I stopped for a while and thought about it. What can I give the Philippines? I haven’t really thought about the answer to this question, but Globe, with its new campaign called Project Wonderful 2014 (#GLOBEProjectWonderful2014), challenged me. It seemed like one of those trick questions with a simple answer. I grin at the thought that my husband would probably say ‘I AM my own gift to the Philippines.’ Yes, he would say that. My husband is very funny and charming.
But as for me, it took days before I could actually come up with this post. It’s day 15 to be exact. I started looking through my life list, but everything seemed to be a good gift. I needed something great, and something that would have tangible results. As you can see, corporate training has really rubbed off on me. Everything needs to be measurable. But I really wanted for this ‘gift’ (whatever it was) to be something others will see and share so that it will have a multiplier effect.
After days of thinking, I realized that I was doing everything that was inline with our family mission (yes, we do have a family mission):
Be a family that will spread knowledge through various media to help people grow and achieve their goals in life.
I know, who has a family mission, in this day and age, right? But yes, we do. Ej and I came up with this mission back in 2010. It was in our minds that if ever we do have kids in the future, all of the things that we do in our lives has to help us achieve this mission. So with this, my gift to the Philippines is knowledge and the jumpstart to become entrepreneurs.
We don’t claim to know everything there is to know about living or about starting a business, but we thought that we could be mediators or connectors. In the past 4 years of my life (or probably even longer than that since I never really intentionally had any mission prior to 2010), most of the things that I have been doing was with the end goal of helping others learn or helping get news across.
Blogging. We have been blogging for 6 years now and our blogs, Manila Reviews, Manila Fitness, and Mommy Ginger have been avenues for us to share the great things about the Philippines. It has been an avenue where we promote good health, and it has been an avenue where I share knowledge and experiences about parenting and being a work-at-home-mom and a mompreneur. To some, blogging may be just some form of media, but for us, its a tool for us where we can share our knowledge and even other people’s experiences; thus, we get to help others achieve their goals in life. I’m grateful that, nowadays, I can blog even out of the comfort of my home using my mobile phone and my trusty Globe connection.
Workshops. We have been conducting workshops since 2012. It all started when I was still employed with a bank in the metropolis. I was a product manager, and although the job helped me pay my bills and the people were great, I was looking for fulfillment. I wanted to do so much more for the community — for the Philippines and eventually, for the world. I thought about creating workshops where experts in their fields can impart their knowledge to others and the end goal was to see these attendees achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. The tagline for my brand, Manila Workshops, is ‘Turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality!‘. I love doing this because every time I get to hold and arrange a workshops, I get to see the happy faces of the attendees after. Also, I see their confidence in achieving more for themselves.
I believe that for a more stable economy, new businesses are important. These businesses provide employment for those who don’t have jobs. A lot of people (name it — new graduates, moms like me, dads, retirees, etc.) want to open their own businesses but don’t know where to start. This is where we come in.
In 2012, I got to hold 6 workshops. In 2013, I got to create 33 workshops. This 2014, I have 58 workshops in the pipeline and that number is significant because it means that we will be helping more people reach their dreams this 2014 (Full disclosure though that not all are directly related to opening a business. We also have parenting workshops).
Creating workshops entail time, effort and resources. I would very much want to conduct a free workshop every month about mompreneurship/entrepreneurship for our countrymen. I know that there are people who really want to go into business and I’d love to help them. This is my dream and wish for 2014. If Globe can help me achieve this, I will be so glad.
How about you? What is your wish/gift for the Philippines? Do comment below and get a chance to win an iPad Mini 2 if my entry gets chosen as the winning entry. I hope that you can share this article and please don’t forget to use #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014.
Smile and achieve your dreams this 2014!
My gift to the Philippines is I would give a cup of coffee to her because it’s time to wake up from this dreamland of most people that everything will be all right and everything is the president’s fault and all that nonsense. It’s time to wake up and do the things we have to do as Filipinos. What do we have to do? Start with little things such as recycling. Recycle in your own home, participate in your child’s school recycling program or even teach other people on how to recycle. There’s a million things you can do to help this country of ours. All we need is just a cup of coffee to get started.
