Smiles after Odette (The Outreach Program for Children)

"...so that children will have a smile on their faces." - Catriona Gray

Ormoc City was not exempted of the might of the Super Typhoon Odette. Our city was under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal # 3. People were immediately evacuated before Odette hit the area, and several houses got damaged, too.

Despite of the experiences we had because of the Super Typhoon, we have to be thankful because we were safe. However, let us not forget the fact that many lives were lost (May they rest in peace). Hence, on the 24th of December, my friends and I attended Christmas Midnight Mass as a thanksgiving for the gift of life and for the eternal repose of those who perished.

My friends and I after Christmas Midnight Mass.

After attending the Holy Eucharist, we prepared for our activity which will be held the next day, December 25, 2021. We prepared something special for the children. If my memory serves me right, this is the first Christmas that children were allowed to come out since the beginning of lockdowns due to the COVID 19- Pandemic. Although COVID restrictions were already at ease, still it was difficult because of Odette. But Filipinos as we are, despite the so many storms in life, we always make way to celebrate and commemorate the birth of the Child Jesus. Because of that, on Christmas day, our organization, the Parish Youth Ministry, headed by the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, organized an even for the children. No matter what is happening in the world, our children should always have the reason to celebrate Christmas .

We used our resources and tapped people to help us with our cause. Because of it, on Christmas Day, we were able to make children happy not just once, but five times. Five because the event was divided 5 times during this day because we patterned it to the different mass schedules. Three in the morning and five in the afternoon.

Even if it was drizzling, it was no hindrance to continue the event.

Come to think of it. If us adults were afraid of the typhoon, how much more the children. If we made a lot of efforts to cope up from it, we should double it so that children can cope up, too. Making other people happy is therapeutic. The more positivity people manifests, you'll get it too. Seeing the innocent smiles these children, actually, made me think: "How I wish I could go back to being a child." It was ironic because as a child, I wished to become an adult right away.

Going back, we were really thankful to the donations and collaborative efforts of the people because we were able to give children toys, hotdogs, cookies, ice cream, cotton candies and many more. No matter how simple our gifts to them, they were still happy (ahh. the simple joys in life).

Aside from the children who attended the mass, we also gave to those who were sleeping on the streets. After all, we should always prioritize the least, the last, and the lost.

My friend who is also a teacher was assigned in the Toy Table to give toys to the children lining up.

No matter how tired we were, and some of us actually just got home from Cebu a day before, we never let it took over because we want to make these children enjoy Christmas with our simple gestures done with extraordinary love.

My friend, Alex, taking a nap. She slept late because they were making munchkins for the children.
I featured her wonderful story. You might wanna check it. Click here to read the life of Alex.

He is Fr. Aldwin. He was assigned in the Ice Cream Table giving ice cream to children.

We ended the event full of happiness. No matter how tired we were, the feeling of community energized us. The happiness that the children manifested was an indication that simple acts can go a long way. COVID-19 and Super Typhoon Odette may be trying to block us from doing something good but goodness has permeable attributes. It seeps through so that it will be felt by others.

When we finished the activity, we also thought of those children on the most devastated areas. Because of that, we will have another planning to collaborate with our parish so that we will bring good tidings to them. As what St. Therese of Lisieux said, "...to bring heaven here on Earth. Hopefully, we will be able to find sponsors and generate funds so that we can see the "...smile on their faces", too.

To end, let us always remember that we all have the capacity to help. No matter how small or big our help is, so long as it is from the heart, it will go a long way.

Take care always!
Ampyng!

We plan to visit Southern Leyte, soon, if the situation permits to check how we can help.
By the way, if you wish to read my story of the Super Typhoon Odette, you can click here.

NB: Tips, upvotes and reblogs of my posts regarding Odette will really be appreciated. I can use it to extend help to others, too. Thanks!