UYC goes to PGH (Philippine general hospital)

No, we didn't get sick, but rather went to help a little with art in the cancer ward. Joy Martinez, another member from our group who is more closely affiliated with the cancer ward in PGH, called up and explained to us that there was this possibility of us going to help with a sort of art project the sick children there were working on. On November the 14th, we piled into the car and headed to PGH.On the way we were explained the entire scope of what we were to help with. A sponser had provided a new sector for the hospital, but so far it had been empty and bare. According to this, they would need equipment, beds, or other facilities to activate this room. As a fundraising program, the children would create sketches or models to show to sponsors and help them visualize this project more entirely. So that's what we're here to do, I thought. I had heard that we were to help with this art project, but hadn't really understood what it was all about. After parking and getting to the main function room of the patients, we were told to wait for the children to come. As soon as they came in, we got immediately to work. Thank the Lord, after a few hours we had several pictures and videos taken from ourselves and the event staff, as well as alot of models and drawings depicting an idea of this new sector.







The sector


Cute walls along the way


A video of a kid named James who colors and draws still with his disability. If you're ever unthankful of anything, watch this video and re-examine your complaint.

UYC Helps with Disaster Relief: 13/10/09

On the 13th of October we went again for packaging goods, we left home at 8:30 AM arrived at 9:30 AM then we helped package food until 11:30 AM and then we were transferred to the next place to help sort clothes. When we got into the building we were shocked to see how high the pile of clothes was. We had to work on the top. An hour later we had a lunch break for about another hour until we got back to work. They gave us milo packs and we had to divide them and fill them in boxes to give to the air force helpers (other volunteers helping). At 3:00 PM we went home, but told the people in charge to call us if they needed any more help. Our next plan is to go with our whole UYC team and help. We don’t know if it will work, but it would be fun.

Natalia, Joel and Lucy

UYC Helps with Disaster Relief: 28/09/09

The typhoon Ondoy was one of the biggest typhoons that had hit the Philippines in the last couple of years, leaving hundreds dead and thousands more homeless. So at 4:00 AM, on the 28th of September after a word from the adults who were making their coffees we tumbled sleepily into the car to help distribute the goods for those in Mariquina whose former homes were flooded. We arrived at the ABC-CBN news company, dressed in our UYC t-shirts, an hour later after picking up members from the other home and got to work. The piles of clothes and shoes were massive and there was a foul smell around, but praise the Lord, it wasn’t extremely hard work besides the fact that it was 6:00 AM and there weren’t any fans. There was a live news reel interview half way through our shift while the lady explained the reasons we were helping and how the flood affected the people. We worked a bit longer until we were transferred to the main news center. Air conditioning at last! The job there was a lot more relaxing and we got to eat lunch along that time as we packed the sacks with many various goods like: rice, milk powder, soup, milo (a chocolate powder drink), coffee, sardines, beef loaf etc. for the flood victims. After we packed fifty or so sacks we began helping in the assembly line for another hour or so, passing the sacks, water bottles etc. to the truck which would later bring them to the needy. We were then told that we could go to the centers which they set up for the victims and help distribute the goods so we all packed into the car and drove a block to another post where we were to wait for some actors and VIPs. An hour passed and we were still sitting in the car. Some of us went to use the bathroom while the adults inquired about when we were to leave. Later we heard that these VIP guys were relaxing and taking naps, therefore delaying our trip, and we sat in the car for the rest of time watching the motorbikes with MacDonald, Starbucks and other food chains going in and out of the building; obviously bringing food, drinks or other wants to the actors. After three long hours of waiting we at last set off towards the school in which the people devastated from the flood were held. It was inspiring to help, and even though we didn’t get to personally distribute the goods (as some actors did it to show they were ‘helping’) we helped form a wall so the homeless people wouldn’t get into the food until it was their turn. In the end, we were practically being body guards with the rest of the crew for the actors. We kept working at our “guarding” for a little longer but then decided we should go home. Thank you Jesus for the chance we got to help the flood victims.

Preparing and Assisting in the "Steps" Daycare Center

Preperation.






The Start.



We'll add more pictures to this post once internet works good again. God bless you!