Written by: Ate Ren dela Cruz, Board Member
For many girls the world over, turning 18 years old is transitioning from childhood to womanhood and is most ofter welcomed with grand celebrations – elegant parties filled with tuxes,ties and beautiful ball gowns worn by the debutante and those nearest and dearest to her. This coming of age may be the case for many, but for ate Jona Mae, a debut also meant celebrating the milestone in her life with those who are in need of joy and blessings the most.
That is why last December 16, ate Jona Mae and her classmates from Sta. Isabel went to the Philippine General Hospital, partnering with us to spend the day with 30 children currently confined there. The event began with Getting-to-Know, where we asked our ates and kuyas to introduce themselves to the kids who excitedly awaited their arrival. We then grouped them into smaller teams so they could bond more, and also to play games together! For that afternoon we had two, our Cheese Ring Relay and Christmas Charades – unique U! Happy games which were a delight to watch the kids and our volunteers playing, as their competitive and energetic spirits shone through.
For a breather and more fun and excitement, next up on the program was a display of awesome magic, courtesy of kuya Jong! Our kids oohed and aahed in amazement over his magic, holding their attention and keeping them captivated from start to finish. Of course, no event is complete with mealtime, as ate Jona and her friends distributed meals to the kids, sitting with them and taking the added time to get to know the children even more.
To cap off a heartwarming time, ate Jona and the rest of our young, inspiring volunteers handed the children lootbags. We took a picture to capture the day that transpired, and evident in the smiles of everyone there was the fact that this celebration was one to remember. Thank you so much ate Jona for choosing to celebrate such an important day with the kids of PGH!
