Last Monday (I know it’s a week-late post), the JPIA officers went to a suburb area in Brgy. Santiago to donate school supplies to kids.

We first went to Vhan’s boarding house so that we can finish packing up the school stuff. We came up with a small program so that the distribution will be systematic and organized then headed towards Brgy. Santiago.

I know that Brgy. Santiago is one of the poorest places in the city. It’s also not suitable for living because it is where the dumpsite is located and you can get all kinds of diseases there. When we arrived at the area, I can’t help but feel my heart get crushed.

The left side part in this photo is only about 5% of the dump site. It’s actually a huge stretch of trash extending about several meters from this area.

By the time we arrived, we looked for an area to place our stuff so that we can distribute them properly. The news of our arrival spread like wildfire. Look at these kids run!

We asked the kids to line up and started the distribution with a prayer. Their names and their level in school were listed for future programs that the JPIA will hold sometime around October. Each kid was given a bag worth of school supplies and bread. Meanwhile, I took pictures of these little kids eagerly waiting for their share.

This kid right here caught my attention:

On the outside, he looks like a regular boy who loves playing his sword pretending to be some warrior he may have seen in movies. The people there tell me that this kid had been overdosed with some medicine when he was sick. I think his speech was a little impaired. We tried communicating with him but we couldn’t understand what he was saying despite him being already 3 years old.

I also noticed that the kids are very fond of badminton even though they only had a pair of damaged badminton rackets and shuttlecock. I really want them to have a playful childhood. Hopefully something can be done and that will be the goal of JPIA - to have more people as beneficiaries and assuring that everyone will be given the right stuff for school.

We’ll definitely be back sometime by October. Hoping to see your bright faces again!