Blogarama: The Oldest Blog Directory

The greatest place in the world is always wherever I am standing, and right now that place is Barangay Botongon, Estancia (Philippines). I arrived back from Australia to Estancia last T… Read More

International Literacy Day is held on 8 September every year and this year I’ll be celebrating with the children of Botongon as well as some accomplished artists, writers and musicians… Read More

Less than a week now until World Literacy Day 2017 and I’d like to invite all my readers and supporters to join us live via YouTube on Friday, 8 September at 6.30pm AEST. I’… Read More

Can you see Shelia below in the intense heat? Can you imagine the street edges strewn with the debris of long grasses, tree and leaf litter, broken bamboo sticks or the thick smoke or the pi… Read More

I arrived back ‘home’ to the Philippines on Saturday greeted by Jerry and the kids of Botongon. I was so tired I hardly remember shooting these videos of Jerry opening his presen… Read More

I pledge to help women and girls achieve their goals. More specifically the women and girls of Botongon, Estancia. I pledge to bring creative arts, poetry, literature and music to the women… Read More

Help me collect it instead. Yesterday Jerry and I went down to Gredia Park to start picking up rubbish. There is so much of it. We are going back today at 4pm, along with some the children o… Read More

On the streets of Botongon you will often see an oddly dressed person walking, or  singing in the market place for bread or rice. That’s Ronnie. Ronnie lives in a tiny “hous… Read More

Saturday (yeah the next one coming) is the beginning of a series of art and creative activities for the children of Botongon, Estancia. Twister tournaments, giant puzzles, painting and poetr… Read More

© 2015 Melinda Irvine Read More

If you missed the livestream of our World Literacy Day celebrations you can watch the replay here. Children’s author and poet, Dr June Perkins joined us live via Skype and the children… Read More

The WordPress daily prompts and photo challenge are among my favourite things to do and I try to participate as much as possible. So it’s lovely to share my favourite photo of the year… Read More

Chapter 73rd wave - foundation of town* highlighted in violet is the approximate timeline or date1837- Banate turned into a town - It was a visita of Dumangas. Appointment of Felix… Read More

On Thursday we took the 4 hour bus back to Estancia to visit our friends, Jerry’s family, and the kids of Botongon who are getting ready for school enrolment on Monday. We needed to ge… Read More

Imagine how thrilled I was 6 months ago when a friend in the UK contacted me about coming back to the Philippines and bringing a FULLY FUNDED music program and medical mission. Imagine how t… Read More

If you read my blog yesterday you’ll know that in between writing assignments I’m involved in a music program and medical mission here in the Philippines. Check it out here: Brin… Read More

The Music Man Program is fully underway here in Botongon, Estancia. It all seems like a blur the last few days -- cancelled flights, rerouting, airport runs, transferring multiple bags and p… Read More

Watch the full Music Man Project Philippines inaugural concert (minus a few speeches) for Botongon (Estancia) Philippines. Held 5.30pm, 15 February 2020 at Barangay Botongon Gym Plaza. The p… Read More