NEW HOUSES after Typhoon Yolanda

Thank you GENEROUS DONORS!

Pictures contributed by KE Treasurer- Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz

The Green Cities’ Earth Day

     Kool Earth Organization, the environmental Arm of the Aklan Medical Society  and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources teamed up in this year’s Earth Day celebration. The theme of 2014’s Earth Day is ‘Green Cities.’

    Despite the demanding schedule of the Kool Earth members, they put a day aside to support this noble project.

     The LGU employees presented themselves to Mr. Efren Trinidad, Assistant Administrative Officer II, as early as six a m., whilst  the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary together with members of SEALS and RESCUE, presented themselves to Capt. Pete Ruiz PCGA, Squadron Commander and to Mr. Terence Toriano of the MMRDO. Members of the public such as the KATROPA, the KACLA  tricycle drivers association and many more unexpected supporters also came in droves. Other participants were inspired to present themselves to the assembled groups upon hearing the request of the KE president over the radio.

     Each group was  deployed to the respective parts of the town by six thirty in the morning . Places cleaned were as follows: the bank of the Aklan River, M. and C Laserna Sts. F. Quimpo St, XIX Martyrs St, Veterans Avenue St., N. Roldan St, Toting Reyes St., Oyo Torong St. and Mabini St., corner Roxas Avenue to Crossing Buswang.

 For the second part of the event, Mayor William Lachica warmly greeted the participants.  His brief message of encouragement was followed by an  Environmental Forum and a film  depicting  Yolanda tragedy. This  was  held at the third floor of the Municipal town hall. Members of the 4P’s who were in the same building  were invited to joined in. KE President believes that it is not only through cleaning all nooks and crannies of the town that is needed but by constantly educating people through information dissemination that the residents of this town can be made aware of their responsibility not just to themselves but to others.

     Legal Information officer, Atty. Ai ai  dela Cruz-Rivera, discussed the Municipal Ordinance No 2009-004 together with its provisions and the Municipal ordinance 2013-006, an ordinance regulating the use of plastic bags and styro foam and prescribing  fee on its use in the municipality.

       Ms. Quadra showed her appreciation to the successful result of Earth Day Celebration and to the effort that the LGU and Kool Earth put together to make this event a fruitful one. Mayor Lachica also encouraged Kalibonhons to practice daily clean up drive on their doorsteps and surroundings and dispose of their garbage in their right places.

      The next day, Wednesday 23^rd, thirty five members  of ambulant vendors headed by Mr. Johnny ‘Boy’ Samenio, picked up where we left off on Tuesday. It was inspiring to see selfless people like these who sacrificed their time so they could serve their town. Someone said that in this modern day the word sacrifice is a scary business because sacrifice means losing or letting go of something that you dearly treasure but in this occasion the volunteers who participated in the beautification and clean up drive of Kalibo on these two days running, gave their precious time without any murmur but with a smile and a happy heart.

     This project did not end here because on April 28 the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in the Kalibo International Airport, did their Earth Day participation headed by their manageress  Ms. Cynthia Aspera. Ms Aspera was recently assigned in Kalibo but  people of Pook  and the surrounding areas could see changes, slowly and hopefully surely to continue.

     Appreciation and gratitude is being sent to Barangay Estancia, the only barangay that did their clean up drive in conjunction with the Earth Day Celebration.

 

     Congratulations Kalibonhon. Let us continue what we have started so we can leave a green city to our children’s children.

Re-think!!!

KE PROPOSED PROJECT

The members of the Phil. Army from Camp Libas, Banga and KE

members with LGU Numancia did an ocular inspection of the 

Numancia Children's Park for its plan to rehabilitate/repair the said playground

and put it back to its glory where children used to play safely

and make it colorful for them to even have more fun!

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL again! 

Any donation for colorful paints and new design for the repair of its facilities 

are very much welcome. 

Thank you to Mrs. Editha Sazon (Sazon Group of Comnpanies) for the pledges of

plants and collaboration for its landscaping.

The proposed project is with the Phil. Army and the Numancia PNP.

Koolearth also will re-organize KE NUMANCIA CHAPTER very soon.

More new houses

Turn-over was headed by Pres. Chita Heap, with 

Treasurer- Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz and VP Dr. Felma Dela Cruz.

