The Best Birthday Ever: Concordia Children's Services

As you all know, we've celebrated our birthday in an orphanage.
No? You don't! Okay, the details are here and here.
Of course, you also need to know how the plans had started - it's here!

Anyway, Concordia Children's Services (CCS) is located at Old Sta. Mesa, Manila and is home to babies and children left by parents - oh how I wanted to scold those parents!  But aside from them, CCS also helps street and urban poor children through their Urban Poor Children Program.

Elementary kids under CCS Urban Poor Children Program were our special guests during our birthday celebration held in this room:

Thank you for allowing us to use the room!

There were games and prizes (of course!) and the kids were so energetic.  They didn't even want to eat!
Whenever 'Teacher Ressie' (one of the celebrants who was host of the day but sounded like a teacher) would ask the kids 'Gusto nyo na bang kumain?', they would say, 'Ayaw!, Laro pa!'
So game it is.

The first game was Paper Dance.

The second game is Banana Eating Contest.

The third one is Stop Dance.

And finally, Trip to Jerusalem.

After the fourth game, we decided to eat - because we (the celebrants and friends) were already hungry though the kids weren't!

Also, the kids had prepared a special dance number and a song number for us.
I will upload their presentations in the coming days (blogger won't allow me to do so today).

And of course, there's the gift-giving.  Again, thank you so much to all of you who have made this one-of-a-kind birthday possible -> the awesome people behind the event!

Some kids gave their birthday wishes for us.  Thank you!

The party ended with a birthday song - the loudest I've heard!

I will upload it, too.  Blogger just won't allow me today!

Our Very Special Guests

But wait, there's more!

We also visited the babies of CCS Residencial Care Program.

Now, I'd like you to meet the 3-month old, Mark

and some of his friends

Thank you, Concordia for accommodating us!

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You may reach Concordia Children's Services here:

Phone: +63 354 6049
Tele Fax: +63 713 3461
Email: office@concordiachildrens.org

or visit their webpage: http://www.concordiachildrens.org/

30th Birthday Celebration: Bukas Na!

When I started planning for my 30th birthday, I was thinking of having a masquerade ball with family and friends.  I was so excited that I already have a concept and design for the invitation.

But one day, for no reason at all, I decided to change plans!

I asked friends to donate their old books and old toys for my birthday.  The original plan was to collect and give them to a chosen institution - that easy.  Nothing so special. In my mind, it would be like any other day.

But that was days and days ago.

Today, I can see children dancing, playing and having fun!  It's going to be a one-of-a-kind birthday party!

Be there when it happens.
See you tomorrow!

30th Birthday Celebration: 10/21/13 Update

Yes, it's OUR birthday.  When She learned of my plans to celebrate my 30th birthday on an orphanage, she got overly excited and expressed her intentions of doing the same. Ressie, on the other hand was convinced by She to join us, too.  :)

I will post more updates in the coming days and the pictures of the two other celebrants.

And in case you've missed my birthday wish, it's here: http://extraordinairememoir.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-open-letter-to-all-my-friends-my.html

Good night, everyone!

An Open Letter to All My Friends: My 30th Birthday Wish

(I can befriend you, too if we are not friends yet!) :)
- How do you actually laugh in writing? HARHAR!-

Those who have the most, live longest!

-I'm not sure who said that but I have to strongly agree.

I'll be turning 30 this November and having said that, I had prepared a list of the simple things I wish to receive on my birthday.  It's only October but I thought of posting this already so you'll have enough time to prepare. :)

I only have three things on my list and they are very simple.  Oh, you don't have to give me all three.  You can just choose.  But you see, the more the merrier so I will be more than happy to accept all of them.

First and the most important of them all Gift#1: Birthday Book and Toy Drive (or should that be Drives?)
Anyway, if you have old and not-so-old books and/or toys (for children, of course!) you may give/donate them to me (I will give them to this charity/orphanage that I saw while reading other blogs) and yes, I won't ask for any other birthday gift.  Promise.  But as I said, if you wish to still give me item #2, who am I to refuse.
For this option, please send me an email or comment below so we could discuss how you could send them to me or how I could get them from you.

Gift#2: choose from any of the following
-all expense paid to Paris, London, Rome, New York (just choose one location please)
-all expense paid (by you because you are the gift giver) Caribbean cruise
-okay, this one is the cheapest.  Shopping spree in Hong Kong (thank you for sponsoring this one.  I so love to do this)
Please let me know immediately if you want to give me this so I could file a leave of absence from my work - I'm a busy frog, you know. Har har.

Gift#3: share this to other friends (Note: I can befriend them-har har) so I could collect more books and toys for my Birthday Book and Toy Drive.

That's it!

Thank you so much for supporting me on my endeavor (naks!) as I step into yet another year of being alive!

P.S.  ALL OF YOU MUST GIVE ME A BIRTHDAY GIFT!
Thank you.

P.P.S.  That HAR HAR thing is not that cool.  I think.