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[jvfrodriguez]

I remembered before, I was able to organize a surprise birthday party for my husband by asking help from our common friends. In less than a week of preparation and no personal meetings with those friends before the big day, just through texting, we were able to put together a birthday party that I hope my husband would not forget. Potluck of food and decorations from each of our friends made the party complete and successful.   

I thought of organizing that birthday party for Romeo (my husband) before, for the simple reason of making him experience how it is to be given a surprise party.  Because he said he was never able to experience one yet.

Now I wonder if I can do the same for the birthday of my son? But now the reason behind is different.  My son, Romeo Angelo Rodriguez or Rolo, will turn 8 years old on May 23, 2011, Monday.  Now having a special son (Rolo has Autism), we were able to experience how hard it is, not to mention how expensive it is, to bring up a child with autism (CWA).  And now that I am an officer in our support group (Autism Society Philippines, UP CAMP Manila chapter), I am able to take a look at the lives of other families also trying to go through the autism journey.  I am able to meet different people from all walks of life, with relatives or not in the autism spectrum but have the heart for these special kids.

If only I can connect them all together to bring joy to more CWAs.  May I ask for help from you friends?

Teaching a child in the autism spectrum requires different therapies-occupational and speech therapies.  And toys and other materials are used in teaching them.  May I knock on your generous hearts?  If you have toys, not being used already by your kids or siblings, extra art materials or school supplies, clothes or shoes for kids, my son would be very happy to accept them as your gifts for him on his birthday. This is not only for my son’s use but more so for other children in the spectrum. 

Right now, in our ASP chapter here in Manila, we are doing Parent Education activities and Home Visits to indigent members. And seeing how hard it is for them to sustain their livelihood, we can’t expect them to buy toys first for their kids when even money to buy food is an everyday problem.  Through your gifts, we can help these families, for toys and other items we will be receiving from you will be used in our sessions with them.  We would like to teach them managing their child’s problem behaviors through play and regular sessions with their kids.

We also are dreaming of having a play center especially for kids with autism here in Manila, for we have already talked to people willing to volunteer but while there is no place available yet, at least we can already start collecting materials / equipments we shall need.  Early intervention is the key for these children’s development so we can’t just wait.  We need to use what resources are available and maximize their use.

Below are just some of the things we need:
 
Toys – shape sorter, balls of different sizes and colors, puzzles, flashcards, cars, kitchen utensils, tools sets, bubbles, spray bottles

Books especially those with lots of pictures

School supplies / Art materials – crayons, pencils (both big and small), scissors, paper, notebooks, clay, sand paper, water color, brushes, etc.

Mats, Puzzle Mats, Cushions, Pillows, Linoleum

Beads, marbles, sand or pebbles

Clothespin, popsicle sticks with different colors

Board games, dominoes

Pocket charts

Musical instruments (toy piano, flute, tambourine, maracas, etc.)

Lotion or oils for their massage therapy everyday

Massagers, stress balls, fidget toys

Clothes / Shoes- ages 4 years and up, for boys or girls

Blankets / towels of different textures

Any other toy or materials you think will be helpful for Play therapy


Can we dream further?  You might have extra of these too:
 
Educational CDs

Bicycle

Vestibular balls – the Big Inflatable ball in the gyms

Trampoline

Swing, even the cloth one

Slide

Balance beams

Cabinets, boxes, orocan shelves to store toys

Chairs and tables

CD players

Used computers

Or you know somebody from Manila who’s willing to let us use an extra space to put up our play center?

We also have fund raising activities like ukay ukay and zero basura projects, so you may also donate clothes, bags, plastic bottles, cans we can sell for additional fund for our chapter.  You can donate practically anything and we'll make sure we use it wisely for the sake of the children we are helping.

PM me (facebook - facebook.com/jennette.rodriguez or email address – jennette12@yahoo.com) if you have donations so we can meet with you.  You may also text me at 0922-8969612.

