Stepping out in Faith

My biggest hurdle in this time would be procrastination. I thought, if this thing could just be done with by hiring the right people, it is going to be a snap! Unfortunately I actually have to do work (SHOCK!!)

As I have intimated, the premise of a free school for the underprivileged is just the tip of the iceberg.

Preface the following statements with this: 

"I am a Christian. I am devoted to the Lord Jesus. I am NOT in this for the sole purpose of social justice, as I believe this is just going to put a band-aid on a tumor. I am NOT in this for the sole purpose of charity, as I believe that empowerment, enterprise and education are basic human rights, not just for the well-to-do. I will be making money from this, but only after the first 5 years, and after I have invested a HUGE amount of resources (read: time and money) into the project. I believe that generating income from such an endeavor is NOT SINFUL and finally I believe that the Lord's Will is for everyone to know Him and to share the Good News to everyone."

I believe it is pertinent that you acknowledge the context of what I am about to declare.

Basic Business Plan:

Step 1: Obtain permission to build a school (or a pre-existing one)

• Free to the underprivileged (poor to lower middle class), with a voluntary contribution fee per annum (quite like the NSW  Public School System)
• Focusing on NSW standards of education, and hopefully a recognition of learning transferable to AUS
• Scripture classes are going to be part of the curriculum as well as a voluntary attendance to church/ Sunday School/ Youth groups but is NON-Mandatory

Step 2: Once school is built and pupils start learning, main focus on re-training their parents with a stipend. Skills such as basic trade to advanced trade (basic construction all the way up to an electrician's license)

• More study is needed on this, yet I do believe re-training, or reinforcing training to an Australian International standard is the go just to make sure that there is future income rather than making a minimum wage earner return to their level of poverty.
• Initially the candidates are either set up with their own mentors to apprentice them into basic skills. Favorable candidates will be sent over to TAFE NSW for further training.
• As the Foundation progresses, this will need to be more of a training centre, focused on International Standard Trade training.
• Instill in each participant the importance of paying forward, thus each employed/earning participant will be encouraged to sponsor/support students of the School besides their own kin.
• Fostering a sense of Community, this group of participants will be encouraged to attend Church/ Couples Ministry/ Sunday School/ Bible Study, but it is NON-Mandatory

Step 3: Once parents are sufficiently trained, they will be encouraged to form their own consulting / contracting businesses, otherwise assistance will be given for them to obtain employment.

• A percentage of their takings will be forwarded to the running costs of the school
• An active arm of the foundation will be needed to source contracts for the skilled to obtain and do.
• Profits will be solely the proprietors. (that is any funds left after the expenses, including salaries and proceeds for the Foundation)

Step 4: Re-create the process and move to another location

• Hopefully this formulae can be extended to match other countries such as Myanmar or Cambodia

I know it seems simplistic, but the basic gist is the same. A self-funding charity that perpetuates Free Enterprise.

Let me know what you guys think!!!! I am keen to hone this bad boy to a pointy stick so I can poke out the eyes of oppression and poverty.

The Phoenix Foundation, Philippines - 24th Feb 2014

MacGyver was employed by such an organization, back in the late 80's when his mullet style haircut and Swiss army knife can solve all things...


Lor (my wife, a.k.a. the love of my life) and I have always had this idea of a Phoenix rising from the ashes. It is a great metaphor for what we are trying to do in the Philippines.

So far, I am leaving for the Philippines on the 24th Feb 2014. Now how is this different from the other times I am going? This time, I will be spending time helping typhoon survivors and investigating the establishment of a school that will focus on helping the poor. I will only have time to visit my relatives for a day, day and a half if I am lucky.

The kicker? I misread the instructions of association with the Global Aid Network and thought that the due date is the 8th of Feb, wherein the 14th Jan was the initial payment. Notch that one up to me being bad at instructions.

I was given an extension to pay the $1500 for another 7 days, so this truly is going to be a leap of faith.

What took me so long?

I had faith that the Lord wanted me to do this but I have two kids, bills and debts to pay, and ridiculously high ambitions for grandeur.

I had faith that this is my calling, yet my comfortable middle class lifestyle has really called me to minister to my computer keyboard and the netizens of Facebook and Twitter.

I had faith that my Filipino brethren are in dire need of this School but truthfully, I was doubtful that our Lord is able to provide.

Do not get me wrong, I still doubt but I am now going to step in Faith.

Faith that the first $1500 will be provided within this week, faith that the full $5000 I am hoping to raise will be capitalized before the 8th Feb, Faith that this mission trip to Tacloban will open my eyes to the suffering of my Filipino bretheren, Faith that this School is the mission the Lord has given my life.

