Peasant Caravan

Just returned back from another three day relief mission. Still editing backwards. Here are images from the three day caravan include a stay at Hacienda Luisita.

Taguig and other news

Sorry for the posting delay, quite busy these last few days. I just returned from a 3-day relief mission to Central Luzon. We traveled in a caravan for in solidarity with Peasant's Rights Week and delivered relief goods to devastated areas along the way. We also stayed one night in the Hacienda Luisita, which in 2006 was the site of a massacre of farmers who were organizing against their employer for unpaid wages. They were fighting to receive a wage of less than 20 cents a day that was owed to them.

I am headed to Pangasinan on another relief mission in the morning. This region received some of the worst damage from the storms and another typhoon is anticipated to reach shortly. When I return I will post images from both 3 day missions. Also, my Grandfather came from Asignan, Pangasinan, so I am looking forward to walking on the land where many of my family's traditions were born.

Here are images from a relief mission on October 17th in Taguig City which is a Muslim community in Metro Manila. Many of its areas are still flooded and the need for relief goods is great.


entering town.

Rallying for Change

Attended a Rally for OFWs today (Overseas foreign Workers). Was really thinking about the people who put it all together. While Migrante has a large relief effort taking place for those affected by the typhoons, they are still staying true to their mission of advocating for overseas workers.

Over 70% of Filipinos want to or are currently, working overseas according to Lara Castillo, area organizer for Migrante. She wants people to think about the impact of this migration on their culture and working towards making their country a place where it's people want to and are able to live. Overseas work is deeply ingrained Filipino livelyhood and Migrante and other organizations hope to show people that there are other options.




Allen Bonificio or "Boni," is an area organizer for Migrante. He started his career in activism at 15 years-old.


Lara Castillo

Nagkisang Nayon, Nova Liches, Quezon City

Yesterday we visited a devestated area in Nagkisang Nayon, Nova Liches, Quezon City which is proximal to Metro Manila. We were following Migrante International on a relief effort to support those who were worst effected by the typhoons, giving priority to Overseas Filipino Worker's (OFW) families.


Those who live by the water, live in poverty, said Lara Castillio, a Quezon City area organizer of Migrante. Many people form informal settlement areas on the outskirts of middle class subdivisions. Just a few weeks after the flooding, the people are starting to rebuild and search for goods in the rubbish to start a new life. The affected people are relying on relief missions from non-profits like Migrante for much of their food and water.

Day One: Meeting Migrante

Today was our first day searching for organizations to work with in the relief effort, as well as to plan photographic opportunities in the effected areas. We met with Migrante International and found great opportunities with them. They will be doing local relief efforts in the Manila area and then beyond in the coming days.


Garry Martinez, chairman of Migrante International organizes relief efforts. Martinez was also a victim of the flooding and was submerged, neck-deep in water for over 30 hours.


Volunteer at Migrante, taking a break.

Archipelago.

from one island to another, much bigger, island.


Leaving Maui.





arriving in Manila.

Slackin for real.

Okay, I am going to start blogging again, I swear. Just got a boost of excitement from the Maui Photo Festival. Here are some photos I took at Twin Falls, a really pretty spot in Maui.

Also, I am going to the Philippines tomorrow. So I will be meeting Neal Santos, a friend from Philadelphia and we will be doing some collaborative documentary work on the effects of the current typhoons that ravaged the Northern area of the Phils. Please keep all the families of those who have lost in your hearts.



dryland taro.