The Hope Front | Volume 2 Issue 1 | March 2022 by The Hope Front

The Official Newsletter of The Hope Project

Volume 2 Issue 01

In This Issue Event Reports

Page 02

Hope in Action

Page 08

Tales of Hope

Page 12

Sharing Hope

Page 14

Upcoming Events

Page 15

Advertisements

Page 16

Hope Art

Page 18

How to Donate

Page 19

Hope Perseveres: THP resumes #HopeFromHome, welcomes new THPeeps Page 04

Events report Growing with Hope by Jansyl Tribdino The new academic school year calls for a fresh start for our THPeeps. As we start this semester with more hope and faith to spread, new committees also have been established for this conquest. One of those is the Membership Engagement Committee, which aims to improve membership participation and relationships among the THPeeps. By building a sense of community and camaraderie among the organization’s members, we would truly be able to uphold and embody the vision and mission of The Hope Project. Activities such as monthly birthday initiatives, weekly motivational posts, congratulatory initiatives for university and college scholars, and such will be spearheaded by this committee. Our THPeeps can look forward to fun activities and projects by the Membership Engagement Committee. We can expect this newly established committee to bring a fun, safe, and motivating environment for the THPeeps to work in. It is important, indeed, for care and hopes to propagate among its constituents that prioritize spreading care and hope towards children.

Create with Hope by Jansyl Tribdino Another pub-making guide was conducted by The Hope Project to once again train THPeeps that are interested to improve their pubmaking skills that they can use in concretizing The Hope Project’s vision and mission. As the organization’s aim is to not only spread hope but also encourage its members to grow through different experiences. This event comprises tips and tricks on how to make publication materials, especially how to match them with the specific branding of The Hope Project. Last year’s event was done synchronously and they even conducted activities where participants were able to submit publicity materials based on what they have learned. However, for this year, the event was done asynchronously through a PowerPoint presentation that was made available for a few days to all of the

Another change we can look forward to is the modification of the different

sharing The Hope Project’s projects and activities that can both inform members,

committees under the Sec-Gen department. This would be the transfer of the Documentations Committee

stakeholders, and future partners of the organization. Through this newsletter, important issues in our advocacy are

under the Hospitals Department as they are now in charge of the organization’s newsletter. As this committee used to be part of the Sec-Gen department along with Publications and Marketing, this was done to give proper focus on the committees aforementioned. Operating

also tackled in these releases to give more attention to them.

within these committees is also improved in light of the transition from the online set-up. The department also established a more active Social Media

care for its constituents, and touches hearts. Together, we all grow with hope.

With all the new additions of committees and improvement of departments, The Hope Project continues to grow as an organization that will raise awareness,

Committee to accommodate any incoming messages towards the organization. Such modifications seek the betterment of concretizing The Hope Project’s advocacy. Lastly, The Hope Front, this very newsletter, will be an official committee under the Hospitals department. After having its successful launch, the department has seen its importance in organization’s members. This was due to hectic schedules especially with our current circumstances where our means are limited. Heavy workloads, conflicting schedules, and difficulties were faced by the team. As such, the project heads decided that providing an online copy of the workshop would be more efficient as participants would have complete access to the material whenever they wanted to. Like any successful event of The Hope Project, they were able to present a comprehensive presentation of pubmaking tips helpful even for beginners. In light of this event, the project heads hope that this will serve as an avenue to inspire THPeeps to create publicity materials and hone their skills in making reative outputs. Along with the making of this project, there has also been the realization of how essential communication and teamwork are in Page 02

order to assure the success of a certain event. The Hope Project continuously organizes projects like this that encourage growth within its members and constituents. As we are all together in this journey to spread hope, we can also create with hope.

