Wednesday, December 31, 2008
light at the end of the tunnel | 8:01 PM
3SA, Manila Trip (3-9 Nov)
St. Andrew's Secondary
As the year draws to a close, are you feeling blue
because of the bleak circumstances around you?
Do you feel caged up in your hopeless situation?
Are your days filled with long shadows that never seem to go away?
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Allow me to ask you this :
Have you met a person who is born with no sight?
Given a massage by a blind person who makes the best of life
with the other senses he still possesses?
Heard the most joyest and soulful heart-song crooned by one who cannot see?
Shake hands with children who live in slums with the barest minimum?
Smile at a dog sleeping blissfully despite its dire surroundings?
So what if you may be living with a crippling disease?
You are not yet a dead fossil.
So go ahead, play hard.
If you have a job, work at it passionately.
Take a break to do a song
and dance once in a while.
(It's best with the company of great friends!)
Eat well.
But don't forget to exercise to burn those excesses.
Share a burden.
Share your time and resources with those in need.
Live life to the fullest.
Labels: CIP, Phillippines, work
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Lelong Lelong!!! | 12:25 PM
3SA, Manila Trip (3-9 Nov)
St. Andrew's Secondary
What are they looking for?
At the basketball court in Brookside Village, the team brought out the bags of clothes to distribute to the adults and children.
At Solomon's distribution outlet, bodyguards stand watch over the goods.
After awhile, even they too, become "ah sohs" and begin to fish around for good bargains.
"What are YOU looking at??? HMMPH!"
Solomon found the perfect fit for this kid - not an easy task at all.
Then it starts all over again - battling the surging crowds and even fallen bodyguards...
Labels: CIP, Phillippines, work
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I fed a child! | 1:59 PM
3SA, Manila Trip (3-9 Nov)
St. Andrew's Secondary
At Brookside Village, we visited the pre-kindergarden where the Singapore students presented an action song to the little ones. 
Thereafter, a group of us joined in the feeding session. 
It was quite a challenge to ladle enough for each child and also for the line of kids which never seem to end. 
Apparently, the other children from the village, which is made up of families of settlers who had previously lived in the slumps, also came along to get a share of free lunch.
The best bit was teaching some of my former students to feed the children. They did not believe me when I told them that I have never done this before. Believe me. I have not fed a child before in Singapore. 
Initially, most of the Singapore students felt inadequate at the task. After some encouragement, it was really heartwarming to see them teach and encourage their friends at the same task. :)
Labels: CIP, Phillippines, work
Friday, November 21, 2008
i.arrow.you.paint | 6:24 PM
3SA, Manila Trip (3-9 Nov)
St. Andrew's Secondary
This is Brookside village which houses former slum dwellers living at and around the mountain of rubbish.I do not recall seeing the water tank a few years back so that must be a new addition.
One of our tasks assigned at Brookside is to model along this street aptly named Singapore Street - I'm kidding about the modelling bit of course!
The street is named that because groups of Singaporeans like us have dropped by bearing gifts and labour.
Painting the facade of some houses was one such assignment.
As you will probably realised, it was the kids who were performing the hard labour while we adults stood around with magic fingers and glib tongues to motivate the former. :P
See how happy they are doing what they are doing? Three cheers to the adults! (and the kids of course!)
Labels: CIP, Phillippines, work
