WHEW! The Bohol free children’s clinics are finally done. Please check out the photos below!

July 13 - Pamilacan Island, Baclayon
July 14 - Mantatao Island, Calape
July 16 - Dasitam, Baclayon

The biggest challenge I see in helping my aunt’s free children’s clinic disseminate its cause to potential donors is showing donors that their money is not only contributing to a temporary improvement in children’s lives, but a lasting one.

It is hard to “sell” the idea that every dollar, euro, and piso is contributing to an end to malnourishment in my mom’s home province. With that said, i’ll be working on financial reports and begin displaying the birth rates and ligations of mothers here in Bohol. But as society veers down a road more and more dependent on facts, science, and technology rather than beliefs, religion, and old fashioned ways, I think the disconnect between human emotion and human logic grows ever more wider. And this is not a good thing.

My point is that when I met a woman whose child was wrinkled and gasping for air (I have yet to ask my aunt what his disorder was) I looked at his mother’s face and was able to see her sleepless nights watching her baby curl and twist. For some reason, her face told me her story. And for some reason I believe the free clinic she attended gave her just a bit more hope towards a cure for her son.

How? By reminding her that there are people out there in the world, whether thousands of miles away, or in her backyard, who are willing to take a chance to help parents like her, and children like hers.

I can show you where your money goes. I can show you how much the birthrates of each town has decreased. I can show you how many women have accepted ligations and how many men receive vasectomies. I can show you the numbers. We gave free consultations to more than 200 children. We passed out 210 bottles of paracetamol and amoxicillin. We gave away 150 bags of toys, 50 coloring books, and 40 newborn baby outfits.

But I can’t show you how much hope is distributed among these families. I wish I could share with you the memories we made with these children. For this data, not even photos and video can harness this impact.

In the end, taking logical steps, using intelligent ideas, and implementing smarter tools will help us end many of the world’s problems today and in the future. But hope is the initial motivation for us as staff members of this clinic, and hope is the best medicine these families could ever get. For free.

I very big thanks (I can’t thank him enough) to my family’s resident photographer, Allan Chatto. Check out his photos of the clinic and more on his flickr!

A complete photo/video report will be posted by late August! 3rd clinic photos will be up shortly. Thanks to photographer Allan Chatto aka Besighyawn.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/besighyawn/3731340502/

I just uploaded photos from our first clinic that took place Monday, July 13th on Pamilacan Island, off the coast of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines. The other 2 clinics however were photographed by another person. Those photos will be uploaded momentarily. Stay tuned!

Tomorrow morning will be our first clinic taking place on the island of Pamilacan off the coast of Bohol.

We spent Saturday night packing up toys, coloring books, and math flash cards ready for about 150 children we will be seeing on July 13 to 16.

Photos to come soon!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/filipeanut/sets/72157621196771709

Earlier today at the “Fish Spa” at Manila Ocean Park off Roxas Blvd. by Luneta park.

They’re supposed to be therapeutic but if you’re easily tickled, you might die here. It feels like hundreds of fish nibbling at the bottom of your feet. See? Even hearing about it tickles!

P120 ($2.60US) for 20 minutes of non-stop nibbling action!

Alriiiighty im finally in Manila. I’ll be here ’til Friday and then off to Bohol to start work on our free children’s clinics!

Last year I came to Manila to see 3 children get their surgeries, 100% funded by donations. This year, we’ll be helping around 150 kids get free medicine and check-ups for their long-term ailments.

http://floraskids.org/baclayon-2009/

I was also able to catch the MJ memorial on CNN (thanks to jet lag). RIP Mike. May your children grow up the way children ought to: whimsically and fruitfully.