CHRISTMAS ON MY MIND

I’m up at 4am on a Monday thinking about Isang Bata’s Christmas Program. Personally, Christmas is my most favorite time of year, and I can’t pass up this chance to celebrate the season with children who have less. Especially since the universe is conspiring to make it happen.

Let me tell you a little story that happened days ago. I met with Maam Ritchelle from Wawa National HS to turn over bags of breakfast items (for our ongoing breakfast program there) and cash for the scholars. We chatted for about an hour and she casually mentioned to me that the principal of Wawa Elementary School once saw her carrying a huge pot of soup for the children's breakfast. The two of them got to talking about Isang Bata's projects in Wawa and the elementary principal was "inggit na inggit" according to Maam Ritchelle. The principal said that a lot of the younger kids are as needy, as hungry, as poor as the high school students, but they don't get any support like the kind we give to the high school. It was a sign, of course.

And then when I got home and checked my mail, I found a message from a friend’s friend who’s living abroad. She is giving USD100 to Isang Bata with specific instructions for me to use it to help elementary kids. A few days later, I got another USD86 from another donor, which I intend to use for the same program. This second donor gave her consent to use the money for the younger children. But it doesn’t end there. A few more days later, an old friend of mine, Bebang Siy who also helps children through her Dagdag Dunong Project (www.dagdagdunong.blogspot.com), sent me a message to tell me that she is launching a book drive for Isang Bata. I had asked her help for our Ondoy mission, but she was busy at the time. It is just as well, because we have now agreed to solicit books for an elementary school’s library, and to donate the books to Wawa Elementary School.

So now, dear friends, our Christmas project has taken a life of its own. I’m calling it PASKO SA WAWA (CHRISTMAS IN WAWA), and it is set tentatively on the morning of December 14. Here is my proposed program/activity:

I – Turn over of books to the library of Wawa Elementary School – c/o Dagdag Dunong Project and Isang Bata
II – Distribution of Christmas gifts to the elementary school kids (clothes, toys, treats, etc.)
III – A simple Christmas merienda
IV – A puppet show, magic show, a mini concert or a storytelling session

There are many ways you can support this project:

1. Help solicit (or donate) books for the elementary library
2. Help solicit (or donate) toys, clothes, and other items we could give the kids
3. Donate money for the project
4. Volunteer to be the magician, storyteller or puppet master, or play for the kids
5. Volunteer to come along and help out during the event, help prepare for it
6. Cook or help prepare the merienda
7. Help look for monetary donations in support of this project
8. Help spread the word about this activity (we have materials you can repost) through your blog, FB, Twitter, email contacts, etc.
9. Allow Isang Bata to use your vehicle, especially if you have a van, for this project
10. Send us your good wishes

I hope that you’ll find the time and inclination to be part of this meaningful Christmas celebration. Let me know how you want to help so we can finalize details and tasks. And please, suggestions and comments are welcome. Nothing has been set in stone, so please send me your thoughts now. Also, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

This week I’m going to find out how many kids we are helping, plus iron out other details with the school. I haven’t met the principal, but I intend to visit before December 14 to do an ocular and to meet with her in person. I’m just a bit busy this week with our project for Grace to be Born Shelter. But once I’m able to wrap that one up, I’ll focus my energies on this next one! I’m super excited, and I hope you all are, as well :)

Helping the babies and mothers in the shelter, and other updates

1. Isang Bata supports KaEskwela's relief mission in Binan, Laguna

Isang Bata donates 2 bags of school supplies and a balikbayan box of elementary textbooks to KaEskwela (brigadaeskwela.multiply.com) for its relief operations in Malaban Elementary School, Binan, Laguna. Big thanks to donors Ricky Chan Pe and Anna Chincuanco Bautista.


2. Turnover of breakfast items and cash to Wawa National High School

In continuation of its breakfast program to feed hungry children breakfast every school day, Isang Bata turns over a month's worth of breakfast goodies for the students of Wawa National High School. Isang Bata gives away 60 Nutrivim cereal beverage packs, 3 kilograms of Ovaltine chocolate powder drink, 3 kilograms of oatmeal, 3 kilograms of elbow macaroni, 1.5 kilograms of biscuits/crackers, plus cash to cover for perishable items like bread, eggs, soup ingredients, etc. Our gratitude to Mr. Peter Foo and Ma'am Ritchelle Yorsua for making the project possible.

We are also handing over cash to the advisers of our scholars to cover for this month's school expenses. Thank you to Peter Foo, Aze Ramos, Carol Macasaet and Chiki Agbayani.


3. Help for the babies of Grace to be Born Shelter

I went to Grace to be Born Shelter on the morning of November 1st to do an ocular to determine the needs of the babies there. I met the house mother/midwife, Isabel, and the person in charge, Rey Ortega. I also saw the 8 babies they are currently taking care of. The babies are really small, ranging from 2 months to a year old. There are 8 right now, 6 girls and 2 boys. Plus some pregnant mothers waiting for their term (i don't remember how many). The volunteer nurse there said all the babies are currently showing signs of pneumonia. :( Two babies (twins) have just been discharged from the hospital from pneumonia also.

Grace to be Born is a shelter for babies and pregnant mothers who are finding it difficult to support their pregnancy or who may want to eventually leave their child in the shelter. It's also a place for abandoned children, some of them are there waiting for the parents to come back for them. But there are others who might be put up for adoption if the parents don't get them back.

Based on the interview conducted, Isang Bata drafted a list of things that the mothers and babies need. We will be making our purchase and delivering the goods this coming week. Isang Bata thanks Carla Jimenez, Lyli Eleuterio, Angelita Sian Dizon and Evelyn Claros-Corr for their expression of help.

If you would like to support any of Isang Bata's on going projects, we will be very grateful. Please get in touch with Ime Aznar through 639164120636 or imelda.aznar@yahoo.com