Pasko ng mga Batang Mangyan (Christmas of Mangyan Children)

      Doing something special for these Mangyan kids on Christmas. Showing them that they are loved and will remember all year long. This holiday season is the perfect time when these kids & their families usually get such things as a grocery pack, a new pair of clothes, and a simple toy like a car or doll. We are so thankful to the many individuals who have taken these children into their hearts and are committed to helping/sponsoring them!

      "Keep Hope Alive" Youth Volunteers celebrated Christmas with Cabuyao Mangyan kids & their families. We send some of our mighty volunteers to celebrate with them. Thanks Kuya Leo Jan, Ate Leamay, Ate Sheila Mae, Ate Gaye Rosabel & Ate Elaine for your gifts of love. Thank you Sir Rico & Sir Elmer for inviting us!

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My 2012.

Since it’s near the end, I guess it’s time for us to start back from the beginning and recount 2012 as a whole. This post is going to be terribly long, but i’d really appreciate it if you’d read it all. It’s not very well written, as I’m just kind of rambling on, just so you know. 

I changed so much as a person in so little time, it’s astonishing to look back to the person that I was. I was timid, quiet, afraid to try new things, and simply a person I didn't like at all. I struggled with many kept secrets and wanted so badly to let go of a lot of things so that I could start feeling good about myself and how I perceived myself and how I wanted others to perceive me. I’m slowly getting there and I know that I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for certain people in my life…and no matter if we aren't all together or if we’re not all friends now, I could never regret anything that happened. I visited different places and met new friends. I appreciate the life that I have now and I’m glad I haven’t died yet…there is just so much waiting for me.

2012 has been the most interesting year of my existence thus far and the anticipation to what 2013 has to offer is almost too much to bare. I want this year to be over so I can start fresh again. (allyourlight tumblr)

What I will tell my Children about Santa Claus

Like the average 22 year old, I had never considered what I would tell my kids about Santa. I suppose my subconscious assumed I would just tell them he brought presents for them until they figured out on their own that he wasn’t real.

For some reason this year I began to think about the idea. I’m not going to tell you what you should tell your kids, but I want to try and show you why you shouldn’t tell your kids that Santa brought them presents.

It’s lying. Try and justify it however you will, you’re still lying to your kids. It’s easy to say “Well, it’s just a little lie that isn’t going to hurt them”, but I want you to think about something. Let’s say you tell your kids for years that Santa brought them presents, and then they find out that you were lying about that. It’s not a far reach in a child’s mind to wonder what else you lied about. What is they start to assume you made Jesus up as well, simply to get them to behave?

You may laugh at that logic, but I saw an Atheist’s post on facebook that read “Kids, when you find out that Santa isn’t real, remember what your parents always told you about Jesus as well.” Maybe my mind is more child-like than most, but I can completely see how a kid could make that jump from Santa to Jesus.

What I will tell my kids: You can’t just not talk about Santa, he is ingrained into our culture. I will tell my kids that he was a real person who lived centuries ago who gave gifts to the less fortunate. People like to dress up like him for fun and pretend. He doesn’t fly around on a sleigh, and Rudolph is a made up character, like in cartoons.

I will also be sure to tell my children the real meaning of Christmas, which is honoring Jesus. I will also make sure I show this to them by involving the entire family in giving to organizations such as Operation Christmas Child.

While it may seem trivial, I would advocate that you exercise caution when thinking about what you will tell your kids. Try and justify it how you will, telling your kids that Santa flies around the entire world and gives presents to others is still lying, and I don’t want my children to ever have to wonder if I am being truthful. (Reblog from Tumblr.com)