Share Your Blessings

giving hope and sharing love

Birthday Project 2012: Sponsors

As mentioned, a separate page dedicated to our sponsors who didn’t hesitate to share their blessings to these kids. We were overwhelmed with the response and some of them were friends of our friends. Truly we are grateful for their big heart.

First and foremost, thank you to the FMA Sisters/Salesian Community for approving our Birthday Project to be held on their grounds, Don Bosco School, Sta. Mesa. To the Sisters, most especially to Sr. Ailyn, in-charge with the Oratories and Sr. Carmen who helped me during the planning and on the day preparations, thank you so much! During the event, Ms. Recci, my Grade 6 Adviser, was there to join and help us go about with our event. It was such a heart-warming experience to be back and see former teachers again.

The CCA Manila Team

Our major sponsor for the event was The Center for Culinary Arts Manila. They were very much willing and kind enough to sponsor the food for the street children. They not only prepared for the kids but also included the volunteers to taste their recipe made with love. They even had loot bags for the kids too!

Thank you to all those who signed up in our “Sign up for a Cause” campaign. Your participation means a lot to us. We had more than 500 names who supported our endeavor. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Lovely Hollera, Marketing Officer of CCA Manila

Thank you Lovely Hollera, Marketing Officer of CCA Manila who is also my former bus mate for accommodating us in your busy schedule. May the CCA Team be blessed for having a generous and compassionate heart.

We also would like to thank all who donated in kind. Indeed, we appreciate everything we got no matter how big or small it is. To enumerate:

  • 10 dozens of Pastel from Dr. Viel Vincent Jose
  • 15 Lunchboxes and a bagful of Toothpastes from NuffNang Philippines
  • Candies and Sweets from KCat Yarza and Valeri Ann Chua
  • 50kg of Rice from Celia Abalos
  • Canned goods from Apple Abalos and Baby Ozato
  • Noodles from Michelle Abalos
  • Pansit Canton from Dhen & Rheena Sison-Panser
  • Ballpens from Bryle Ian Bolong
  • Small pouch bags from Ralph Alcantara
  • Event Banner/Tarp and Thank you cards from Nico Orillano

10 dozens of Pastel from Dr. Viel Vincent Jose

15 Lunchboxes and a bagful of Toothpastes from NuffNang Philippines

Candies and Sweets from KCat Yarza

Loot bags with both kind donations and things bought from cash donations

To sum up, we gathered Php 26,800 from the following sponsors (in random order):

  • Daven Arcega
  • Marian Encinas
  • Jim Duldulao
  • Catherine Lynn Tolosa
  • Patria Tolosa-Lee
  • Vic Calag
  • Xtian Fernando
  • Ralph Sacdalan
  • Fr. Filemon Dela Cruz
  • Radimir Relator
  • Gian Carlo Trinidad
  • Marissa Volante
  • Judith Clemente
  • Ginn Tolosa
  • Anna Katrina Dayo
  • Kilven John Tolosa
  • Aileen Magparangalan
  • Franco Telado
  • Josefina Prado
  • Jhoanna Anag
  • Bin Edres
  • Cha Roque
  • Orlando Claveria
  • Chris Valencia
  • Joyce Estanislao
  • Elyse Go
  • 3 persons wants to remain Anonymous

Since we got more than our target budget, we decided to donate the extra money to Unicef and World Vision. We split our donations in 2 so one is under my name and the other is under Coe’s name.

We donated Php 12, 100 to UNICEF (P6,050 under Coe’s and P6,050 under yours truly) and Php 3,000 to World Vision (P1,500 under Coe’s and P1,500 under yours truly).

Here’s the reply we got from UNICEF:

We also would like to thank the volunteers and visitors who celebrated with us even on a weekend! Their presence and service was a great help for the success of the event. We really are thankful for  Jhoie, Joey, Jhoanna, Issha, Aileen, Mitch, Apple, Ryan, Marian, Michelle, Kathleen, Elyse, Christian, Therese, Kcat and to our official photographer Nico!
Due to change of schedule, some of our friends didn’t make it. We also extend our gratitude to Faith and Fr. Caloiski who were supposed to be there and had a special part in the programme.

Mother Geese: Jhoanna, (ME), Issha, Jhoie, Therese, Aileen, (COE)

Me with Marian, Michelle and Kathleen

Elyse with Coe

Abalos Siblings

Kath & Coe with KCAT’s Family and Sr. Carmen

Of course, we are forever indebted to these two special men in our lives: Andrew Abalos and Ian Bolong. They were supportive as ever! As Coe said, thank you for being the “best runners”, drivers and personal assistant during the event. We wouldn’t make it without you guys on our side! Mwah Mwah, Tsup Tsup! Hahahaha! ^__^

Special mention to Abalos Family for accommodating us the night before the event. We all had a sumptuous meal c/o the girls in the family.

with my Andrew ^_^

with Coe’s Ian ^_^

I couldn’t think of a better conclusion for this post, instead I got this excerpt from Coe’s entry that says it all:

The success of an endeavor magnifies its greatness by how many lives you’ve affected and how many people you’ve touched. Thank you very much for the support and love… Kathleen and I are deeply loved and blessed.

Until next year… ^____^

Birthday Project 2012: Preparations 
Birthday Project 2012: Event Proper
Birthday Project 2012: Sponsors

You can check Coe‘s blog post: Just Be since she already published her side of the story. ^_^

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A Day in Grace To Be Born Shelter

Yesterday was the moment I’ve been waiting for to give the donations for my birthday project this year. It has been postponed for weeks now since we can’t find a schedule that fits us all.

