Blessings for Salay Elementary School

Silya para sa Karunungan Program, School Supplies & Medical Mission (4th Infantry Batallion - Phil. Army) and Feeding Program (Sangguniang Bayan Members). On behalf of Salay parents, teachers & pupils, we would like to thank you for your generous gift. Your commitment to help our community is sincerely appreciated.

My Alma Mater (Elementary)

       My elementary experience was full of fun and excitement.  It was hard and full of adventure, too.  Elementary life is very challenging and I am proud to complete it.  Too much playing and going out with friends are some of the reasons why I was not able to concentrate enough on my studies. Nevertheless, I got the top spot in the class J

Salvacion Elementary School

In my elementary level, I learned many things from my subjects and from my encounters with friends.  It was fun and exciting, meeting new friends and guys. I enjoyed chatting and playing with them.  We shared jokes and laughter.  Sometimes we were being scolded by our teachers due to being very “makulit”.  It was there that we did not listen to our lesson, sometimes we copy each other’s assignments and we tease each other.  But of course, I'm doing my assignment on my own.  During break time we ran after each other, teasing one another.

I have many plans after elementary graduation. Pursuing to a higher education is my major plan. I want to be ready before I finally face my high school life.  I must face this new challenge with pride and will try my best to finish it with awards.  I did. Now another challenge, building my career and profession. By God's grace, there's so much in stored for me, let’s wait and see…

Five Things You Love about You

I’m borrowing this idea from Downtown Dharma, because it’s an excellent exercise in self-love.

Could you list five things you love about yourself?

I’ll go first.

   1. I serve and love the Lord

   2. I can draw and paint.

   3. I care so much about people and will help them if I can.

   4. Good listener, very kind hearted and loving ^_^

   5. I find myself funny, and love to make others laugh, and cheer them up.

What I found surprising is the lull that I experienced between points #4 and #5. Seriously, it took all weekend to write this blog. I’d like to think I have pretty decent self-esteem, but even I fumbled at complimenting myself.

You’d think it would be easy to be nice to yourself, but self-criticism and judgment just comes more naturally to some. It takes nothing to look at the negative, but the positive is always ducking behind a tree.

Remember a moment in your life when you look in the mirror and go: “I’m good enough. I’m smart enough and cute and pretty/handsome, people like me? It was funny and cheesy… but it was kinda on to something.

When’s the last time you said something nice about yourself out loud? If it’s been a while (or maybe never), you’re long overdue.

You can’t wait for people to notice the good things about you. You have to recognize and celebrate them for yourself. I mean, after all, if you don’t like you, who else will? Loving oneself is the healthiest thing a person could do, you must love yourself first and have confidence in yourself. Then relationships, friendships being great at your job, at school will be an easy process.

One of my mother’s many words of advice is: “Speak positive things about yourself everyday.” So go for it. Don’t be shy; toot your own horn. List five things you love about yourself and post it below.

Try.

I am often asked what motivated me to accomplish these things at my age. My answer is simple. I was willing to try.

With Mangyan family at Quinomay, 2008

I'm a regular teenager when I started caring for the kids in my community. I started out with free Saturday lessons (academics, acting, dance and arts) and Sunday school teaching. When I was in college I decided to launch a feeding and health program for young children in my community. I initially involved about 50 kinder students in the feeding program and another 30 kids for healthy teeth campaign. Some of these kids don't have their own toothbrushes because of poverty and family economic conditions.  In nursing school, we are taught to be responsible for our own community, be an advocate of health and welfare especially for those people in need and to educate people about health issues, improve community health and safety, and increase access to care. Today, more than 350 students are part of this program every 3 months. I can’t contain the happiness every time I see the joy and heartfelt smiles of these kids; it’s fulfilling and motivating - priceless. I’m excited to do it again and again! I’m really happy seeing them growing and learning. In accomplishing this, I wouldn't consider myself gifted with a big heart, special, or anything else. I'm just someone who thinks "I can." Sometimes that it all it takes.

Art lessons with my cousins and siblings, 2007

With Mangyan kids, 2008

With kids, 2009

I have done health lectures and art workshops for children in the community and the greatest passion I've heard have come from them. Sometimes those great ideas never take flight because the kids who came up with them are looking at all the reasons that they can't make it happen instead of all the reasons they can! Thinking that you "can" will soon turn into believing that you really "can."

And once you believe it - it will begin to happen for you. There are always emotional, physical and financial resources which are available for the people who want to do something great for their communities. Volunteers and mentors are out there who share your dream and are willing to step up and help. They are just looking for someone with a vision and age, often, has nothing to do with brilliance, courage, and wisdom... Everyone can dare to be the person they truly are by living their dream if they are just willing to try!

Gift giving, 2010

Anti-Dengue Drive, 2010

                                      

                    Feeding Program, 2011

I know as kids we say "when I grow up I want to be..." I'm here to say, START NOW! You don't have to wait until you grow up to make a valuable difference in this world. And isn't that what we all want to do? Make the world a better place? I believe with all my heart that we design our own futures. We have God who has all the power to make things happen for ourselves. Some worry that someone won't "let" them do what they want to do. Do your own research, show people why you can.

Health Drive, 2011

Healthy Teeth Campaign, 2012

My mentors and supporters, my elementary teachers

You probably heard the old saying "keep your eye on the prize." That saying works for me. I believe what the end result is that I really want, and in God’s perfect time, I believe it can happen. That has brought me results of happiness every time. Don't wait to be asked. Be the person who acts. You know you have it in you. As I said before, all it takes to make a difference in your personal life, your family, community, your country and your world is to be the person who is willing to try. After that, everything else falls into place.

