the back of the book)

Ramblings: I’m not sure which of the Moribito volumes I like better so far, since this second volume is a fantastic addition to the series.

Like the first volume, Scholastic did something strange and used a really dark green (almost black) font to match the cover of the book. The cover itself is again a fantastic representation of the story (which doesn’t happen so often as it should). On a random note, the image here has Balso holding a sword, but my copy of the book has her holding a staff/spear, which is much more accurate to the story. ;] Also like the first volume, there’s a nice little glossary of terms at the end for the little kiddies to keep track of the strange terms. They also included a few family trees and lists of characters in the back that was kind of a nice touch (though honestly they were pretty useless if you follow the story).

Definitely a quick read (just 4 or 5 hours for me), this is also a fantastic follow-up to the first volume of the series. I couldn’t put it down (I actually skipped class the next day because I stayed up late reading it, haha).

Lot de jeux AMIGA

Un petit avion en Balsa, offert lors du CES de 1985

Lecteur cassette XL12, vendu uniquement en Amérique du Sud, imitant le XC11, tant par le coloris et par le packaging de la boite, rappelant la gamme XE d’ATARI. Ce n’est pas un produit officiel ATARI, peut être vendu sous license , vu qu’ils reprennent même le slogan “Power without the Price“

I read many great things about Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit from people recommending anime with strong female lead characters. So, of course I wanted to check it out!

Moribito's spear-slinging warrior, Balsa

Moribito is based on a series of novels, written by Nahoko Uehashi. (Wikipedia has more about the novels vs the anime.)

I enjoyed the fantasy/historical setting, and the blend of realistic depictions of life in such a world with the magical elements that seem to play a key part in the story. The animation was truly gorgeous, as is to be expected from Production I.G.

But … I was also kindof bored. The story seemed to be developing slowly and while the setup was promising, it didn’t bring me in enough to really make me want to keep watching. The shiny animation and cool fight scenes didn’t really make up for the slow pacing and bland dialogue.

Balsa herself, as a main character, has a lot of potential. I love the fact that she is a woman (not a girl – she’s in her late 20’s) who seems to be as practical and skilled as a warrior/bodyguard should be.

Plus, she fights with a spear! How cool is that? (I can’t help but be reminded of Seung Mina a little, though!)

So … even though it moved pretty slowly, I think I’ll give it another volume to grab me. I only watched the first dvd, and there are plenty of awesome anime that don’t really get going until the second or third disc. Plus, what else is Netflix for?!

Moribito - Balsa & Chagum

6septembre-soir