The boxes are off to the Philippines!

We were given a good opportunity to send the boxes to the Philippines at a good price.  There was one hitch: it needed to be ready by Wednesday, and it was already Monday.

The box was nearly full, we were confident it can be done.  But two boxes?  In two days' time?

Tita Cory and Tita Tina took the reins and began calling up friends while the message calling for donations were posted here and on Facebook.

Nearly there!

Thank you very much to all families who have supported the Ulingan project.  It is as much your project as it is ours.

The balikbayan box is nearly full... nearly ready to go!

We are aiming to send the box tonight, so if you have some items to donate for the kids, please see how you can help.  We are also accepting monetary donation.

A number of stuffed toys have made their way into the box.  We're sure the kids will love them!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Kathleen's family and Russell's family for their donations.

Clothing for Ulingan

Thanks Meya and Ponsi for the clothing you have donated for the Ulingan kids!

We are currently accepting toys, clothes, school supplies, and books, as well as monetary donation.  Find out how you can help.

Goodies for the Ulingan kids

Thank you, Riona and Neeca, for giving your pre-loved clothing, books and toys for the kids at Ulingan! I'm sure they will love hugging the stuffed toys, reading the books, and wearing nice clothes!

The Ulingan Project is ongoing. Your support is needed, be it in kind or by donating. Learn more about this project.

Salamat po!

Fundraising for Kids at Ulingan

Do you have good quality kids' stuff you no longer need?

Please consider donating these items for the kids at Ulingan.

We are trying to collect items which we can send to the kids (in behalf of Project Pearls) in time for Christmas:

• toys (not battery operated please) 
• children’s books (pages/cover intact, no scribbles) 
• clean clothing (suitable for Manila climate)

Ulingan is a slum community in Tondo, Manila (the Philippines) where families eke out a living by making charcoal from discarded bits of wood and selling bits of scrap metal. Project Pearls, a not-for-profit organisation, is helping the kids by providing basic necessities and education. But there is still much to be done. For more information please visit www.projectpearls.org.

Drop-off point is at 163A Broderick Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
(Nick & Tina Ballesteros – 04 477 4069)

Another way to help is by donation. We are raising funds to send these items to Manila. Money left over will go to Project Pearls’ scholarship programme. Any amount will surely help.

Please donate by electronic banking to:
ASB Account No. 12 3223 0160240 50
Reference: ULINGAN
Code: your surname

For further inquiries, please contact:
Cory Gawe (04 4774251 / 0210 296 9846), or
Nick or Tina Ballesteros (04 477 4069)

In behalf of the kids at Ulingan, maraming salamat po.

(all photos by Project Pearls)

Term 2 2012 Holiday Programme

It was a fun day with the BarkadahaNZ kids who joined the 1 Day School Holiday programme.

Thank you for letting your kids join and to Tita Tina and Tita Weng for helping out. The kids had a go at craft making using recycled materials. The boys cooked adobo and pancit for everyone.

The younger ones made polvoron and yema. It was not part of the plan but during their free hour the kids formed a band-Filipino ingenuity at its best, always thinking outside the box. We were impressed!