Act of love (Kanlungan ni Maria)

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It was always my dream to be a part of a group who has a goal to  reach for the lost, the poor and the needy. When I started blogging, I got to know many wonderful people who has the same vision  as mine. So  the " Pinoy bloggers outreach" was born. Our vision is to take the blogging experience to the next level by sharing our heartfelt support to the less fortunate. I am so lucky to be a part of these awesome young people. 

My  opportuniny came to be a part of the outreach when the group celebrated our first anniversary and it happened to be that I was in the Philippines. Dream came true. I was like in heaven. 

Meeting co-bloggers who had done so much to make this anniversary so meaningful was an experience that I will cherish in my heart.

So this is the day. They  gave me a PBO T-shirt to wear on that day. So happy to be with the young ones visiting the young once:) They call me Mommy Joy. 

 A total of 60 bloggers and volunteers made it to the program that Sunday. Fr. Dari Dioquino, the priest in charge of the institution, received the volunteers with much hospitality on behalf of the staff and elders of Kanlungan.

Kanlungan ni Maria received boxes  and bags of necesseties from PBO and money donations which he was so thankful for since this institution lives only from donations given by people who visits them and with God's provisions.

For more information of Kanlungan ni Maria please visit http://pinoybloggersoutreach.blogspot.no/

                           
Anyway, I want you to meet Arline and Christian: Together with other bloggers, organized this event and had done an excellent work. Thumbs up to all.

We have two nurses in the group: Kevin Barrios and Moises Bilang who conducted a test with the elderly like: blood pressure assesment , glucose and cholesterol monitoring.

Well, what do we have here? A Jollibee mascot bringing smiles to eveyone. Young and old.

The PBO volunteers participated too in different parlor games that made the elderly laugh. Precious moments.

                                                      The singing group          

But what I remembered most was Nanay Pina to the left. I noticed her at once because of her name. She told me that  her real name is Josefina. Same name as my mother.  I believe she said that she is 85 years old. So I began talking to her. She really is a wonderful woman who recites poems, sings and still dance although she uses a crutch already.

She asked me to go with her where her bed was. She wanted to show me ribbons that she was making to sell, but that day, she didn't manage to make some because we came:)

On top of her chest of drawers was a picture of her. She told me that she won a prize for having the best smile of them all. Don't you agree? :)

Anyway, despite of their situation, she is very happy to be there. The elderly who lives there has no  more families to take care of them.

My next encounter with a sweet woman was with Lola Trudis, I believe it is her name:)

Me and yccos were assigned to give her a rose and a gift bag. And guess what we found inside her gift bag among other thing? A dress which she liked very much.

But the most touching part was when yccos discovered that grandma Trudis never had a family or a husband. When we asked her why, she told us that she was a snobbed one when she was young and that was the reason she lived alone all her life.  Since yccos has no boyfriend yet, I gave her an advice not to follow grandma Trudis footsteps.

Yccos asked her where she came from, but she couldn't remember until Yccos said one word from Bicol which Grandma Trudis recognized. Then, they both cried when they found out that they came from the same place. Well, I am a Bicolana too and that made us all teary eyed.

Well, in every gathering, food is a necessity. So here are the food commitee. Still smiling although they had been working all day. Thanks for the the food you gave me. I was hungry and you fed me:)

Before saying goodbye to this wonderful event, I asked someone to take a picture of me and the famous Glenn Tabajeros who is the author of " Unang Putok" book which made the readers laugh and laugh and laugh:)

Saying goodbye  with this hearwarming picture of the elderly. Hope we meet again. Meeting you all made my life richer.

I just hope that I can again join the PBO outreach in the future.) 

Thank you for your hearwarming welcome  and your kindness  to all! I didn't had the chance to talk to everybody, but meeting you all was an unforgettable moment  for me. Until me meet again:)

Leaving you this thought:
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Luke 6:38

JOY

                                            

Viaje Del Sol: Sitio De Amor

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Continuation of my vacation in the Philippines

Day after my homecoming, we went to Sitio De Amor to celebrate Zimon's birthday. He is my third grandchild. Although it was only 18 degrees and it was raining that day, it didn't stop us. We already paid for the trip to the resort, so better enjoy the day no matter what.

Sitio De Amor is almost one hour drive from Victoria Laguna where my mother lives.

As yo can see, it was raining that day. It was cold so everyone had a jacket.
We were on the way to a tree house which we rented for the day.