Despite the pandemic, The Hope Project continues to empower people and spread awareness by participating in the annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. THP’s theme this year was inspired by the Little Prince that revolved around an outer space adventure entitled Destination Hope: Wherever the stars take us. The project ran from September 16-30 on the social media platforms of the organization. THP also collaborated with its partner institutions, Kythe-Ateneo and UP Flyers. The event included a lot of engaging online activities such as publishing two infographics. The first one tackled updates about childhood cancer in the Philippines, whereas the second one highlighted THP and its partner institutions. They also released quote cards featuring the experiences and insights of Dr. Jochrys Estanislao, pediatric hematology and oncology specialist. Comics that were in partnership with UP Flyers were also released.

The project heads, Chia Lademo, and Linette Limsiaco shared some insights and challenges they encountered upon leading the event. “For the THP x UP Flyer comic strip collab, we initially planned to conduct an interview with the kids from Silungan ng Pagasa but it was canceled last minute because of the electrical damages brought by the typhoon last September in Silungan,” Chia said. “Aside from the hiccup with regards to the interview with the kids from Silungan ng Pag-asa, one of the challenges that we encountered was the difficulty of contacting the specialists for the Words from the Expert(s),” Linette added. The two emphasized that there are numerous ways to be an avenue of hope for the children regardless of the situation we are in. Linette shared that she felt more inspired upon hearing the stories of the kids. “It brought me back to my whys, and little did I know that trying to inspire hope within the kids would ignite a bigger flame within me,”

The project heads have objectives such as improving the functionality of the website, developing and polishing the designs, and improving its performance. They also shared challenges they encountered during the planning and implementation as communication has proven to be difficult with the current online setup. Availability and empathy were key factors that both of the project heads needed to ensure good communication among the team members. In spite of the limitations, their will and drive to achieve their objectives helped them through it all.

Hope in Site by Anita Sarol

Reivin shared her experience as a first-time project head for THP. She says it was a bold decision in which she had to step out of her comfort zone. On the other hand, Kristina shares that she used this as an opportunity for growth.

Project leaders Kristina Jao and Reivin Cantanero give us insight into the awaited The Hope Project Website.

Both Kristina and Reivin stay true to the purpose of THP, for the kids, as they continue to build and design the THP website which will hopefully be up by December.

The THP website aims to highlight The Hope Project’s vision and mission to potential partners and possible future members of the organization. It contains a number of THP exclusive content such as accomplishments, activities, and projects that were done. It is said to be an avenue that comprehensively and seamlessly introduces the projects and inner workings of The Hope Project.

Kristina and Reivin leave us with messages that will serve as a remembrance of the project to the public. Kristina emphasizes the organization’s purpose of selflessness and hopefulness as she sees the website as a reminder that there are better days for all. Reivin notes four words: “Hope for the kids” as her final message. She asserts that we all have something we can do in our own little Page 03

Gold Ribbon: Champions of Hope by Kyla Enguio she said. Meanwhile, Chia appreciated the whole team for their efforts. “I am also very thankful to the very stellar and very hardworking CCAM team for choosing to take part in this advocacy project. Because of them, I realized the amount of effort and time that THPeeps dedicated just to amplify and support the organization's advocacies,” she stated. Through the good leadership of the project heads and the unrelenting commitment of the members from various committees, THP was able to extend its advocacy and encourage people to take part in this cause, for the kids. Indeed, we became the champions of hope for the children.

ways as The Hope Project continues to inspire other people.

Hope Perseveres: THP resumes #HopeFromHome, welcomes new THPeeps by Don Louie de Castro Hope never runs out. Now in its second year of operating in the online set-up, The Hope Project once more opened its doors to 146 new members, totaling up to 295 members who are set to explore hope, share hope, and advocate for #HopeFromHome. The new members underwent an application process during the Hope Scout Recruitment last September to October 2021 before being officially accepted into the organization. Unlike the previous recruitments, THP added a few more touches to emphasize the idea of exploring hope by sharing stories about hope. THP introduced a new activity in the recruitment process wherein the applicants had to make a FaceBook post about where they find hope. Aside from that, the usual activities were retained such as the orientations and interviews. When asked about her insights on the newly added activities of the recruitment process, Patricia Solisa, THP’s VP for Formations, said it is evident how we remain hopeful despite being in a very challenging time. We continue to have a reason to be hopeful even with a persevering pandemic and the continuous mental

