This November is quite loose month for everyone especially on the places where alert levels are getting down, but there are still places where people chose to stay in home quietly and peacefully even though cases are (somehow) decreases. We noticed the frequent lessening of strictions and borders to give way to some business in rising our economy. As we see the number of people outside, we realized that this pandemic corners us in every part of the house. Sometimes, getting life outside is a chance for us to find ourselves again back to basics. Today, it does not necessarily mean that if we go outside, we tend to forget the safety of everyone. All of us are keeping in mind to be safe from surroundings. And let us face that this new normal will be part of our daily lives to survive.
After I posted the article regarding to de-stressing ourselves from school works, this article constitutes the activities we had last fruitful week. In ESP Department, there is a traditional activity where every month of November conducts a Gift-Giving to a certain orphanage near in our home town. According to one of the Master Teachers I’ve talked, it’s their simplest way to help less fortunate people especially those children who have been abandoned nor left behind. They chose this foundation because every one of them has love to children (that is why we are teachers). Aside from this, one of the pillars in ESP is a childhood-friend of Mother-Sister, the one whom taking care the orphanage. (I forgot the name, so I use “Mother-Sister” as her screen name).
Last year is my first year in ESP Department or Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao Department. They say ESP is the easiest subject in High School because of its shallow lessons or contents. Furthermore, it’s Tagalog in medium that far from other subjects. However, if we truly see the real context of this subject, ESP is the hardest subject for everyone. Why? Because not everyone can apply to be humane. Not everyone can learn how to be a human. And not everyone can understand the true purpose of being a human. I have heard this saying, “Everyone can be educated but not totally well-mannered.” I am grateful that these people have touched my life so I can improve myself more than I am.
These pictures showed the Gift-Giving we had last year in the same orphanage. That year, we had a time to buy goods and materials they can use every day. As far as I remember, blankets, pillowcases, groceries, curtains, mats, some clothes and cash gift for the whole orphanage. We have bunch of pictures but I chose this because one of their rules is to avoid posting pictures of the children for safety purposes and confidentiality.
This year, 2021, our department is able to go again in Bahay ni San Jose, the orphanage they have been supported since then. When we went down, it was so soundless. There were no faces of children, there were no voices that we truly we miss to hear from them. This is because the organization have decided to stay close the children from people to avoid any direct contacts. They just protecting the children and it is really understandable. We arrived around 10 in the morning, the people there and us had short great conversations. According to plan, every one agreed to give a cash gift for this year agenda. Since these past few months were reasonably strict due to restrictions, we can’t able to buy goods. Moreover, this year’s workloads in school are going beyond a normal limit. So, after giving the cash gift, we prayed in their chapel and capture other fruitful moments with them.
To maximize our time, Maam Reghs invited us to the farm few minutes from the orphanage. ESP Dept is a one-call-away company, we decided to see that farm. We did not even think that this farm would bring so much enjoyment to all of us. Since I am the youngest and their bunso, I became the photographer for them haha and it’s completely good because I really enjoyed capturing our happy moments together. Besides, they are mommies so they gave extraordinary posing styles and the overflowing laughs brought us in the most favorite ingredients in our department----camaraderie and harmonious relationship to each other.
Some of our pics are here ⬇️
Of course, tummies are calling. To make our day extra happy, we had our late lunch in Affinitea. It is a small food resto that offers “unli” for everyone. We chose unli wings, pasta, shanghai, sisig and iced tea. It is popular because of its delicious and crispy unli wings that will complete your cravings and taste for chicken.
After this, everyone is leaving gleeful with wide smiles on their faces and pure hearts for more grateful happenings like these. As their bunso, I am truly grateful because I have met these people who makes my growing teaching career more meaningful and help me to be a better person in life.
