After one of the Simbanggabi masses at the Gesu, I was able to catch up with the Genboys Christmas party in Sta. Mesa. We played Pinoy Henyo and Christmas Carols match up.
We also had a party for the kids of Hillcrest in Cubao. We usually go to Hillcrest one Saturday to have a merienda, story telling, games and songs with the kids. For the party, we played assistants to Rene who cooked his California pasta. Rene works for Royce chocolates so you can believe how good his pasta is even with just a few ingredients.
Here are the other volunteers preparing the gifts for the kids.
Ceska and I hosted the program. Half of the time we were trying to get the kids to sit still for 5 minutes, to stop running around, and basically to not destroy the venue. Hahaha.
There were about a hundred kids cramped into a very small space. But it was all good since Ceska's a pre-school teacher and she's very good with kids. She even sings a song to get them to pray. She also made these cool puppets for our story telling.
Ofcourse we told the story of the first Christmas, from the Angel Gabriel announcing Mary's pregnancy to the arrival of the 3 wise men. It was all impromptu but we pulled it off.
After the story telling, we have little quiz to check if the kids were listening. Too bad we didn't have any prizes. A lot of the kids were really very competitive and enthusiastic in answering our questions. We also played other games and let me tell you, these kids are out for blood. I kid, I kid. Before leaving, we gave the kids some gift packs containing some school and art materials. It's not much but it will go along way for these kids.
It was a very tiring morning but we were all very happy afterwards to have pulled off a partywith our measly resources. Here are the other volunteers trying to look, uhm, untired.
After the Hillcrest party, I slept a bit to recover. Then it was time for the party in Pittsburgh Cubao. For a couple of years now Nikko and I have been spending some of our weekends with several of the older kids in Hillcrest, talking about the challenges they face, reading Bible verses, singing songs and really just trying to be good kuyas to them. Not that we're, okay I'll speak for myself, I'm the perfect role model. But hey, we try.Here's Nikko with Archie and Obeng looking all sorts of Ghetto.
We also played games with the kids. This one's a bit challenging. It can be difficult to get them to socialize with other kids. Some are shy, some are aggressive, some don't like being constrained by rules. But they're good kids. They just need to some sort of guidance. I pray for them everyday.
Here are our kids with some of the boys from Pasay. Can you spot the hidden Santa?
We plan to raise some funds for our boys so they can go to PICC next year and see Emmaus, the new head of the Focolare Movement. We also plan to use the funds for their transportation and merienda during our weekend meetings. We plan to sell some of our books and clothes. Help us out ha!Finally, we went back to Sulyap to give away some Noche Buena pack for some 400 families around the areas. I thought we were just supposed to hand them the packs, pose for some pics and leave. But no, they asked for another impromptu program. And guess who hosted that one? Hahaha. Ceska and I, again. This time we had prizes to give away for some Bring Me. We also told the story of the first Christmas sans the puppets. Some of the kids danced the ever popular Nobody, TWICE. hehe. Then we sang Christmas carols.
Here's me looking very, uhm, stupid. haha. Clouds darken but hearts brighten. hehe
We also helped out in packing the goods. Each pack contained a kilo of rice, a bar of cheese, a kilo of pasta, a pack of sauce and coffee.
This is me, thinking of Christmas carols to sing with the kids.
Here are the volunteers distributing the goods.
Most of the parties I've attended this year are simple in terms of food, activities and gifts compared to last year when I worked for a corporate company. But this year's gatherings are for me an affirmation of what Christmas should be. It brings me back to my image of the first Christmas, when Christ entered the world in silence and simplicity, without fuss, without flashy parties. He came into this world surrounded by the people he cared for and the people he would soon serve.
His very birth is service. One that benefited the poor, the forgotten, the unloved - us. Why shouldn't we do the same? Why shouldn't our very lives be a birthing of Christ to those who need Him the most?
Merry Christmas!!!
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