Author
Hi Mona! Nice wish for our country! 🙂 I’d love to learn more about recylcing. I had this idea of creating a workshop on recycling with a fellow WAHM. I hope we can have it this year 🙂
If I had the ability to help the Philippines by giving gift I would give them a Advanced Military equipment – The military served as the protection of a country, it protects not only the higher-ups people but also the overall citizen of the country. To prevent annihilation of our people and country of the possible war that could occur we couldn’t afford to be possibly defenseless and just let the invaders take advantage of us without putting much a fight. And its also help and served our people at time of crisis.
Comment on my blog too thanks! http://miaamorilag.blogspot.com/2014/01/globeprojectwonderful2014-contest.html
Author
Hi Amor! hmmm, yeah! 🙂 Why not, right?
I love your idea! You are right Mommy Ginger, the gift of knowledge is priceless and irreplacable. I have always admired your work and hope one day to be like you but giving out talks for the awareness of leukemia in children. Anyhow, My answer to the question would be to give the gift of solar power to far flung barangays. This is such a great campaign of Globe!
Author
Hi Marie! Thank you so much! 🙂 Let’s talk and maybe we can work towards making that dream of your’s come true 🙂 Nice! Solar Power!
I think my gift for the Philippines is being a good online English Instructor to other nationality. In my opinion it gives pride to our nationality that we Filipinos are good English teachers. I’m starting a blog that is offering a unique way on how to learn English in a positive way. My goal is to make this bigger so I can hire mommies who are willing to work at home and give them proper training on how to teach online. I am a single mom and currently working as home based online English instructor in 121speak. I decided to have this kind of job because I want to earn while taking care of my 2 kids. And I know many moms would like to do the same thing. By pursuing my goal, I will help many Filipino women especially those single moms like me .
Author
Hi Racky! I agree! Being good at speaking in English gives us an edge! 🙂 Nice gift to ask for the #globeprojectwonderful2014 🙂
I AM my gift to the Philippines. Yes, I’m that guy.
Seriously though, my gift to the Philippines is to prove to our colleagues and customers where I work, that Filipinos deliver HIGH QUALITY work. By doing that, we increase the chances of getting more jobs into the country, giving our countrymen more opportunities!
That and me, of course,
Author
haha! Funny! I love you! 🙂 Yes, please! We need to deliver high quality work all the time.
If I had the chance to help the Philippines by giving a gift it will be a compassionate,kind,honest, warmhearted president who would lead our country men, who would stand up and face challenges and amends for our fellow filipino,a president that we can look up to in times of happiness and most of all ,in trials,i do believe a president makes a change in every country..
Author
Hi Sherry! I really wish that we would find that ‘perfect’ president 🙂 haha!
My gift to the Philippines will be the gift of opportunity.
Opportunity for job, for education, for food, for shelter, for health services and all the other basic necessities each and every one of us will need. If there are enough opportunities for all us then equality can never be far enough to achieve. If those things will be provided crime rate, poverty, homeless, illiterate, and hunger could be all lessen. Peace in every people can be possible and we can all work hand in hand in making this country more efficient and successful.
Author
Oh, what a nice wish, Istin! 🙂
For me, the best gift I can give to my fellow Filipino is helping others
If there is one thing i can give to the Philippines, that is CHANGE. As I quote Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Change to improve. Change to be perfect. Change for the better. Change the way I look at things and know that this brings opportunities.
According to Inquirer.net, “Philippines is the fastest growing Asian country in 2013. Despite the impressive growth figures, the Philippines faces many challenges. Among them, the global slowdown, excessive capital inflows and natural disasters, an annual occurrence in the Southeast Asian country where poor infrastructure and rice fields suffer damage from typhoons and floods.” I for one, never felt this growth. And since growth comes from continuous effort, I think we must help our country and help must begin with me and my family. Start acknowledging and stop complaining. Start helping and stop evading. Start conserving and stop expending. Start patronizing and stop venerating “others”. Help in revamping education by beginning with my own child for future employment opportunity. Teach her what she needs to learn and let her experience what she needs to gain. For the fact that what greatly affects our economy are natural disasters due to exploitation of the environment, I can help by exercising pro-earth, opt for organic by simply utilizing non-toxic household products.