will meet the kids from the partner institutions. and physical exhaustion we experience from academic work. Having this hope within us, we can share it and make others hopeful, too. “You can really find hope in anything. For those [who are] struggling, I think it’s a sign to look around you, and you’ll be inspired and be hopeful, and be able to move forward with this new reason of hope,” Solisa said. Solisa also enumerated the three main traits expected of a THPeep, which are also expected of the applicants during the recruitment process. The first one is sincerity, where a THPeep should place their advocacy deep within their hearts, and their dreams of providing a better world for the children, for other people, and for the self should be pursued in honest determination. The next trait is being hopeful, as hope is what THP advocates for. A THPeep should be able to acknowledge hope despite facing adversities. Lastly, a THPeep should be willing to take action, willing to act to make hope become a reality for the people we stand up for — for the kids. Especially this year, a lot of action is waiting for the THPeeps. Being another chapter for the organization, THP plans to level up in the online setup and intends to organize a project where the THPeeps .

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In summary, the three traits that sum up a THPeep are sincerity, hopefulness, and taking action. But seeing the organization as a whole, the trait that defines THP is teamwork. As emphasized by Solisa, “teamwork makes the dream work.” In THP, everyone is involved: the THPeeps, the executive board, and the people outside the organization. In THP, everyone has a home — a home where hope perseveres.

Hope Express 2021: Hopeful Ever After with the Kids by Pia Habana As we enter the Christmas season, we remember the people who hold special places in our lives. Here in THP, we did that in our annual year-ender party, The Hope Express. However, due to the pandemic, it was conducted through the online platform, Zoom last December 18, 2021 (Saturday) at 2:30 - 4:00 PM. The theme for this year is “Hopeful Ever After” centralizing on how the characters from different children’s stories reached their dreams. This was celebrated to foster camaraderie among the THPeeps, affiliates, and the kids; specifically to show appreciation for the generosity of our sponsors, and offer encouragement to the kids that they can pursue their dreams. The program brought together people from different ages through various storytelling-inspired activities. For this year's Hope Express, it has become more exciting and purposeful when the program committee invited the kids of Bahay Aruga and Silungan ng Pag-asa. Other attendees were the THPeeps, and Sir Chito from Crossworld Charity Foundation. Sir Chito is one of our notable partners who attended the event. As we celebrate a successful year, he was invited to celebrate 7 years of a fruitful partnership where he shared an inspirational message for everyone .

The Hope Express 2021 was headed by two hardworking project heads who brought this project to life Ryanne Paradina and Marion Navarro. They have intricately planned the activities to ensure that the participants still have the chance to interact with one another despite the remote setup. The first part of the event was a storytelling activity entitled “Dream of a Lifetime.” It followed the story of an ogre who was looking for his dream. THPeeps who were part of the committee engaged in voice acting to portray the characters which were flashed on screen via powerpoint. To make the activity engaging, the participants were asked to draw their dreams and submit it to a Google Form. These drawings were printed and included in the gift packs for the kids. While waiting for the drawings, food packs were delivered to the halfway homes. The event was made more inspiring with video messages for the kids by THPeeps; and video messages for THPeeps by Sir Chito, Pastor Junie, and the kids. The second part of the event was a singing bee activity. This was the segment where the kids were most participative because they knew the different songs.

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The kids needed to guess each song correctly to get a letter in the passcode that locks captain hook’s treasure chest. Again, THPeeps did voice acting while wearing costumes while the instructions and songs were displayed via powerpoint. This segment was connected to the last part of the event which is the gift giving. Once the kids were able to complete the passcode “You can do it” it was revealed that they would be receiving gifts. The gifts were delivered to the halfway homes on the same day, after the event. Truly, a lot of fun was prepared as countless surprises have been arranged for the kids. However, the event occurred during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. So, unfortunately, a huge number of the registered participants were not able to attend due to power outage and internet service disruption. Amidst these challenges, THP have powered through motivating everyone with a realization that, in the project heads’ words, “while we are advocating to share hope with the kids, we also receive hope from the kids”.

