when was the last time you did something for the first time?
YES! finally! got to check this off of my bucket list - foundation/org/anything that has something to do with the kids.❤
noon pa man, meron na talagang special place ang mga bata sa puso ko. hindi ko alam kung bakit. siguro kasi i was once a kid. alam ko yung feeling ng pagiging mababaw ang kaligayahan (until now), that kid feeling of how a (yellowgreen, my fave) lollipop or (dynamite or kopiko) candy can make me the happiest person in the world, that undefined feeling of having a one peso, those jollibee spaghetti days (na nakakain ko lang before kapag nasa honor roll ako. serves as a gift from mama), and how a new floral (and sometimes, glittered) dress can light up my christmas. very simple, but at that time, everything was just hard to get.
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| JAMES |
meet James. very smart. he doesn't talk that much, but when he do, you know it's who he is. participates and always on the go in any game. right before the hanapan time, medyo nakakaramdam na ako ng kaba. kaba kasi hindi ko alam kung magiging worth it ba ako as a volunteer, magiging mabuti ba akong ate for a day, magiging close ba kami, at sobrang dami pang tumatakbo sa isip ko that time. pero, naisip ko, "hindi ako pumunta dito para makaramdam ng mga kung ano-anong pangamba."
the program just started. i'm blue, number 9. alam mo yung touching part? i was just standing, tapos may biglang lumapit saken na bata, "ate!", he smiled and hugged my legs so tight. gusto kong maiyak sa tuwa nun! pero hindi pwede, baka isipin nya hindi ako masaya na makita sya. grabe lang yung moment na yon, feeling ko, nakatayo pa lang ako, alam na nyang ako yung ate nya. awwww :(
and then we looked for our kythe partner.
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| JAMES and CHRISTINE (so sad that i haven't got the chance to have a pic with these two) *Christine, sorry that i have to grab or should i say steal, this pic from your IG* |
meet Christine. young, pretty and very down to earth. 2nd year college. it's her one year in kythe. she's one of those rich atenista girls that i just look up to. hindi ko sya nakitaan ng arte and all. i remember, as we were touring James around the booths, she has this all wide-smile-face, aside from the fact na maganda sya, she's very approachable. ang swerte nya, ng pamilya nya, at ng mga taong nasa paligid nya. i just knew it by seeing her, with all her simplicity.
nung nakumpleto na kami, Christine, James and I, had to sit, relax and enjoy the program. Christine got the food and gave it to James. (infairness talaga sa org na to, ang bobongga ng mga sponsors. hindi basta basta. big names kung big names!) anyway, while James was eating, i had to make get-to-know-questions on him. only to found out that he's been in the honor roll. wow! he's eating burger stake with rice from jollibee. and i saw him having a hard time cutting the burger stake. at first, hinayaan ko lang, baka afterwards, mahiwa nya rin. hanggang sa nagdecide ako na ako na lang maghihiwa for him para madali nyang makain. yun yung mga pagkakataon na gusto ko lang sya makitang busog. it was priceless.
bring me. medyo crowded yung place, though malaki naman yung venue. UP ba naman! :) crowded in a sense na, lahat malapit sa stage, but it's okay. Christine and I were cheering James to do his best! "Go, James!" at nung tumakbo si James, para kaming mga yaya ni Christine na ayaw pakawalan yung alaga namin. hahaha, nakakatawa. takbo dito, takbo doon. at first, hindi nanalo si James. medyo nalungkot sya, pero sabi namin ni Christine, "it's okay, bawi tayo!" and when the next bring me has been announced, aba naman talaga si James, takbo kung takbo sa harap! pero ang nakakaloka, bring me anything red daw, pero wala namang dala si James na kahit ano! hahahaha! so tumakbo lang talaga sya para mauna. katuwang bata. :) pero nanalo na sya that time, he took his mother's red umbrella. we were so happy seeing him got his prize.
the booths. James was as excited as a kid. after nya kumain, and after the games, nagbooths na agad kami. (ginastusan talaga! for me the most extravagant booths i've ever seen!) clay making, face painting, ball shooting, cupcake making, experiments, freebies and a lot more! it's just that, while we were touring James to booths, there's these Disney Princesses that i had to miss! :( but nevertheless, i know i just did the toughest decision that day, to spent time with my kid. i'll just cry my heart out if i witnessed all the heartbreaking scenes.
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their guests. as i've said, kythe na talaga! sila na talaga ang bongga sa lahat ng bongga! what can i say, it's ateneo-fied. they had ella cruz (aryana), andrea brilliantes (annaliza), igi boy (former goin' bulilit), i haven't saw the one who sang before disney princesses, the three of us were not in the stage, we're already booth-ing. and they had ryzza!!!! yes, they had the cha-cha-cha bulilit! and from then, i just knew, it was really a day for the kids.
to all the ateneo students who were there and made everthing they can to make that day special for the kids, THANK YOU! thank you, for showing your love for the kids and for making us a part of it. we enjoyed it! though from work, we headed straight to your event, and we just had an amazing day we'll never forget, thank you very much! continue inspiring others with your good and big hearts. may God bless you and guide you always to never get tired of making kids happy, happy in life.
and to you, reader, pay it forward. sometimes, it's not the money that makes us happy, but it's our helpful hearts that knows how to reach out and give back. i hope you guys can also make a difference. you'll see how they'll change your life. be inspired to help! they need you, they need us. we need each other. sabi ko nga, hangga't kaya ko, tutulong ako. sana ikaw rin! :)
also, to my co-ate's and co-kuya's that day, (L-R) rey, kevin, miguel and karen, we did a great job! :)
Lord, Kayo na po ang bahala sa mga bata. i believe, You move mountains, as well as heal those who need it most. thank you for using the kids as an eye opener to us. thank you also for letting us help them in any way we can. continue to bless everyone's hearts, Lord.
oh wait, here's how to be a kythe volunteer :)
good morning!