To that extent, I will be committing myself to another blog (yes, as if this one gets enough hits or views or updates for that matter) in a more visceral manner... a Video Blog!!   This will hold myself accountable to the sponsors that have pledged their finances and prayers for this trip.

23rd Feb, this should be up for your viewing pleasure.

What I do ask, my dear reader(s) is for your prayer. Not for me, but for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people before me. As I provide relief from their physical and social needs, pray that the Spirit move in them that they realize their need for the Good News of Salvation.

What moved me from inaction into motion?

Lolo Amante. Typhoon Yolanda 

I love it when atheists ask: "Where is your god when disaster hits?"

I always answer, "He is in the heart of every one of those helping."

This time, I am glad to say, "He is in my heart, urging me to move."

No more Procrastination.. tomorrow

My WoW days are in hiatus.

I really do miss the interaction with the rest of the guild Pants On Head my weird hours as a resort host makes it nigh impossible to go to any of the raids and the only time I can log on is on times when the US players are just waking up or when the Aussie players are well and truly asleep.

I think I need to give up my tanking days and my insane hours put in front of the dps meters as a huntar (rawr).

Projects for now include moving rooms from the computer room to the upstairs area, business plan for the Foundation Lolo Amante inspired me to do and finally to get out of the crazy debt I incurred whilst attempting ridiculous businesses.

It's Alive!!

Poor sleeping habits have given me an excuse to visit the blog, again... Not visiting the blog, but the poor sleeping habits part.

In this day and age, I have been addicted to excusing myself from reality and checking into a virtual one.

I have 3 Lvl 90 characters. Joboy, a hybrid Tank and Healer with a pretty pathetic iLvL, Agustine is my DPS main spek and Tank o/s and lastly I have Relashid, my hunter all the way back from Eonar.

All three have survived the rigorous leveling process of Pandaria and are safely nestled in the Shrine of Two Moons.

After the dailies and the grind of the dungeon finder, I am amazed that I am still interested. Over 100K gold left out of my stash and I have lost the love of gold making :(

In addition to my gaming, I have also been actively pwning n00bs in HALO (or is it, that I keep getting pwnt? Nah, I like it better in my version)

I must look into the addition of more gaming related posts in this blog as well.

OO look at that, a transmogged Prot Pallie!

Joeboi, the Pallie before the Mists

I was quite enamoured by this toon because of the lore and abilities of paladins. But unfortunately my RP has been looked down upon by the server because ... er.. it's PVP and not RPPVP :0p

whatevs

Consider this as a buper post. Low quality,  even less content, but at least I managed to still survive blogging interests after my Lolo has passed!


God Bless you All!!

A Damaged Culture - James Fallows 1987

This whole essay was taken from an article written almost 25 years ago just a year before my baby brother, Paul, was born.

I was 10 years old then... Naive, filled with the excitement that comes with a promise of new government and change.

My heart sung praises when my Lolo was taken from us because I know as a believer, that his mission on this Earth was done and completed. The sudden realization is now that the Legacy has passed, what is to be my response?

I was communicated that awesome dream... a dream of a First World Philippines.

If anything this article encourages me and makes me cringe at the same time. Fallows said in his article:

If the problem in the Philippines does not lie in the people themselves or, it would seem, in their choice between capitalism and socialism, what is the problem? I think it is cultural, and that it should be thought of as a failure of nationalism. (emphasis added)

Fallows explored the cultural genesis of the Pinoy Ethos,  giving rise to some realizations.

1. Elitism is self-perpetuating
2. A pervasive attitude of dependence (be it to well to do relatives, kids or the Americans)
3. The Pinoy Spirit is incredibly resilient

In this social reference the "Resilience" of the Filipino Spirit is all about our ability to rise up over ALL obstacles, to make the best out of every situation. As Fallows has observed:

The people of Smoky Mountain complain about land-tenure problems-- they want the city to give them title to the land on which they've built their shacks--but the one or two dozen I spoke with seemed very cheerful about their community and their lives. Father Beltran, the young Dominican, has worked up a thriving business speaking about Smoky Mountain to foreign audiences, and has used the lecture fees to pay for a paved basketball court, a community-center building, and, of course, a church. As I trudged down from the summit of the mountain, having watched little boys dart among the bulldozers, I passed the community center. It was full of little girls, sitting in a circle and singing nursery-school songs with glee. If I hadn't come at the last minute, I would have suspected Father Beltran of putting on a Potemkin Village show.

