Laughter Yoga adopts Camarin High School

Life springs from water.

Life is sustained by water.

True to its tradition, in its seventh anniversary, Laughter Yoga Club, Phils. turned over to the Camarin High School in Caloocan City — the sixth school it has adopted — a complete water system and 28 toilets  for the benefit of 7,800 students and 200 teachers and administration employees.  According to DepEd, about 170,000 toilets are currently needed by students all over the country. From my experiences, in addition to toilets, a clean water system to run in the faucets and maintain cleanliness in their respective schools is equally urgently needed. The schools we have adopted did not have a water supply system!  It is deeply disturbing and heart-rending to learn that the ratio of toilets in our public schools is 2,000 - 3,000 students to one toilet — with no water to boot!   To date, this yearly undertaking has benefited 35,500 students, covering various schools in Quezon City and Caloocan City.  So much must be done to help our public schools, where a great bulk  of our youth is enrolled. I hope to partner with some companies on this endeavor.  A help to our students is a help to our country … to ourselves!

The importance of water, one of the three major elements that make us live, was emphasized by Mherly Sandoval, a Camarin High School teacher: She started by asking:  â€œWhat is the most valuable substance or commodity in the world? We might initially think that gold, oil or diamonds have the greatest worth.  Of all the minerals, metals, gems on earth, the most valuable is water.  Life springs from water.  Life is sustained by water.  Water is the medium required to perform the various functions associated with all known forms of life.  Life can’t exist without the availability of an access to adequate supplies of clean water.  The good news is that we now have an operational water reservoir in our school that will supply water for a week even in cases of brownouts.  We express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for this project that will benefit the teachers, students, and everyone in this school.  This water reservoir is a monument to be remembered by students, who will be coming and going through this institution, the kind generosity of the person who provided it.”

 I advised as I challenged the 1,500 students congregated in the covered court, to properly use and maintain these facilities to enable future students to enjoy them.  “Healthy bodies, healthy minds” was the mantra I kept repeating.  It is the battle cry that goads me to continue this very-fulfilling-and-gratifying advocacy, knowing the beneficiaries are our future. I conducted a mini-yet-so-enjoyable Laughter Yoga session for them, did the Laughter Yoga clapping, which boosts the flow of energy to the body fast and which they can do  when  feeling down, tired, sleepy, angry, hungry, and “low-batt.” 

My life-long advocacies of  spreading joy, scattering sunshine, helping Filipinos be healthy, happy, and positive through Laughter Yoga, and providing water and sanitation projects to chosen public schools  are  made possible  by the companies whose fees are  utilized to the last centavo for this advocacy.  Special thanks goes to RCBC.  My heartfelt appreciation also goes to Roger Cuaton, who helps me screen public schools to adopt each year, and whose hard work and dedication  ensure that  the  water and sanitation projects  we undertake  will  last for  future students’ use.

 The following are the heartwarming comments from the Camarin principal, teachers, and students:

• Principal Juanito Victoria:  A very good form to relax the body and rejuvenate the spirit. Good job! 

• Ma. Maidy Siva: A very healthy activity.  We liked it so much! Hope to do it again.

• Tommy Rico: Though the Laughter Yoga was short, the experience made me feel  whole again. Hope to have  a longer  LYoga  next time.

• Jonalie  Jimenez: Very refreshing, releases stress.  I will do the laughter therapy as part of my daily routine.

• Jasha Sophia Sebastian: Very entertaining  and funny.  Stress- releasing  really.  

• John Gerald Balolong: Very enjoyable exercise, great! Thank you, Ms. Elvie! 

• Bernadette Ranolo: Really nice … Great help when I feel stressed and worried! 

• Virginia Gamboa: Releases hunger!

• Faye Noreen Fabila: It made our bodies feel good and healthy.

• Hershey Jane Selorio: Very energetic, like a wake-up call.

• Kimberly Casaba: Super saya and energizing!

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Let’s keep laughing to a healthy, happy, positive us!  For more info, visit www.laughteryogaphils.com.To laugh, visit lycphohohahaha.