Hope Quest: To the End of the Rainbow by John Magnaye “After every rain comes a rainbow”, as the saying goes. We draw this colorful ray of sunshine not only as a symbol of hope but also of a journey worth celebrating with a pot of gold waiting at the end. Last November 20, The Hope Project (THP) embarked on such an adventure in Hope Quest, a play for a cause event. As a fundraising project, Hope Quest reached the rainbow’s edge and raised funds to support future THP projects. The event also promoted camaraderie and opened a festive space for THPeeps and non-THPeeps alike. The event was hosted by Chloe Ebron and Ging Varca. Project co-head Angelica Mae Rodolfo delivered the opening remarks, thanking the participants for spending the night not just to have fun

with other people, but also ultimately, for the kids. A scavenger hunt theme welcomed the adventurers of Hope Quest. To break the ice, the participants played a game of “This or That?”. The participants were then divided into six breakout rooms, each playing a total of nine mini-games: Who Said It?, Guess the Movie, Virtual Scavenger Hunt, Bad Romance Challenge, Alphabet Game, Bring Me (With a Twist), Fast Talk, Guess the Scribble, and Rebus Puzzle

move the mouse cursor to solve the given puzzle. Both groups were not able to complete the puzzle, but in the end, Group 1 brought home the grand prize of Grab Food vouchers after placing three puzzle pieces correctly under 4 minutes. The 1st runner-up, Group 3, bagged shopping vouchers from THP’s sponsors, Kalinaw PH, Yummy2Tummy, and Moon and Oak. Meanwhile, the rest of the participants joined a raffle draw for prizes such as products from Kalinaw PH and a large pizza.

After completing a mini-game, each group received a puzzle piece. The top 2 finishers of all the mini-games then advanced to a final battle to complete a puzzle in the shortest possible time.

Project co-head, Trisha Rimando, closed the program with a message of thanks to the participants who joined and to the committee members who worked to make the event a success. She ended the message with a merry farewell: “We are at the end of the rainbow, and let’s happily claim our pot of gold!”. Hope Quest gave a ray of sunshine not just to the participants who had fun during the event but also to THP’s projects and advocacy. After all, at the end of the rainbow is not just a pot of gold but a greater purpose to inspire hope.

Group 1 (Audrey Samson, Princess Allen de la Vega, Angela Tiu, Alexis Gloria al Sharhan) and Group 3 ((Beatriz Lukban, Brian Belen, and Abigail Lachica) advanced to the final round. The two groups chose a representative to solve the puzzle blindfolded, while the rest of the members instructed them where to

Happily Ever After by Jansyl Tribdino Last October 2, The Hope Project’s annual event, Bedside Manner Training, was conducted successfully with the help of the Kythe Foundation Inc., our sister organization. Over a hundred participants were able to attend and actively engage in the event. The project aimed to inform, train and help THPeeps learn the proper know-how’s when it comes to children that require special care especially in hospitals. The event was composed of different activities that enriched the participants with knowledge that they will be sure to use during hospital visits in the near future. They were taught acronyms to remember the things they need to keep in mind when interacting with a child. The speakers were able to share their experiences about interacting with children and problems they’ve encountered and how they dealt with them. One of the speakers, Charm Mercado, was also able to share being a cancer survivor himself. He expressed how the Kythe Foundation was able to help him throughout his journey, as well as realize his purpose in life. Page 06

Another speaker, Carolyn Tongco, talked about how a volunteer should prepare and behave in terms of organizing activity kits and interacting with children. Both speakers were able to share valuable experiences that helped the participants get a feel of what it is to be a volunteer despite the limiting conditions of our current situation. After this segment, participants were encouraged to present what they have learned through a simple application activity. To test their skills based on the sharing, they were assigned different categories on how they are supposed to do the presentation. The participants didn’t lack as skits, parodies, vlogs, and the like were presented that showcased what they learned throughout the event. With their creativity, the application activity became something fun and informative. THPeeps, indeed, were able to become true volunteers despite the circumstances. This Once Upon a BMT has successfully resulted in a happily ever after where the conquest of spreading hope continues to live on.