If there’s one thing i can give to the Philippines, it is CHANGE. Change on myself, cradling my family, where I can take responsibility and I’m in charged of.
#GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
I agree with you. Workshops help a lot and open people’s eyes to other possibilities! I’ve attended a financial workshop before and it really made me think about the steps I should take to attain financial freedom. 🙂
I’ve been a Globe user for 14 years and through this #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
contest, I am glad to be given the chance to possibly contribute something to my country in collaboration with a brand and company I trust and believe in.
If I were given the chance to give a tangible gift to the Philippines in partnership with GLOBE TELECOM, I would like to create a mobile app dedicated to encouraging and acknowledging acts of kindness. The mobile app will be called Good Vibes, or simply GV.
Good Vibes is about doing, noticing and cultivating simple acts of generosity that ultimately, make an impact and create a difference in other people’s lives.
A simple call, text or email are just some of the ways we can extend our friendship and show concern to others. Just like Globe, the Good Vibes app is ultimately about relationships- treating people with compassion and kindness and enriching each other’s lives. It is a testament to how little things can make great things possible, how selflessly reaching out to others brings people together and therefore, makes the world smaller.
twitter.com/daydreamglitter
My gift to the Philippines is saving our environment! by I will Plant more trees., Walk more, drive less.,Maitain my vehicle, I will Save water, Use CFC-free products, Save energy, I will Recycle and reuse, I will Recycle and reuse, I will Use renewable sources of energy, Save animals., I will Go green when gardening or farming,and Create Awareness! #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014.
After spending a lot of time thinking, I come up with an answer. I would like to give the Philippines the gift of faith. Faith not just in terms of religion but faith in everything they were dealing as nation, and as a country. Faith that everything will soon be alright and will fall into its place. Faith that the government will be less corrupt and more in service. Faith that the church will continue to lead its community to the right path with the values instilled in each and everyone. Faith that will someday, a Filipino will wake up in the midst of silence where there’s no war between military groups and rebels. Faith that broken heart caused by family separation will be healed. Faith that everyone will have an access to right education. Faith that in this world full of hate, there’s still love that will always prevail. Faith that in every bad things happening around, there’s always a reason to find the silver lining.
My gift for the Philippines is my future generations. They they WILL be a Filipino. In our generation now, kids tend to forget our culture. My future daughter, sons, grandsons and granddaughter will bear the true essence of being a Filipino. They will learn how to court in Filipino style, they will always be using “po” at “opo”, they will treasure their old folks, they will stop and put their hands in their chest when the National Anthem of the Philippines is being sang, they will bear in mind that the carabao is our national animal, they will not forget our heroes that gave us freedom, they will always know what “bayanihan” is, they will always pray for the Philippines, they will boast our delicious delicacies to other nationality and they will always be proud of being a Filipino no matter what country they may be.
The first time I heard this question from a friend made time for me to think of the gifts that I can give to them. Just like the author said, me too do not have money to help the people in the Philippines. Until I get to the point, I was stopped and saw things slowly moving when I saw someone gave their donuts to the beggars and street children sleeping along the streets. My heart was amazed and my mind started to think of every man. I will honestly say that I am a selfish person and do not know how to give something to someone without condition. But that time and until this day I believe all the Filipino out there have a loving heart and a helping hand to prove that we can act as one. Bad people are not always bad. People change, all are permanent except for change. To God be the glory. He made me realized the three gifts that I should give to the Filipino people without thinking of being a rich person or having full pockets. And those gifts are PRAYERS (for them to remember God all the time), a LOVING HEART (for them to feel that they were not alone) and a HELPING HAND (for them to become strong and build their life for this another chance)
Well, thanks to the author, KENNETH TAN for making this article so useful and inspiring. There are things that worth sharing and this has been explained and totally shared on this blog. Just pursue what your passion is because you have an idea to inspire every Filipino out there.
“You dont need to be wealthy in terms of helping. A simple and little thing could help to uplift them”
– Virgilio Bautista Jr
jayrbautista31@gmail.com
Kung may isang bagay akong ireregalo sa Pilipinas, ito ay pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga ng mga Pilipino sa ating bayan. Kung makikita lamang nating lahat ang ganda at ituturing na espesyal sa atin ang bansang ito, iingatan at pangangalagaan natin ang Pilipinas.
