We Went Out on a Fridate

A typical Friday in the metro:

• Even more intolerable traffic where every hour becomes a rush hour
• Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines
• Often a payday, other times a petsa de peligro
• Millennials going: “Let’s tonight?” “G!”
• People feeling like they’re licensed to have a much-deserved night out, or for others, a night in

A typical Friday in the market:

• Profit-taking here and there
• Positioning for the following week’s spotted plays

December 9, 2016 (Friday)

But today is not a typical Friday. We battle the same traffic, we meet the same deadline. But today, we do it not for ourselves, but for people we do not even know. Today, our ports are placed on auto-pilot as we planned to meet up with a few kids and hope to give them a morning filled with laughter, surprises, sunshine and rainbows. 

Today, we shared the spirit of giving.

It was to be our batch’s first RAK (random act of kindness) and we decided to spend it at a Gawad Kalinga compound south of the metro amongst thirty little rascals. 

So let me tell you a story about the day six people made a fool of themselves. 

The walls of the room were adorned with the children’s artworks, an end-table housed various trophies, bookshelves lined up the corners. It looked just like your usual classroom. But sitting on the floor were the kids with their expectant stares fixed right in front of them. This was when a familiar upbeat music wafted through the stereo. And suddenly, awkward limbs were flying in every direction. Some of the kids laughed, others looked on with a mix of amusement and confusion. We didn’t know how to dance, surely we didn’t know what we were doing. It was mighty embarrassing, but we grooved to the music anyway—whatever would break the ice, whatever would make the kids give even just the hint of a smile. 

This Friday, we tell ourselves, is not about us.  

Her name is Jessam, she is 10 years-old. My favorite dessert, she said, is chocolate cake. When I grow up I want to be a doctor. A year younger than Jessam is Clarenz. This Christmas, he smiled shyly, I just want new clothes. To his left is Gabby, who is almost 3. She had curly hair and expressive little eyes. She would nod when she likes something, frown when she doesn’t, and cry out when annoyed.

And there were dozens more we met, who welcomed us with such warmth and energy that we felt like little kids again. The games got a little competitive, the lunch was well-awaited for and the gift sharing was such a joy to take part in. There were toy bags for the children and food packages for their families. It was almost noon and our program has not ended yet. The room had little ventilation, the air feels stuffy. We were starting to get drenched in sweat, but we couldn’t care less. Watching them get excited opening their presents, hearing their thank yous and seeing smiles plastered on their faces make it all worth it.

So much has been said about giving. We watch as some give as much as they could purely out of the abundance of their hearts, others do reluctantly out of perceived responsibilities. And just as much, we see those hide their skeletons under the pretense of selfless giving when really, all they want are recognition and bigger egos.

Whatever the reason may be, the Lord has said:

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.” Deutronomy 16:17.

Just as we love because God first loved us, we give because He has first given us.