Christmas love

When I started working at Outsource Transcription Philippines, Inc., our group of friends started out a Christmas Give-Away Project wherein we solicited soaps and other personal hygiene products and gave these to the residents of Hospicio De San Jose. The following year and the years after that, we have made this a yearly Christmas Project and from Hospicio De San Jose, other institutions that we have visited included Anawim, National Bilibid Prison, Nayon ng Kabataan, Kanlungan ni Maria in Antipolo, Queen of Peace Convent in Bulacan, selected UP-PGH pediatric ward patients and families and children in Payatas, and street children in Manila and Quezon City. Every year we try to solicit from co-workers, friends and family - cash, old clothes, toys, blankets, soaps, and other things that can be given to the poor - and every year is a touching experience for all of us.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and the elderly, the delight on a scavenger's face upon receiving a bag of goodies and the tears of joy from the elderly who have not been visited by friends or family for a long time - these are the unforgettable experiences for us that no amount of money could ever buy.

the elderly of Anawim

Christmas bags given to Queen of Peace Convent


Another Christmas Give-Away at Anawim

Christmas Party for the Payatas Outreach Community

at the National Bilibid Prison

Today we are on our ninth year of our yearly project and although we are all aware of how much harder it is to earn a living these days, we are still hoping that many of you will open their hearts and give a little love this Christmas, especially to the needy. They need our help and through this post, I humbly ask for your help. We accept cash, rice, canned goods, old clothes, toys, soaps and anything that may be of use to the needy. If you are currently reading this post, you can leave a comment if you would like to help, and from the bottom of our hearts, we wish you Merry Christmas and may He give you abundant blessings this coming year.

Boo! Happy Halloween to you!

Joaqui as Robin Hood

Isn't he the cutest pirate?

Joaqui had his first Halloween Trick or Treat yesterday at Glorietta. I think he had fun seeing other children in costumes, too. The line to the activity center was so long, we almost gave up, but thankfully we were able to get in. He didn't get a lot of goodies because some stores were not giving candies : ( But it's okay since Joaqui is not allowed candies. He went around Glorietta in his pirate costume and was waving hi and hello to some of the sales clerks. ; )