Trip at Leisure Farms and Taal

Grade 4 and Grade 5 students of Hands On Schools- Galing Mo Kid! visited Leisure Farms Adventure, an Agricultural theme park where they learned about new and innovative farming technology, organic farming, the evolution of the environment, and ways on how they can protect the environment.

Second stop, was Taal City. Students and Mentors were
taken back in time as they walked on the cobbled-like
streets of the city and visited historical landmarks of Taal.

First site was the Basilica de San Martin de Tours


Students and Mentors of Plainview Elementary School at Apacible House



On their way to Agoncillo Museum

HOS-GMK Batch 2: Getting to know my Heroes

by: Gianne Gae F. Halog

It started out like any normal meeting in the office – we talked about statistics, performance and highlights of the
week. As it was about to end, our topic shifted from business to volunteering. A colleague of mine mentioned about an applicant whom she interviewed and spoke of Hands on Manila. She further explained that she became curious about the organization and her questions began to circle around: what is Hands on Manila? And so my colleague shared in our meeting what she found out about HOM and encouraged us, most especially me. I guess her persistence is coming from the fact that she knows my weekends are free and I need extra activities to occupy my mind.

During their orientation they talked about their flagship program which is: “Hands on Schools – Galing mo Kid”. The
program is held every Saturday morning. I thought this might be a good start since it is on weekends and teaching
has always been close to my heart. So I attended a few more orientations for HOS-GMK and a launch before the
first session started.

Seeing the kids for the first time was overwhelming and a bit intimidating. When I realized these kids were very
bright I began to have doubts if I can become a good mentor for them. Good thing, I didn’t let my doubts discourage
me, so I decided to push through with the program. The first Saturday session was scary for me. I felt like I’m going to school for the first time – panic attacks started to creep in, but the warm smiles and the sweet voices of the kids calmed me.

Now we are on our 6th session and so far we are doing well. I guess I am learning as much as the kids do. It
amazes me that even kids can teach me a lot, they can inspire me in ways I wouldn’t expect. As we facilitate the
activities and process the modules, I wasn’t looking at 10 students. What I saw and am still seeing are 10 nine-year olds, who are very concerned with helping our country and who believes they can make a difference even if they are still young.

The kids know even in their own little way they can help, they know they are heroes. Realizing this taught me a great lesson, that is: making a difference all boils down to believing – in yourself
and in others. Saturday morning is something I look forward to. In fact, I am excited every Friday night not because weekend is coming but because Saturday session is just a sleep away! I feel privileged to be a part of HOS-GMK and to be a part of the lives of 10 kids who will always be my heroes.

Meeting the Entrepreneurs Part II

The second stop for the fieldtrip:
F*ART at Quezon City.

Fashion ART is an idea conceptualized by Happy and Viva, sisters who share a passion for life, travel, adventure, fashion, and art. As the movers and shakers of Fashion ART, these creative sisters want to give space for Filipino talent to bloom and grow. Viva and Happy are amazed with what Filipinos can do. They believe in Filipino talent. They encourage others to be proud of what Filipinos can do.

Filipino fashion designers and artists now have a place to showcase the best of what they have to offer.
F*ART is the new home of freshest creations made by talented Filipinos. F*ART is now home to fashion must-haves.


With Ms. Viva and Happy outside of F*ART

Sir Dondon introducing Ms. Viva Andrada

Ms. Viva Andrada, one of the owners of F*ART or Fashion Art.

Ms. Viva shared how she and her sister started F*ART.
She shared that it was their passion for fashion and art
(hence the name) that drove them to put up this business.

Even the mentors were attentively listening to her stories
and even asking questions about her business.

Before the trip at F*ART ended, Ms. Viva shared
a poem from her book about the importance of being ourselves.
***

The trip was also featured at Greater Good Radio

Meeting the Entrepreneurs Part I

Hands On Schools- Galing Mo Kid! Grade 5 Students
had their first fieldtrip at Artiseret Haus of Bakery Products
in Paranaque last August 30, 2008.

Ms. Regina Gaza, owner of Artiseret Haus of Bakery Products.

Atiseret Haus of Bakery Products is a company that consciously integrates
the principles of Fair Trade. Artiseret caters to households in the vicinity
offering cakes, cookies, pastries and other delicacies as its primary product line.
Due to the new demand in the market, Artiseret has now added another product to its product line-- bread crumbs. At present it is now supplying bread crumbs to
prestigious food chains and produces
5-tons of bread crumbs per month!

Ms. Regina shared her stories about how
the business started, the challenges she faced,
and secrets of becoming a successful entrepreneur

Plainview students and mentors inside the bakery

Kuya showing the kids how to make the dough

Time to cut that dough

Some sprinkles to top the cookies.

Putting colors on the cookies.

The beautiful creations of the students.

Time to cook the cookies!

The finish products. Yummy!

Of course, the trip would not be complete
without an HOM COOKIE. :)

Grade 4 GMK students visit Bantayog ng Mga Bayani and National Museum

At Bantayog Museum

Students and Mentors of Nueve de Febrero

Students and Mentors of Plainview

Students and Mentors of Pembo

Looking for New Mentors

First day high

First session of the Hands On Schools- Galing Mo Kid! (HOS-GMK!)
Getting to know their mentees and mentors through the T-shirt activity, "My T-shirt Says It All".


One mentor shares her first day experience:

"The first day of mentoring was challenging, exciting and fun! The kids are

very bright and I was amazed when we did the shirt activity. Two kids were

assigned to me and one said he wants to be a doctor to cure the sick and

help reduce our population, the other wanted to become a scientist who

studies plants so she can discover new medicines from it. I can't believe

I'm hearing these from nine year olds!" --Gianne, Mentor at Pembo elementary school