Even if my son’s birthday is already on the 23rd, we can continue to accept your donations until May 31 (or maybe even after). My son doesn’t have to have a party because he is already happy when we give him his favorite fried chicken meal but I would like to make his birthday a chance for us to help other people, children like him who needs all the special care and attention we could give. And in doing so, we make more people happy instead.  We can also give some of the equipments to PGH Ward 7 where our kids are having their Occupational Therapy sessions.  But mostly the donations will be for each individual kid we are helping now in our group for use at their own homes. Or if ever in the Play center we are dreaming of.

Search for Rolo in facebook – Romeo Angelo Rodriguez

Don’t hesitate to pass on this message to others for us to reach more people. Thanks in advance for all those who are willing to help us in this project. Your simple contributions will be a big help in the lives of our children. You are our angels!  God bless you!
 

Jeng Rodriguez
Rolo’s mother
 

PS.  If you know any other family in Manila having a kid with autism and also need our help, don’t hesitate to contact and refer them to us too.  Thanks!

[toughmom moderator]

Sharing your child’s (or maybe even your own) special day with those who have less will often lead you to reflect on the “more” you have, and make you a more grateful, productive, and giving member of society.
For SP recommended foundations and ways you can celebrate birthdays for a cause, click the link below.
http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/home-living/party-planning/birthdays-for-a-cause

[Clueless]

I was thinking of doing the same for my baby's first birthday in november. Pero ang nalili ko is the heart of mary villa sa good shepherd. They have a maternity home there for unwed mothers and some give their babies up for adoption. When we were TTC and losing hope, one of my unmarrid cousins who volunteers there showed me a photo of her favorite baby at HMV and said if she could raise a child on her own, she would adopt the baby. She was urging me to do it and for a while i considered doing it. But a few months later, i got pregnant.

Kawawa naman ang babies kasi wala naman silang kasalanan, iniwan sila ng parents nila. But that's better na din if it means they will havea better future with their adoptive families.

The babies get adopted daw agad so most of the kids there are babies talaga, only a handful of toddlers. So they said di pa ma-appreciate ng babies if i hold a party there.

So what i want to do now is to just throw a simple get together with close friends and family and in lieu of gifts for my baby, i will ask them to bring goodes na lang that we can donate to HMV. Or cash gifts na lang that i will use to buy goodies. They need mostly formula milk and diapers. Then we will go there together with baby to distribute the goods.

Sana ma-sustain ko to do this every year.

[mariann]

just this year, we decided to celebrate/share our blessings with the less fortunate. 
 
when i received my midyear bonus, it was just in time for our baranggay fiesta.  so i had organized a "palarong pambaranggay" and alloted half of my bonus to prizes since most of our neighbors are indigents.  we gave 3 sacks of rice, 1 piglet, and cash prizes.
 
on my daughter's 4th birthday, we donated a year-round school supplies to our barangay day care center like chalk, crayons, papers, pencils, etc.
 
this coming november, on our eldest 8th birthday, i'm planning to organize a medical mission.
 
it feels much better to see that you've made other people happy than just receiving gifts.  indeed, it is much better to give than to receive.

[jcpartyzone]

Hi mommies! My baby will trun 1 this December. We will celebrate hjer birthday at an orphanage in Tagaytay.

Could you pls give me some ideas on how to spend a birthday party sa orphanage? Is it like throwing a regular bday party? With clowns, cakes, the works?

sis babylove, aside from the blowing of cake and the food, maganda kung may mga lootbags ka which contains not just toys but basic needs ng mga kids. siguro you can ask the orphanage administrator kung ano yung pwede ibigay aside from toys. the food need not be very expensive as well, it can be a simple meal in jollibee or McDonald's or something like that. What's nice would be to have a really good host and program with games that the kids will really enjoy . hope this helps

[mommyandkiehla]

Hi mommies!

I am planning to celebrate my birthday in a charity institution para na rin makapgshare ng blessings lalo na christmas season na.

