I learn new things everyday.

Tonight's quotable quote is from Nico: "Intimate ang suminghot ng utot ng ibang tao."

(Anubayan. Hehehe...)

Sabi pa ni Nico mas intimate daw ito kaysa sa pag-amoy ng pabango kasi hindi naman 'yun likas na amoy ng tao. Ang utot na galing sa katawan ng iba, kapag nasinghot, nagiging bahagi na rin ng katawan natin. (YAAAK.) Kadiri isipin, but Nico has a point.

Galing kasi kaming instagig sa Ateneo High kani-kanina lang, at naglalakad kami ni Nico papuntang parking lot nang may maamoy kaming mabaho. Di namin alam kung ano o sino 'yung pinanggagalingan ng amoy na iyon (ehehehe kasi may grupong nauuna sa amin) -- basta mabaho lang talaga, kasi naamoy ko kahit sinisipon ako. Dun na nagmula 'yung usapan namin tungkol sa mga natural na proseso ng katawan natin.

All together now... *brlok*!

***

Yesterday I was at Goodwill Bookstore Glorietta for an On-The-Spot poster-making contest for kids. Ang I.n.K. was asked to judge contest entries, and along with a couple of members I was assigned this week's Friday slot.

It was very thrilling to see a lot of creative and enthusiastic kids. I was even surprised at some of the children's level of socio-political awareness. At napaka-positive ng vibe.

Natuwa pa nga ako, nilapitan ako ng magulang ng isang batang nakasama sa top ten for that day. They asked for some comments on their daughter's work, and how she can improve on it. Sabi pa nga ng tatay, nahihiya raw 'yung anak nila kasi karamihan daw ng mga nakikita niyang nagpipinta mga lalaki raw, kaya nilapitan nila ako. (Sabi ko 'Uy, hindi ah!' Hehe...) They were very encouraging. Mukhang proud na proud sila sa anak nila, kahit hindi siya nakasama sa Finals. (In fairness isa siya sa may mga pinaka-creative na concept doon, aliw na aliw nga kami ni Cheps, nagkatalo lang sa execution).

Ayon. Nakakapagod mag-ikot-ikot, magpaalala sa mga magulang at guardians na pasaway, magcompute. Pero sobrang fulfilling ang experience na ito.

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Do you know that for only P15 a day or P450 a month you can send one child to school?

Yes, you can. Your regular donation of P450 a month also gives the child health assistance, helps improve the child's values and the community s/he lives in. :-)

The event I attended yesterday was organized by World Vision, an NGO that helps send underpriveleged children to school. During downtimes I talked with some of the organizers who were very enthusiastic about their advocacy. They look for sponsors for these children, and they monitor the communities as well. (They concentrate in the poverty-stricken provincial/rural areas where government support is non-existent, or if any, very little-- hindi naman kasi nakikita ang mga lugar na ito ng mga pulitiko, di nila alam 'yung mga sitwasyon sa mga maliliit na komunidad sa mga baryo.) And according to them, over 200,000 Filipino children have already benefitted from the child sponsorship program, and over 88,000 are currently under the care of World Vision.

Sponsors receive annual (academic and social) progress reports of their beneficiary (pwede ka pa nga raw mamili ng batang tutulungan mo, they have a large database with profiles and pictures and such), and a chance to interact with them (via letters coursed through WV).

I was moved by some of the stories that I've heard. I brought this up with Nico over dinner and we both decided to help as soon as we have a little money to spare. (Pwede raw naman mag-share ang ilang tao sa isang bata, kung mashadong mabigat ang P450 kada buwan para sa isang sponsor.)

There are other ways where you can help, too. You can invite the NGO to do a presentation in your company, school, church, organization or to your friends, or spead the word. If you're interested in this cause please visit the World Vision website, or e-mail them your inquiries.

***

Sana mayaman ako. Gusto kong maging ganap na pilantropo.

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After dinner last night we watched Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. My take on it: don't think about it too much, just sit back and enjoy the movie. :-)