Reachout : Damas De Filipinas

It was a sunny and bright Sunday, 22 July 2007. It was the day that the Lord had made for a number of TEENS Program and SINGLES Program members, with the support and assistance of the YOUTH Ministry core (and prayer groups like MMG, JON, SJW and OLP; and a number of individuals who in one way or another extended their help and support – materials, financial and prayers) to spend with the “less fortunate” children at Damas de Filipinas.

Formerly known as “Fundacion de Damas de Filipinas Settlement House”, the “Asociacion De Damas Filipinas” is a non-profit organization / non-government society founded on September 26, 1913 by Dra. Honoria Acosta Sison (the first lady physician in the country). The Settlement House was razed by fire in December 1998, killing 25 children and five caretakers. The then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada acted swiftly to help the non-profit Damas rebuild the shelter in 45 days.

The Asociacion accepts neglected, abandoned, abused and orphaned children aged 2 months to 8 years old - when they reach age seven, they will be transferred to the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) and Boys Town at Bacood Street, Sta. Mesa, Manila for their schooling.

The children started the program with their very touching prayers and songs – which penetrated deep into the hearts and brought repressed tears instantly to the eyes of all.

And then, everybody really had a blast in every activity there was in the program. A number of fun games (such as paper / statue dance, stop dance, trip to Jerusalem and longest line) were staged. The stop dance game (where a Singles/Teens member was grouped with two of the children) showed the most touching moments – the children happily and tightly clinging to their Singles/Teens partners just as the music stops! Oh, what a sight!

As the Teens/Singles wanted to make an impression to the children in a number of impromptu presentations and action dances, the children could not just let their guards down that easy as they showed their very best in their presentations (cheers, dancing, singing, poems and prayers) – and whoa! Would we have expected that they would do their group presentations in a very well-choreographed and in near-perfect unison!?

And of course, the best seller: Body / Face painting! As if every kid would want some moments to be “different”!

Lunch (of spaghetti and hotdogs, with juices and ice creams) was served before mid-noon. The prepared food was initially thought to fall short for everybody but by the grace of God, there were even leftovers!

The program would not end without gift-giving to the children and to the Settlement House. Prizes were given to the winners of the games and loot-bags were distributed to all of the children in the house (for the distribution, we even had a clown from San Juan’s Mascot Services for free!). A pool of gifts were graciously presented and handed over to the administrator of the Settlement House: Electric fans, boxes of diapers, milk powders, biscuits, juices, cotton buds, toothpastes and toothbrushes, soaps, shampoos, lotions, and used clothes.

The activity was planned primarily to bring hope, joy, happiness and positive outlook in life to the “less fortunate” kids at least for the moment the visit was made, but most of those who went to the visit, if not all, claimed to have experienced otherwise – that they gained more out of the experience. General sentiment was that, it was very humbling to realize that those we see as “less fortunate” would find full happiness, joy and satisfaction even on the simplest of things more easily than the “more fortunate” ones. It was everybody’s realization that with what the “more fortunate’ ones have (family and almost everything they want), all the ‘more fortunate” ones do would be to complain about what they “just” have and that they even demand for more. Whilst these children, with no families of their own and nothing else but what they need to survive, all they do is cheerily accept and enjoy whatever graces extended to them. And that the “more fortunate” ones would have the most sophisticated things and yet they see nothing of it – thanking no one and feeling short-changed; whilst these children would have the simplest of things and yet they see the most it and they make the most of it – and they thank Jesus for all that they have.

So, “less fortunate”?

“More fortunate”?

Who’s who?

'Till the next reachout experience!

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TEENS SHARE

GOD IS REALLY AMAZING!

We praise God for all who responded to God's call to serve at Damas Filipinas. We thank you for giving your time, talent, treasure and especially your prayer for the Youth Ministry's Reachout. Those who came to the orphanage agreed one thing that GOD is AMAZING! We just heed His call and God provides all, from the food, giveaways and even the program. Hit is the face painting done by Ate Myh (SE3) with the help of Ate Rose (SE2). After the program we seat in circle as we share our experience. We decided that we should continue this kind of activity. Next orphanage to visit is the children of Port Area Manila taken cared by Fr. Alex Callada. See you all and GOD is really AMAZING!

time: 8am-2pm
meeting place: gym sa tejeron
event place: damas filipinas
who: HJM Youth family


hindi na bago sa akin ang ganitong klaseng activity kasi sa st. theresa's college kahit hanggang ngayon sa ust na-eexpose kami sa community service.


pangatlong beses ko ng nakapunta sa damas.


sa pagdating namin sa damas nakita namin ang mga bata na nagpapraktis ng sayaw at kumusta naman! i belong! haha! kasi ang dress code nila eh yellow, at akalain mong naka-yellow din ako! haha!

