Two Women, Two Crusades, Two Passions

It's amazing how some of the people you know casually have the makings of being a great member of the society.

CARMELA: Biking For Life

I've been an avid reader of her livejournal, cyber-witnessing her very athletic endeavors. I got acquainted with Carmela through some friends a couple of years ago, and our blogs/livejournals serve as our main communication channel. She just completed a 3-km swim for her team in the O2 Triathlon (O2 = twice the Olympic distance) held last weekend at Clark. She's also a running enthusiast and a serious mountain/road bike hobbyist. She volunteered as a bike marshall for this year's Tour of the Fireflies.

photo of Carmela (in her cycling outfit) with friend, snagged from her livejournal

And her latest project? It's a 1500 km cycling tour from Manila to Davao to support the Cancer Warriors Foundation. I smiled in pride of this lady's zeal for worthy causes. She's not merely advocating it. She is going to participate in it.

In support of her project, I'm posting the details of the Bike for Life Tour 2007 here.

Friends,

We need all the help we can get. I will be embarking on an activity that will combine my love for cycling and my passion for cancer awareness. I will be cycling from Manila to Davao from Sept 16-30 to help the Cancer Warriors Foundation. The foundation is headed by James Auste who is a cyclist and a brain cancer survivor. My father passed away due to breast cancer and it is something that I feel I have to do something about. I have saved my leaves from work so I can allocate it to this worthwhile cause.

The Bike for Life Tour 2007 is a journey that will start in Metro Manila and will go all the way to Davao . There will be a core group of riders headed by James Auste, the executive director of the Cancer Warriors Foundation who himself is a cancer survivor. We will be riding together with 10 parents of pediatric cancer patients who are wards of the Cancer Warriors Foundation.

At the end of the day after each leg a forum on cancer awareness will be held with the message that Cancer can be Beaten. The tour is not a race, but you are most welcome to join and ride with us on any of the legs.

With determination, passion, perseverance and faith in God, cycling 1500 kilometers is possible. Likewise, giving a child a fighting chance to beat their cancer is achievable.

Maraming salamat po! Let's make this our fight!

Carmela Serina =)

More details of the Bike For Life can be seen here: http://www.c-warriors.org/projects/bike4life/

------------------------------

MARICRIS: Yabang-PINOY!

She's looking for volunteers to promote what Pinoys can make and do!

The last time I saw Maricris was back in college. Not sure if she still remembers me, but we had the same tenure in the University's Student Council.

She's a member of the Children's Environmental Awareness and Action Foundation. If you happened to browse a Haribon magazine at your nearest Starbucks early this year, chances are you'd seen a picture of Maricris promoting tree-planting. :D

And here's my plug for her:

taken from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Yabang Pinoy—an advocacy fast-becoming legendary for its unyielding support and campaign to raise consciousness and amplify Filipino people's philosophy and pride through a piece of braided abaca band among other creations—in its budding emergence, now holds a tie that day by day binds one and every Filipino.

And this cool Pinoy revolution doesn’t just stop there. On October 21 at Rockwell Tent, the campaign for Pinoy pride goes to a brand new level with Global Pinoy Bazaar—a one-day fair that brings together both on-the-rise and professional Filipino entrepreneurs who have globally competitive Pinoy products to exhibit.
Living up to the organization’s mission, the bazaar aims to assemble original products—made by Filipinos for Filipinos—that not only further promotes our God-given craftsmanship but also unites Filipinos to build a SUPPORT & BUY PINOY advocacy.
Primary beneficiaries for this project include Yamang Isip library for Barangay Bagumbayan in Daraga Albay, Ecological Livelihood for Barangay Balanti in Tarlac and Barangay Ilaya in Muntinlupa.

For interested participants, entrepreneurs, media partners and sponsors, email yabangpinoy@gmail.com or contact 0917-5277141 or 0917-8151513. For more information, visit www.yabangpinoy.com.

Yabang Pinoy is a project of Children's Environmental Awareness and Action Foundation (CEAAF) whose thrust is environmental education on the richness of biodiversity in the Philippines.