After our whirlwind of a week last week, it has been so refreshing to just mostly be here, getting caught up and only having one turnover to attend to. This Tuesday we went back to Tondo for the turnover of donations for the Upskills Foundation. This has been in the works forever, it seems, so it was good to finally give them the goods they asked for! The request was a simple one- equipment for their new bakery/livelihood project. Just some cabinets, bakery display case, etc. We drove there ourselves this time, since last time we caught a Grab ride, we had such a hard time getting a ride back. I guess Grab drivers don’t really want to hang out in Tondo- where there isn’t much hope of someone wanting to catch a Grab ride from that area. It had been raining hard that morning, and Tess from Upskills warned us that they had flooding in the center- the first time EVER! Just our luck, right? They were prepared for us though. They met us after they helped us find a place to park our car and had some heavy duty rubber boots for us.

It always adds to the “charm” of the slums to have wet, muddy streets, if you know what I mean. Indeed, when we got to the center, they did indeed have some flooding inside. They think it is because the streets have been cemented and therefore raised up higher than they were, forcing the water inside the building. So one good thing can sometimes create a not-so-good thing in return. Anyway, we got inside and gathered in the assembly area where they had prepared a nice little sign and had the audio system set up. They started out with a prayer, of course, then they showed a video that highlights all the things their organization does. It made me a bit teary and reminded me why I love this organization so much!!!

They have such a comprehensive system of helping the people. They have social workers who assess their situations, healthcare workers who hold a clinic two times a week and give out vitamins; feeding program for the seniors and malnourished children; workshops and classes; tutoring center for the students who used to be in the Purple School; Scholarship program for students in high school and those who go on to college; and of course their livelihood programs, which include the tab ring products (like the bags, hats, etc.), boots and shoes made out of old airplane tires, and now the bakery.

They have two bakers who went and received training at a culinary school and five people who go out and sell the goods. Oh, they also have a farm where they produce eggs to sell (and use to feed the people) and small animals. After they showed the video, they had a small group sing “You Raise Me Up”. It was the combination of the song and the video that made me well up with gratitude. Gratitude for people like this who have sacrificed so much to make this happen for the poor and gratitude that we have had the opportunity to work with them. They truly do raise people up! Tess Sarmiento is always gracious when we go there, always patient, always positive and just exudes love. It was also a moment when I realized what a blessing it is to be on this mission. So thank you, dear Lord, for allowing us to be here, doing what we are doing and meeting such compassionate, hard-working, humble people here.

After the ceremony, we went into their clinic where they fed us some delicious fish, melon and rice and talked to both the Tondo Initiative people and Upskills people about how we can help in a bigger way in Tondo. We went back to the warehouses where they live to follow up with the projects they have been doing there. We had Sue McCortney with us. Sue is a wonderful Catholic woman who is here with her husband for two months while he helps with the legal department. He is basically serving a mission for at least two years, going around the world helping areas with employee/legal issues. (He is a member). Sue wanted to visit the poor areas, so we were happy to oblige. I tried to prepare her for Tondo, but as I warned her, there is really no way to explain it or prepare someone for it. After being there, she agreed. It’s overwhelming the first time.

When we were finished with Tondo, we were finding our way back home when we realized we missed a turn and it would be nearly impossible to get over to the road we needed to be on. At the light, we saw the Manila Hotel just around the corner, and we have always wanted to see this historical icon, so we stopped in there and had a drink. What a contrast! From the slums to opulence in a mere five minutes of driving! It’s hard to wrap your head around the disparity here. At the hotel, they had an art exhibit where you could bid on some of the shoe art. These well to do and famous women went to Marikina where they had many shoe factories and bought their shoe forms (the factories were shutting down). Then they asked various artists to create works of art out of the shoes and they will donate the proceeds to the poor. It made for very interesting art and is a good cause.