Give-and-take

This afternoon I was invited to participate in the focused group discussion of our adopted community in a small barangay here in the city. They are our Muslim brothers and sisters whom our predecessors have been visiting over the last two years and I personally want to resuscitate the legacy of being a philanthropist in my own right regardless of whether or not this will be a part of our curriculum.

Gawk at some of my snapshots.   

Meet JOY. She was the most endearing of them all and unlike others, she was low-keyed yet dynamic during activities. She deliberately posed for my camera several times over so I guess we have a rising star right here, a cam whore at the age of four?…. Naaaah, I’m just kidding!

Lopez Jaena Elementary School. I am not an alien to this place because this is where I cast my vote during local and national elections. However, it was my first time today to see the place free from the entire hullabaloo. I only go to this place whenever there are church activities or other programs where it is usually jam-packed with people; which is why I took this photo where the place is free from all the swarming of the busy-bees. Tranquil and silent.

During the FGD itself, I was astounded with the responses of the Muslim parents. When asked how they regard Catholics, one of them said, “I have high regard for Catholics because it is better to worship a different God than worship no God at all.”

That’s JOY again wearing her irrefutably captivating smile right after she was asked her full name for the registration. She is my favorite because hearing her name prompts me that there is really something that we should be happy about every day no matter how life gives us hell.  

Unlike other fora, our FGD was partaken by both male and female. Actually, even the gays are well-represented because there was one gay guy who attended the dialogue. Not to mention, he was fashionably late so he stormed in the room wearing spaghetti straps but nobody seemed to mind. I love how open-minded people are nowadays. 

Introducing: CLAYZAH, a vivacious young lady who really stood out among the rest. She is garrulous bordering to infuriating but I am a very tolerant person so I just put up with it. I love this photo of her because it reminds me of the book LOLITA. Clayzah is one of those outgoing young lasses who manage to stun people with her effortless unambiguous charisma. 

I really hope that the Communication Department of our school will consider continuing the service-learning activities. The way I see it, it is an unceasing give-and-take process.