last year

On November 5, 2008 an email was sent to the Jologs community through the yahoo groups mail by one of the perpetrators of the said activity which stated:

Dear PCHRD Jologs (Past, Current and New),

It’s Christmas time... Merry Christmas to everyone!

To make our Christmas more meaningful and fulfilling this year, Ully and I are thinking of an outreach project that we can prepare in time for Christmas.

There’s no concrete idea yet. Actually, the purpose of this email is to solicit bright ideas and support from you.

At the top of our heads, Uls and I want to hold a Christmas party for the disadvantaged kids this year. The children can be orphans and/or special kids. I think the first critical step is to identify who our beneficiary would be. Then everything else will follow. This can be the Jologs Christmas party this year. Isn’t that exciting?!

Don’t worry, Uls and I will take care of the coordination and administrative work. But any help you would like to offer will be most welcome. We need to start the planning now as we barely have a month before December.

Just a survey:

1)       Are you supportive of this initiative?

2)       What do you think can you offer? (you can have multiple answers)

a.       Time

b.       Money

c.       Other resources (food, toys, etc)

d.       All of the above

3)       What group would you like to benefit from this initiative (for example, orphans, women prisoners, etc. or you can be very specific, e.g., Elsie Gatches in Alabang for special kids)

Let us know what you think and we’ll take it from there.

Ully and I can assure you that this will push through and that this is not just another plan that will eventually be shelved. We are both excited actually. So rest assured that you have our 100% commitment in this initiative.

PS: I solicited the email addresses of new PCHRD Jologs from Ully. I hope you don’t mind. Sweet, do I have admin rights so I can add them? If not, can you add them please in the mailing list? Thanks!

Hugs,

Ni

 The email generated a very overwhelming response and stirred the Jologs Community into life, and brought excitement to everyone. This is indeed an activity to look forward to.
A little decision here and there, a few phone calls, and two days later an activity was decided.
On November 7, 2008 Ate Ully posted this on the email:

Hi friends! As of today, may napili na tayong beneficiary for our first ever outreach project, ang Asociacion De Damas Filipinas (formerly Fundacion de Damas Filipinas) based in Paco, Manila. It is an orphanage that provides temporary shelter to street kids and abandoned children. Syempre bago namin sila napili, tinawagan muna namin yung iba pang charitable institutions at orgs na naisuggest ninyo. Unfortunately, some of their numbers hindi na existing. We called Bantay Bata kaya lang maproseso sila at mukang matatagalan pa ang response. Nagshortlist kami at based sa evaluation (naks!), napagkasunduan ng majority ng mga naglunch kanina sa canteen (including Wilfred) na sa Damas na lang gawin ang outreach. Following are the details:

Date: Dec. 7, 2008, Sunday, 9 AM - 12NN (ito na lang po ang available date and time nila sa December)
Venue: Asociacion De Damas Filipinas, Quirino Avenue, Paco, Manila
How to go to Damas Filipinas, Paco, Manila
Commute: the place is near Philippine Columbian, Plaza Dilao, the old Paco train station on Quirino Avenue. The Sta. Ana (tulay) jeepney on Pedro Gil/Taft Avenue/LRT pass by the place.
By car: from Nagtahan bridge coming from Sampaloc, drive directly on Quirino avenue then turn right at Plaza Dilao/Philippine Columbian (Quirino Avenue extension). The orphanage is just on the left side so you need to make a U-turn at the nearest U-turn slot.
Coming from Makati via Osmena Highway, turn right Quirino Avenue then left at Plaza Dilao/Philippine Columbian when you see the old Paco train station.

The participants are composed of 30 kids, 5-7 years old. Ms. Ovi, contact natin sa Damas, told me that the kids need school supplies, toiletries, and food. This is the part na kelangan natin ang contributions ng bawat isa. Ok lang po ba na magcontribute tayo ng at least PhP500 each? Kung may nais pa magcontribute ng mas malaking halaga, super welcome po.

Ang in charge po sa program ay si Ms. Jaja Belgado, one of the newest members ng Jologs. Your suggestions/bright ideas will be very much appreciated.

We need to also discuss about the food and transpo. Gusto ba natin magpacater, magtakeout na lang sa fastfood, o kaya naman potluck? About the transpo, kelangan ba natin maghire kasi marami tayong dalang gamit o commute na lang?

Syempre lahat ng ito ay nakadepende din sa makukuha natin contributions. Ang mangongolekta po ng contributions ay si Janice (IOM) at Jayson (PCHRD). Ang deadline po ng collection natin ay Nov. 25. Target namin mamili ng mga gamit by end of November.

Let us know what you think, guys. Merry Christmas!

A few weeks later Kuya Efren sent an inspiring image which brought more excitement to the said activity:

And so, Give Love: A PCHRD-Jologs Christmas Outreach Program was born!
A few minor tweaks on the directions and contributions and we're ready to roll.