Lottie the volunteer's BLOG

Kalanggaman island is one of the Virgin Islands in Northern Leyte particularly located in the municipality of Palompon, which have been one of the favorite destination of the thousands of foreign and local tourists because of its Maldives' like beauty. The word Kalanggaman came from the bisaya word “langgam” means a bird. The formation of the island when viewed on top was like a bird spreading its wide wings. The 6.5 hectares island which is 15 KM away from the mainland is ready for accepting guests that would like to enjoy the fun they offer this summer. You can try their stand-up paddling, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Or just bring your guitar and strum it under the tree while singing your favorite song. The island has  a white powdery sand that were spread all over the coastlines. Its majestic stretch of sandbar is a kilometer walk away from the body of the island. You can chill under the coconut trees or just lie down and feel the breeze of

Bar owner Mr. Ruperto and his son performing live at Cafe Ruperto, San Antonio Northern Samar Honestly, ever since, it's been my frustration on not learning easily the bisaya  dialect which people of Central, Western and some other parts of Eastern Visayas speak. When I am in a place of bisaya  people, I listened and almost listed all those words I've heard and study them carefully. This month, we, from the local media together with bloggers and with the Department of Tourism visited the island of San Antonio in Northern Samar. Actually, that visit was not my first time. I was with the Zuellig guy who accompanied me to meet the Municipal Health Officer of the town for our Solar Scholars Program last month. I haven't gone to Cafe Ruperto when I visited the island. The place was perfect in listening to the love songs they sing while the night was covered by thousands of fireflies flying beautifully and peacefully. The owner Mr. Ruperto performed for us as he narrat

Women of Brgy Asgad Salcedo Eastern Samar were now making bags made of reusable materials. Salcedo, Eastern Samar – With the skillful hands of women who were former factory workers combined with the strong leadership of a former tailor, an association of sewers in Brgy Asgad Salcedo Eastern Samar was born. Brgy Asgad was one of the hardest hit areas in Salcedo Eastern Samar as the community was facing the Pacific Ocean. They got 10 casualties including children. But despite the death of relatives and friends and loss of homes and livelihoods women of Asgad continue to rise with the use of sewing machines given to them by a non-governmental organization. Felixberto Gagante, 64 years old, a former OFW and tailor was elected by the association to become their President. Gagante accepted the challenged and teach them on how to make a bag and rug. He lent his house as a temporary tailoring shop for the women sewers of their association. Before typhoon Ruby, they sew

Marvin Morales and his proud mother Maribeth.          Salcedo, Eastern Samar – One of the hundreds of community in Eastern Visayas which has been devastated by typhoon Yolanda last 2013 were the coastal brgys of Salcedo Eastern Samar.          One of which is Brgy Asgad where Marvin Morales, 21 years old and his family lives. Like thousands of Yolanda survivors, this young man has also his own story of survival.          It was early in the morning when the storm surge hit their village that wiped out their houses and killed 10 of his neighbors including his two siblings.           He remembered the moment when he lost hope in surviving because of having no strength at all in swimming for him to survive.         “Wala akong makita noon, nawalan na ako ng lakas ng nagpalutang lutang na ako sa tubig, ” Morales said.           Until such time that he felt that there something moving towards him. He felt that it’s a dog swimming close to him. He grabbed the dog

My first Southern Leyte escape.  Everybody who entered college aspired to take the board examinations for their respective courses, of course. I was one of those aspirants too when my mom asked me to take the challenge four years back. Yes, that was before because now it’s no more. I lost my direction and inspiration. I even lost reasons to celebrate my birthday. What for? I long for a reason why should I survive each day. I traveled a lot just to feel that I am not alone in this world. I worked with the community to feel that I belong to their hearts. After the day I lost her, nobody asks me if how it was going, if I ate my meal, I am tired, where I am going etc. All those questions eventually lost and never heard at all. After the funeral march, it seems that my heart was not pumping. I’m breathing, but I don’t feel anything. I don’t know if where I was able to get this kind of strength I have right now. Being alone is very hard to understand. Why did God let me be alo

