LittleFish, continued (Good News)
March 25, 2007: Bantayan Island, Cebu Philippines
LittleFish & baby Kalle photographed at home.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/400s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso200
I heard from LittleFish night before last, saying she had returned to the Island and I was so relieved to know she was safe.
She'd left the Island to go to Cebu City looking for work, and with a very small amount of money was only eating once a day, staying at a friends place while she visited local businesses inquiring about jobs, and trying to handle the rejections based on the fact that she did not possess a High School Diploma.
She tried so hard there, and ended up over extending herself to the point where she did not have even a few pesos left to get a bus back to the top of Cebu, and for a boat back to the Island.
She told me she ended up borrowing those fares from someone, and returned home safely.
She also told me she has made a decision to go back to High School and graduate with a Diploma, so that she could have the tools needed to find work and support her son, and I told her I was indeed proud of her and that I was very, very happy for her decision - she knew I'd been very worried about her well being in Cebu City, and this was only complicated by her deciding to pawn her old recon cellphone in order to have funds to make that trip, resulting in very limited communication between her & I (she did save her SIM card for the phone, so she could insert it into a friends phone to get her texts & to send me a few)
I also told her that I would find a way to pay for her school tuition, books & supplies (she wants to enroll after the current summer break finishes) because I believe in her, she has a very strong work ethic, and I love her & her Family.
...I also told her I'd find a way to replace her Nokia 3210 cellphone, as they can be had in Cebu for about $25.00USD in good reconditioned shape from a reputable dealer.
If anyone would like to donate that amount to replace her phone, please let me know and I'll get it taken care of immediately with friends I have in Cebu City who make monthly trips to Bantayan.
I'm also going to make a serious effort to help get her computer literate when I arrive back there in November 2007, as I'm convinced these skills will only help her in the future.
During my last 2 months on the Island, she was fascinated by the communication power of my laptop & the internet, while she observed me working in Photoshop and writing for this site - she learns quickly, speaks good English, and is totally committed to helping her baby & her Family.
March 9, 2007
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/40s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso200
Some good news from my friend Peter in Australia who emailed me a welcome back message earlier this month - he's been watching my posts on LittleFish's Family, and has always commented kindly on my photography during 2006 - I just heard from him that he's donated $100USD for LittleFish and baby Kalle, and this will help sustain them for about a month, and this is a huge help for them at this time in their lives.
Thank you Peter for your kindness and your generosity.
PJAMES