May masusuggest ba kayo na institution and any idea how to organize one.
Thanks!

[hailee]

you can try gawad kalinga. let me know if gusto mo dun, bigay ko sayo contact number ng malapit sa area mo

[m@m@]

merong mom dito sa SP me kid sa PSOD ww.psod.org mag christmas party on dec 3 and i think some SP moms volunteered and donate dun.. baka gusto nyo din as part of your outreach on dec.. bigay ko un number niya.. 

[mommyandkiehla]

Thanks sis mommyjazz. Was able to read the links. I'm trying to check each institution and will talk to my husband if we can make this plan happen.

Sis hailee, sige please. I'm from makati. May small group/community lang ba sila?

Sis m@m@, sige puwede rin option yan.

Thank you po!

[m@m@]

hello mommies eto po un link:

http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/parentchat/index.php/topic,39064.0.html

[reignaudrei]

Mommy charmed_angel/mom celebrated at assosacion de damas filipinas in paco you may rach her too.

[baby chloe]

we plan to celebrate chloe's 2nd birthday this saturday at an orphanage here in cebu, so medyo excited na kami hehe. for those who plan to celebrate in a similar venue, here are some tips:

- book early so you can have the date and time that you want. these facilities have their own schedule of activities, so it is better if you make your request or reservation early kasi baka maunahan kayo.

- ask the social worker or in-charge of any restrictions in food, decor or other party items. like in our case, we wanted to have a jollibee offsite party with mascot, but the social worker told us that mascots are not allowed because some kids are afraid of them. also, with regard to food, they suggested food for us to serve instead of the usual chicken and spag, since some kids are allergic to chicken and medyo nag stomachache daw some kids with spag. i wanted to set up a choco fountain and candy buffet, but they told us that they avoid giving candies to the kids, so dessert buffet na lang set up namin.

- ask them also of what they need like diapers, milk, vitamins, school supplies, etc. the money we allotted for mascot and other party preps na di namin pwede gawin will be spent on these items which the kids will surely need. friends and family are also encouraged to give, instead of a gift for chloe, cash or milk na lang so we can donate more.

- we will be preparing loot bags, but instead of candy or food, we filled it with school stuff like pencils, pens, memo pads, erasers, stickers, hand towels, crayons, hair clips, and a few toys. for the prizes, we prepared board games, jumping rope, sketch pads, cartoon stamps,lunch boxes, etc.

we plan to do this for her next birthday also, pero baka sa DSWD or with street children naman. 

[aeli]

I am planning to celebrate my 4 year old son's bday with orphan kids. But I am at a loss on how to plan it.

For starters, I don't know where is the nearest orphanage in our home (Pasig - Cainta area). Preferrably around 30 kids maximum, 3 - 4 years of age.

I have tried to contact Everyday Is Your Birthday Foundation for inquiries but I didnt get any reply.

Any suggestions or info that anyone may have? please reply... Thank you

[purplemom]

..we celebrated hubby's birthday last May 2012 with a feeding program at a public Day Care center..i coordinated with a batchmate in elementary who is the teacher of the day care being manage by the brgy...kami na din nag provide ng tarp..



i also bought reusable bags (blue for boys and purple for girls) and filled them with school sets, bubbles and lollipops..



Jollibee spaghetti ang food na serve namin..usual food sa feeding program mga sopas... sobra enjoy mga bata lalo na habang kumakain ng spaghetti (walang kupas ang pagka fave ng kids sa spaghetti)..my daughter Beatrice help serve the food and .tumulong din ang mga mommies sa area na mag serve...



priceless ang saya ng mga kids nun makita ang laman ng lootbags nila

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/576646_10150831310372113_1100131818_n.jpg

[magilas]

likey.

hi sis onie. winner idea nyo sa day care mag celebrate hubby's birthday. i'm thinking of a small party for gyl's next birthday, sa orphanage sana but wala ko alam malapit sa amin. your alternative might be a good idea, meron day care near us.