PinoyJeep: Young Fil-Ams of New England: Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko!

Hello PinoyJeep Followers,

As you know, we got the idea to start PinoyJeep for the IP Rondalla Tour to the Philippines that happened a few months ago. While the tour is long over, we're still holding strong and posting along! And so on Christmas day, we'd especially like to thank you for the support you've given us throughout these few months to even make it this far. I know I've repeated myself several times this year, but honestly, we wouldn't be here without you!

So to share our love for all of you on Christmas day, here are a few photos I've been meaning to post for a while now (but of course due to college apps, school work, and just the mere volume of work I have at the moment, I've been a little behind...as always). I would have also loved to share with you pictures of me pigging out on Christmas paella, caldereta, and glazed ham, and singing (quite badly) to a few OPM songs, but I think it's best none of you see anything too embarrassing at the moment, especially while our stomachs are still trying to digest everything we've seen today. Instead, here are pictures I know you'll enjoy of a familiar school we all know halfway around the world... Merry Christmas and Maligayang Pasko!

Bayan-Bayanan Elementary School (BBES)

Many donations have been made to make the Drum & Lyre band a successful activity for the Aeta students of BBES. Pictures is one girl who received a lyre from a generous donor.

Sheryl Garcia (center) holding her lyre and
standing next to Teacher Raffy and her mother, Shirley Garcia

Sheryl Garcia, the unat aeta who was the recipient of the lyre donated by the
Fadrigalan family

The tree planting was suppose to be part of the activities of the IP Rondalla during our visit on July 12, 2013, which was cancelled due to lack of time and rain. Fortunately, a few of us returned to the school on July 20, 2013 to complete the tree planting activity in behalf of the IP Rondalla. As of December 19th (when these pictures were taken), they look pretty healthy. Shirley Garcia, the mother of Sheryl (recipient of the lyre given by the Fadrigalan family) cleans the area of weeds. Unfortunately the soil is dry due to lack of rain. Teacher Raffy has asked his students to help clean the area regularly.

Thank you to BKP-NY's kind donation of books which the BBES received sometime during the last week of November. Two balikbayan boxes arrived filled to the brim with children's books!

Christmas Party December 19, 2013

Pictured are the Aeta children and parents of MMQ Aeta Primary School in Mt. Terranus receiving gifts. There are 16 primary students but not all of them came down from the mountain.

These photos are some of the BBES students housed at Bahay Kalinga managed by VEST Foundation (Comm. Evelyn). This is the Aeta children's half-way home from Mt. Terranus. These pictures were taken while the kids were having breakfast (egg and tuyo) before attending the Christmas Program.