2021 General Assembly: Starting the Year with Hope by Marc Marquez The Hope Project’s General Assembly (THP GA) is one of the most anticipated and important annual events of the year within the organization. This is the event where new members are welcomed and old members are welcomed back for the semester. It is a time when members get to interact with each other, meet the executive and managing board members of the organization, and find out about the projects for the semester. Known for its extravagant raffles and exciting program, this year’s event managed to take it up a notch with its Finding Nemo theme and flow. For this academic year, it was called HOPEventure: General AsSEAmbly, with the tagline, sea-zing a NEMOrable and FIN-tastic THP milestone. It was held via Zoom and Facebook Live on November 13, 2021, from 2:30-4:30 PM.

Add to Cart, Add to Heart by Jansyl Tribdino Oftentimes, we are tempted to buy things especially during big sales like 11.11 or so we call 'budol' by online stores, but The Hope Project knocks on your hearts once again. As we launch this year's The Hope Bazaar, this festival invites you to shop with a cause. Every year, The Hope Project organizes an event where they partner with local shops that sell different goods such as pastries, coffee, clothes, and the like. This is to gain commission and profit from the sales of these shops that will be donated to our partner organizations. In a way, this also serves as a way to advertise the participating stores and promote the support of our local products. This year we bring you a festival for a celebration of love and hope. THPeeps are encouraged to invite their family and friends to participate in this event. The festival was up on and open for the

Just like a typical general assembly, there were games, activities, performances, and speeches. The highlights of the event, however, were the presentation of the projects by the executive board and the introduction of the executive and managing board (EB/MB) members. Copresident, Ms. Alyssa Morabe, together with the vice presidents of the executive board, presented their respective department’s finished and upcoming projects. One of the newest and most anticipated projects is Hope Buddies. This is a buddy system within THP to assimilate newer members easier and make them feel more welcome. This year, the EB/MB members were introduced through a well-edited dance video as they danced to the TikTok steps of Shake It Out West. In between these highlights, games, activities, and audience engagements were done to break the ice. There were three games for team-building: Four Pics One Project, Scattergories, and Taking NE-M-O. These games promoted camaraderie among THPeeps and engaged the participants for a lively GA. Aside from these, the participants were

whole month of November for its first wave and for the second, it started at the end of November until December. Hopefully with this, the bazaar would gain lots of attention as another project by the organization to spread and give hope to children. Interactive publicity materials are also used to gather and attract audience and participants for the event such as bingos, this/that, and more. The Hope Project aims to accumulate Php 35,000 for the whole duration of the event and be able to help children and for future projects of the organization. In our current situation, our capabilities are very limited. Hospital visits are restricted and even face-to-face programs are not allowed for the safety of the kids. It is important to utilize what we have and what we can do to continue on with our calling to share hope. With The Hope Bazaar in the future, we encourage you to buy from our partner shops. Let this be a sign for you to get ‘budol’-ed and purchase with a cause. In The Hope Bazaar, when we add to cart, we also add to heart.

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asked to go on a website called Glimpse to be able to meet the other members of the organization briefly. Near the end of the event, the hosts, Mr. Renzo Valenzuela and Ms. MJ Aggabao also asked the participants to give a motivational message to the other members of the organization through a Menti link. The opening and closing remarks were given by the THP adviser, Mr. Jeffrey Mancera, and Co-President, Ms. Charisse del Castillo, respectively. Mr. Mancera talked about how wonderful the THP’s transition to virtual operations was and the role of the youth in spreading hope through rebuilding communities for the benefit of the children. On the other hand, Ms. Charisse Del Castillo thanked all those who attended and the members of the organizing committee of the GA. When asked about their main takeaways from the event, the co-heads had a lot to say. Co-head, Jamaica Quinto, had profound reflections on the importance of manifesting success while preparing for an event. She said that she learned “to visualize the event as a success in advance. Obstacles are inevitable, but once you've visualized success, you'll be excited about the overall process, which will eventually reflect in how you'll handle the needed tasks and deliverables.” Monique, the second co-head, talked about why general assemblies are important and what she learned about being a leader. She said, “I think that it is very essential to have events like general assemblies because they allow all THPeeps to take time off their busy lives and get to know more about the other members of the organization. The general assembly was a great avenue for people to take a break and just have fun.” As a leader, she also realized the importance of patience, good communication, and teamwork in planning projects. In the end, the event was a resounding success, and it would not be possible without the cooperation and contribution of every committee member. The overwhelmingly positive feedback was a product of early preparation, a positive working environment, and coordination that the co-heads encouraged within the committees. This general assembly represented the best of the organization. We hope that the event signified a strong start of a fruitful year for The Hope Project, its members, and the communities we serve. Always, in all ways, for the kids.

