"Pag-Ibig"

Run for fun. Run for One’s Son.

As a child, I was young and carefree, playful and curious. I was able to go to school for about 17 years including three levels at pre-school. If given a chance, I’d still even want to continue for an MA degree or to a law school. Am I grateful? Of course! It is necessary? Perhaps. Does everyone have this chance? NO.

Every child deserves a life filled with happiness, love, safety, good health and knowledge. Who wants to see a poor child begging for pennies to be able to feed his sick parent, or his younger sister, even before himself? I don’t. So, every time I see one, not only do I feel a sting on my heart, but wish I can make a difference to his early-complicated life. Sure we all want to help the needy. It’s very innate for a person to be kind and good-hearted. Most of us give them money whenever they approach us, but do all of us realize how little a coin can do something for his growling tummy. Can a peso or two bring them to school? Can it even buy him a pen or an eraser? Obviously, it can’t. So if we’re really thinking about helping these poor kids, we have to think big. Of course, wealthy people can afford building schools or foundations for the poor. Some even offer their homes as foster ones and send those kids to school themselves. They have all the means; sure they can easily make that difference to those kids, but what about for the other kind-hearted people who only have enough resources for themselves? What do WE have? EFFORT.

We need not to offer a month of pay check, not also do we have to take these kids at our homes and adopt them. Those kids also don’t have to religiously come up to us to constantly remind us of the help they need. So, what can we give? Not much. Just a little of our time and effort, a tinsy-winsy amount of money and most importantly, ourselves. All our little contributions combined can help send a kid to school. And the more we are, the bigger the chance that we can make bigger difference not only to one kid but even to sixty of them!

Thank God for institutions who help people help the needy. Add the fact that, nowadays, most of them are so creative and cool to come up of fun ways to encourage more people join their legacy. Through united effort, we and these institutions or, for a more common term, foundations can actually help send those kids to school. I know one foundation that’s now starting to make that big difference: JETSET (JETBEST Foundation for Socio-Economic Transformation, Inc.). They have “Gabay Iskolar” Program which aims to send kids to school. And for a kick-start (I think), they’re organizing a fund-raising fun run for their scholarship grantees.

Imagine how little will it take from your time (maybe around 3-4 hours, I think), from your effort (running and sweating, not to mention the preparation to get to the event), from your money (only P200.00 which just equals the amount you spend for around 2 to 3 hours at the movie theatre) but how big of a difference it can make to other people’s lives.

Convinced yet? Here, visit JETSET's Facebook Page to know more of what I'm blabbing about. I know you're one of those "innately kind and good-hearted people" I was talking about. Now is the time to bring out that help. Uhm, actually, it's on the 28th of August at the Lipa City Hall Grounds (Marawoy). Haha! See you there at around 5:30 in the morning and we'll start running at 6:00. But don't just head out there with your 200 bucks, ok? You have to register your name and your friends' (of course, you should bring them along!). Feel free to call my pretty friend and the event's coordinator, Ms. Shane Melu at 043-756-1076 local 123 or personally visit her at Jetbest Head Office along National Road, Marawoy, Lipa City. Did I mention they'll be giving away tumblers and aero-hiphop dancing lessons? Now, you're more convinced!

Soooooo.. See you at the fun run! :)