GOD'S PROVIDENCE

by:  Megs S. Lunn 

A story of God’s providence happened when last December 2013, Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz, KE’s Founder and Treasurer passed by a beautiful chapel on a small hilltop of Brgy. Bulabud, in the town of Malinao. She was with some of other groups of Kiwanis International- Aklan Chapter, on their way to gift giving operation to Fatima Hills.

She noticed this chapel roofless and out of pity and being naturally kind and generous, she took pictures of it and posted on her Facebook wall, hoping that her thousands of friends will notice and help. Indeed, she was right. She started collecting from the local community, family, relatives and friends abroad. She even did not spared her ever-kind Mama Susing who donated three mahogany trees to start building the chapel again.

Help comes from US, Canada and the biggest donor came from London Filipino community who gave P53,000+. Work started soon with the guidance of Fr. Zaldy – the Parish Priests of Brgy.. Rosario of the Municipality of Malinao.

 

The biggest donation from London came from raffle draw where they donated the amount and pick the charity project to be helped. What a stroke of luck and indeed God’s providence that this Chapel was chosen as the beneficiary of the proceeds of the Raffle Event.

Work was done after two weeks with the help of the local carpenters and caretaker. Now, it’s finally done and it continues to serve its purpose of propagating the good news from Lord and serving it’s community.

Thank you to the initiative of Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz. To everyone, “goodness has been done, goodness you will reap.”

Koolearth's huge gratitude goes to Bracknell Berkshire UK Filipino Community as the biggest benefactor of this noble project. Sister Zita said, "It took a global village to build a village chapel."

AFTER FOUR MONTHS

In--progress 

Before

Beneficiary under the care of Dr. Felma Dela Cruz:

Miyo Merano: Polocate, Banga, Aklan

IJA I-GIVE RECIPIENTS

IJA I-Give has now 11 family of handicapped kids recipients. 

Thank you to our gracious donors and benefactors. God bless!

KE NEW RECIPIENTS from OUR NEW DONORS

Assessment of one of the six houses by Dr. Felma Dela Cruz

Donors are from Ms. Cristy Vecchio and friends..

More updates to come....

World Wetland Day

Wet, Wet, Wet

By Chita Heap

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) joined in the celebration of World Wetlands Day on 2 February 2014. Their theme was Wetland and Agriculture: Partners for Growth. (Wet lands Day was adopted on February 2, 1999 with Proclamation No. 74.)

Seven staff of CENRO from Boracay were joined by their fifteen colleagues from CENRO Kalibo. Five members of PENRO also participated with the unexpected  members of Kool Earth together with the STI College Kalibo Travel Management students under the advisory of Ms. Megs S. Lunn.

The participants converged at the Shipyard Terminal of Dumaguit-Batan Ferries Corporation located in Barangay Ochando, New Washington, Aklan.

The message of PENRO Officer Mr. Ivene D. Reyes entitled ‘Wetland and Agriculture: Partners for Growths’ was delivered on his behalf by OIC, CENR Officer, Ms. Merlene B. Aborka. This was followed by an interesting presentation of Engineer Jonathan Salvador, proprietor of the Dumaguit-Batan Ferries Corporation on The Growing Concerns For the Environment.’ A very informative presentation.

Followed by the Kool Earth’s presentation on The Role of Kool Earth Incorporated as an Organization. The Vision, Mission and Goals were presented as follows after the audience was informed that Kool Earth is the environmental arm of the Aklan Medical Society. The Vision: Kool Earth foresees a cleaner, greener and healthier environment: Mission:  Kool Earth as an environmental advocate is committed to inform, collaborate, educate and encourage (ICEE) citizens to be pro-active for a healthier community. The goals ware very obvious looking at the mission of Kool Earth and that is to Inform, to collaborate, to educate and to encourage (ICEE).

A most interesting introduction to Understanding Wetlands and Basic Techniques in Mangrove Tree Planting was presented by Ms. Medelyn Quadra, CENRO Kalibo Protected Area Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management System (PAWCZM) staff. The audience learned the various kinds of wet lands, such as coastal wetlands, shallow lake and ponds, bogs, marshes and swamps and estuaries.

The audience also learned one way of conserving the wetlands, that is to stop pollution. After the forum the groups embarked on the ferry to take  them to the designated place to plant the mangrove propagules. Enjoy the photos readers. It was fun watching the participants getting wet but more fun knowing that there are still people like these who really are concern for their environment. And I may add that planting is definitely full of fun.

Last word came from the President and members of  Kool Earth: “It is not what we gather, but what we scatter that tells what kind of life we have lived!”/AR