AndieCrafts

Next week, and I mean 7 days from today, is my sister’s 20th birthday. In all honesty, neither of us likes surprises, so the most practical thing for me to do was ask her what she wanted for her big 2-oh event. I was both surprised and proud of the answer she gave me: you can help me help others.

So we started making plans last Monday night (which will be crystallized by tomorrow, I promise!). Her initial plan was to give clothes to some of the homeless on a certain street in the city. Here comes Andie, with the desire of giving her a good birthday present, but ending up proposing some trip to a nearby orphanage. My sister agreed, seeing as it’s a much easier and more feasible course of action (Goodness! What if the homeless started attacking her on the streets?!?! This is not to say that all homeless people attack people who try to help them, but being safe is much, much better than being sorry.), and despite the fact that the kids at the orphanage get more than their fair share of blessings from people who wish to make a bit of a down payment on their stay in heaven. Since I have been driving (on my own, without my mom, my dad, or both yelling at me until my ear drums abandon me in tears and utter consternation) for almost a month now, we figured we can bring some food and other things that the orphanage might need at the time of our visit, without worrying much about transportation. I can’t wait for this Friday.

I am more than excited to go back to the orphanage. The last that I’ve been there was December 2007, where Kalasag decided to share some holiday blessings by purchasing clothes, toys, and 2 electric fans for the kids at the orphanage. I remember having to carry those two goodness-knows-how-tempted-I-was-to-leave-them-behind electric fans in the middle of Christmas shopping, and with no taxi in sight at that. I even almost blinded my ex with some pepper spray after he decided to play a stupid prank on me by “stealing” one of the heavy fans I’ve been lugging around. Anyway, the experience was entirely heartwarming (the visit to the orphanage, I mean), and I honestly would not miss another one for the world.

Another activity we are going to have is the Pagtataya in our Theology class. This is basically a social involvement activity being required of graduating students, to “further cultivate the Ignatian value of being men and women for others” in them. I’m doing my best to not be a cynic here, and to be quite honest, I have no choice regarding the matter as my graduation partially depends on this class. So I obliged, and even more so when I learned that we would be doing one of the coolest jobs on site: painting the houses.

For a little background here, our group was assigned to a relocation site somewhere on the outskirts of the city. This relocation site was mainly under the “care” of Gawad Kalinga (literally means “Give Care”), an organization that functions under the concept of bayanihan (this is an old Filipino culture wherein different people of the community helped built a certain nipa home, and transferred it to its final location by carrying it on their shoulders. Gawad Kalinga, or GK, modifies this bayanihan concept by having volunteers help build the homes, meaning both the houses and the community as a whole, on the sites they have acquired.). I remember having helped with a house building activity a little over a year ago for GK. I’ve always wanted to go back and help build more houses, and I didn’t know that the chance I’ve been looking for would come from my Theology class. I think I really do need to believe more in God’s miraculous ways.

So on Sunday, and the Sunday after that, we will be spending the whole day painting houses for families who do not have homes, or have lost theirs for some reason or the other. Another thing asked of our group was to find some means of acquiring 20 gallons of white paint for the houses. This isn’t exactly a requirement, but I know it would be of great help to the community if we were able to raise enough money to buy 20 gallons of paint. If anyone reading this is willing to help out, please spread the word, or simply leave me a message at andiealbino@andiecrafts.com.

I would like to end this post with a few lyrics taken from one of my favorite songs, Man in the Mirror (I currently love the cover done by James Morrison. Check it out on YouTube!)

Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs?

I wouldn’t go as far as to saying that my idea of a good time transcends the mixture of appropriateness and enjoyment compared to those of others. To say it quite simply, albeit being rather queer for a human being (not that many of my friends consider me one), good times for me aren’t necessarily worse compared to everyone else’s.

I wasn’t able to understand that one either. So let’s just put it this way: I like doing things for fun, and no amount of convincing from others could ever dissuade me from doing these fun things - ever.

Staring Blankly into Space

Back during the first years of college, we used to call this habit “Activity Period.” Mainly because we loved to do it during activity period (MWF, 3:40-5:40 PM), not that we had much choice on the matter. I think I consider this activity good time mainly because I’ve had lesser and lesser opportunity to indulge myself in the act of doing nothing for extended periods of time. Try it! Doing nothing can be pretty fun!

Reading Books

Yeah. If I were half my current weight, I would look like a worm with glasses. A BOOKWORM!

Driving

I love speed. But I can’t do the speed thing with my mom. She never lets me drive over 40kph. If I do, I end up having bruises all over my right arm. Big, dark, blue bruises that leave their marks longer on my soul (char!).

Writing

I think this is supposed to be an extension of my love of reading. I suppose everyone who loves to read has a certain knack for writing. Or maybe that’s just me.

Music

You know how certain things seem to calm you down so well? Well, music’s my own special brand of legal narcotics. I have now realized that the reason why I haven’t beaten up anyone for the past year is because of my iPod. God bless the iPod!

Talking

I may be a bit antisocial, but I do love having some honest human interaction once in a while. I especially liked the most recent one I’ve had with Kuya Nick!

Sleeping

I never seem to get enough these days. Every chance to nap I get, I grab. I guess it’s normal to have greater appreciation for things you never seem to have enough of.

Cup Noodles

Need I say more?!?!?

Speaking of, I have some cup noodles brewing downstairs. I’ll be up until 9 PM tomorrow (if I don’t fall asleep in Sir Charlie’s class tomorrow), so I better get back to the work I’m supposed to be finishing. Ciao for now!