Gabriel is Ambit's youngest volunteer

Our youngest volunteer in the group giving a drawing workshop.

Our youngest volunteer in the group in his storytelling task.

Colors of May

Ambit's youngest child volunteer has successfully held his first ever Painting Exhibition together with his grandfather. Gabriel dedicated his summer vacation working on his artworks using mostly oil and chalk pastels. What made it special was the fact that he wanted to raise funds so he can buy notebooks for Ambit's children beneficiaries. Take a look at our little philanthropist and the joy of those who went to the exhibit.

We Have A Venue!

For a few weeks now Gabriel has been working nonstop on his paintings bearing in mind that his sacrifices would mean a priceless gift for the children in Sipalay and Hinobaan. As his mother I take pride in the fact that at his tender age, he is already taking it upon himself to affect change in the society. When he inquired about the possibilities of him holding an art exhibit, I didn't wait a second in explaining to him the mechanics, the sacrifices that he's going to make, and that the only consolation would be to see the faces of his fellow children lighting up while receiving their notebooks. We have been praying each night that God will provide us with the venue for the exhibit. Since it's going to be a charity event, it will defeat the purpose if we spend for anything to have it done. Today, God has answered our prayer! A new friend I met on Facebook offered her place for us to hold the Art Exhibit. How encouraging it is to know that somewhere out there, someone heard God's whispers and directs her to us. Salamat Leia Mae, for being an angel to us. May you be blessed even more!

What Can a Child Do for Others?

Gabriel is 10 years old and this particular summer would be extra special for him because there's no out of town trips, vacations, outings. Aside from being a child volunteer for Ambit where he usually gets assigned reading stories to children beneficiaries in our adopted villages, Gabriel takes joy in doing his part in the notebook drive. Right now, he is dedicating his time doing his paintings for his first ever painting exhibit. He wanted to help donate notebooks for Ambit and he thought of using his talent in raising funds for the less fortunate children in Sipalay and Hinobaan. May he be an inspiration to us.

Baby boy

From being a baby to now a boy... big boy...tall boy... still my baby boy. 

A few days ago, he was at his grannies and just like any ordinary day with his lolo, they never run out of play ideas.  I saw this pop out in my FB notification, to my great amusement and delight. Made me recall right away some years back when he was still wearing his diapers... Check these photos out. 

He likes to give me flowers

That kind of face, that kind of smile, makes me feel so grateful God made me a mother. How can I not conquer the fears, pains, failures and heartaches? See those tiny flowers in his little hands? He picked them for me and very excitedly showed me. It's these little things that I call treasure, riches, gold. Priceless moments that I can never trade for anything, as it's in these moments that I am reminded of my purpose, why I am here. Knowing my purpose leads me to where I will be in the future, it gives me the right motivation to keep going in spite of the present darkness. 

What motherhood is

Motherhood is getting to know his friends and treating them like my own. Whenever Gabriel comes home with a bunch of his friends, I make sure I welcome them all like I welcome my son. I call it "open house" for them. They get play, eat, jump around, shout, laugh, get crazy, sweat it out. For me, that is the only way I can assure my son as he transitions in teenage phase, that I can be one of his buddies, too. I guess one of the saddest thing that can happen to a parent is when their children become stranger to them, or them to their children. I do not want that to happen ever.

 

Dont prepare the future for your child. Prepare your child for the future.

What makes me particularly happy that I am my son's mother, is the fact that we understand each other in every way. There's never an instance when Gabriel would whine because I asked him to do some household chore. I see to it that we talk about everything, including the fact that I make him learn to do the household chores. "I'm doing this because I love you. I want to prepare you for the future." I always tell him that and he would embrace me and kiss me and say, "I know Nanay, and I understand." It makes me feel so blessed to get that kind of assurance from a 10-year-old son whose priority is to play, play, play and play. Fellow mothers are often surprised when I tell them Gabriel can already cook rice, some simple dish like hotdog, fish, he washes dishes, helps me in the laundry, mops the floor, fixes the bed. Well, I was 5 when I learned to cook rice!

Why do you grow up so fast???

I savored each step,
to where you are now,
to where you want to be,
to how you want to be.
I felt each sigh,
each deep of a breath,
each whisper of the wind
through your hair,
your face,
it's life...
you are life.
It's been a while
since you were tiny
in my hands, frail but alive
like the breaking of dawn,
full of promise
of new beginning.
It's been a while
since I last sang you some lullaby,
the songs that you loved
that brought you to heights
and peaks of dreaming
and believing
that life has got so much for you
and me.
You are enough for me.

Character building