"At the end of the day, it's not about what you have or even what you have accomplished...It's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back."~Denzel Washington

Today, is another wonderful day! My heart is full and so is my happy memories box. Hello to you all my Steemit friends wherever you might be today! Greetings from the Philippines! 🇵🇭 Allow me to share our simple, yet very meaningful sharing of blessings to the beautiful children and wonderful people here in Olango Island, together with my co-teachers/Steemit friends @bisayakalog @fabio2614 together with our very supportive husbands @hulyootso and @trevor18. Our good friends @kyrie1234 and @traderpaw and their husbands were not able to join us physically today due to family and health reasons, but they've also been a great part of our planning team for our activities today.

Last May, we had our lunch meeting and one of our plans is made into reality today. Indeed, alone we can do little, but TOGETHER we can do so much. I am just so glad to be able to accomplish another beautiful milestone in my life---to be able to help people, especially the faces of poverty in my country. I know, many Filipinos are really in turmoil right now, especially in our Covid-19 situation. Many lost their jobs and they don't have any means to ease the pain of an aching stomach, especially the parents with the sight of their starving kids. I would sometimes feel that even if I help people, that will never be enough. There's always the feeling of sadness that I am not able to help everyone. But then, still I am happy and blessed because God has given me the opportunity to help others, He has made me an instrument in reaching out His people. And for this, I am forever humbled.

Ruellan's mother and her precious smile

For today, we were able to distribute 54 pairs of slippers to children, snacks comprised of sandwich and orange juice to 60 kids and clothes for all the kids who were present this afternoon. We were also able to distribute clothes for the adults, especially the parents and grandparents who were also there during our distribution. And lastly, with sir @el-nailul's great help, we were able to go to Ruellan's home and bring him his stroller and rice, milk and other grocery items for his family.

My nephew modelling for Ruellan's groceries

Ma'am @traderpaw and sir @gilbertthegreat were assigned to canvass and buy the slippers in Cebu City. Even if they weren't able to join us today, they really took the time to label each slipper with the kids' names. That was really a great help in distributing the slippers to the rightful princesses and princes (a Cinderella-like story) in the beautiful island of Olango. Ma'am @bisayakalog @fabio2614 and sir @trevor18 were also able to carry with them the slippers to Olango, loaves of bread and spread and clothes for the kids.

I was also tasked to order online Ruellan's stroller, luckily it reached us a week before we head back to Olango Island. And together with my husband, we were also able to buy rice, milk, eggs, chocolate drinks, Cerelac, coffee, noodles, ham, hotdogs, canned goods and other grocery items for Ruellan and his family.

With the help of my friends, I was able to ask for some clothes donations from my co-teachers and some of my friends. I was able to collect the clothes for kids and adults weeks before our activity today.

Together with my husband, we travelled earlier than the group yesterday to buy groceries for Ruellan and to prepare the food for my friends for today's lunch. With the help of my husband and our family, we were able to prepare some boiled saang/conch, broiled fish, boiled clams, fried dried fish, some sea urchin flesh and sliced cucumbers.

The rest of the group arrived around 11 o'clock in the morning, as there were many passengers heading here in Olango. So I fetched them at the nearby chapel. And before starting with our outreach activities, we first have our lunch together, as I know they're already very hungry from lining up this morning at Angasil Port to be able to ride the ferry bound here in Olango. The lunch was full of laughter, fun and excitement. I was glad that they really enjoyed the dishes we prepared for them.

Afterwards, we went to the lantay/nipa hut to prepare everything ready for distribution. We first prepared the sandwiches and packed them for distribution. @hulyootso was also tasked to make some orange juice that should be enough for everyone. We arranged the sandwiches and the slippers in a bench outside the nipa hut. It was really a great thing that @traderpaw had really took the time to write the names of the kids in each pair of slippers. Thank you so much ma'am. We really had a great time bonding over preparing all the food items and arranging the slippers. It was a lot of fun to be able to work together as one, with one cause and purpose.

Then, we're all set. The children excitedly wait until we announced that we are going to be distributing the slippers, snacks and clothes already. It was literally jam packed! There were 54 kids in our initial list and so goes 54 pairs of slippers to 54 excited kiddos! It was really a beautiful sight to be able to see their big smiles upon receiving their slippers, snacks and clothes. It is truly one of the best feeling to hear their sweet thank yous. Simply the best!

Then, come the time for the big kids! The mothers, big sisters and grandmothers hehe. Since they were the ones guiding their children during distribution, we also have some presents for them. We asked them to choose among the clothes we bring for them that could fit them. They were very happy and excited! The joy I see in their eyes when we gave them their share of blessings is truly a very happy and humbling experience. They are very grateful and so happy for our simple gifts for them. Everyone went to their homes with big smiles and joy in their hearts. And we too, are very happy for being such bearer of happy things.

And one of the most important thing this afternoon is heading back to Ruellan's. Last week, sir @el-nailul was very generous of sharing his 15 SBD for Ruellan's stroller and groceries for his family. I was able to trade it to 4,211 in Philippine peso. The stroller which I ordered online cost 2,196 including its shipping fee. Then, the remaining money I purchased for the rice, milk, coffee, cerelac, hotdogs, ham, canned goods, noodles, milo, energen and eggs.

So after our distribution for the kids and adults, we head back to the nipa hut and assembled Ruellan's stroller. And with sir @el-nailul's guidance, we pasted the Steem SEA "World Smile Project" in the stroller. Then, we headed to Ruellan's house bringing his stroller and the food packs for his family. We were very happy seeing him again. His mother just told us that Ruellan has just turned 20 years old last May 23. We talked with his mom telling her that we have these gifts for Ruellan and their family from our good friends of the Steem SEA community, most especially sir @el-nailul. She got teary-eyed as she was very happy seeing Ruellan's stroller and the groceries. We tried Ruellan on his new and first stroller, but then as he couldn't relaxed at the time, his muscles couldn't bend, so his mother told us that maybe he was just being tensed to be surrounded by new people. We taught her how to use and adjust the stroller. We also talked to Ruellan telling him that he could already go outside and see the beauty around. At one instance, Ruellan just drew that smile that only a happy heart only knows. He might not be able to talk and communicate with us, but I know that he is truly very happy. A belated Happy Birthday to you, Ruellan! You have been your parents' greatest strength! Keep going tough one! Thank you so much sir @el-nailul for being God's instrument in helping out Ruellan. You are such a blessing! May God bless you a thousand times.

Today was indeed a truly very amazing, one of a kind experience. I am very grateful to Steemit, to our dear curators, to the admins and MODs of the Steem SEA community, especially to @el-nailul for being instrumental to the success of our outreach activities today and to you, my fellow Steemians for always giving me the room to write and share all my activities in life, and with these you are all giving me the power to earn and share all these blessings to my fellow Filipinos. Mula sa aking puso, maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!!! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

Always be kind. Wear it like your favorite shirt.

"Kindness is sharing the best parts of our hearts with those around us."

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I would also like to extend my regards and gratitude to the Steem SEA community, its admins and moderators for the continued support, thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your blessings. To sirs/mams @el-nailul @nazarul @steem.amal @steem.sea @steemseacurator @anroja @radjasalman and @muzack1 thanks as always for the kind support and appreciation. And to the Steemit Team and sir @ steemcurator01, thank you for always believing in me. This gives me the drive and inspiration to go out from my comfort zone and shell and spread generosity and kindness wherever I go.

Sincerely,
Rose