Our PEARLS Team arrived in Guimaras, Iloilo on December 16 to visit an Aeta community and 3 Elementary Schools to meet all the children in these communities and distribute LEGOS and other early Christmas gifts.
At Guimaras, we had a courtesy call with Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin. Thank you Gov for providing our PEARLS Team with a vehicle for our two-day outreach in your province. Also, thank you Ms. Rebecca Tubongbanua, former Guimaras Rotary President, for the assistance and support!
First Christmas gift-giving day at Guimaras: Aeta Community at Jordan. Over a hundred children received LEGO toys and other special Christmas treats; and the parents received boxes of champorado mix.
Thank you LEGO Charity, Denmark for sending thousands of toys that we are giving to underprivileged children around Philippines.
We started our 2nd PEARLS Outreach Day at the historical Guisi Lighthouse in Guimaras.
A perfect and symbolic place to seek guidance for our PEARLS journey.
PEARLS Team’s first stop is at the home for the aged, Asilo de Molo at Iloilo.
The Christmas gifts we brought for the elderly at Asilo de Molo, Iloilo are not even enough to cover our heartaches and tears for them. Their joy of seeing visitors are priceless and heartbreaking at the same time.
Note to ourselves: Love and value thy mother and father, and their mothers and fathers.
88 year old retired nun is giving our @projectpearls Founder, Melissa a blessing and ageless words of wisdom.
Day 2, 1st stop: Paaralan ng Buhay ng Tanglad, Guimaras.
Christmas gift-giving for 151 children at this elementary school. We thank everyone at the school for the warm welcome, special program and the beautiful Christmas lantern.
Day 2, 2nd stop: Paaralan ng Buhay ng Maabay, Guimaras.
Over a hundred school children received LEGO toys and more gifts. Their excitement in building their LEGO toys made their day; their gratitude and smiles made our day.
Day 2, 3rd Stop: Dasal Elementary, Guimaras.
Everyone is so cheerful and hospitable at this school, from the school principal, faculty, faculty to all the school children.
We came with gifts to give and we left richer by their warmth, generosity and genuine appreciation.
Who knew there is also a “Smokey Mountain” in Iloilo city.
We held a Christmas gift-giving to the children of Calahunan dumpsite at Manduriao this morning. Although dumpsite communities are already very familiar to us, we still find it heartbreaking. Truly, no child (or families) should be living and working on garbage.
We are privileged to share the true meaning of Christmas with these children