The tree house. It was big enough for all of us. 

We passed by the swimming pool, but no one was tempted to swim.

The kids tried the water and it was too cold for them too.

The place has a lagoon too. 

My grandkids couldnt resist anymore. They just have to play in the water rain or shine.

But, the water was really cold, so they ended up in the bathtub.

We were satisfied though with the place. Clean and quiet. Well, we were the only visitors:)

This is the main house where they served all the meals

Green plants and trees everywhere

Balm for the soul

Lots of flowers too

Our lunch

The hungry guests

My youngest grandchild Aerith tasting the soup.

Or else, we just rested in the tree house.

Later that day. we sung birthday song to Zimon and everybody had fun!

We brought with us chocolate cake!

Thanks God for the opportunity to be with my family there. Precious moments.

Will be sharing more next post.

JOY

Home to my mother ( Philippines)

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After three weeks vacation in the Philippines, I am now back in Norway. Then it is time to look back and tell you the highlights of my trip there.

After a long flight journey, me and my sister arrived safely home to our mother's house.

As you can see in the picture, my mother is wearing the hat I crocheted in Norway before my journey. I gave it to her and she really liked it very much. Warmed my heart.

Nothing changed much since my last visit there  last year. She still fond of tending  flowering plants. 

I loved them!

Sunrise still fascinates me there in the Philippines. To see the rice fields too from my mother's veranda was really amazing!

Reminded me of my childhood days where me and my mother used to plant rice.

Fresh air refreshed my soul and looking at the view revived my innermost being.

Looks like  a fairy tale world for me!

Quiet every morning as usual since only my mother and her sister lives here. 

We had some visitors too like Lisa who use to run errands to help our mother. She is very kind.

We talked about good old days that made my mother really laugh although it was a sad story then.

Nice to see her laughing coz she seldom do it.

Lisa brought with her fresh watermelon. Oh, it was so sweet.

My mother served fried fish with bitter melon salad and rice. How I missed my mother's cooking!

I spent a few days with my mother before I went to my children to spend time with them.

My granchildren with their parents  came too so we could be together that weekend.

Here are my precious grandchildren. I miss them already!

I will tell more more in my next post!

Thought for the day!

Life can't give joy and peace;

it's up to me to will it.

Life just gives me time and space;

it is up to me to fill it.

Unknown

JOY

Trip to the Philippines

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At last,  the day came for our departuere to the Philippines to visit our families there .My sister was the photographer and I was the old and only model:)

The wind was very strong and it was minus 5 degrees that day. But the sun was up for us travellers.)  My brother -in-law drove us to the fast ferry boat terminal . After traveling by boat in an hour, we walked to the nearest bus station with our luggagesto take the bus to the airport. You can just imagine how we looked like:)

 We left Trondheim ( Værnes airport) at 5 pm and arrived in Amsterdam after 2 and half hours by plane.

Since we had only one hour in Amsterdam, we just run to our next flight to the Philippines. 

After 11 and half an hour we arrived in Taipe. We had to go out of the plane because they have to change the cabin crew and clean the mess from us passengers:)

Some pictures in Taipe Airpot.

I think these sitting places is special!  Want to take a sit?

This is the plane that flew us to the Philippines. Food and service were ok, but the lavaratories were aready dirty and with foul odor  when we boarded the plane.

Left Taipe at sunset

At last, we made it to the Philippines. It was a peaceful travel although most of the passengers were Filippinos:) We are known for talking a little bit louder:) LOL! I supposed we were all tired. 

My second daughter, her husband and their son fetched us at the airport. 

It was already 8 pm and when I tried to capture the lights outside the car window, these are what I got.

So I asked my sister to take a picture of me and Ethan instead. My fifth  grandhild. He likes to pose for the camera:)

After one and half hour driving we arrived at my mother's house in Laguna. Luckily, there was no traffic.

All my grandchildren were present and we were all very happy to see each other again.

There were so many things to talk about that it was already late before we went to bed to get a few hours sleep. We had to wake up early the next day because we were going to a resort to celebrate Zimon's birthday.

This is my mother's house were we stayed for a few days.

But typical me, a flower girl, I  I snapped some flower pictures from my mother's garden.

Actually, I thought that I would not be needing a sweater here, but it was only 18 degrees here on that Saturday morning and it rained. So I borrowed one from my daughter-in-law.

Anyway, it is nice to be here with my loved ones:)

Will tell more from Sitio de Amor resort!

JOY