Bellas Share a Smile and Inspire

Last Saturday, August 21st, marked my first time to join an outreach program.

It was Belle de Jour’s second installment of the BDJ Passion Series.

To join we needed to submit a photo of our favorite spread in the BDJ planner and tell them why.

I submitted my January calendar spread.

Here's why: “I love the monthly pages because it's where I put important events (in advance) and those that I was able to accomplish, including the highlights of each day. ♥ “ 



The outreach venue was in Tondo, Manila - Scuola della Gioia, in cooperation with Fr. Giovanni Gentilin of the San Pablo Apostol Parish.

MEETING PLACE: 
McDonald’s near Quezon Avenue MRT Station
(Corner of EDSA and Quezon Ave, across Centris Mall)

DATE AND TIME: 
August 21 (Saturday), 7 am – 1 pm

 The kids were already waiting for us when we arrived.

After the brief introduction of all their "ate" for the day - off to the presentation:

 Ang  Alamat ng Unggoy

Ang Sakim na Kapitbahay

Now, for some FUN! 

Let's do this! Group 2 - for the win!

The Relay Game (Cup and Straw or  Calamansi and Spoon Game) - which as you can see I'm a part of! Group #2 wins! Yay!

The Boat is Sinking ("Nalulunod ang barko") haha! yes, we meant lumulubog ang barko! :P

Then we teach them how to properly wash the hands and brush the teeth:

rub-a-dub-dub

Handwashing Techniques

"ngiiiiiiiiii"

 Teeth-brushing Techniques

And finally - LUNCH!

Danica Mae, Mark Lawrence, Racquel, Kristine, Judy Anne and Christian
I hope I spelled their names correctly!

Most of these kids still live in the Smokey Mountain part of Tondo, a place called Aromas. We weren't able to visit their homes but we've been told that half of the day spent with them already meant a lot.

The day ended and we had to go home. I just hope and pray that we did inspire them. So they would remember that there's still hope out there, that there are people who think of them, and most importantly, God the Father loves them dearly and cares for them.

'til we meet again!

 
“There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.”
- Mother Teresa
 
It was really a heart-warming, humbling and fulfilling experience for me. Indeed, it's true that "in helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us" - Flora Edwards

I can't wait for the next outreach! ♥

just keep blogging!

What a crazy week! Been pretty busy at work so I never had the chance to post this entry - thanks to my non-wifi-capable Nokia N70 (bitter), I'm able to save a draft of what's been running through my mind at the moment. woot! :P

So there, after I couldn't find my "creative juices", you might think I'm already done with blogging. I thought so too! haha!

BUT I refuse to give up.

I may not be able to do this everyday, nor use "deep", techy, (add-term-here) words in my entries, but that doesn't mean I'd stop there.

Every day is a new day. A fresh start, an opportunity for adventure, a chance to meet people, make new friends, most importantly a time to do something with the possibility to make a change.

I'm not saying it's easy because I know it's definitely not! Hey - even I find it hard to blog!

But when life gets you down and you can't think of anything worth posting here - you know what you've gotta do?

Just keep blogging!

.. just keep blogging, blogging, blogging. ♪ ♫

creative juices where art thou?

What’s wrong with today?? I can’t think of anything worth sharing.

I wouldn’t want to write that today is not a good day for me - and I certainly hope not! It’s like sharing negative vibes and who would want that?

Not even me.

I promised myself that I’d be more optimistic. And learn to count all the blessings I receive instead. So for the email that sort-of ruined my morning. Damn you. Delete forever! Haha!

It’s too early to admit defeat  (it’s not even lunch time. Boo!) I will try again later. ♥

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

Literally.

Today we’ve started drinking Lemon Water. Pauso ng aking ka-officemate, Charlie Oracion. Pang detox yata or pampayat – something to that effect (haha). We’ve noticed him doing this for several days na, pero ngayon namin napagdesisyunan i-try. (Bumili na ako kahapon ng 3pcs nung nag grocery kami, pero hinde ko na-prepare. Tamad mode sa umaga.) 

     What You Need:

• H2O
• Water bottle o baso
• Kutsilyong pang hiwa
• Lemons (syempre!)

     What to Do:

1. Siguraduhing malinis ang lemons. Hugasan.
2. Hiwain ang lemons ng pantay-pantay (joke) – kahit anong hiwa pede na. basta kakasya sa baso mo.
3. Maglagay ng ilang piraso sa water bottle, baso or in my case sa Starbucks tumbler ko. (Kailangan pa talaga sabihin yon?)
4. Lagyan ng tubig. (Voila! May lemon water ka na!)
5. Haluin at inumin.

Charlie suggested we buy our week-long lemon stock para mas masaya (and para wag na namin kunin ang dala nyang lemons dba!). Doing something like this with your friends, I think, is actually helpful and more fun. Mas nagagawa mo. Parang diet and jogging. Mahirap gawin pag nag-iisa. (Kakatamad kaya!)

The Verdict:

Masarap naman. Refreshing! (walang tingly feeling katulad nung kumain ako ng fresh Durian for the first (and would be last) time. Brrr.)

Kulang na lang honey, para na akong nag North Park’s Honey Lemonade (my favorite – besides Salted Garlic Squid. Nagutom ako bigla!)

O kaya naman vodka (ayon sa GM namin na nag akalang umiinom si Charlie habang nagta-trabaho dahil may ganito sya sa table nya. hahaha!)

Sige na nga, idagdag na natin sa list of Ingredients.

     (What You Need):

• Honey or Vodka – optional

Enjoy! :D

Pressured. Not!

There - me and my big mouth (haha!) told my good friend Ely that I've already started a blog. Too much for incognito. I was too excited that I can't help but tell him I've done it. No regrets though, he inspired me after all.

Well, I felt I owe him that, after all I did use his page to rant about the gum on the bus’ handle. (chewed gum na nahawakan ko bago ako bumaba ng bus isang umaga. Kaasar. The perfect way to start your morning dba!)

He’s even excited and happy for me! Said he’s gonna launch my blog on his blog to promote and gain more hits. S-w-e-e-t! (Google analytics stuff - we'll get to that. soon!)  Although… is that even possible? After all, this is a personal blog. Who would bother checking random thoughts from little ol’ chim, right? Well, besides family, friends.. (haters of course!) Kasi naman, do I really have to ask?!

Anyway, I haven’t given him the link yet. A few more posts wouldn’t hurt. :P

So here I am adding another entry. Baby steps, yes. But it’s progress nonetheless! Woot!

So am I pressured? So NOT. Happy to say - I’m Inspired. ♥

Chim did it - Finally!

Yup. I've FINALLY decided to start a blog!

I love writing but I never see myself sharing thoughts, feelings and a whole lot of stuff about me for everyone to see. That's why I keep a journal instead.

But i'm bored lately. And I've been thinking about starting one anyway - it's even included in my list of 2010 goals (it's already August I know!) So there, cheers to my first ever post! :D

Now off to try and make this blog more decent.

I'm pretty excited. I did it! Hooray! ♥