Kirribilli House 31

The Tony and Sol Sabio House

Hi All,

Thirty-one houses built so far, we’ve done well! On behalf of The Bohol Island Project, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Tony and Sol Sabio for this colossal Christmas giveaway!

This house was constructed during the Christmas break and the jalousie windows are yet to be installed. The sign displayed at the front of the home is in memory of the family’s young daughter who sadly passed away just last November. The mother says her little sister (pictured) talks to her older sister in her sleep, the sadness in her eyes says it all. My son Andrew became interested in their story and has decided to produce a special short film, which will hopefully be ready soon.

The family moved in on Christmas day. I was there to hand over the house keys which is always a memorable experience.

Once again I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families peace, good health, happiness, and a wonderful year ahead!

Ruben

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Andrew Mendez.

2022 Christmas Hampers

Christmas Hampers

Embracing the spirit of the festive season, we handed out over 100 food hampers on Christmas Day. Some were given to needy people we were already familiar with, but most were given away to people chosen at random while driving around local roads on Christmas day. I was fortunate enough to be there in person and see first-hand the genuine surprise, honest smiles, and quiet gratitude on the faces of people whom were carrying on with their everyday lives. It was invaluable and what a fulfilling Christmas Day it was!

On behalf of The Bohol Island Project, I sincerely thank Tony-Sol Sabio and Boy-Ysa Berroya for providing most of the hampers and to you all for the additional hampers we managed to organise. Although it may seem modest in the big scheme of things, these gifts really do bring a great deal of joy to families on Christmas Day!

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families peace, good health, happiness, and a wonderful year ahead!

Thanks.

Ruben

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Ruben Mendez.

STUDENT UPDATE

Hi All,

Our former sponsored student, Humer, has finally attained his dream of working overseas as a Marine Engineer plying the world’s seven seas!

From a shy young man from humble beginnings to a confident professional, we have been instrumental in reshaping his life. It is a wondrous thing and it means the world to him and his immediate family.

I thank you all for the support without which all this could not have been possible.

Ruben

Humer’s first day at work!

P.S.

I will be away from the 26th of November so those of you who are interested in THE BOOK, please let me know. If it is through me in Australia, the book is $24.95 + postage. Otherwise it is available through Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bulls-t-said-the-worm-and-other-haiku-ruben-d-mendez/1142036104 , Amazon, etc. Thanks.

Ruben

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Ruben Mendez.

Kirribilli House 30

On behalf of The Bohol Island Project, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Joy Quinal for her recent Birthday Fundraiser. This fundraising event helped raise the money needed for Kirribilli House 30, seen here with the work ongoing.

This work will provide a safe place to live for one of our most dependable workers, Antonio and his family. Through the years, Antonio has made himself easily available to be called upon when help was needed for our housing construction projects. It wasn’t until somebody pointed it out to us, and later when we saw his place, that we realised he badly needed our help himself. It was quite the surprise and completely unsuspected that he and his family would be the recipient of this life changing gesture which he has helped to provide to many others before him. This act of compassion will mean the world to him and his family.

Many thanks again to Joy, her family, and to her great circle of friends for their support and generosity. It is truly appreciated.

Ruben

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Ruben Mendez.

Student Update

Hello All,

It’s the start of the school year in the Philippines and at present we have six active tertiary students. From left to right are Rhea, John, Teresa, Helix, Karen and Shirley (picture not available).

Of the above, we have two new additional sponsored students. John is one and he is doing a Degree in Marine Transportation. Shirley is another and she is doing a Degree in Accounting. We wish them both well.

It is always profoundly rewarding to think that we are playing a pivotal role in directing these young people’s lives towards a brighter tomorrow. Many, many thanks for the support without which this life changing opportunity afforded to them would not have been possible.

Ruben

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Ruben Mendez.

Kirribilli House 29

Hi All,

Recently I was asked if I’m still ‘giving’ houses and I have to pause for a moment and wonder - how many people are asked this question? I’m just an ordinary person, but it has dawned on me that it’s probably not that many!

Of course, these houses does not come from me, but from all of your generosity. I remember stumbling into a short conversation with Jim Masterton (of Masterton Homes fame) and presented with this scenario it would have been interesting to hear his thoughts …

Anyway, thank you all for the continued support without which all these musings could not have been possible!

Ruben

Another house almost done, our 8th since the big storm. Thank you all again for the generosity.

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Ruben Mendez.

Kirribilli House 28

Hello All,

I am unsophisticated, so I once wrote to the producers of the tv series Grand Designs trying to convince them to showcase our houses and the work we were doing!

Here are some extracts from that letter:

"There is nothing grand about these houses. In fact they are as basic as one can get. But to the homeless people that we give it to, it is beyond grand.”

“I have never seen a turnover of a building as emotional."

"The reason I'm writing is because this might interest you. I think there is a lot to ponder about the real grandeur of a building and I honestly think it is worth articulating." 

Of course, they never replied but regardless, I still believe to this day that our humble work is as grand as any architectural masterpiece that may grace our television sets.

Anyway, we have just provided another family a brand-new roof over where they do their cooking outside. Very basic and simple, yet one can imagine that it makes a lot of difference when it is wet and raining.

Many are in need and without your support, the things we do could not have been possible. Many thanks.

Ruben

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Kirribilli House 27

Hi All,

Another house done, our 6th since the big storm.

Special thanks to an architect friend of mine back on the island, Lucino Tagab, who lately has voluntarily been looking after our housing projects and needless to say, pretty good at it. Gabs, thank you. Your work is deeply appreciated.

Once again I thank you all for your support and your generosity.

Ruben

It has been unseasonably very wet, so the clothes drying under the eaves is a welcome sight. So are the potted plants at the front. I love the pots! A closer look and the one to the left is a cooking pot in its previous life, the middle is a water container cut in half, and to the right is a reincarnated plastic washing basin. Resilience is making do with things.

