What Brought Us Here? (A Charitable Fund Raising Event)

September 22, 2013. It’s raining hard. Outside is a roar of thunder and inside were the children’s laughter. 4:30pm in the same afternoon, you could only hear the group that entertained variety of children and packing up every mess that brought joy to these special youth of one of Hospicio De San Jose’s building. Wondering, what brought us here?

It started more than a month ago, around mid-July of 2013. The class of Mr. Tullao, Events Management, decided to use their events development and study to few chosen charitable place. One have been chosen, and that was Hospicio De San Jose, a nurturer of hope and care for      babies, children, adults and elderly persons who have no other home. Hospicio is located beside Pasig River and Ayala Bridge. The class decided to raise funds; our Professor of the class was clearly not impressed though. The class would not be developed if we will just raise funds by asking people’s money or give our own money. Solicit, raise and get money in the most creative way possible was the final verdict. We were divided first by groups in the event itself, and another group for raising funds. We had 3 products produced per week since the first day of September. Sleepless nights were ahead of us. As the time goes by, students, one-by-one suggested and introduced their own way of soliciting and producing funds for the class. Mostly were donations and some were participation to other events. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, sort to speak. We went through hardship, even though the event hasn’t started yet. Well if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well so we really tried our best.

The list of our sponsors

Finally, last days of preparation and production are abolished. Saturday, September 21, 2013. A night before the event, we all had that butterflies in the stomach. The goodie bags were bagged, the drinks were bought, the food – to be delivered, and the sound system and alike were all prepared. Rushed, were the music and script for the entertainment and reviews of program flow kept us from a relentless sleep.

September 22, 2013, 3am. Most of us were still awake and we need to wake up at 7-8am. Most of us probably had a good slumber but few of us that prepared and stayed overnight didn’t have much. Around the clock until 10 in the morning, we were preparing. Everything that needs to be brought had been brought, everything that needs to be bought, had been bought. Waiting for the transportation, we had our hopes up for the unstoppable nature of a rainy weekend to cease even for a while.

The same Sunday morning, 11am, the rain is still falling. We felt hopeful and hopeless, then hopeful and hopeless again.                 

We arrived at the event, at last. Soaking wet by this gloomy Sunday, we started packing things up to set the preparation for the awaited event, piece by piece and part by part.

Toiletries, supplies, food and drinks

Hoping to find handful of hope in a hopeful place, I was told that if the rain don’t stop 70 participants will drop down into 14. And if it won’t really stop, the event might be postponed. An imaginary glass was shattered to the inner voice of my head. I think that was the longest 3 seconds of my life. All the sacrifice we had in the past month redundantly plays through my mind. I snapped back to consciousness and sat at the corner, thinking “What have we done? What brought us here?” Forgetting all this negativity, I just prayed for the rain to stop or good news; the rain didn’t stop but there was good news. Change of plans, and division of responsibilities. Group 1 will be in-charge for the pre-school children and group 2 will handle elementary to teenagers.

We had a really short briefing about what’s the plan but it came out pretty clear. The activities will be separated, and everything will be adlib. The pre-school kids will do the activities and youth group will have the play, the projector, the sound system. So mostly, technical entertainment is heavily established at the elementary and youth while tender, love, care and patience is heavily needed in the pre-school kids group. What could possibly go wrong?

This is where the event should be held, if the rain didn't occured

As the IT Committee, we are needed in both divisions, but we are suggested to be on the Youth side. We witnessed mostly the youth side.

We searched for the area we were assigned. With the rain still falling, we rushed finding that shelter. We arrived at a quiet area and a ‘caretaker’ or ‘nurse’ I presume, told us instructions and precautions. Luckily, it’s not that strict in that area so we freely designed the area with balloons. Most of the girls did the work, because most of the guys were outside organizing school supplies. While setting up, more and more kids are showing up. There is this one boy with a face mask on and couldn’t speak. He asked for a balloon design. He was with us, staring and even helping. And then there’s this other boy that could create astounding balloon twisted animal. He’s also there helping the rest. It really fascinates us that these children we were about to entertain, entertains us and even helps us.

Design team of the Youth Division

Design of the Pre-School Division

Design of the Youth Division (with projectors and sound system on side)

What’s left is the final setting and finishing. We are, again a bit nervous, for our special guest (Disciples of Escoffier Representatives) came to observe us. Our guitarist finally came, until there is only one problem that was solved immediately, speakers for the dance music and effects (there is already an amplifier that assessed the microphone and the guitar, but could not be connected at the projector). When everything’s all set, we began. The host already introduced the prayer leader. Though the noise is a bit distracting, a short and clear prayer for the day was delivered. After the prayer, the host, looking a bit nervous and unaware broadcast each statement with cheer. We started having a play we made up inspired from the avengers movie. The play consist wit and supposedly audience participation, but it gets a little less interesting through time so we shortened it up. The message of the play is clearly delivered and we proceed to the music number. There was a little delay at the food or something so we had to kill the time by playing videos and music. We began to sing a song that our musicians prepared. It started out not-so-good, but after a few parts, most of the class started to sing in front. We continued until food is distributed. We were never been astonished as the crowd cheered for more entertainment until everybody wants to participate. We had song requests and dance requests. It was really fun. We played more music and most of the class fed and entertained our beloved audience. After this wonderful scene, we didn’t fail to delight our two special guests that provided some of us certificates (we worked for a day in their event in exchange for donating in our event).

They saved the day by singing and entertaining our young audience

The last part of the event was gift giving. We played a cheerful song as our Professor instructed and we gave all of the gifts and donations we worked hard for. Then we gave the floor to our Professor. After all the acknowledgement is done, we ended the event with joyful laughter and cheerful music. After all the arrangement and the clean-up were done, youth adoration held us back in going anywhere. Though it breaks our hearts to leave, we had to. We did our part, and we didn’t regret that. We had to say goodbye but it doesn’t mean we’re never going to go back. What brought us there? Fate probably brought us there, and memories will bring us back.