At this moment, I know I have had some setbacks from writing quality WoW Gold making and Tanking posts. I just moved jobs and I am still getting the hang of commission only wages, my Lolo passed away and I am recovering from a bad spell of the Flu. Times like these are draining enough as it is, but I always take heart. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." There is something about my faith that strengthens my soul to keep going. This is the same quality that my Lolo has encouraged me to pursue. A strong character that is imbued with tenacity and perseverance is definitely needed to reach the next level. ACTION.

The dream is alive in me again. I know that the start is just around the corner. A strong network of people looking at the same result will eventually give rise to the momentum needed to shift mass apathy into a nationalistic action to eventually, a First World Philippines.

The life of a simple, honest man

This was taken way back in 1977 (I was just a month old) at Quezon City, Phil

My life is a complex mix of influence, thought and decisions. I am proud to say that my best decision in my life was to love the Lord Jesus as King of my life. Other men and women have influenced my life in incredible ways.

Lolo Amante, or Daddy Lolo, as we called him, was a mountain of a man in my eyes. His influence was the one I truly remembered when I was growing up. The wisdom he had and the love for his grand kids are what I remember.

Lolo passed away 15th June 2012 at 12pm MLA, survived by his loving wife, Felisa.

Daddy lolo has 9 children (7 girls and 2 boys with my mum being the eldest girl) and I was his first grandchild. It was family legend that the same month I was born the family was able to buy their first car and Daddy Lolo was promoted to be Vice President of the Government Service Insurance System (a Philippine Government incentive to provide affordable services like housing, medical, dental, optical, education and general insurances for government employees). That month brought great joy to the Rimando Clan.

My heart is filled with sadness as I type this. A man I loved and looked up to has departed. Yet a certain joy in my being is pushing away the melancholy. Daddy Lolo is a lover of Christ. His departure from this planet is met with an excitement of reunion in Heaven.

This man is the reason I am who I am today. My decision to be an entrepreneur started when I asked him if we Filipinos can ever be a first world country (me being a Filipino by heritage). His answer was, "The only thing that can change the Philippines is if there is a change in the Filipino's heart. The best way to do that is through a Renaissance. Start with educating the people."

A dream took root in my heart at that stage and my life seemed that it had purpose.

A First World Philippines!! What a thought. Thus bore my greatest dream and my greatest burden. A career life mistakenly lived for fast money in order to finance a seemingly Herculean dream.

Yet as I let friends and family into my dream I realize that not only does Providence provide ways for this Herculean dream to become reality, I have already started progress and I just have not noticed.

Thanks to my Lolo, I have focused my affections into seeing the following:

• 40 acres of land dedicated to a small Training Campus for general trade (carpentry, brick laying, plumbing) and an elementary school with room to become a high school with instructors from overseas (e.g. Gold License Australian Plumbers and Electricians training Pinoy candidates)
• Underprivileged families living in the complex with a 2 bedroom house per family residence.
• Small businesses funding the day to day expenses of running the complex
• Full scholarships for the children until the completion of high school
• Parents of the children have the choice to be employed in these small businesses or be trained to start their own small businesses or be trained to have internationally marketable trade skills from the Training Campus

The whole idea is to produce a generation of forward thinking, proud Filipino professionals with no Colonial dependencies and a rigorous passion to see a First World Philippines.

Though what I have seen I am lacking is my desire to do all of this alone. In this age of Global Villages, I am excited to see what the possibilities are linking like minded people together.

Thank you again Lolo. This has been your legacy to me.

Amante Rimando - RIP 8 May 1932 - 14th Jun 2012

My Lolo (grandfather) putting me (2 months) to sleep

I love you Daddy Lolo. You will always be in my heart. Thank you for putting a dream in my heart for a better Philippines.

You were my first mentor and my first idol. When I was a kid I grew up believing that you really did buy Japan for me and is having it towed to us so I can have all the toys I wanted. I believed you because that is how incredible you were to me.

I am so blessed to be your grandchild. I got to know you and you passed on some of your wisdom to me. I will always cherish the special times when you and Mommy Fely flew to Australia to visit us. I will always regret that my children will never get to know you the way I did. I will miss the times you bought taho in the morning when I woke up at holidays, the Mah-Jong tips you would give me or the times you would let me sit at your desk at work, pretending that I was the SVP of Finance at GSIS. You would encourage me to always be better than what I can be and to work hard to get where I needed to be.

Thank you for your love, your guidance and for helping me see the plan our Lord Jesus has for my life. and I so very much look forward to seeing you in Heaven. I love you lolo. I will miss you very very much.