Sa aking palagay dito mag-uugat ang kaunlaran ng ating bayan. Kung nakikita lamang ng mga Pilipino na mahalaga para sa kanila ang Pilipinas, pipiliin nilang dito magtrabaho. Kung sino pa ang magagaling ay sila pa ang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Ngunit hindi tayo ang umuunlad kundi ang mga bansang pinagtatrabahuhan nila. Kapag nangyari na ito, ang Pilipinas lamang ang kanilang pipiliin. Tulong-tulong na pauunlarin ang bayang ito.
Kung may pagpapahalaga ang mga Pilipino sa Pilipinas, wala sana tayong polusyon ngayon. Katulad ng isang bahay, hindi mo hahayaang madumi ito at hindi mo din ito dudumihan. Hindi ka magtatapon ng kalat sa kung saan. Ituturing mo ang bansang ito bilang iyong tahanan na hindi mo kailanman pababayaan na masira.
Sabi nga ng aking propesor, pahahalagahan mo lang ang isang bagay kapag nakita mo na ang tunay na ganda at espesyal na parte nito sa iyong buhay.
Maaaring mapangarap ang regalong aking napili pero hindi ito imposible. Magsisimula ito sa ating mga sarili. At sana sa pagdating ng panahon na lahat tayo ay natutunan na ang tunay na halaga ng Pilipinas, hindi pa huli ang lahat.
-Bernadine B. Bautista
bernadinebautista25@gmail.com
Kung may isang bagay akong ireregalo sa Pilipinas, ito ay pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga ng mga Pilipino sa ating bayan. Kung makikita lamang nating lahat ang ganda at ituturing na espesyal sa atin ang bansang ito, iingatan at pangangalagaan natin ang Pilipinas.
Sa aking palagay dito mag-uugat ang kaunlaran ng ating bayan. Kung nakikita lamang ng mga Pilipino na mahalaga para sa kanila ang Pilipinas, pipiliin nilang dito magtrabaho. Kung sino pa ang magagaling ay sila pa ang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Ngunit hindi tayo ang umuunlad kundi ang mga bansang pinagtatrabahuhan nila. Kapag nangyari na ito, ang Pilipinas lamang ang kanilang pipiliin. Tulong-tulong na pauunlarin ang bayang ito.
Kung may pagpapahalaga ang mga Pilipino sa Pilipinas, wala sana tayong polusyon ngayon. Katulad ng isang bahay, hindi mo hahayaang madumi ito at hindi mo din ito dudumihan. Hindi ka magtatapon ng kalat sa kung saan. Ituturing mo ang bansang ito bilang iyong tahanan na hindi mo kailanman pababayaan na masira.
Sabi nga ng aking propesor, pahahalagahan mo lang ang isang bagay kapag nakita mo na ang tunay na ganda at espesyal na parte nito sa iyong buhay.
Maaaring mapangarap ang regalong aking napili pero hindi ito imposible. Magsisimula ito sa ating mga sarili. At sana sa pagdating ng panahon na lahat tayo ay natutunan na ang tunay na halaga ng Pilipinas, hindi pa huli ang lahat.
-Bernadine Bautista
bernadinebautista25@gmail.com
Author
Tama yan! Ginawa naman ang isa pa naming blog, Manila Reviews, para ipakita sa mga tao na hindi na nila kailangan tumingin pa sa ibang bansa at maghangad ng magandang buhay doon. Ang Pilipinas ay magandang lugar at kung mananatili lamang sila dito at ipamahagi ang kanilang talento, maaaring umasenso rin ang kanilang buhay at makakatulong pa sila sa iba 🙂
this is a very sincere gift as you are actually offering something of your expertise! i hope i could join your future entrep seminars! 😀
my gift to the Philippines would be the GIFT OF READING, and i do this by supporting this NGO i’m currently volunteering in, The Storytelling Project, in realizing its vision of providing story books, building libraries and teaching children storytelling and reading. 🙂 if Globe can help, i’m sure abot namin ang mundo! hehe
http://yangabbles.blogspot.com/2014/01/globeprojectwonderful2014-gift-of.html
Author
Oh, I love what you wished for. I would love for my daughter to love reading too! 🙂 I always try to read her stories but she’s so kulit! 🙂 hehe!
