"The test of our progress is not whether we add more
to the abandunce of those who have much;
it is whether we provide enough
for those who have too little."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Before commencement of the Bastard Program,
I was asked about my RAK (Random Act of Kindness).
I told Sir Lancelot that my RAK isn't really "random" because it won't be for strangers.
My RAK is for my nieces and nephew.
But first, let me tell you a bit about myself which is the reason why I chose this RAK..
I came from a poor family. My mother raised me all by herself. When I was in elementary, it was my aunts and uncles who supported and financed my studies. I was a scholar since Grade 1 and the monthly allowance of 150 pesos from the city government was a big help.
Then came high school. I transferred to a different scholarship program and the only reason is because it gave more "support". Yet it was still the same. It wasn't enough. Even if I was in public school. I remember that one time a classmate of mine approached me and gave me 50 pesos.
"Eto yung baon mo pinabibigay ni Nanang ****. Nagpunta sa bahay kanina. Iabot ko daw 'to sayo."
That was when I realized, my mother didn't have anything in her pocket. Zero. She had to ask her siblings again for help. I graduated and went to college.
This time. I had no more scholarship grants. It was one of my relatives who is a staff at school who paid for my tuition fee - as salary deduction. And so it went on like that for two years until I was able to get a scholarship from a politician's foundation. I became an Academic Scholar and was included in the Dean's List. I was able finish college.
But this post is not about me.
This is about three little kids who have big dreams.
Let me introduce them to you.
Forgive me for blocking their faces.
These kids are my relatives.
I don't have a troll account and I'd like to keep my identity anonymous.
This is Kiddo #1.
The big sister.
She's in Grade 4.
Very polite and courteous.
Always taking care of her siblings.
Kiddo #2.
Grade 2.
Very playful and energetic as it is with all little boys.
This is the kid whom I give cars and toy soldiers as gifts.
This is Kiddo #3.
The youngest of the three.
She's in kindergarten.
Very timid but has a really cute smile.
Tell her you'll take a picture and she'll pose right away.
It pains me to say this, these kids were abandoned by their parents and were left to my cousin's care. My cousin who just got unemployed three months ago. But he's the kind of guy who never gives up. His persistence paid off and he's just started on his new job last month.
I'm glad I was able to buy the kids' school supplies for this school year in the nick of time.
Their classes started June 6 and we were only able to buy them June 5.
There's a National Book Store branch just a stone's throw away from their house.
It is very accessible to them.
It's just that they didn't have the finances to buy what they need.
These are some of the notebooks.
There are a lot more of these things.
My cousin failed on taking pictures of all of them.
Kiddo #2 wanted the Iron Man bag.
Kiddo #3 likes Hello Kitty.
Kiddo #1 just wanted a pink and simple one.
Treated them to Jollibee right after.
Bida ang saya.
Just like what my aunts and uncles did for me, I'm extending my blessings to these kids. I plan to help these kids graduate college so they can make a better course in their lives. Right now, I can only afford to help them with their school supplies and the occasional expenses that will come along as they go through school life. But someday, these kids will be our family's next generation of professionals. I haven't asked Kiddo #3 yet but Kiddo #1 wants to be a teacher and Kiddo #2 wants to be a policeman.
One important thing that I've learned in life is this.
The more I gave, the more I was given.
So when God blesses you financially, don't raise your standard of living.
Raise your standard of giving.