Hope in Action Our Chiefs of Hope by Kyla Enguio The word team consists of four different letters that contribute to forming the word itself. The idea is the same in an organization— every member plays an important role to fulfill its mission and vision. In The Hope Project UPM, there are different committees headed by talented and passionate volunteers that work together to achieve their main objective — to inspire hope. In this article, you will meet the copresidents, sec-gen, and vice presidents of the organization for the academic year 2021 - 2022. They will share their journeys from where they started to where they are now, their motivation to lead, their unforgettable experiences, their unique ideas for the upcoming projects, and their advice to other THPeeps on how to always explore hope.

Although going out of your comfort zones is a good way to discover what you can do, she reminds the THPeeps not to neglect their physical and mental well-being. She then entitled THP’s new academic year as “A New Hope'' which is built on a foundation of trust, camaraderie, and passion for service. “I sincerely hope that our fellow THPeeps would find that same love and passion too in whatever endeavor they wish to pursue.”

Everyone, let us all meet our chiefs of hope: Alyssa Morabe, Co-President Alyssa Marie C. Morabe, a fourth-year BS Public Health student, realized that her general and specific plans of action as a VP for Advocacy last year were centered on face-to-face set-ups. She never thought that the pandemic would last this long. But even as the first Executive Board to handle the situation, she decided to take a leap and run again to be part of this year’s EB. According to Morabe, she misses hospital visits the most and even shared her statement from 2019’s Stories of Hope Week where she was featured as a Junior Volunteer. “Bringing joy to the lives of the children we meet is one of the things that keep me going, and knowing that I’ve been a part of their life, even for a moment, is a memory I will forever cherish.” She also added that THP was like her home because she felt that she belonged here. “I have been part of several orgs during my almost 4 years in UP, but this is the org where I felt na I was a puzzle piece that fits right in,” she explained.

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Charisse del Castillo, Co-President Charisse C. del Castillo, a fourth-year BA Philippine Arts student, shared that what pushed her to join this year’s EB was her previous experience as the VP for Formations last academic year. “My passion for our community is what gave me the final push to run for Co-President, and it’s what continues to give me clarity in all the decisions I have to make for the org.” She realized that she wanted to continue doing this until she graduates. From the many experiences she gathered from THP, she said that her most unforgettable experience was the first project she headed entitled “The Hopeful Valentine!”. It gave her fun memories and led her to run as VP for Formations last academic year. She also appreciates the kindness of every member of this organization which she referred to as “THP Land.” She is more than happy to spend her last year as an undergraduate student with THP and would like to remind THPeeps to continue exploring hope in each other. “Let’s continue to find and explore hope in each other, and in our kids.”

Ma. Salome Patricia Fajardo, Sec-Gen Ma. Salome Patricia A. Fajardo was inspired by the dedication and hard-working spirit of the previous Secretary-General of THP. Being a former member of the department, she witnessed all the work that they had put into action. This made her realize that she wanted to continue taking more responsibilities concerning Sec-Gen-related work, so she decided to run as an Executive Board member. One of the iconic experiences that she had was the launching of Hope is in the Hair online. “I think I’m particularly nostalgic about this project because I could see how hard THPeeps worked on it and how widespread the advocacy was able to reach considering the challenges of an online set-up.” And when asked to compare THP to a place, she compared it to a summer field as it sparks warmth and is a place you will always want to revisit. Despite our situation, she reminds THPeeps to always go back to the “why” of the organization and to think about the reason why we are trying to share hope with everyone. “Grounding ourselves on our past and revisiting our whys in the organization can be really helpful in further reminding us why we are motivated by hope in the first place.”