syempre nagkaroon ng introduction about sa damas at nagkaroon ng iba't ibang presentasyon na alay nila sa amin and kami din meron, sobrang on the spot nanaman yung presentasyon ng mga teens. haha. siyempre di mawawala ang mga parlor games at kainan. hahaha! =))


nakipagsayawan, nakipagkantahan, kulitan, at nakipaglaro kami sa mga bata.


isa sa mga nagustuhan kong nangyari sa amin eh yung marealize namin lahat kung anong meron o wala kami. kasi sa totoo lang eto ang mga klase ng bata na mahirap ang napagdaanan. meron diyan napulot lang sa basurahan, iniwan ng magulang ang isang sanggol sa harap ng simbahan, meron din yung nakakulong ang magulang kaya iniwan sa orphanage, mga nabugbog atbp. kung titignan napaka-swerte natin sa buhay pero katulad ng sabi ko kanina sa sharing "ito ang mga klase ng tao na you will really find the true meaning of "happiness" because despite of what they have experienced they still enjoy life". tama sila ate bubbles at ate mico, na akala namin kami ang may mai-share sa kanila pero at the end of the activity kami pala ang tinuruan nila. tapos tayo we ask more from our parents or from God, hindi tayo nagiging kuntento sa kung anong meron tayo, pero sila simpleng bagay lang masaya sila. perfect example din ung "how we handle our problems", ung feeling natin na sobrang laki na ng problema natin, na pasan na natin ang mundo pero pagnalaman niyo ang pinagdaanan ng mga batang ito baka di natin kayanin.


these kids enjoy what life brings to them. =)


always look for the brighter side ika nga nila.


kase kahit bad ang past nila, ngaun meron namang mga taong nagbibigay ng pagmamahal sa kanila and as what i have witnessed, mas malaki pa nga ang faith nila kay GOD kaysa sa atin. BAKIT?! kasi kahit simple lng yung words na ginagamit nila sa prayer nila madadama mo yung deeper meaning nung prayer kasi ipapadama nila sayo.


i love to serve and habang nabubuhay at kayang magserve, magseserve ako!


be an instrument of GOD.


pramis. swear masaya and ang sarap ng feeling magserve sa kapwa.

pj madrid (teens)

It's been a couple of years now since the last time I went to an institution for a charity work. Ang sarap ng feeling na bumalik sa ganitong service.Matagal ng hinintay ng mga teens (SADE) ang ganitong activity, at sa wakas ay natuloy rin. Medyo mabilisan ung preparation,but thank God everything went well nman. Salamat din sa mga teens na nakapunta at tumugon sa sandamakmak kong reminders.hehe...

***This activity is no longer new to me,and I believe for some as well. I've had a lot of these types of activities when I was still in STC (St. Theresa's College). We've gone through diff institutions-for children,adults,sa may mga kapansanan, daycare centers and even sa street children. Our school made us aware and opened our eyes to these people's situations in life, as early as gradeschool-w/c i'm really grateful of. But what made this activity different from the previous ones that i've had is the realization.

These children made me realize that the problems or challenges that I'm encountering are a lot smaller compared to what they're experiencing,though some of them may not notice it yet. There were certain times in my life (some just very recently), when I felt like giving up with everything. With all sorts of pressure, stress, and problems that I need to deal with, I felt like I was doing nothing, nor I am making any difference with my life, as well as with my family's. I even once thought that everthing in me is failing. I've always been disappointed with myself every time I'm unable to do the things that I need to do and the things that I said or promise I will. But looking at these children, they're telling me that there's no reason for me to give up or even feel down, for I HAVE MY FAMILY. I have my family whom I can run to whenever feel tired, stressed and blue. My family who can give me happiness more than anyone else. A family that makes me feel at ease just knowing that they're there. A family that these children never experienced to have. They may call the people who are taking care of them or the people in that orphanage as their family, but living and growing up with your biological family is a different thing. It's different when you get to experience the love of a father and of a mother. I pity them somehow because of that..on the other hand, I envy them for they see life in a positive way and they are content with what they have. Unlike almost all of us, these kids never wanted more, than love and attention. Love and attention that should have been given by their own family. I see these children as God's instruments for us to appreciate everyone that we have in our life, especially our family. We also need to learn to love and give them importance and not to take them for granted.

Sana maulit ulit ang ganitong activity and I hope more people will make them feel God's unconditional love.

Gie Abanto (Teens)

Orphanage Reachout

For all joining in the Damas reachout on July 22, 2007, we will meet at Gym sa Tejeron (Tejeron St, Sta Ana, Manila, just after Puregold, JP Rizal Ave., Makati City going to Manila) at 7:30 AM for a short meeting before proceeding to Damas. We are to be at Damas by 9:00AM.
Donations may include: Powdered milk (Nido and Bear Brand), Vitamins (for babies and toddlers), baby bath soaps and shampoos, cotton buds, skin ointment and powder, biscuits and juices.You may also donate clothes and toys. We will have a salo-salo so bring food for you and extra for others. May God peace be with us always.