5 schools. 3 days. 1 foundation.
Last November 6, 2022, volunteers from the Rufino Mojares Foundation, Inc. (RMFI) travelled 6 hours from Lipa City, Batangas, to San Narciso, Quezon, to spread cheer to students from chosen schools in the Bondoc Peninsula area. With them were Ms. Cristina Faylona and international hairdresser Jessica Kramm of Jessica Kramm Hair Education. The mission was simple: to make a positive impact on the children’s lives through donations and positive experiences.
Days 1 and 2 were spent serving children from Maguiting Elementary School, Pinagsama Elementary School, and Bani Elementary School, all located in San Narciso, Quezon, while day 3 was spent in Banaba Elementary School and Segaras Elementary School in San Andres, also in Quezon.
The program started with a short film with the moral “I am special”, reiterating the fact that no matter who they are or what situation they are in, each student will always be special in his or her own little way. To support this moral, the students were given the chance to join an art contest where winners’ works will be digitalized and made into postcards. This will not only showcase their talents but will also serve as a continuous fundraising activity for the foundation.
Selected students were given the chance to get a free haircut from German hairdresser Jessica Kramm. Apart from sporting a new look, this was meant to increase the children’s confidence in themselves. Brand new raincoats were also given to each student, ensuring that they are protected from the rain during their 2-hour walk to school. Volunteers showed their labor of love by cooking arroz caldo, sopas, and sotanghon on site, filling the tummies of students, teachers, and parents alike. Finally, students were asked to place their handprints on a canvas, further making them feel that they are part of the RMFI family.
Apart from the program proper, the volunteers also brought food, toys, books, and clothes as donations to each school. These came not only from RMFI volunteers but from different individual donors as well.
The journey was not easy, and things did not all go according to plan. There were several mishaps and a lot of setbacks but seeing the smiles on the children’s faces gave the volunteers so much positive energy to keep going. ‘Til next time, BonPen! RMFI smile!