Munting Yapak

01/09/2014

Art Session of kids last August 31,2014.First part was the projectile test for therapy. We are visioning better people in the future.

24/06/2014

I wish that I could have posted this earlier this week.

Well, last Saturday, some of my students at Munting Yapak program gave me these notes of requests for school supplies. Actually, we asked the kids to write down their requests 2 weeks ago.

So... I am hoping that maybe my friends here could help me out fulfill their requests for their schooling needs:
- Long and short folders
- permanent markers (black or red)
- highlighters
- crayons
- oil pastels
- bond papers
- Art paper
- clear books
- puncher
- glue
- rulers
- ballpens
- pencils & erasers
- Cartolinas, assorted color
- plastic cover
- yarns
- manila paper
- Correction fluid (liquid paper)

They are like about 10-15 kids, but not all of them have same needs. Please do not hesitate to message me if you could them help out. Just take this as an opportunity to share your blessings.

Love,
Teacher Alvin

17/06/2014

Last Saturday was AWESOME! I am happy to learn that the kids actually had one gig lately, and they earned their first P500 by playing music. (I haven't earn anything through music, actually) Good job, guys! I'm proud of you.

The kids also told me that on June 19, they shall have another gig on their Barangay fiesta. I really wish I could be there to watch. :(

And second, we have a new teacher, Eia. She is an electrical engineer (correct me if I'm wrong ma'am) from Mandaluyong City. She mentioned that she have been volunteering through iVolunteer, and luckily, she is with us now. I hope that she could help us out more, now that Bro. Resty have bigger plans for the program. Teacher Eia will probably start teaching next Saturday, maybe not music, but something that the children can use on heir everyday lives.

Brother Resty joined us that Saturday too. He have been busy with the new MY office (it's actually a house nearby) that we could borrow for our programs, even just for every Saturday. And also, he's really serious turning MY into an NGO officially and legally.

And lastly they played a song for me. Actually, this was supposed to be a birthday gift to me last April. I asked them to play a song that I probably haven't heard, nor I haven't taught them before. UNFORTUNATELY, the video I shot had a very bad audio T_T I would shoot a video of that song again.

Let me see if I could replace those old, broken ukes one by one. You deserve it. And this time, we'll try to provide better ukes for you (now that I know where to get cheap, but quality ones.) God will provide :)

with love,
Teacher Alvin

13/06/2014

I just realized that there are still lots of people who still care, who are willing to share time, talent, and treasure for others. They are the ones who have been looking for an opportunity to help, but unsure where to find it. And one tap on them can make a difference. I am overwhelmed by the offers to help us out from iVolunteer.com.ph. We yet to see what they would do, but right now, I am thankful already. We'll see. God bless them.

-Teacher Alvin

12/06/2014

Hello everyone. I hope you are all having quality time with your families this holiday.

Through partnership with www.ivolunteer.com.ph, I am happy to say that there were new volunteers who want to try out what Munting Yapak is all about. I posted an event on their website, and asked for 3 more people who have time to spend with the kids of Barangay Donya Imelda. And there were immediate answers to our prayer.

And in addition to that, one of the owners of ivolunteer.com.ph called me up the day after I posted, and interested to help out too. So besides playing the ukulele, we need to expand the activities to more educational as possible for the kids an heir families, like how Bro. Resty (one of the founders) discussed with the group a few meetings ago.

May this be a start of something bigger.

Love,
Teacher Alvin

iVolunteer aims to gather volunteers from all over the Philippines to helpout others who are in need. Volunteers can choose the activities they want to participate in.

11/05/2014

Another fruitful weekend. I taught the kids at Munting Yapak about dynamics. But I think they will need more patience and practice about it. They still need to comprehend yet when to play soft or loud, and faster or slower. But they are improving. :) I challenged them to apply that to the song "Let it go" that I taught them few meetings ago. We'll see.

Maybe next week, Bro. Resty would start on getting the MY project become an official NGO, not just a project.

-Teacher Alvin

26/04/2014

Just for an update, I met Bro. Resty and Bro. Ryan yesterday and helped out at the day with the kids, with some of the parents. We talked about upgrading the Munting Yapak program into a registered Non-profit Organization, with an office somewhere around Barangay Donya Imelda.

After the day with the kids, we went to the music store nearby and bought about 9 new ukuleles from the donations to us by good friends. Six of them will be going to the Center for abused women and children, and the other three goes to the our parish summer program for kids. I also added 1 tuners each for these two programs.

God bless those people who shared us with their blessings. We are glad to share them too. Thank you!

love,
teacher Alvin

13/04/2014

Hello everyone. Today, I have attended a recollection at San Jose Seminary, inside Ateneo de Manila University campus through Bro. Resty (it's his birthday today, by the way), who is one of the founders of this program.

At the recollection, there was a group of young girls invited. I learned that they were from a center for women and children who were abused. Sort of a shelter. I also learned that Bro. Resty and company are already teaching them the ukulele. But because of a limited budget, not all the girls have their own instrument. They need 6 more.

And something struck me. Just recently, I bought 2 ukuleles and a budget for 4 more. All from the donation I received from friends for our advocacy. And since there are no new kids enrolling to our free program yet, maybe I could just give the ukes to the girls of the center instead. Maybe it really is for them.

I could see their happiness and excitement already when I told them that hours ago. Thanks to the donors again. I am happy that Munting Yapak is already able to extend their hands to other young people outside the community of Donya Imelda.

love,
Teacher Alvin

12/04/2014

It's sad to hear that one of our student's mom passed away a few days ago. Aien just graduated from elementary a few days before her mom departed. May God bless her and their family.

06/04/2014

This photo was from yesterday's class. After the lessons, I told them that I would like to treat them out for lunch somewhere (as my early birthday celebration) but I need them to ask permission from their family. I would not like the families to worry about the children being brought to somewhere else. It's a fact that the parents do not really know me personally, and I even haven't met some of the parents.

At first, I was thinking of more extravagant place for a treat. But one of the boys just told me, "Kuya, Jollibee na lang po tayo!" I almost forgot how simple it is to make kids happy. This picture will remind me to try to be happy from simplest of things.

I hope I have made fruitful lessons to them, not just about ukulele, before some of them go to their provinces for vacation, and some would be leaving permanently because the local government will relocate their families to Bulacan or Laguna.

with love,
teacher Alvin

04/04/2014

Hi Everyone! Thank you for responding positively in our initiative to keep things busy for kids this summer! We are expecting more students on our ukulele classes, so we needed everyone's help financially or in kind (an ukulele).

We thank the following people for donating ukuleles for our lovely kids:

Ms. June Cruz (1 ukulele)
Ms. Rachelle Ann Juan Arellano (1 ukulele)

We'll keep you posted here as we receive more from our donors. May God bless you for your generosity.

03/04/2014

Thank you to those who pledged for new ukuleles and volunteers for the kids! I am sure they will be delighted to get their hands on one of those new babies I am overwhelmed with positive responses.

For the sake of transparency, I shall take photographs of the ukes and a report of how many ukes I got, and the name of each sponsors after I bought the instruments.

May God bless you all for your generosity.

- teacher Alvin