reaching out

i'm glad i celebrated a different Christmas this year here at work.

Tuesday last week, we went up to the high lands of Sacobia to reach out to an Aeta community. We brought merienda food (sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts and Jollibee), toys (c/o SM Foundation's sponsors and partners) and game prizes. The experience reminded me so much of my stint with Ayala Foundation (only that we brought books and equipment to schools, and turned over other donations to government agencies).
The kids had a good time joining parlor games led by Sir Leo (i swear, he looks like Ave in person. super flashback of the AFI days, the vendo coffee breaks, the rock scene and the Beatlemania. hehe) and the rest of the SM Foundation team -- Simon Says, Group Yourselves Into, Jump-Shout Es! Em! and "Sinong Gusto ng Prize?-Bumalik sa Upuan Nya!" (the host's creative way of making the kids follow and behave whenever needed)

It was just sad that the goods we were bringing were only for 200 kids, ages 5-10 y/o. Stubs were distributed. It was limited and it was (personally) limiting. Aside from the kids who were able to get their food and toy stubs, there were also mothers with their 'babies' (as young as 7 months old) who wanted to get a share from the small feast. They breastfed their babies while they begged for food.

"Sige na, Ate. Hindi pa kumakain 'to eh. Isa lang, sige na?"

But as much as I wanted to give all of them the excess burgers, donuts and drinks, I could not. Ms. Cristie answered me as I asked for her permission:

"No. Sabihin mo hindi pwede. Dudumugin tayo nyan, Denise. Pag binigyan mo yung isa, bibigyan mo yan lahat. In charity meron pa din discipline. Minsan dapat bato ka. Masakit yan sa dibdib, pero kailangan masanay."

Oo nga pala. I almost forgot. It's just that I knew we could do a lot... we can do more. Kaya kahit hindi ako pinayagan, meron akong inabutan ng donut at inumin at party hats. Kasi katiting lang yun sa magagawa ko para sa kanila.

Nakakadurog lang din kasi ng puso. Makikita mo yung saya sa mga mata ng mga bata at ng mga magulang nila. Pero pwera sa naibigay mong pagkain, mga laruan at sa konting kasiyahan sa pagsasalo-salo, maiisip mo din na panandalian lang yung mga naibigay mo sa kanila. Mamaya lang ubos na ang pagkain. Bukas siguro o sa makalawa napagsawaan na n'ya 'yung laruan na iniabot mo. Maalala nya yung mga laro na sinalihan nya. Pero pano yun kinabukasan nya? Palagi na lang bang aasa sa donasyon?