Reaching Out to RSCC (Reception and Study Center for Children) - Lubao, Pampanga

Lubao, Pampanga

23 November 2013

RSCC Office, Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga

The Holy Bible says: "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16).

I'm not a party-goer type of a person, but it does not mean that I hate parties. Whenever I hear the words, "Birthday', 'Christmas' and 'Anniversaries', for me they only mean one thing, party!

For my more than 10-year stay at the corporate world, I must say that I, together with my colleagues, must have been truly blessed - to had celebrated our anniversaries and Christmas seasons with fun-filled glittery and some glamorous parties.

Since then, these practices or corporate culture had been imprinted into my system such that when the calendar points to 'ber' - months, I already know what it means even without our bosses telling us.

My type of celebrations could be quite different from others as I feel more joy and long-lasting happiness to share whatever that is pleasing to my heart and conscience to the most needy - forgo fancy parties and noisy celebrations - and celebrate instead with simplicity full of gratitude.

I had been dreaming for us at the company, on our special occasions to go out, to give hope and do any little and simple ways we can to touch the lives of those who are in need.

 
Such dream had finally came into reality.

I felt as if my heart jumped out of my chest when the management announced that they had decided to do a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to celebrate the company's 21st anniversary in the Philippines. I had been tasked to scout a nearby place where we could do our CSR.

The initial plan was to do a tree-planting in the morning, celebrate the company's anniversary at an orphanage or at a kindergarten school with the children in the afternoon and finally spend the night bonding with each other at a nice resort or hotel.

We had few challenges. We learned from the bureau of forestry that the tree-planting season had ended in the month of July and the next season continues in the beginning of next year. The overnight stay had also been cancelled by the management lately and decided to donate the budget to a selected orphanage or children school.

We then focused on celebrating the anniversary at an orphanage in the morning and then do a simple team building in the remaining half of the day.

I learned from a colleague who was raised from a province up north about a lone orphanage for children 0 to 6 years of age. The Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) is a home for more than 75 abandoned, neglected and abused children 0 to 6 years old located at Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga.

RSCC is a home for atleast 75 abandoned, neglected and abused children

Nearby the site, is the "Dambana ng Kagitingan" (Shrine of Valor), a national park situated atop Mt. Samat in the province of Bataan. After several weeks of preparation, we had finalized our plans and programs for the company's 21st year anniversary celebration - not with the usual glittery party but to reach out, give hope and touch the lives of the children at RSCC.

Each member of the company had been assigned with atleast 1 child from RSCC to adopt and provide any useful gift. There were around 80 children including those from the nursery and orange group (special kids).

We decided to get the service of the nearest food provider - Jollibee for the lunch with a mascot to entertain the kids.

Early morning on the 23rd day of November 2013, we left Makati on a convoy towards Lubao, Pampanga. It was a 2-hour drive. RSCC is located at the middle of a vast open field about a kilometer away from the main road. The first half of the road is cemented and the remaining half until RSCC office is a rough road.

The volunteers were preparing the venue when we arrived - arranging chairs and setting up the sound system. While we are preparing, the kids were slowly escorted by the volunteers into the venue. I had to say that by looking at them, my heart started to melt. We gathered the children around the stage.

Kids lined-up as they arrive at the venue

Even before we started the program, the children were already happily interacting with us. I felt, from the looks of their faces, that they were so happy to see us, wanting to be cuddled and feel a warm hug, things they had always been longing for in every moment of their lives. Their innocent smiles were their simplest way of saying "thank you" to all of us.

Celebrating our anniversary with the RSCC kids

We started the program at 9:00AM. "Ate" Erma delivered a simple and cheerful opening remarks for the kids and then followed by "Ate" Noris. "Ate" Alinil prepared several exciting games for everyone.

Playing games with RSCC kids

The games were not played by the children alone. All of the staff played with the children too.

While everyone was busy playing the games, I was equally busy taking close-up candid shots of the children's happy faces and a laptop operator at the same time.

Everyone enjoyed the balloon burst, match box race, sack race and most of all the "pabitin".

Kids partying with Mascot

HLP Team with RSCC Kids

Much was the excitement of the children to see the Jollibee mascot wiggle and giggle at the middle of the stage to the tune of "Gimme.. gimme.. gimme.." and "Gangnam style.." We had many photo-ops with the mascot and with the children. I was so delighted to see the happy faces of every child as they gracefully danced at the stage with the mascot.