To give you a brief background how this activity transpires, I started a project on my birth month which was last September. This project hopes to extend and inspire people to share their blessings to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. With this, I hope that I can make this a lifelong commitment to contribute to communities that needs help. To know more, you can visit my other blog: Birthday Projects

grace

The whole gang in Grace To Be Born

Anyway, first of all I would like to thank all who participated physically and financially to make this project of mine possible. I’ve gathered a total of Php 16,000 for the benefit of Grace to Be Born shelter. The donations came from my family and friends and I would like to mention them to show my gratitude for supporting me in my project. Your generosity means a lot.

Thank you to the following:

Jun Dolor, Richard Tan, Nico Orillano, Mimi Haron, Jeng Sunga, Kath Gonzales, Maan Mangubat, Andrew Abalos, Cha Roque, Es Vega and someone Anonymous

So here’s what happened when we visited the shelter yesterday. By the way, since it was moved almost reaching the month of November, Coe decided to join me in this project so it was like a double celebration for us, my birthday project plus Coe’s birthday too. ^_^

We were scheduled to visit the shelter at 4:00pm. We went in two batches since we can’t fit in one car. Me, Andrew, Ate Cha, Kuya Sheldon and Jim was first to arrive in the place. To moment we were settled, they all lined up and sat in front of us, I need to start communicating and doing some adlibs while waiting for the next batch. Actually, I’m not prepared to speak in front of them since I thought that Coe is the one in charge of the program. I have no choice since they were all looking at me. So I just talk and inform them of why we were there. I also started asking their names for their names written on their crowns.

intro

We mingled with them and joke around. Also, two babies were isolated because they have cough and flu. And there I knew baby Nicole. She is a one year old cute jolly girl who has skin asthma and was abandoned by her mom after she gave birth to her.

baby-nicole

After a couple of minutes, the rest of the gang arrived. They hurriedly fixed their things and started the program. Coe introduced herself and started the game: Diaper Relay. Oh boy, those moms are so competitive! Hahaha!

game

Coe looking for someone who can demo how to diaper a baby

relay

The winner team was able to get a prize from us sponsored by yours truly. After the game, the two doctors were kind enough to share their knowledge and gave the mothers and soon to be moms some tips and information about breast feeding. Everyone was happy especially when we raffled out some teddy bears that was sponsored by Zeny Gomez and 2 major items: Diaper Bag with Goodies! (that was sponsored by Daven Arcega) Not only that, Kuya Sheldon also gave Php 500 each for the last 2 moms that wasn’t picked during the raffle plus a gift pack.

lecture

The doctors are seriously communicating with moms

raffle

While we were having fun in the visitor’s area, Andrew and Jim went to the Nursery Room to check the babies. They were accompanied by Ms. Aira of Grace to Be Born and informed them how young the babies were. They had their own time there!

nursery

Andrew inside the Nursery Room

After the fun time, we decided to pray and eat the food we brought to the center. We allotted Php 1000 for the food and the rest would be given to the shelter in cash. They prefer donations in cash so that they can pay the rent and other miscellaneous stuff the shelter needs to pay to continue their operation.

Before we finally dig in to the food, we surprised Coe for her birthday on November 3! ^_^

surprise

A Surprise Gift for Coekie

bday

We had pizzas, pansit and bread, cakes that was sponsored by Jim and of course drinks for everyone. We had juice for the moms and soda for us!

food

Time to Eat!

After eating, we had our time to mingle and talk to moms and know their stories. It was nice talking to them and we enjoyed hearing their stories. It was sad but inspiring as well. They are empowered women to be proud of. They are heroes on their own way since they’ve decided not to abort the baby and keep it. It takes a lot of strength to decide something like that.

after

Mingling with the babies

I gave the donation with the sum of Php 15,000 since Php 1,000 was used for the food. Grace to be Born gave me a book by Rey Ortega entitled: Crazy Love for The Poor as a token of appreciation.

CrazyLove

We all had a fruitful day and I’m sure everyone had a great time. It was a different experience for each one and I bet for the moms too.

Thank you for the opportunity and God bless us all.

Grace To Be Born
53 Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave., Kapasigan, Pasig City
Tel No.: 5010965
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/GRACE-TO-BE-BORN/187685439940
Website: http://gracetobeborn.i.ph/

You can see the rest of the pictures in my Facebook Page: 2011 Birthday Project: Grace To Be Born

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Grace to Be Born Basic Needs

As I’ve mentioned, you can also send in kind donations. Currently, the ministry that we’re helping needs the following:

NEED LIST

  1. Diapers (Newborn, S, M and L)
  2. Bonna Formula Milk for 0-6 month-old babies
  3. Bonnamil Formula Milk for 6-12 month-old babies
  4. Feeding Bottles
  5. Old Maternity or Baby dresses
  6. Mittens and Booties
  7. Toiletries for MOTHERS – tissue paper, soap, shampoo, toothpastes, toothbrush, adult diapers, sanitary napkins
  8. Toiletries for BABIES – baby shampoo and soap, baby lotion, powder, baby oil, cotton, alcohol, etc.
  9. Food and other Household Items (i.e. rice, sugar, biscuits, canned goods, dish washing liquid, powdered or bar detergents, cleaning agents, etc.)

If you can think of anything they need that is not listed above, feel free to send it to. Rest assured, I’ll acknowledge you and the gifts that you’ll be sending will be given to them in person.

Remember, God loves a cheerful giver! ^_^

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