(Left)Trying to be a Taho Vendor and (Right)That's Me and Marian


Tito Crispin Does Magic


Every Pinoy's Favorite Bee


The Party Eggs Making Group


Kuya Joseph and Ate Cherry Watch the Kids at Work


Kuya Gelo and Ate Pepen Talk about Dish Gardening


Whoever Said that Face Painting Was for the Kids?


Raprap and His Friend Enjoy Nilupak


Happy Saturday: Volunteers and Kids

Saturday was quite eventful.

Though I slept a little after one am on Friday night, I had to drag myself out of bed at 7 in the morning to go to the Kiddie Fest of the Program for Street Children of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod. I promised Joi I would serve as one of the hosts. So tired as I was, I got up early and headed to UP-PGH for the activity.

The activity started at 9 in the morning. There were about 70 kids from 7 institutions that attended the activity. I have been with several of the kids in previous Pahinungod projects so it was really nice to see them once again.

You will love them. How can you not? Once they recognize from afar that it's you, they'd be race each other to get to you, to give you a hug (more like pulling you from all directions...haha!), while screaming, "Kuya Angelo!!!" So it is always nice to be around these children. (By the way, the kids of YWCA were looking for you and your Mom. I just had to tell them you were at work.)

The first part of the activity was a magic show. Tito Crispin Reyes from the Inner Magic Club entertained the kids with magic for about an hour and a half. In addition to Tito Crispin, two figures who are quite popular among children were also present to entertain the kids - Jollibee and Nestle's Chuckie.

What I found amusing was that the volunteers were also very much excited by the mascots, wanting to have their photos taken with the mascots. Haha! The oldies (yep, that's me and a number of other older Pahinungod volunteers) just watched the students and the kids pose with Jollibee and Chuckie.

By 11, the kids were divided into groups for the main activity of the day. A workshop on various livelihood projects that the kids can start in their own home without having to shell out a lot of money. These projects included yema making, nilupak making, ice candy making, garden salad making, dish gardening, party eggs painting, handpainted handkerchiefs, and cardmaking and origami.

I didn't join any of the activities. Instead, I visited each group workshop. I may not have learned how to cook nilupak but it was nice seeing all the children very eager to learn.

When the sessions ended in the early afternoon, the kids (and the volunteers as well) were treated to ice cream, cotton candy, taho. There was also a face painting booth which almost all kids lined up for, rather than going for the ice cream or cotton candy.

The activity ended at 3PM. It was really enjoyable. Two of my good friends from work, Cathy and Shyrel, dropped by and spent an hour with the kids, so that was really nice.

This activity with the kids is unquestionably better than spending Saturday at the office (even if I love my job and I don't mind working on Saturdays.)