Public Charity, Yummy Jollibee & Inspiring Ingenuity

Craving for a Jollibee meal as my dinner, I proceeded to the nearest Jollibee branch, which luckily is just a walking distance from my flat.  Well, with the humongous number of Jollibee branches here in Manila, Jollibee is basically walking distance from where ever you may be in the metro.

While enjoying my burger steak with fries, rice and fried egg, a young, mild and reticent lady approached me and handed me a note.  Written on it says that she is selling Otap (a native flat sugary biscuit) amounting to 150 pesos per pack and pastillas (a Filipino-Spanish soft milk candy) which she sells at 50 pesos a pack. The note further states that she is selling these snacks to help support her studies.  Because the last statement written on the small piece of paper melted my heart, I immediately pulled out my wallet and purchased 2 packs of the Pastillas.

precious pastillas: a damn good buy!

i craved for jollbee, i am so pinoy!

Why am I writing this when according to the Holy Bible under Matthew 6:2: “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so as to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” This means my act of simple charity was not impressive to the heavens because I disclosed it through this blog.  It’s even-steven in other words as far as the heavenly saints and divine deities are concerned!

If my writing this simple charity would make me less of a person, then so be it.  I am writing one modest charitable act because I would like to spread love, kindness and benevolence.  And I hope that through my simple act of charity others would somehow be inspired and follow.

I want to let people know that there are still plain and compassionate breathing human beings in public who are willing to help others.  Besides, that young lady was not difficult to be charitable with.  It is because she, in her own little way, is trying and striving to decently finish her studies.  And her impressive diligence and superb ingenuity on how to support her studies is something to be inspired about!

Oh, and by the way, that Jollibee meal was super good!

Dahil sinulat ko, okey lang kung kwits lang sa Langit ang pagtulong kong ‘to!

Real Giving This Christmas by Save the Children UK

According to Mahatma Gandhi, “The simplest act of kindness is by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer”.  That is why aside from trying to succeed in the 9-day Misa De Gallo challenge, let me encourage everyone to allot even a small portion of their Christmas blessings to charity.  I suppose you need not be told that even for a small amount, your donation will indeed go far and would help a lot of people.

I am not the best Catholic this Christmas Season so let me make up for my sins by helping others.  This Christmas, my chosen aid organization is Save the Children UK.  I know there is Save the Children Philippines but I chose the UK-based branch because I was so touched and was so moved by their YouTube advert for this Christmas season.  Entitled Real Giving This Christmas, the advert features Gerald a young boy from an impoverished town of my very own country.

o-ha!!! feeling mayaman…

(photo from save the children uk fb page)

What is very moving about Gerald’s story is his ability to give so much despite having so little.  His enthusing narrative along with a touching musical score of the video can indeed inspire and encourage people to share their blessings in whichever form it may be.

Do your soul some favor, you can donate to Save the Children UK by clicking on this LINK:http://www.savethechildren.org.uk

Puro ka kabig! Huy! Mag doneyt ka naman.

One Two Three

loved the shirt!!!

Last Saturday, I and Karen (one of my best friends and remarkable travel buddy) went on a special journey.  It is an unusual adventure compared to the more than 123 kilometers of travel we usually do.   We decided to go and donate to The Love Yourself Project which aims to provide free counseling and education to the people affected by HIV/AIDS in the country.  No we did not do any counseling but joined and donated in their worthy Charity Photo Shoot.

Upon arrival in the venue, we registered our name, profession and respective e-mail addresses on their log sheet then gave our humble cash donation (which is more than 123 pesos).  The receptionist handed me my complimentary shirt and a slip of paper indicating that I am donor number 123.  They then led us to the next room where we change our top to the one that they gave and were subjected to grooming service prior to the photo shoot.

During the fun posing and light flashing, the assigned photographer after taking few shots told me to keep a serious face, but being a normally cheery person that I am, it took me some time to form a serious facial guise.  I took a deep breath and counted “1-2-3” before showing off an unsmiling expression on my face.  I particularly dig the “picture taking” moment.  I felt like a rock star!  How I wish the sweet-tempered photographer took 123 shots.

Ayaw ko ma-1-2-3! (A Pinoy expression meaning, “I don’t wanna be duped!”), so while waiting for the beauty expert to finish Karen’s hair and make-up prior to her turn for the photo shoot, I graciously asked one of the volunteers if their company is already registered under the Securities & Exchange Commission.   And indeed they were which signifies that their advocacy is actually legit.

Our participation for The Love Yourself Project – Charity Photo Shoot went well.  It took us less than 123 minutes to finish what we have to do so as to help in our own little way.  The donation we gave may not be enough to rally round all the people suffering from HIV/AIDS.  But if it can be of assistance to at least 1 or 2 or 3 people, we would surely be glad to be of help.  And besides, we loved the shirt, fancied the grooming service and of course enjoyed the photo shoot!

Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo! Klik, klik, klik!