Doing Something Good Is Great: A Dinacuan Outreach in Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Last Sunday was the scheduled outreach mentioned on my previous post "What You Can Do to Help the Kids of Dinacuan in Malasiqui, Pangasinan". It was more or less a 4-hour drive if you take the SCTEX (Subic - Clark - Tarlac Expressway). I was so excited that heading there without even a 15-minute nap from my night shift is possible.

Being awake for more than 24 hours is nothing new to me. I don’t do it regularly because I need to take care of myself to be able to help more people. But travelling to a new place, with a variety of views of the nature, makes me even more vigilant and super ecstatic.

There’s a downpour at first but we were lucky to be in a carpool with the accommodating couple Ghassan and Eve Geslani-Okal.

When we arrived, we stepped in on the rest house where the summer classes and the weekend preaching take place. The officers greeted us with a warm smile and a handshake. We saw the beautiful hand-made recycled parol acting as the chandelier and the miniature Christmas tree on the corner of the room. 

Dinacuan parol

"Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree..."

A few educational posters on their mini-library wall

Our lunch was waiting to fill us up. I had to take photos first because I could see a lot of action everywhere. Kids playing classic games as simple and fun as the local dodge ball, touching base, and so on. 

The Math Genius and an officer in the Youth Ministry

Playing ball

Oh how seriously cute you were, little girl!

"Talyase" - the big cooking pot usually used in provinces especially during big occasions

We washed our hands through the barrio’s water pump then enjoyed the sumptuous inihaw na Bangus (grilled milkfish) and Pinakbet.

Oanix's first water pump experience

Grilled Milkfish (inihaw na Bangus)

Pinakbet

After lunch, I got to play “pagi” with some kids and started to befriend them. They enjoyed having their pictures taken to see how they look like. They ran a lot, smile at you then shy away, stood up then sat down, and laugh with each other.  

my fans club :)

We rested a bit and looked around the land. The fresh air was what I enjoyed the most. The carabao, wide field of grass, and a mount of haystack, were bonuses. 

That carabao could'nt run after me =P

Enjoying the "duyan"

The program started and everyone received His Word.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Oanix, plus the pray over, hosted by Sis. Marilou

The Youth Ministry

The Ka-Nanayans

Talking with his dad in Dubai over the phone

We played some games, and then ended with a feast.

Look at Joseph's genuine happiness over a pin.

requesting more picture-taking

the not-so-shy-one, Abo and Mali

The "mukasim" look while eating the mini dalanghita.

Having observed the place, it occurred in me that they indeed lacked a lot of their basic needs. My nephew, who was celebrating his birthday in advance, was being observant too. He noticed how children were hungry, how the houses were native plain and simple, how totally different everything was than what we have from the urban lifestyle.

I felt happy that we achieved all our purpose there, to serve to these people by sharing our blessings and our precious time. Plus, my nephew learned a lot, gained new friends, realize what a comfortable and blessed life we all have, and practice the act of giving.  

Sweet Says… we would like to thank Sir Ernie Geslani, Eve Geslani-Okal, and Ghassan Okal for graciously accommodating us in Dinacuan. Through their noble intentions of putting up a wonderful place, these people of Dinacuan will not only receive generosity from others but will also become nurtured with the Word of the Lord. 

To the people of Dinacuan, thank you for welcoming us with warmth and kindness.

I also appreciate it when Ghassan thanked my nephew, Oanix, for his contribution by celebrating his birthday in Dinacuan. Ghassan said "You did something very good today" It meant a lot to me because I know for sure that this meaningful statement left a mark in Oanix's heart. This positive remark may caught Oanix off guard, but will stick on to him for the rest of his life - that doing something good, especially to and for other people, is great and makes God happy. 

For those who wish to coordinate with Eve should you have any intentions of sending help or celebrating your special occasions through the spirit of giving, kindly reach her through the number below.

Eve > +63908 6535025 

For more information on Quickcheck Lab, click HERE!

For more information on JCSOS/ Dinacuan, click HERE!

Will you donate Crocs to poor children in the Philippines?