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Sofia Ingeniero, VP for Finance Sofia Vianka V. Ingeniero is also a third-year BA Behavioral Science student who initially did not plan to run until someone sees her potential to lead. This allowed her to believe in herself and later see other reasons why she should take the opportunity to be one of the heads of THP. She wanted to share the skills she had acquired from being an active member of THP and the Finance department. Her unforgettable moment in THP was an emotional one as it was her first hospital visit. Talking with the kids and doing activities with them made her happy. It was the moment she realized that she wanted to be part of THP, and little did she know that the experience would forever be etched in her heart. When asked to compare THP to a place, she immediately said Disneyland. According to Ingeniero, THP is similar to Disneyland because it gives magical experiences to the members and the kids. Though it is difficult to find hope in these trying times, she encourages THPeeps to find reasons to hope for another day even in the simplest ways. “In these difficult times, being able to find hope and feel hopeful is a challenge in itself, but it is a challenge worth conquering because it can be a source of comfort, it helps reduce the feeling of helplessness, and gives us the courage to continue.” She is grateful for being part of the organization because even though THP is a volunteer org, it does not feel like work at all.

Arriane Fajardo, VP for Advocacy Arrianne Louisse B. Fajardo is currently a third-year BA Behavioral Science student who has a great desire to serve the organization. Aside from being inspired by the former Executive Board members, she had been convinced to stay because of the continuing desire to promote the wellbeing of the kids and of the very dedicated THPeeps.

“Through this org, I really grew as a person. I’ve met many inspiring people, and I’ve witnessed how collaborative hope can do wonders to the lives of the kids and the people involved in the process.”

Throughout her stay in THP, she cannot forget the time when she co-headed the Celebrate Life Party at the Philippine Orthopedic Center. “I enjoyed every moment of this project — from the planning to the canvassing of materials, to the making of props, and especially to the execution of the project.” She said that the laughter they shared with them will always be memorable. THP, being a fun place to be in, she compared it to a wide greenfield park because it would be a fun place for a kids’ day out. She believes that this year, despite the limitations we still face, THPeeps are now more equipped and experienced to explore hope. She also emphasized that the organization is not only an advocate for the kids but for its members as well. “However, throughout my stay here, it has proven not just to be an advocate for the kids but also an advocate for its members. It is an organization that encourages growth.”

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Precious Guerrero, VP for Hospitals Precious Jane C. Guerrero is a fourth-year BS Public Health student and her main motivation to be part of this year’s Executive Board is the kids. She knew that the kids need help now more than ever, and she will serve them by being the VP for Hospitals. The same with most of the heads, she said that her most unforgettable moment in THP was her first-ever hospital visit. Through that experience, she realized her privilege to live and experience a healthy life as a child and with that, she appreciates THP’s advocacy even more. She compared THP to a museum as it is a place where you will learn a lot of things. When asked about advice to THPeeps, she told them to appreciate everything they do, even the littlest things. “Giving hope is a two-way street. As much as we’re giving hope to the kids to fight their battles, they are also giving us hope to fight our own.”

Patricia Solisa, VP for Formations Patricia Jan Margarette E. Solisa, a third-year BS Public Health student, was inspired by the advocacy of the organization and the people she met, which later made her want to be part of the Executive Board. “I wish to give back all of the learnings, skills, and love I received from the organization.” Though it was a difficult decision, she realized that she wanted to continue giving hope to the kids and the members through service. Being a part of the organization for three years, she already has a lot of experiences but her unforgettable moment was when they visited the kids in Bahay Aruga for the first time. The experience filled her with various emotions and led her to realize the true essence of THP’s advocacy. She even compared THP to Neverland, where you discover hope for the kids through exploring and experiencing the activities of the organization. She also motivates THPeeps by saying that there is hope everywhere -- that we should be hopeful even amidst the pandemic because we have the people around us to hold on to. It does not have to be grand, as long as it keeps you alive, then you can use that to find hope. “Hope is the first thing to ever be present and is the last thing to ever be lost.”

