533 Corazon Roxas Foundation's Father's Day Cards with John David Salvador

Written by Core Team Leader, Edelma Sy
One of our most consistent sponsors, Corazon Roxas Foundation, partners with us again in carrying out our mission to reach out to marginalized children, this time to celebrate Father’s Day with 30 kids from John David V. Salvador Foundation.
The day started early for our team. We arranged a meet up with the volunteers at Manila Hotel lobby before going to the venue in a carpool to ensure no volunteer gets lost in his/her way as Barangay 105 in Tondo can be difficult to reach through public commute.
The event was to be held at the rooftop of the Foundation’s center, so carrying all our equipment and materials, we climbed through five floors and found the kids there, already waiting for us. The look of expectation on their faces renewed our energy and eagerness to make the day very special for them.
To join the whole nation in honoring our fathers, we prepared our activities with a Father’s Day theme.
The kids were divided into five groups, and then the volunteers were called in front to introduce themselves and their dads – each in his/her father’s voice. After the kids picked the volunteer who gave the most convincing ‘Daddy’ voice, the volunteers joined the kids for the getting-to-know portion of the event where they shared their names, and their dad’s favorite food and best trait.
The next activity was a game called “Smile Relay”. A table was set up for each group, with a marker and a blank paper on top. The team members raced to the table and drew a happy face on the paper one by one until the time was up, and the group with the most number of smileys drawn was announced the winner.
When the groups had settled back to their initial places, it was Kuya Robby’s turn to teach everyone how to make 3D paper tole cards to be given to their fathers for Father’s Day. But before that, he was challenged to a show dance with two boys from Group 4. They gamely danced to the very popular song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) by Silento, leaving everyone’s mouth hanging open in wide smiles of fun and amusement.
Kuya Robby then began the workshop proper, by giving everyone step-by-step instruction on how to make a paper tole card, while the volunteers assisted the kids in their teams until everyone had a complete Father’s Day gift. Through this activity, the kids were able to reflect on the value of the father at home and develop appreciation for the man who is every child’s first superhero, the pillar and provider of the family – Dad.
Mealtime and gift-giving followed, where the kids received a set of school supplies each. The event ended with the usual picture-taking and of course, the sweet exchanges of hugs between the kids and their Ates and Kuyas as they said goodbye to one another.
Tired as we were from carrying our things up and down the stairs of the center, we left fulfilled knowing we have done our part in upholding the family on this special day. Thank you, Corazon Roxas Foundation for your generous participation in this advocacy. We look forward to bringing more U!Happy events to different communities and reaching out to more children with you.