Outreach 2006 Photos

outreach photos by DNG
2001

2003

2004

2005

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Not Only for Kids

A Birthday Gift for Jesus

When we celebrate a birthday, we are careful to give what the person really wants or needs. Is there any doubt what Jesus wants from us? He insists that in order to give to him, we must find him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.

By helping those in need, you can give Jesus a birthday gift he really wants.

When asked whose birthday we celebrate this Christmas, my kids answer, "Santa Claus'!!!" ho!ho!ho!:). After sharing the story of Jesus' birth, they have brought their gifts to Jesus /toys and clothes/ which will benefit the graders of Quiam-is Public School in Lumbia. Share your gifts too! / time, commitment, prayers, etc/ Happy Holidays Everyone!


the children of Quiam.is Lumbia on their Christmas Party with Teacher Leslie.:)

The other side of Christmas

PHILSTAR.COM 12/11/05 - A young boy sleeps on his mother’s lap as she pleads for some loose change as ‘pamasko’ from passersby on Session Road, Baguio City’s main thoroughfare. Photo by ANDY ZAPATA JR.

I saw this picture at the website of the Philippine Star (www.philstar.com) today it really struck me how on one side we merrily celebrate Christmas and on the other hand how a lot of us are barely getting by with what life has offered them.

Every Christmas, we see many mother-child teams roaming the busy city streets asking for 'pamasko' (Christmas gift, from the word Pasko, meaning Christmas). In the hope that people will be generous because of the Christmas season, mothers would actually bring their children as young as a few months old to the cities begging for money and food. Could we blame them for bringing their children along? Are they being exploited?

Honestly, I don't know. Do they deserve it? NO.

It's that time of year again!

I can't believe it's December once again. It's time for Reachout 2005!

Reachout 2004

ReachOut 2004
Agora Street School Kids
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
December 26, 2004

Complete details and pictures:
http://12.101.68.106/~dng/reachout2004

Questions to Answer

We see with unopened eyes sometimes.

On a visit to the Agora Street School, we saw these on the blackboard for the day's lesson. Question #1: What will you do if you knew your friend was raped? Question #2: What would happen if you don't have a birth or baptismal certificate?

It is overwhelming. Looking at it, one can't help but think 'this is not right, ten year olds shouldn't be asked these questions!' They should be running around being kids and not think about such terrible things. Though hard to accept, that is their reality. It shook me up that we continue learning at the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected moments and from the most unexpected people.

I see courage in them to face such difficult lives, and discipline to get to school everyday despite not having breakfast or supper the night before. They teach us to be grateful of what we have and do not have, as they say their prayers of gratitude towards their teacher, their friends, and to Our Father. They teach us that we are not perfect people, they may not have perfect parents who cannot give them what they deserve, but still, they believe that their lives can change.

For them, change do not just happen; someone has to make the first move. And if you are reading this, that person will probably be you.

Biang's Favorite Happy Kid

Meet Aiza Mae. Why is she Biang's favorite? She always leaves more than half of her food to bring home to her brother.

This always happens, the children never finish their food because they always give a share of their food to their brother or sister, or parents. *WoW*

ate sandie and the kids going off to the mall after the party

blue-tongued princesses

ReachOut 2003

ReachOut 2003 – we were able to share the joys of Christmas with around 180-200 of our little brothers and sisters at the Dagong, Carmen Landfill in Cagayan de Oro City. Dunkin Donuts was one of our major sponsors and donated a lot of donuts for the children. We even have Winnie The Pooh (da mascot) dancing and playing with the kids. Who could forget Manong Fishball and Manong IceCream who were handing out the all the yummy street food we all grew up with? ;)

It is our hope that we continue on and strive to touch more lives. As we go along our lives and careers, may we always remember that life itself is meaningless if we don’t share it.

Here are the pictures from the event: http://12.101.68.106/~dng/reachout2003/

ReachOut (take 1)

It was a very humbling experience to give back to our community and share the true spirit of Christmas. I can still remember the first few years when our class (4A96 Kong Hua School) started getting together during Christmas break to do something for the kids in our community.

We started by doing the traditional Filipino Christmas caroling going from house to house to raise funds and any gifts for the children. One or two of us doing the guitars, and about 5 or 10 of us *well-gifted* singers worked our voices and gave it our best shot ;) Then the big day came, we cooked the food ourselves and packed and distributed all the giveaways ourselves.

It was such a momentous occasion for us. Every Christmas was an opportunity. An opportunity to not only be together, but be together for something we care about.

It’s such an inspiring thought and seeing friends truly believe in what they are doing for others is just heart-warming. Kudos to ‘ya all!

Agora Street School

Agora Street School, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

Participating in class...

Having fun @ Agora Street School!

Shel Silverstein story

THE GIVING TREE

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.

And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer’s hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I’ve found?"
"I have no money," said the tree, "Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,
"I’m now a man and I must have a house that’s all my home."
"I can’t give you a house" he said,
"The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"
And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.
"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."
"I’ve nothing but my trunk," he says, "But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.
"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I’m nothing but an old stump now. I’m sorry but I’ve nothing more to give"
"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile."Well", said the tree,
"An old stump is still good for that."
"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.





*_*, just sharing this beautiful story.

VIRLANIE Foundation

Was very glad to read about a foundation based in Manila dedicated to uplifting the lives of streetchildren. The organization is called VIRLANIE Foundation. VERLANIE actually stands for VItalizing Responsible Living Adulthood through Nurturance Industry and Education. According to their website, ever since they were established in 1992, they have helped thousands of children who have been victims of various forms of abuse and exploitation from the street, from jail, from prostitution and syndicates and even from their own families and relatives.

Princess Caroline of Monaco is set to visit the foundation in Manila this year. Princess Caroline is also said to visit the Philippines solely to visit the children and their families. The Philippines is a struggling country and we need every foreign support we can get to support and nourish the very future of this country. Kudos to Virlanie for their great job!

24 Oras

Started this blog today. Was watching 24 Oras last week and was very disturbed by what is going on in the Philippines. One particular segment was about the homeless family doing their daily *batchoy* routine. That is, sifting through fast food restaurants’ garbage to find whatever piece of meat they can find and later cooking them again with soy sauce.

Many people are unaware of the plight of the poor in my country. This is sad, very sad. Maybe if we could build a massive awareness among other Filipinos and the world in general, and each person responds on his or her own way, then maybe we can make a huge huge difference. I believe that small actions we take on our own contribute to the success and failure of the entire system. I hope I am right.