Curbside Stories

I didn't let the Yuletide Season to pass without teaching my child the value of love and sharing. I have a busy schedule and I know it's the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with him.  Last December 18, we went to the relocation area of Yolanda survivors in Isla Bonita, Rosario, Cavite to give gifts to children and to give them soup to warm their stomachs. We were with other employees and their kids.  There were singing, dancing and games. Everyone was happy. Seeing smiles on their faces are so precious. I could tell from the look in my son's eyes that he learned some valuable life lessons from that experience. 

These kids are just a few of the 177 children together with their families who were relocated from Tacloban, Leyte to Rosario, Cavite after their homes were destroyed by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). I was lucky enough to be able to organize a feeding program for these kids for five days through the help of the company where I work and my co-workers. We began weighing the kids last February 28 and true to our suspicion, the kids were underweight. The actual feeding program started on March 3 and ended on March 7. On the 5th day, we weighed the kids again and they gained weight, thank goodness. I know what we did was not enough to help these kids live healthier lives and I promise to help them, whatever help I can give them as my way of paying it forward... my thanksgiving for keeping me and the rest of my family safe and healthy. This video pretty summed up what we did in the entire 5 days. I will never forget their smiles, their satisfied faces after each meal and their since...

I've just gotten home from a seminar and I had the slightest idea that I am in for a surprise. When I entered the bedroom, this is what I saw. My son is fast asleep... rather unusual because he never sleeps unless I am home. But, that is not the surprise... it's those Toy Story stickers on the wall! Our bedroom wall is already filled with his doodles and stick figures and I guess he got tired of looking at them so he decided to add Sheriff Woody and his gang. I took this photo a few days ago. My son is "having the time of his life"... lying on a pile of pillows, hands behind his head, and electric fan on number 2. He is actually watching his favorite DVD to date--Cars 2.  [Photos were taken using iPhone 4S and Instagram filters]

Another proud moment for me... my son was champion in the 25-meter sprint and 50-meter relay during their sports fest in school. When my sister asked me to train him to sprint, I was kind of hesitant knowing that he had previous leg fracture from a motorcycle accident. I was thinking his bone is not yet fully healed and he might tumble and cause it to break again. I asked my sister to join him in other sports, volleyball perhaps, since he likes to play it too, but not in sprint. I am just a paranoid mom. Anyway, he ran and he did not injure himself... he even brought home two gold medals so I guess there is nothing to worry about anymore. I am sensing an Olympian in the making and in whatever sport he will pursue, I will support him all the way.

I treated my son for a dinner with accompanying toy for making me a proud mom again. I could not remember the last time we had dinner date in his favorite restaurant... I have been very busy in my work and my MBA class that I have missed quality times like this. He's growing up so fast and it's passing by right before my very eyes... I should go back to my senses and do the things like we used to do because in a few years time, he probably will not enjoy the same things with me but with his friends.

My son gave me another reason to be proud... He got three perfect out of six exams. The other three are 90, 96 and 97--which are not so bad, too! I think I am going to buy him the toy he's been telling me for weeks now.