Make a Kid Smile – Bankal, Lapu-Lapu

Last Saturday was a blessed day when I joined Liv G. Ocampo of The Lugaw Project and her friend, Johanna Baliad of Tulak Lapu-Lapu to Bankal, Lapu-Lapu for a feeding and short lecture activity. Blessed to have met these ladies who share a common ground on reaching out to children and feed them not only with nutritious food but also instill in them the good values to become better individuals.

 

It was my first time to visit these kids who live beside a dumpsite with their families. In my formative years, I grew up in an environment with people not having much and I’ve gone to different areas helping other people with their needs as well. However people especially the little children living in Bankal, Lapu-Lapu was a different story to tell. It broke my heart seeing these kids whom I believe deserve more from life.

 

During the activity, seeing them listen to you — hanging on to every word you say with respect was truly a beautiful sight. I was moved looking at these children wearing huge smiles on their faces when we gave them a smiley sticker and champorado. Their happiness over simple things humbled me to no end. Thank God for these children.

 


(Thanks to The Lugaw Project for this video.)

 

 

 

I had a lot of fun with the kids sharing an environmental story about Juan’s bad habit of not being responsible with the trash. I enjoyed their enthusiasm and eagerness to listen to what happened to Juan. And from the follow-up questions I gave them, they all answered in unison! Lingawa jud ui!

Thanks Liv and Johanna for inviting me yesterday. And thanks to OPAV, Simply Share Foundation and Rise Against Hunger for providing the packaged meals for the children.

 

I’ll be seeing you kids soon! 🙂

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