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POCKETFUL OF LITTLE SMILES

It's not every day that we encounter little smiles funneled from being helpless to seeing hope. Imagine the journey those smiles were manufactured from.


That we hear giggles and get recruited to join a momentary trip back to our youth. It is nostalgic.


That we hear stories of how a single good heart can rescue ripped souls.

That we realize that the youth on the streets may have nothing on their pockets but some small chance to receive charity. And sadly, a much bigger chance for danger to be thrown at them, like they have no other choice.

Not a usual encounter. Not an everyday, regular timeline post.


This was my second outreach activity with Promax. The first one was when we wanted to be generous but took home more generosity. We got "HUGE HUGS IN EXCHANGE OF LOOT BAGS". I may have missed prior and in between Promax outreach activities, but so far these two have confronted me with a realization that we cannot outdo the charity that bounces back to us. That charity given away flips back with more gratitude, abundance , lightness of heart, and overflowing amity. In other words, more GALA.

On February 17th, we travelled to Angono, Rizal to spend time with the kids, teens, and guardians of GAbay sa LAndas or GALA Foundation, Inc. It is a lean institution housing needy or ill-treated street children. They get the opportunity to study and receive the kind of love that probably they were deprived of where they were rescued from.


We honor Teacher Malou Delos Reyes, House Parents Jayrald and May Ann Cantor, and Housekeeper Elma Dula. We have met all of them and witnessed their admirable service to the children of GALA. Special thanks as well to Operations and Marketing Director Tiffany Del Rosario and Admin Assistant Lynlyn Bernales. These well-behaved, accommodating, appreciative, happy, and prayerful kids are a testimony of GALA’s selfless care.

Big compliments go to my Promax colleagues - to Issy Ramos who has dedicatedly organized both the big and small details of this activity, to Cha Tobias who ran the small fun program, to Tin Ong who marshaled the preparation and actual games, to Lovely Paz and Tina Lledo who administered the purchase of our gifts to GALA, to Baby Bonifacio who ensured every one of us were doing all right, and to our big-hearted bosses Vincent Yu, Mimi Yao, and Kirk Dollete who have empowered and inspired us to reach out and give back.

It was on this one blessed day that we mingled with their rich stories of hope, genuine joy, and generous show of gratitude. When we poured our pockets of charity, the GALA kids gifted us with a pocketful of little smiles. As I dig down my pocket these thriving smiles, in both moments of celebration and uncertainty, I know the kids have touched my heart.

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