The lunch was served for the children. Again, staff were assigned to assist the volunteers.

 

While the kids were enjoying their spaghetti and chicken, I was so busy taking candid "moments shots". Deep inside me, I was celebrating with the kids - just looking at their happy faces -  and my heart also was smiling with joy.

I was once a kid and I know the feeling of receiving a toy or a gift. After the lunch, we started distributing our gifts to the children. Each staff was called at the stage to present individual gifts to the children.

 

 

Three kids were assigned to me and I felt how happy the kids were at that time. I felt so honored and fulfilled to hand-over my gifts to the children assigned to me one-by-one and saw a sincere smile at their faces as they looked at the toys.

Goods for RSCC and kids

The company also donated goods to RSCC for the children and the volunteers.

HLP Team at RSCC

We ended the program with a happy and fulfilled heart knowing that what we did something with a great value.

We had our lunch at around 12:00 noon, tidy up after and headed on to our side trip at "Dambana ng Kagitingan".

From RSCC, we headed on west and down south to the province of Bataan. Bataan is one of the best places to go to reminisce the heroism of our fellow Filipinos during World War II.

Shrine of Valor at Mt. Samat

It took us an hour drive to the Mt. Samat National Shrine from RSCC. It is located atop Mt. Samat and it is about 6 kilometers away from the main road. The road going up the shrine is a zigzag cemented road. The altitude at the shrine is around 600 Meters Above Sea Level (MASL).

HLP members at Dambana ng Kagitingan

It was my first time to be at the site, though, I had seen the big cross from the main road in one of my travels at the province of Bataan.

According to Wikipedia, the cross is about 302 feet high. The Mount Samat National Shrine was erected as a fitting memorial to the heroic struggle and sacrifices of those soldiers who fought and died in that historic bastion of freedom. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Samat).

HLP team having dinner at Razon's along NLEX

HLP team having dinner at Razon's along NLEX

At about 3:00 PM, we left Mt. Samat and then headed back to Manila via the SCTEX. We stopped at a gas station along NLEX and ended the day with a sumptuous dinner.

This activity, for me, is certainly one of the best and I will always remember.

====================

Photo gallery

====================

-----o0o-----

Tree Planting at Mt. Makiling

Brgy. San Vicente Sto. Tomas, Batangas

19 October 2013

"Hitting Four Birds with One Stone!"

I Hiked, I planted trees, I had a great adventure and I did some exciting photo shoots.

2GO LMC organized a tree planting activity at the slope of Mt. Makiling at Brgy. San Vicente in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. This is part of the 2GO Group Corporate Social Responsibility.

Early 0423H on October 19, 2013, I arrived at the designated pickup point at "The Hub" located near Dr. Jose Rizal monument at the Rizal Park, Manila.

Based on our itinerary, we were supposed to leave for Sto. Tomas, Batangas by 0530H for the tree planting activity.

There were more than 100 volunteers on this event from all of 2GO Group of companies.

The registration started at 0515H and then we had breakfast. The briefing started at 0603H and it was conducted by one of the team leaders from LMC.

We started boarding the buses at 0615H. There were three buses and I was assigned at bus #2 together with employees from International Logistics group - Kerry-ATS and Hansa Meyer ATS. We were accompanied by one safety officer and four LMC members. We were 37 in the bus.

We left Manila at around 0645H. We had a quick stopover at a gas station along the SLEX to refuel the buses. We reached Brgy. San Vicente in Sto. Tomas, Batangas at 0850H.

One of the buses got lost and we waited. While waiting, it started to rain and there was a heavy downpour. We decided to wait inside the buses and also to have an early lunch.

At 1002H, we started trekking at the slope of Mt. Makiling towards the tree planting site. It was still raining. The muddy trail was very slippery.

At 1024H, most of us were at the base camp. At 1035H, the final briefing was conducted by a representative from UPLB.

From base camp, we started trekking up to the tree planting site at 1042H. The trail is more steep and more slippery. This was the most challenging part of the trail for most of the volunteers, who were not used to trekking.

At 1122H, few of us reached the tree planting site and we started to plant the seedlings. There were about 450 seedling bags.

The seedlings were already brought at the site and holes were made identified with a bamboo peg. All we had to do is to remove the seedlings from the plastic bags and then plant them inside the holes.

