By rejjventress – Posted on 23 October 2009
Written by Big Brother Big Sister
It was a hot day in October, a stark contrast to the stormy weather that was the cause of this gathering. Children sat Indian-style beneath canvas shelters temporarily shielding them from the heat of the sun. When emcee Aryxz Centra warned the kids to behave, lest the spaceship carrying Stormtroopers from Star Wars will not land, they all strained their eyes to peek through the tarpaulin canvasses, hoping for a glimpse of the said spaceship.
As an urgent response to children in need, Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) joined forces with the Philippine Outpost of the 501st Legion for a special project dubbed BBBS-Ondoy. This project is geared towards the students of Eastern Star Academy (ESA) in San Mateo, Rizal, who lost their school belongings in the flood caused by typhoon Ondoy (international codename: “Ketsana”).
To start off, a group of students danced to the tune of “Nobody But You”, where volunteers Eds, Tina, She, Jepay and Al gamely participated. While some students were playing parlor games, other students went around and bashfully approached the volunteers with thank you cards which they made themselves. It was a poignant moment when students recited poems they wrote about how they felt when Typhoon Ondoy hit them. A boy from grade 2 sadly recalled that he had to perch on the roof for days in order to stay alive. It was a sea of young faces, expressing grief over the loss of loved ones, dismay over the destruction of their homes, and shock over a traumatic experience.
Because of the generosity of sponsors who willingly shared their blessings, the project was able to reach its goal of providing notebooks and writing pads for the students in all levels, from Nursery to High School. Exceeding the target, Philippine 501st Legion and BBBS handed over a check of Thirty Thousand Philippine Pesos (P30,000) to Principal Pia Roxas for the textbook funds of the students.
Much to the amusement of the children, the Philippine 501st Legion representatives, Regina Layug and Oneal Rosero, appeared in their Stormtrooper costumes. Enduring the heat, they eagerly posed for photos with everyone, not just the students but the teachers and volunteers as well.
To cap the event, Julie’s Bakeshop gave away packs of assorted bread products to the students, teachers and volunteers, while snacks and drinks courtesy of the 501stLegion were also distributed.
Special thanks to the volunteers who shared their time to help repack and distribute the supplies to the children. The teachers of ESA were all in unison saying this is a BIG HELP to them. The short time the volunteers spent for the kids was time well-spent. They brought to the kids a string of hope – that things will get better and that there’s a way out and a way up.
Principal Pia said, “I don’t know you but it was God who led you to us. I don’t want to cry now, but the teachers and parents are still crying since the storm. The only thing we can repay you with is our prayers.” It was their prayers that brought BBBS and 501st Legion to ESA, and it was also their prayers that sent off the volunteers when they bade goodbye. If prayers led us to these children, then prayers can indeed lead us to move more mountains and to reach more children.
More photos on the Big Brother big Sister Multiply site: