Cabiao Gawad Kalinga kids' wish - a Jollibee treat - fulfilled

MANILA, Philippines - All they ever wanted in their young lives was to eat at Jollibee but poverty had hindered them. Yesterday, their dream finally came true.

The poor children of Cabiao Gawad Kalinga (GK) Villages in Nueva Ecija here got their wish, thanks to the generosity of the Mark 10 Ministry of Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Newark who sent their love all the way from New Jersey, USA.

BLD, which means “open in spirit to God,” is a Catholic organization founded in Manila.

Yesterday, Mark 10 ministry of BLD Newark spread some love and cheer and treated the Sibol children of Cabiao GK Villages of Fr. Paul Lehman and UST Medicine Class ’76, to a day of fun and excitement here. 

The current and former Mark 10 children gave away the $500 they had saved in the past years to their fellow children in Cabiao GK Villages. The original intent was to spend this money on their educational needs but realizing that many of the Sibol children had been dreaming of a Jollibee treat, the Mark 10 children, through their coordinators Reuben and Cherry Vibar, decided instead to grant their wish.

“At first, we were thinking of using the money for their studies, books and other educational tools. However, we believe that the children wanted to have fun in celebration of the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Mark 10 children in Newark also wanted to have parties and fun so we could not say no to their Filipino counterparts. We said yes and agreed to the plan,” Mark and Cherry said.

So, off went the 40 Sibol children, aged four to six, to a Jollibee branch in Gapan wearing their Mark 10 T-shirts.

They first visited the Gapan Catholic Church and government facilities before they enjoyed the highlight of their trip, a Jollibee Christmas party. The children partook of Chicken Joy, spaghetti and pop soda, enjoyed games with prizes, and had the chance to play with the Jollibee mascot. 

A week earlier, UST Medicine Class ’76 gave 100 families from the same GK Villages their Christmas gift packs consisting of 10 kilos of rice, corned beef, coffee, chocolate drink, sugar, hotdogs, and noodles.

The classmates, upon hearing about the Jollibee treat, contributed a matching gift of $500 to the Sibol educational fund for the children. 

Indeed, it has been a profound Christmas for both the Mark 10 children of Newark and the kids of Cabiao GK Villages as they embody the true meaning of Christmas – giving in a season of grace and love.