A JOURNEY TO A CHILD'S GENUINE SMILE
On a beautiful sunny day of March 18, 2023, we the Social Studies Majors initiated an outreach program at Looc, Danao City, Cebu. It is in line with our subject Urban Geography led by our professor Dr. Jeffrey Tagud. The night before the outreach program, everybody was busy preparing for the flow of the event, buying candies for the children games, ingredients for our "lugaw" (chicken, rice, seasonings and other condiments, and drinks for the kids. During the actual day, we woke up early to prepare our lugaw, we cooked it from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. It was not that easy to cook such a massive pot of lugaw, thanks to my very cooperative classmates and everything was pushed through.
Before the event, we have sent a communication letter to the local government of Brgy. Looc, Danao City, informing our intent to initiate an outreach program in their area of concern. One of the council member then agree with our initiative. Thus, she stressed the need of this kind of event in their place to address the problem of malnutrition. We are so happy that they, applaud our intent to conduct our program at Looc.
As soon as the lugaw was ready, we then proceed to the area. Several children were waiting for us there. I just cant hide the happiness of my heart when I see this kids waiting for us, they're so genuine and pure. My love for children once again possessed my body, I can't help but stare at these cute little angels.
We called our program ALAGADSOCSTUD 2023, "Alagad" is a Filipino word for service or care and "SocStud" stand short for Social Studies. The aforementioned program aimed at observing urban population in terms of the physical environment and human behaviors in highly urbanized areas like that of Danao City. Going back to the event, we started the program with a prayer and ask guidance to the Almighty God to make the event a success. After the prayer we then present an intermission number and let the children dance with us accompanied by the music entitled "Girl in the Mirror". The children were so happy dancing, seeing there ates and kuyas dance too. After the short intermission number we then gave them pack of candies and sweets to eat.
Shortly after, we then proceed to the giving of "sospas/pospas" to them. It just good to see such beautiful smiles coming from these children, their genuine smiles just melt my heart. The pospas was good a kid said.
Staring at these kids there's one kid that caught my attention, he did not fall in line, he hid himself behind the walls of a nearby fence, I asked him to join the line. He shook his head no, and ask him why. He replied no answer. What is your name? I asked him, and he replied his name. Where are your parents? They are both in jail due to drugs, he answered. This conversation really touched my heart, no child should felt this way, I fell pity to this kid. I gave him comforting words just to make him feel okay. "Dinhi lang ka, mobalik rako (Stay here, I will be back shortly)", I told him. I bring back to him with a pack of sweets and candies, lugaw, and a lemon juice. He was so happy upon receiving such. I felt pity for the child for experiencing such things at a very young age. Anyway the kid was very happy eating what I gave him, and it makes me feel happy too.
The kids can't consume all the lugaw we made for them and so we also eat together with them. We also gave to the passers by, sikad drivers, tricycle drivers, bus drivers, and those aged individuals that asked for our lugaw. After eating we then distributed the packed juices we made to the children, and we end our outreach program with a bid of farewell to these children.
My experience with these kind of program was really amazing, these things wasn't new to me since I was also immersed in my local community being a youth leader in our barangay. I am so thankful to my instructor for these kind of experience. It was truly unforgettable and worth remembering. Going back to our purpose of analyzing human behaviors and the physical environment, I have observed that kids living in slums behave differently compared to that of living in highly maintained environment and that of the kids in rural areas.
Overall, it was a great and a wonderful experience, I must say, I might go back there soon and asked the kids if they still remember our outreach program the last time. To end this blog, I will leave a short realization from our concluded program, as I grow older I have realized that it is better give than to receive, and cost no penny to be kind. Another thing is that, we tend to help to seek other people's approval, I must say that is not the real essence of help. Helping is something genuine and pure. It is serving the lowliest and the poorest without waiting or asking something in return. It is really better to lose yourself in the service for others, those that are grateful for your help.
That's all for today Hive Fam, I hope you have enjoyed your time reading my blog. Continue supporting my cause and together let us create a livable community where children will no longer feel abandoned and where children will no longer pity themselves because of the things that are out of their control. Our children and youth are our future, let us help protect them with our small acts of kindness. Together these small acts if put together with create a large impacts to their lives. Thank you Hive Fam and have a great day ahead!