There are so much we can give to the Philippines, each and every one of us has alteast something in mind that they can give to make our beautiful country a wonderful country.
For me, the best gift that i can give to the Philippines is my TIME. By giving my time, i will be able to help out in every which way i can. Charity work, helping out at relief centers or little things as simple as time to clean around the place where i live. If every filipino is willing to spend time thinking of what they can do to help out and putting it all into action, we are one step away to a #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 Philippines!
My wish to gift for my beloved country is a gift of Livelihood to those people affected of tyhooon yolanda. Before anything else we can easily recover from that incident if we have something where we can generate money. Money today is the most needed resources, you cannot buy food without it. So instead of giving a certain amount of money to each everyone, why not give each family (if possible) the gift of livelihood,like Giving them seeds for planting fruits, vegetables, for poultry raising, and even materials for fishing. They don’t need “short-term-help” they need lifetime solution for them to be able to survive everyday. They need something useful that would benefit not just a single person but for the whole family, and perhaps for the whole community. This wish of mine is quite impossible but with careful research and planning, and monitoring who could benefit this project would be a BIG success. In the long run if all people are productive your advocacy of helping would never be forgotten. Many lives would thank you for this.
For as long as there are people/organization would willingly make this project happen, nothing is impossible. If everyone of us wholeheartedly extend our help to the needy we can surpass every trials that comes along. #ProudPinay
analynalonsagay.blogspot.com
Great post. 🙂
Since I support Globe’s PROJECT WONDERFUL for 2014, my gift to the Philippines is to help ENHANCE Project Wonderful via the acronym H.O.P.E. so more help/assistance can reach our fellow Filipinos, and this project can give them inspiration, and more importantly, HOPE.
With Globe’s Project Wonderful, I can fuse my ideas with the existing system to ensure Filipinos are given enough help and a boost of HOPE. The gift of HOPE are enhancements to the current and existing GLOBE PROJECT WONDERFUL which aims to provide help and inspiration to our fellow Filipinos.
HOPE stands for:
H – Help Others to Help Others
O – Overcoming Obstacles
P – Post it! Appreciation Board
E – Education for Sustainability of efforts
more details can be found here: http://www.theslambookproject.com/the-gift-of-hope-globeprojectwonderful2014/
Though I have an extensive explanation of my gift on my own post for #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014, here’s another gift I would give to my countrymen if can:
Helping hands. A million helping hands.
After Yolanda, I realized that a LOT of people are willing to help. It was my first time to volunteer and repack donations and it was amazingly heartwarming to see strangers talking to each other, hand in hand and helping each other with only one goal for the day. And I want that again, not only during calamities but every single day.
There are still people out there who needs help, RIGHT NOW. Just look at the street children and displaced people everyday.
Here’s the plan inside my head: An organization where people of ALL ages — from grandparents to high schoolers, can join and browse for “projects” online, much like browsing for available jobs, where they can volunteer/donate. This organization can build a lot of projects for different kind of things!
Example:
San Andres Area: Soup Kitchen — 2/3/14 @ 7pm.
Needed: 5 volunteers to cook, 5 volunteers to distribute, 10 Males for crowd control.
Materials: 4 tables, Bring your own cooking utensils and casserole.
Poblacion area: Basket Ball Court Rebuilding — 3/15/14 @ 3pm.
Needed: 10 Males for rebuilding bleachers, 10 volunteers to repaint
Materials: 3 Red paints, Nails, Bring your own hammers
Boni area: Basic Tutoring Class — 4/20/14 @ 8am – 6pm
Needed: 20 volunteers to teach, 10 volunteers to make food.
Materials. Teachers must bring 5 recycled papers and pencils each. Food makers must bring 10 eggs and bread.
NOW, let me ask you, if this website were real. Wouldn’t you click that JOIN button?
A million helping hands. Think about it. 🙂
Here’s my own idea for #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 :
http://cerrise.tumblr.com/post/72683544534/if-there-is-one-thing-you-can-give-to-the-philippines
🙂
–Cherry Franco
franchenn@yahoo.com