Reflection: Rossella De Leon Returns to PDX

Rossella: The rumor’s true – I’m back in Portland  I’m already missing the Philippines in all its natural beauty, including the destroyed and exploited areas as pictured here. I’m embracing the beauty of this country along with the strength of the people’s resistance not only for climate justice, but also for preservation of the rest of the lands that are about to be exploited. In the next few days, I will be posting more photos related to my trip. I will also be paying tribute to kasamas I’ve met along the way who have inspired me so much by their dedication to serve the people. Thanks for the warm welcome (and not so warm weather), Portland.

The Relief Mission: Yo Yolanda!

ND LARAWAN

Our typhoon relief mission was organized by Bulig ALang SA Mindanao, aka BALSA Mindanao.

BALSA means either the ‘bamboo water raft’ or the ‘carabao-drawn cart’. Both symbolize the people’s resilience and determination to survive. 

  

The relief mission was from Dec 15 – Dec 21.

I met some cool new people, Marge on the right helped organize the entire thing.

Got used to sleeping while sitting. We had to travel from the Island of Mindanao to Visayas.

So our bus hopped on a boat.

Views from the travel. The trees with no tops turned into a familiar sight.

In Tacloban, we stayed at a school currently in repair.

Slept on the classroom floor, had  limited running water, and I woke up to this window view everyday.

Certain areas of the school were damaged, roof repairs needed all over.

We went to several Baryos (community)…

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PCHRP Member Angelica Lim Celebrates Her Birthday in the Philippines

Angelica celebrated her birthday on December 19, while doing relief work in Tacloban and other regions devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan. Thank you for your work, dedication and commitment to serving our people in the homeland!

Caring For Typhoon Haiyan Survivors

Back from doing relief work in Tacloban. The children / youth whom I met in this trip have been amazing and strong. heartbreaking to see them with no homes. This is probably one of my favorite moments on the trip, his head just gently laid on me as soon as I picked him up.

(From Nikki De Leon’s Facebook)

 

PCHRP Providing Relief in the Philippines

Distributing relief goods to families of baranggays affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Nikki & Angelica at work. These are your NAFCON and Balsa Smr donations being distributed to communities most affected back home.

Journey to Leyte Pt. 2

 

We have arrived Leyte! About to board different buses for different relief destinations. A team of PCHRP folks will be in Tacloban while another will be in Dulag. We are joined by Marjory of Balsa Smr. NAFCON & PCHRP supporters, thanks for providing direct relief to communities most affected in Leyte.

 

 

I took this photo as our bus entered Tacloban. The city was destroyed and survivors are living in tents or destroyed homes. We are on our way now to the rural areas that haven’t been reached by relief efforts yet. Portland, thanks for all your donation. It has reached those who need them.

Photo and captions by Rossella De Leon

Journey to Leyte

Yolanda/Haiyan relief orientation

Getting ready to board the bus for a 10-hour ride to Surigao, then barge to Leyte.

We just got on this barge. Leyte, here we come!

Photos and captions by Rossella De Leon

PCHRP Blogs

Justin Katigbak: http://justinkatigbak.tumblr.com/

Freedom Allah Siyam: http://freedomallah.tumblr.com/

Stay up to date with what these PCHRP members are experiencing during their exposure and relief mission in the Philippines.

 

Mindanao Part 1: Lakbayan

From Nikki De Leon

ND LARAWAN

A LAKBAY is a journey.

From December 7 to December 10, we joined the Lakbayan mobilization in Mindanao.

We travelled and marched until past sunset for 3 days.

So much has happened and so I will have to create different posts for each one, as follows:

Part 1: Lakbayan

Part 2: The Masses

Part 3: Redefining the “Activist”

Reading off a solidarity statement from the United Kingdom, it shows that this in an international movement.

& it calls for justice for human rights violations that are occurring daily in the Philippines

A little selfie for the people.

We were bombarded with heat from all directions. Heat from the sun and heat from the fire driving the people to mobilize.

Justin & Kenneth – I have never seen Justin smile so much and Kenneth inspire so much youth

Mindanao is beautiful

This part of the Philippines has plenty of resources

As…

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Lakbayan 2013

On this December 10 International Human Rights Day, members of PCHRP join with members of progressive organizations in the Philippines in LAKBAYAN, a people’s march/caravan for 3 days in Mindanao to demand environmental and climate justice for victims of open-pit mining and extra-judicial killings in the Philippines. The resistance of the Filipino people is humbling and inspiring. This is what demanding for justice looks like in the Philippines. In love with this movement and my people.

 

Nikki De Leon reading the solidarity statement from the United Kingdom.

 

Photos and blurb by Rossella De Leon