Welcome to neXtDRAFT # 68.

 

Music, Medicine, and Memories

It's been several months since I sent the last neXtDRAFT, completely transformed into a business blog and bearing no resemblance to the little poetry newsletter I created back in 2017.

 

After that 'final' neXtDRAFT I received messages from many of you, asking me to keep up the newsletters with stories of Jerry and the kids of Botongon. And after these months of not publishing anything at all, I do miss sharing stories of people, poetry, and the odd bit of inspiration.

 

So here is another neXtDRAFT, with plenty of good news and creative energy from the Phillipines.

 

It's been more than 6 years since I first arrived in Estancia to help with the cleanup and recovery of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), so imagine how wonderful it has been to have a group of dedicated and amazing people from the UK -- willing to visit the areas (and families) that are now so dear to me. 

 

Even though I'm currently home in Australia, in this edition of neXtDRAFT you'll mainly be reading about The Music Man Project Philippines -- a musical education program for special needs and disadvantaged kids. Plus a medical mission and four special people.

 

My regular readers will know that it's been hard for me to maintain energy and enthusiasm during these years, at times feeling as if I was in a constant state of despair. And in recent times I had let go of most of the creative programs I had been running for the kids of Botongon.

 

But the arrival of the Music Man Project in the Philippines on 12th February has changed all that.This message from the Principal of the Tanza Elementary School in Estancia sums it up completely. I hadn't realised how much the local community had noticed my absence.

 

Maybe you'll see a few more neXtDRAFTS now too.

Oh it felt wonderful to be actively involved in a music program once again. Even though I didn't have my guitar with me it felt great lugging around the amp, connecting microphones, and dragging out the 50 metre extension chord I'd had custom-made back in 2016.

 

It felt amazing to have the kids trotting along beside me, just like the days when I would walk up into the puroks and call to the children to come for music or maths tuition at the back of the room I was renting. 

 

 

I feel renewed with a surge of energy and oxygen and vitality. All thanks to a group of four amazing people who I'm missing already. Not only did they share their music, energy, and talents, but each of them spent one-on-one time with Jerry too.

 

He misses them also.

 

I do hope you enjoy neXtDRAFT # 68 Music, Medicine, and Memories.

 

All my love.

P.S. I'm not abandoning my business and freelance subscribers, you may like my new zine SMALLBIZ TALK and a FREE copy of my new eBook A Quick Guide To Business Blogging Strategy.  Follow the link and I'll email it to you.