 

The tree planting site is not a flat ground but an inclined portion. Since only few of us were at the site first, we started planting at the base and gradually ascended on the slope.

Counting the seedling bags that I had, I realized that I was able to plant 35.

 

According to the person from UPLB, the seedlings are fruit bearing trees and not indigenous trees. The tree planting site is about 300MASL and so there is a nice landscape view of the neighboring places.

After planting the seedlings, I enjoyed taking photos.

 

The dedication of the volunteers are impressive. Despite the rain, the steep trail and mud, they did not give up and planted all the seedlings properly as it should be.

James Doolittle said, "There is nothing stronger than the heart of a Volunteer".

At 1220H, we started our descent from the tree planting site. As the trail was wet, muddy and slippery, It took longer for most of the volunteers to descend from the mountain.

We were all back at the drop-off point where the three buses were waiting at 1410H. We had late lunch and left Sto. Tomas at 1512H.

--o0o--

Exploring the Church of Dingras, Ilocos Norte

Dingras, Ilocos Norte
04 November 2013

Dingras Church Facade Restoration

On the last day of my photo-walk in the Ilocos provinces, I decided to visit the town of Dingras with a primary objective of seeing the old church there.

For quite sometime, the old church was left on ruins since the time it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, according to church historians.

I was so delighted to see the old church being restored with the almost completed facade.

By the time of my visit, construction was on full-swing. I went around the church and I saw that the massive walls and buttresses still stand and a new full-metal braced roofing had been installed.

What impressed me so much was the way the construction and restoration were carried out. The old bricks were recovered from ruins of the old church walls and then reused on the new wall construction.

Old bricks from the church ruins

After all, it's not a totally new construction as the original bricks still there. Somehow the authenticity of the church walls and materials were preserved.

For not so long, the facade of the massive church will soon stand in its full grandeur again and welcome the amazing and faithful people of Dingras just like in the past.

Full-metal braced roofing

Massive buttresses still stand

Kudos to all the people of Dingras for this great achievement - preserving not just the faith but also another treasure of Ilocandia and the world, a priceless heritage. See more of Dingras Church Restoration Photos.

-o0o-

Exploring the Church of Paoay - Ilocos Norte (A UNESCO World Heritage site)

Paoay, Ilocos Norte
03 November 2013

Paoay Church taken during Spanish - American War
Photo Source: http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smokymtnman/spanish/saw4.jpg

Aside from Vigan, the Paoay church, also known as San Agustin church, is another site that I cannot afford to miss whenever I travel to the Ilocos provinces.

Facade and Bell Tower of Paoay Church

According to UNESCO, this church is the most massive church of all churches in the Philippines with 24 massive buttresses measuring nearly 3-meters thick built around the church 2 meters thick walls as protection.

The materials used to build the walls and buttresses are made of coral stones cut into square blocks, bricks and adobe stones and then glued together using sugar cane and egg white.

Massive Church Facade

24 S-shape Massive Buttresses nearly 3 meters thick

According to Wikipedia, the church facade also exudes Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java.

Javanese Architecture

Building of the present church started in 1694, according to historians. This church has been hit by 2 giant earthquakes in the last 300 years but due to its quake resistive structure, it remained intact to date.

Third layer of the church facade bearing the old seal of Spain

Furthermore, UNESCO said that this church is the best example of a Baroque church in the Philippines. This church is another UNESCO World Heritage site in the Ilocos provinces.

Watch Baroque Churches of the Philippines, according to UNESCO.

Just like the developments in the City of Vigan, there are many developments at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Paoay. 

Facing the facade of the church at the right side of the Plaza, there is a new building, which was currently being constructed by the time of visit, that will house the tourism office of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Future Tourism Office at Paoay, Ilocos Norte

The left side of the church has been developed and turned into a beautiful garden called "Jardin de San Agustin".

Jardin de San Agustin

The parish residence is a new building constructed at least 20 meters away from the church to provide a buffer zone as required by UNESCO.

Inside the church, the altar was improved with the statue of San Agustin at the main altar and the altar table now dressed in gold-color with intricate designs.

 

More and more visitors are coming to Paoay to see the church and other tourist spots at the area.

To get a view of the church facade at night, I stayed late at the plaza and waited for the lamp posts and wall lamps to light up and even at night, the grandeur of the church can't be denied.

Paoay Church at night

Truly, Paoay Pumaypayapay (Kumakaway)!

====================

Photo gallery

====================

-----o0o-----