These kids surprised me with their birthday cards, greetings and artworks.

Two of my 'alaga'.

Feeding Program 2012

You don't need approval or permission from anyone but yourself to step up and make a difference. If you really believe in yourself, and your abilities, others will too. Your faith, passion and belief in yourself will bring the resources and support you need to make it happen. Tomorrow's world is yours so today, this moment, whatever you do for yourself and the community will be a great expansion. There are lot of young men and women all around the globe performing brilliant things to make this world a better place to live in; you can be one of them.

Kids lining up for Veggie Soup and Cereal Milk.

With Ma'am Mecca, distributing school supplies.

My favorite kid - during Healthy teeth lectures.

Keep Hope Alive kids after feeding program.

My Trip to Dubai

           Dubai is one of the seven city-states that comprise the United Arab Emirates. It is located on the northern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, fronting the Persian Gulf. Dubai is a prime location in the oil-wealthy Middle East, with Europe and America to the west and China, India and the Pacific Rim to the east.

At Hong Kong Int"l Airport

My July 2010 trip to Dubai was unexpected in that I never really imagined myself ever travelling to the Middle East until I got a call from one of my boss about a month before Ramadan, asking me if I'd travel to Dubai in July-August to have a vacation/tour and assist his office with some health care planning efforts. I agreed and, in early July, off I went to the sands of Arabia. Before that call, I’ve always wanted to go since I read that Dubai is one city that’s been developing at a rapid rate! I want to go on an adventure on the sand dunes, check out their indoor skiing and high rise building. He arranged everything and almost instantly, I was on the plane. Everything came so fast. I knew one day in the future I will fly in an air plane but didn’t know it would come so fast. I stayed at Al Sondos Hotel by Le Meridien and Hyatt Regency Hotel in Deira.

Hyatt Regency Hotel

Al Sondos Hotel by Le Meridien

Although, the sand there is quickly being replaced with skyscrapers, highways, shopping maul and golf courses. As a recent article in The Guardian reports said that Dubai is the fastest-growing city in the world. The amount of development currently underway there is, in fact, nothing short of mind-boggling. Literally hundreds to thousands of high-rise buildings are currently under construction, including the recently furnished Burj Dubai or Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. It is said that about sixteen percent (16%) of the world's supply of high-rise construction cranes is currently found in Dubai. Such a claim is hard to verify, but the skyline of Dubai is nevertheless dotted with cranes and construction tools. 

Deira City Center

Dubai Railway System

Office and Hotels buildings as well as residential towers are being built at a feverish pace, with much of the development and construction occurring in specific location with names like Motor City, Healthcare City, Internet City, Knowledge Village, International City or Festival City. I personally experience Motor and International City, a haven for expatriates and their families. Then there's the stuff being built right off the coast: the three man-made palm-shaped islands currently under construction or the artificial archipelago being developed in the form of the world. It all really has to be seen first-hand in order to be believed.

Internet City

Sheik Zayed Road

Motor City

 I also visited Burj Dubai, Burj Al Arab, the 7-star hotel and the Jumeira Hotels and Beaches. The absence of corporate taxes in Dubai is expected to attract bulk of businesses over the coming years, while its sunny climate is expected to attract tens of thousands of wealthy individuals and families from all different of the world eyeing for a sunny vacation condos.

Burj Dubai

Why the frenetic construction boom? Dubai real estate is obviously a hot commodity and housing prices are already so high that a sizable chunk of the city's workforce resides in Sharjah, the neighbouring emirate to the north, where housing costs are somewhat cheaper. My Aunt is residing there together with other Filipino workers. Mosques in Sharjah are stunning and beautiful especially at night. I also visited Al Ain and Ras Al Khaima districts. 

Gold Souk

Sharjah Grand Mosque

Ras Al Khaima

Nevertheless, there is something vaguely unsettling about the surreal scale of construction currently underway in Dubai. Is this incredible frenzy of construction really justified? Can all this office, residential, hotel and retail space now under construction really be absorbed?

Wild Wadi

Jumeira Hotel

Jumeria Beach

Burj Al Arab

Generally speaking, Dubai is a safe, clean and prosperous city. Most people speak English and virtually all the signs are bilingual (Arabic and English) so getting around is not a problem. It’s a bit fortunate that I get to see as much of Dubai as I would have liked; my bos provided me with transportation. The city is also a very cosmopolitan place. 

Tourists

About 80% of Dubai's population are expatriates from all over the globe; this creates a fascinating mix of peoples, cultures and cuisines. Indian, Thai, Pakistani, Filipino, Chinese and European restaurants are everywhere, as are stables of American culture such as Hard Rock Cafe, Starbucks, Chili's, McDonalds or Burger King. I’ve met a lot of friends and Kababayan there.  I especially developed a taste for Arabian and Indian food while I was there; in fact, I think I ate more hummous and tabbouli during my four weeks in Dubai than I've eaten in my entire life. Also, I did most of the “must dos” in Dubai, such as take an Abra (water taxi) ride along the Dubai Creek, visit the glimmering Gold Souk in Dubai’s old city of Deira, and see the massive Ski Dubai indoor ski slope at the gleaming new Mall of the Emirates.  

Dubai Mall

All in all, it was an interesting experience and I would definitely return to Dubai. If you’ve ever wanted to visit the Middle East, this is the place to start.

Mall of the Emirates