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Storm/Covid Relief Update

Hi All,

We strive to give hope and make a difference to people’s lives, so we are continuing on with what we can to give people a little respite from their struggles just to simply acquire the very basic necessities of living. Thanks to your generosity, we are still distributing food hampers to the needy.

Although I am very familiar with poverty, I am still always impacted by the disparity between what I have and what others don’t have. It’s a chasm in between.

Once again, I thank you all for the support. It means a lot to people.

Ruben

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING UPDATE

Hello All,

“We don’t get wet anymore! It has been raining for three days now and if you did not have our roof fixed it could have been a big problem. Thank you very much because we can sleep properly now.”

Above is a translated message from one of our house/roof repair recipients. The direct and straightforward things we do can make a big difference!

Simple jobs, some might think insignificant in the big scheme of things, but to these people it’s a matter of not getting wet when it rains, allowing people a good night’s sleep, the very basic comforts of life especially for the elderly and the very young.

We have done 5 dwellings since the storm (shown below) and working on our 6th dwelling.

Thanking you all for the support. It is truly appreciated by people.

Ruben

Kirribilli House 22

Kirribilli House 23

Kirribilli House 24

Kirribilli House 25

Kirribilli House 26

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Storm/Covid Relief Update

Hi All,

While the island is very slowly recovering from the recent storm, we have continued to do what we can to help people get through this very difficult time.

We are still distributing food parcels to needy families.

People have been generous. Once again, I thank you all for your support and your generosity.

Ruben

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 27

Hi All,

Here we are doing our little bit for a better world and we see horrible images of destruction and carnage in Europe. Unimaginable suffering inflicted on others done on purpose is the hardest bit to accept, that humanity is still capable of this despite all the lessons of the past is very sad.

Anyway, three months on from the devastating storm that ripped through Bohol last December, people are still struggling to meet the demands of simple everyday living. What happened is not news anymore, and is almost forgotten.

But at least we are still around.

Their house flattened by the storm, this little girl and her family have been living in this makeshift shelter since then (pictured). We will be providing this family with a little proper house to live in.

In the scheme of things, what we do is almost insignificant but to this family, it means the world and for that they are truly grateful.

Thanks all for the support.

Ruben

Our ongoing food assistance.

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 26

Hi All,

Most of us would agree that clear blue skies are always a welcome sight, but not while looking directly upwards from one’s own bedroom or kitchen. Unfortunately, this has become a reality for thousands of poor families and their homes in the aftermath of the recent storm in Bohol.

We have been doing our bit to help and the damaged house you see above will be our 5th roof repair job. We have been spending on average around A$300 for each home repaired, a small price that has helped make a huge difference for the people living in these simple dwellings.

The support has been great. Many thanks to you all.

Ruben

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

From this:

To this:

One of our house repair jobs is almost done. Thank you all for the support.

We quietly do our little bit to rebuild lives but somewhere else in the world, missiles are fired and bombs are dropped just to do the opposite and much worse.

It is incomprehensible. It is madness.

Ruben

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 25

Hi All,

To try to make this house habitable again after the entire roof was blown away by the recent storm, this family managed to acquire some steel pipes and cheap paper-thin tarpaulins to temporarily protect themselves from the elements.

This is our fourth house that we will be providing roofing materials for to help restore it to its former condition.

The support has been great, many thanks to you all.

Ruben

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 24

Hi All,

The entire roof of this elderly lady’s home was blown away by the recent storm. To make the place habitable, she’s had to place tarpaulins over many parts of the house to protect it from the elements.

The above will be the third that we will help repair by providing new roofing materials.

Many thanks again for all the support.

Ruben

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 23

Hi All,

Pictured above is the second storm damaged house that we will help repair.

As mentioned in my previous post, we will be providing the new materials required to repair houses that are still standing with damaged roof structures. This way we can help as many families as we can with our limited resources. These are simple dwellings owned by the poor and they will do the repairs themselves. We are spending around A$300 for each home repaired.

Thanking you all for the support.

Ruben

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 22

Hi All,

With thousands of houses flattened by the recent storm and many more severely damaged, saving existing homes seems a more efficient way of using our limited resources to help as many families as we can. With the rainy season continuing, unprotected houses could easily rot and be beyond repair in a very short space of time.

We will be providing the new materials required to repair houses that are still standing with damaged roof structures (as in the case with this house above). Homeowners will do the repairs themselves. These are simple dwellings owned by the poor and we are aiming to spend around A$300 for each home repaired.

Thanking you all for the support.

Ruben

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Storm / Covid Update

Hello All,

“I hope my humble donation will bring a smile to a few faces.” - VS, a donor.

Despite the immensity of losing a house and almost all their possessions in it, the resilience of people is extraordinary and here are the little smiles that we have brought to a few faces.

To date we have managed to put together around 400 lots of food parcels and we could still do with many, many more. Please consider bringing a smile to a face or two if you haven’t yet. It is $18 bucks a smile!

Thanks again for all the support. It is truly appreciated.

Ruben

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Bohol Storm Update

His possessions still scattered all over the place, it is a comforting thought that we have provided this man, among others experiencing the worst of times, some form of respite from the very urgent need to secure the basic necessities of living.

So far, we have put together around 350 lots of food hampers and we could still do with many, many more. Please consider giving a hamper or two if you haven’t yet, many are desperate.

We strive to give hope and make a difference to people’s lives. On behalf of The Bohol Island Project, I thank you all for the support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone peace, good health and all the best for 2022. The past two years have been quite challenging for many and I hope this year will be a better one for all.

Thanks.

Ruben

Posted on January 2, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.