A Christmas Party at Bethany Orphanage

Last year, I was just a solo volunteer who joined a group of strangers in an outreach. I got very inspired with their group (actually nainggit ako.. hehe) and I pictured that my own set of friends were going to organize our own outreach in the future.

And yesterday, that goal has happened.

As I said in my previous entry, organizing this outreach has taught me a lot of lessons. I knew I had mistakes and luckily I was able to learn them before the event. Another fulfilling part is I got to know a lot of kind-hearted people along the way. I think this alone is already enough for my reward.

Let the photos do the story-telling..

Our group's only goal was to bring a little party with little prizes for the orphans, but we're all overwhelmed with the fund/items we received.

groceries, slippers, school supplies
feeding bottles set, uniform set, loot bag treats
kids' party shirts, cookies and nametags for the volunteers

The Big Day

the location

the play ground

day care center

ready na kayo volunteers?
thank you sa nagsponsor ng name tags

super gandang nametags - souvenirs for everyone!
nice meeting all of you

Sean Andre (son of Mommy Bang) is ready!
nice meeting you

Julian with mommy Janice
nice meeting your family too

Because over 60 people volunteered, we needed to group and assign kids to them.

thank you sa nagdesign ng tarpaulin
thank you sa nagprint ng tarpaulin
thank you sa nagdala ng balloons

Everything's set! Our program began with welcoming the volunteers, and an opening prayer was offered after. Then get-to-know each other part.

ate Shieloo and mommy Janice's group

ate Nadine's group
nice meeting you

kuya Lloyd makinig ka kasi..

Now let the fun begin!

all eyes on him

thanks to this magician who offered his services for free
(kilala ba talaga kita? di ko pa din mahulaan..)

this kid guessed correctly, and she won the formed balloon

happy kids ni ate che with the magician

The Jollibee staffs arrived and they conducted some games for both volunteers and kids. This is a good bonding for everyone.

bida ang saya

paper dance game with kuya Lester and kuya Dex
nice meeting you and your group

go kuya Robbie
nice meeting you

shembot!

ate Alyssa game na game!

tamaah! magpabuhat sa kid instead pag di mo sya kaya..

Next, group game!

3 groups of kids with volunteers
thank you sa gumawa ng name tags ng kids

ready. get set. go!

slowly but surely.. hehe

Next game, sali na ko!

mommy Janice, ate Che, ate Nicole
vs mommy Bang, ate Kathleen, ate Keeks

ate Keeks, exhibition-exhibition!
it was nice meeting this youngest solo volunteer

my turn, ikot-ikot-ikot, talon-talon-talon

We're all sweaty but it was really fun playing with the kids. We didnt win by the way, but this kid still got a reward from me.. Hihi

Alright, next is the star of the event. Jollibee arrived!

the superstar

andaming fans!

kids, easy easy.. baka magka-stampede. hihi

Then meal time of course.

wow behave ang kids

galit galit muna?

While the kids are eating, the volunteers had a photo op!
Meet the volunteers..

the solo joiners
Robbie, Marco, Keeks, Leidy, Maricar, Jen, Wylene

HTMT peeps!

ate Kath, ate Nicole, kuya Dex, and ate Che

ate Kat na todo project, ate Tin, and ate Dred

kuya Lloyd, kuya Jepoi, ate Sweet, and ate Yvette

kuya Mark, ate Jean, kuya Marx, kuya Mhir and friends

ate Janice and family

ate Luisa and kuya Rhovic, inampon so Julian

with sir Lloyd
ansaya ko, kasama ako sa picture!

I briefed the volunteers that we wont have anything to eat dahil hindi pwedeng kumuha ng fund ng kids para sa pagkain ng volunteers, tama ba? Luckily, merong nagsponsor for these!

thank you sa nagsponsor ng cookie lollipops for the volunteers
thank you sa nagsponsor ng granada-shaped drinking water

whew, pantawid gutom ng lahat ng volunteers!

may pahabol pang pizza!
thank you sir! free delivery to everyone pa

The fulfillment came in a different form, not quite I expected. I thought Im gonna be fulfilled the moment I saw the kids happy, but Im really moved in the preparation process where I met a lot of good people, specially this certain couple. And the other one, right after the event when I hear different stories from the volunteers on how they've been touched. Ang galing. (--,)

I can't say it's perfect but I firmly believe it's successful. This outreach wouldn't be possible without the support of these people:

- donors from US, SG, Kuwait, Switzerland, Saudi, Penang and Norway - thank you big time!
- my classmates, friends, old friends, officemates, ex-officemates - thanks sa support!
- my family - thanks sa pang-iinis at encouragement at the same time!
- friends from blogosphere and online buddies - super overwhelmed ako with the support you've given. i havent met 90% of you but you dont only sponsor a kid/kids, but you participated in the event yesterday.
- solo joiner, group/officemates, families who spent time with the kids yesterday, for sure you had a great time as much as the kids do.
- my JGC! naknang.. kala ko masisira pa frenship natin dito. chos! inferness, kinaya natin! hindi nalang puro hardcore lasingan tayo nag-eexcel. haha

applause for the volunteers

my JGC - ang mga promotor

Hope you all had a great and fulfilling time, and Im wishing we wont see each other again next year. All of you have played a big part, and I will surely lose a lot if you wont be coming again with me. But I will be happier if you will organize your own outreach. Honestly, my goal is to inspire every single volunteer to form their own outreach with their own set of friends in the years to come. O di ba, mas madaming groups, mas dadami ang foundations na mabebenefit!

i hope everybody had fun as much as the kids do

merry CHRISTmas everyone!
love,
Chyng

Important:
Please lang, I dont wanna see comments saying "sana sinama moko or sana inaya moko.."
Why would I do that? This is VOLUNTEERISM. Everyone who sponsored/donated/volunteered here - I never asked anyone of them. Lahat sila nagkusang loob lang. Yan ang totoong volunteers!