Hill top view deck.        An islet in the northern part of Eastern Visayas in the small province of Biliran was blessed with beautiful and clean beaches. The paradise was called Sambawan Island. It is within the jurisdiction of Maripipi town in the province of Biliran. The adventure will never be fun if the place you want to enjoy is just a stone throw away. Travel is one of the best part of the one's adventure.  Calm and clean.        Either traveling in land or sea one must enjoy the bumps of the road and the waves of the ocean. Sambawan Island was one of the cleanest beaches I saw in my entire life.  Boatman.      The developer implemented a waste segregation practice which every visitor must comply. They will hand over two bags for the proper segregation of wastes when the guest arrived to stay.. Unlike other developer, Mr. Macorol did not want the island to be famous as it would destroy the island like in Boracay.  Tents put up in the beach front f

           It has been my childhood dream to see for myself the beautiful rock formations found in the island of Biri, Northern Samar. Because when was a kid, it is always a postcard showed to us by our teachers in my elementary years. But, after 26 years of my existence I saw –yes, personally the amazing giant rock formations that were seen from afar if you enter the old long wooden footbridge that seems connects the reality and the fantasy.          Along the old wooden bridge, is a forest of green young and old mangroves planted around the place that adds beauty to the black and brown giant rock formations. After having a short distance walk, is you can enjoy the calming environment where one could merely say the Philippines is one of the most blessed places where we can enjoy an unlimited beautiful view of nature.           I stepped into the clear water that welcomes every visitor right after the last step of the stairs of the wooden bridge. I was speechless. I del

Zeny Margallo, a resident of Cabalawan transitional shelters placed her solar panel attached to their wall which place was not hit by the rays of the sun. (photo by: lottie salarda) I was invited (for the second time) by the Climate Change Commission to attend the seminar-workshop on understanding Climate Change and on how to write stories involving the said complex issue. I’ve listened very well on every speaker and learned very important concepts from the experts. They said the terms were very hard to digest in one sitting. Yes, that’s true. It’s been my second time to attend the workshop, but it seems all things were new to me. We spent the second day of our workshop by visiting the transitional shelters in Brgy Cabalawan and in the permanent shelters in the relocation sites. We were instructed to interview the residents. We had asked if what comes to their minds if they heard the word climate change or what their understandings of it are. I encountered similar an

Veteran Photographer Romualdo Ramirez, sits along sidewalks of downtown Tacloban waiting for his clients. (photo by: lottie salarda) Tacloban City – Early in the morning, a group of young and old street ID photographers gathered and waited patiently in Zamora Street in downtown Tacloban to encourage the by-passers to have their photo ID. One of them is the veteran photographer Romualdo Ramirez, 62-year-old a resident of Cogon San Jose District in this City. He was 17 years old then when he learns that he has a talent on photography. He graduated only his elementary grade. He pursued his passion in photography although he wasn’t able to acquire a formal education in this field. Through reading magazines about photography, he learned the techniques and the art of taking beautiful pictures. On 1978 to 1986, he worked at Ram’s studio in Manila until he was pirated to work in Saudi Arabia in the same field. He works at Albustan Damamm studio in Saudi Arabia for 8 years. Thro

The blushing pink shores of Sila island in San Vicente, Northern Samar . (Photo by: lottie salarda) The last time I visited the island towns of Northern Samar was just last March this year. The trip was in relation to my job as a Solar Scholar Program's field officer, researcher and a volunteer for Institute for Climate ans Sustainable Cities. It was my first time to travel to an island, riding a pump boat, crossing the sea while watching the (deadly) waves a year after typhoon Haiyan. Admittedly, I hesitated seeing and even touching the sea because of what I have experience during the storm. It seems like it would eat the whole me. But this time, I gathered enough courage to face my fear of the sea. I, together with Axell, who is working for a big family foundation went to the three islands of Northern Samar. We went overnight in each town. In San Antonio, we were accommodated in Haven of Fun Beach Resort. The place was perfectly beautiful for a summer break or