MamiGa

💕💕💕

This is how our "Bundle of Joy" started: a little bit long post.

During my tenure at Saint Augustine Academy, every December, the entire school community, including students, faculty, and staff, would come together to collect various goods and commodities to donate to those in need. This program was known as 'Bundle of Joy,' reflecting the heartfelt and voluntary nature, generosity, and warmth with which we gave.

I was a teacher at Saint Augustine Academy of Bayawan and our journey with the "Bundle of Joy" began at this school. It started about 18 years ago, when my husband came to pick me up to bring me to the United States. I was still working at that time and needed to finish the last day at the end of April. He's with me when I report to school. While he was there, he noticed some teachers repairing old notebooks so they could reuse for the next school year. He wondered why they were doing this, since notebooks are relatively inexpensive.

After I moved to the United States and married him, I left my teaching career. It's not always easy. Then reflecting back, I talked to myself, why did I left my job. I already have a job. I really missed my family. Crying almost everyday. What did I do? That December we started sending balikbayan box to my family and friends anything I can find here. I found it fulfilling seeing them how happy they are.

A year later, we visited back Philippines. At that time, I brought chocolates and makeups for the teachers at Saint Augustine. When they opened the bags, they were so excited, eagerly grabbing what they wanted, laughing and even screaming with joy. This was the second time my husband witnessed how something so simple could mean so much.

On a later trip, we had guests at our home, because of the barangay fiesta. There was a boy who was about 10 years old that my husband will not forget. He wore old and torn clothes. My husband gave him a brand new pair of Levi's and shirt that fit him perfectly. The look on that boy's face lit up, and that changed my husband's outlook for life.

A couple of years later, we began sending balikbayan boxes filled with clothing and notebooks to Saint Augustine, hoping they would arrive by December, since the school usually holds the bundle of joy distribution before Christmas.

On our next trip, we decided to do more. On our son's 7th birthday was going to be celebrated in the Philippines, so we came up with a new idea. We held his birthday party at a school at Caranoche Elementary School, where he gave presents to children, instead of him having presents. We prepared more than 100 bags filled with clothes, towels and some school supplies. We also prepared roasted pig and other foods for the children.

These experiences gave us even more enthusiasm to continue and to see how much more we could do. Since then, every year we send supplies to give away when we visit. And this journey continues.

All these things are nothing without God's guidance and blessings. When actions are driven by pure intentions, God will facilitate the path forward.

😊😊😊

How we choose to see things is purely in our hands—the only thing fully in our control. #PaanoBaTo

nilagang monggo with langka for lunch.💖. kain po tayo.

hapunan.😊

Ang tamis nga avocado na ito.🥰🥰

Panihapon
Pancake + avocado

They said masarap daw ang adobo ko. Maybe because one of the best ingredients that I have is love while doing it.🥰💝