I'm sure that most of you are aware of what Crocs is. But for the benefit of those who aren't, Crocs, is a famous brand of a rubber clog shoe that gives all day comfort and support, while providing long-lasting durability against daily activity wear and tear. The original classic pair ranges more or less P1,400 to P2,500 today.

photo by bulliver

Now, why am I asking that question? Because I was asking the same question myself one rainy sunday morning. I was on my way home after attending a mass and took the LRT1 northbound. I was standing, listening to my MP3 with a book in my hands, when a quick series of event distracted me from reading. A couple stood up and got off, and then a father and son took the emptied seats. 

The father, who looks like in his mid-40's, had his hair uncombed, and was wearing a crumpled polo shirt matched with faded jeans and an old pair of black leather shoes. His son, who is around 3 to 4 years old, knelt on his seat to look over the window and repeatedly said "wow, punta tayo diyan, papa" (wow, let's go there, papa). 

photo by DMahendra

photo courtesy of RizalPark.Org

That boy was pertaining to the colorful Philippines relief map located at Rizal Park, more popularly known as Luneta. One could see the intricate designs of the Philippine’s three main islands: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, when the train passes by from Central Terminal to United Nations LRT stations. Despite the child’s continuous plea, the father seemed uninterested at all. 

Aside from the father’s lack of enthusiasm, what really caught my attention was the fake pair of blue Crocs worn by the kid. It’s not that the shoes were an imitation but the mere fact that both of his Crocs’ soles had holes bigger than his biggest toe.  I initially blamed my poor eyesight for judging what I saw but looking at it a couple more times made it clear to me that I saw what I saw. Those were holes that are most likely caused by daily usage and not having an extra pair to substitute them with. Those worn out blue Crocs must have experienced a lot of joy playing in a mountain of sand from a neighbor’s house renovation, or a tour with her mother to the wet market, or a battle with the flood during the rainy days, or just a quick trip to the nearest sari-sari (local retail) store to buy noodles, candies, etc etc.

"sari-sari store" - photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

I was teary eyed and heartbroken with the idea that I could not do something for the kid right that very moment. I felt deeply sad that a child would go out of the house and travel with a pair of worn out shoes despite the rain. They could not only buy original Crocs, but they could not afford any comfortable footwear to protect those tiny feet. 

At that moment, I have nothing to do but look away. My eyes were fixed on the book but I could not continue reading. I hoped that nobody noticed that I am only staring at the book and not turning any page even if there were several train stations that already passed by. It saddened me that I do not have the liberty to offer some help. If I offered the father some money to buy decent footwear, I am not sure how he’ll react, because 1) it is none of my business and 2) they are neither begging nor asking me or anyone for money. 

I just told myself and hoped that wherever they‘re going, the father was planning to surprise his son by heading to the mall and buying him a new pair of shoes or slippers. I was thinking that, I may not be able to help the kid that one Sunday morning, but I’m sure that I will be able to help others with the same dilemma.

How I wish that I could bring you some good news, however, I don’t think Crocs in the Philippines offers what was once their project abroad wherein you can donate your old Crocs. Nevertheless, I'd like to share what Crocs had done abroad.

Around the year of 2008, the Soles United program has already given away more than a million shoes. It was publicly launched at the end of January 2008 when the Celebrity Apprentice teams got assigned to raise awareness on Soles United. 


STEP 1: WEAR

photo by babbagecabbage

Enjoy your Crocs until you feel like the bottom starts to smooth out and that it is time for a new pair.

STEP 2: SHARE 

photo by jespahjoy

Instead of adding it to the millions of daily contribution to the landfill, drop them off at a Crocs retailer, donation center or ship them to Soles United. (advantage of Crocs’ light weight is that it won’t cost you much on the shipping). 

STEP 3: RECYCLE 

photo by ghinson

Once Soles United receive your Crocs, they will sort, clean, ground up and turn it into new Soles United footwear. These shoes are made out of 20% recycled proprietary Croslite material and have the Crocs recycle the logo imprinted on top. 

STEP 4: DONATE  

photo by wickenden

Once the Soles United shoes are made, they are boxed up and shipped out to organizations that in turn make these shoes reach to the needy, with the help of the Brother’s Brother Foundation and Feed the Children.

So, will you donate a Crocs to poor children in the Philippines?

Sweet Says... Yes, especially if Crocs Philippines promotes this recycle-your-old-crocs program.