Hi guys, here's a shoutout to those of you who want to volunteer about 2-3 hours of your time on a Saturday morning for the kids of White Cross Orphanage (276 Santolan Road, San Juan).
I've been doing this every August for the last 10 years with my former co-worker Cristina Peczon. She moved to the States the last year but her work for the orphanage continues.
So the pledges and money are in. Volunteers are just needed to:
- help feed the kids
- play with them / do activities with them
Call time: 9:30 am Saturday 16 August 2008
Activity proper: 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Volunteers so far:
Pirates:
1. Karen Kunawicz (and maybe Vincent)
2. Wawi Navarroza
3. JJ Ortoll
4. Jovan de Ocampo
5. Lynn Montejo
6. Diana Aviado
7. Carl
8. Chiqui (until 11am)
9. Nyx Martinez's group (with dance number for the kids)
Cris' Friends
1. Karrots Nazareno and her 2 sons
2. Shina Valdez
3. Roselle Chio
4. Mr. Ben Peczon (her dad)
Maybes
- Lemon
- Jon (pending school)
- Camy and Teddy
In the form of POSITIVE VIBES
- Romina
The stormtroopers do want to be here, it's just that they'll be in the thick of Clone Wars promotional activities.
So hey, let me know if you can make it. Below is a copy of Cris' letter regarding the activity.
hello everyone!
it's almost august again, and this year, as I have done every other year for more than ten years now, i am
marking my birthday with a little party at the white cross orphanage in san juan.
as many of you already know, i am now based in california, married and expecting our first child --
and an unable to make the journey back to the philippines for this annual event. i am so proud to
say that my dearest friend karen kunawicz has bravely volunteered to spearhead this meaningful
orphanage tradition in my absence.
white cross, home to almost 100 abandoned and orphaned children, is run completely on donations
and support from private donors such as friends like us. these children, aged 0-6, are cared for
on a round the clock basis on the sheer dedication and love of volunteers and a handful of skilled
caregivers.
in the last year, white cross was able to match 22 children to adoptive parents -- one child was
matched to a local couple while 21 were matched to inter-country adoption. white cross ranked
#1 in facilitating inter country adoption for the national capital region.
most of the children are referred to the orphanage but hospitals as babies abandoned by their parents;
local government offices with reports of children in distress; and other child caring agencies.
this last year has been particularly challenging when it comes to coping with the demand of expensive medicines.
many times, the children referred to the orphanage have a wide array of health concerns -- and between balancing
the budgets for food, shelter, clothing and medicine -- you can imagine how trying this has been.
one child brought to white cross by his mother was suspected to have Von Willibrand Disease ( incurable ). his
less fortunate mother brought him to white cross with the belief that her son would be given the best
future and medical intervention at the facility. the product of incest, the child was given a series of expensive
blood transfusions and treatment but to no avail. medical doctors who volunteer at white cross tried their best
but the child did not survive. white cross exhausted almost a million pesos in very precious funds for this one
orphan.
life is not easy for any of us these days. high gas prices; a less than booming economy; we all suffer from our
own trying times and hardships.
but the one thing that we DO have is family. and happy memories to look back at to make our less than cheery
todays still have hope for tomorrow.
my goal now, as it was many years ago, is to put smiles on the faces of these children at least one day this year.
donations are always welcome --- but more than anything, the human touch is requested if you can make time
this August 16 ( Saturday).
we will be providing food and refreshments for the orphans -- but as in the years before -- we welcome any
pledges for ice cream, cake or any other party food. in the past, i was around to make individual goody / grab
bags for the children -- just filled with candies and little toys -- but as mentioned, i am the US now and won't be
around to do so. perhaps someone could volunteer to prepare some goodies for some of the kids?
but the most important thing is volunteers to be there that day -- to play with the kids, talk to them, make them
know that they are just as important as any one else. my wish is that for the day that the kids feel as if it were
THEIR day.
please email me back if you think you can make time for the event. i will be closely coordinating with karen
to make this event a success. we are also looking for volunteers to host kiddie games; face painting;
maybe an animal show; any form of entertainment that would cheer up the kids on this hot august day.
thank you so much, it means so much to me that these kids will continued to be cared for as they have
every august for the last 11 years.... i promise you, if you come to this event, you will bring back with
you memories that will touch your heart!
cris
teddy will be here....if i could make him involve in this as well.....i'll let you know. hopefully we wont have much plans on that day..it's the day before he goes back to the US..and seeing this, i think i want to make him involve into something that goes beyond all tourist spots. 