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Hope in all Places by Pia Habana The Hope Project conducts numerous events for the kids with an intention of sharing hope. But where does this hope come from? From all places. Here in THP, we are reminded that hope can actually be found in a lot of things when we take the time to appreciate them. Thus, we are left with the question: where do you find hope? "Hope can be found in a child's smile" - Jem Alcones

Jem Alcones finds hope in a child’s smile. They mention that despite harsh realities, a child’s smile remains pure as they find joy in the simplest of things and continue to do so even while facing difficulties. Hope is present in a child’s smile that can lift you from your misery and show you joy.

Hope can be found in music - Patricia Soriso

On the same note, Chey Candido finds hope in bright smiles. These can come from a variety of things, even those that seem mundane. For them, the smiles of others inspire hope as it suggests brighter days ahead. It was said that although they may not have those similar smiles today, there is still an opportunity to do so tomorrow.

Hope can be found in bright smiles - Chey Candido Page 12

Hope can also be found in nature. Pia Fajardo remembers how trees may symbolize growth, how flowers can indicate blooming into a better individual, how waves symbolize problems that fall and pass over time, and how stars prove there is light despite the darkness. They see hope in the meaning nature brings. On the other hand, Celina Santos finds hope in something furry and adorable - dogs! Specifically, they have five (5) and find that their eyes bring hope, especially during bad days. Through the anxiety and loss brought by the pandemic, dogs provide a source of comfort. Pat Soriso finds hope in music as it brought them solace throughout the long days. As isolation is very much evident nowadays, they say that music fills the void with love, warmth, and kindness. During these uncertain times, Hannah Ysabel Florin finds hope in God and their family. To quote: “God's providence of comfort and peace through every uncertainty that I have been and am on constantly gives me hope—that there is a future—another tomorrow, another opportunity to be better and to choose happiness.”

Hope can be found in God and family - Hannah Florin

"What will you do with the hope you find?" Hope can be found in dogs! - Celina Santos They also state that their family is their greatest support system as a family gives that extra push and strength to go beyond. All in all, Hannah says that these bring hope because it builds them to the best version they can be.

For Julia Arendain, hope can be found every day. Each day gives them hope for a “better version of everything” and an opportunity to accomplish better outcomes. Julia says “every day has a new beginning and a new hope.”

Beatrice Namit also finds hope in people - specifically, in every kid they see, encounter, and meet. Beatrice is an ate to three younger siblings and so growing up with them brought about the love she has for them. She states that she “cannot help but be happy whenever I am around children.” In her perspective, kids are hope in human form - looking at them already brings overflowing joy. A unique outlook is seen in finding hope in the perpetual reel of time.

We can now recognize that hope can be found in all places - whether it be in inanimate objects, live being/s, simple things, or even the most complex of them, hope is seen in all angles.

Xaresse Andaya says that “life is nothing but a road map to meaningful paths after phases.” They speak of time allowing us to heal and do more for others. Additionally, it teaches us to live in the moment. In their words: “time assures us that there is something yet to happen despite it being unknown. And that for me—is the beginning of hope.”

Perhaps our next question could be, what will you do with the hope you find?

In a time where there is much fear, we must hold on to the hope we find keeping it alive as we grasp the effects of the pandemic. When we take the time to explore hope and share it with others, we may indeed inspire a whole new generation #ForTheKids.

Celebrating our small victories also brings hope - as stated by Kath Balite. Doing so “allows us to see that we are growing, overcoming our fears, setting aside our worries, and making progress towards becoming better versions of ourselves.” These small victories are celebrated to motivate us in putting our best foot forward. As we continue moving forward in life, we wake up and start a new day.

Hope can be found in nature - Sofia Fajardo

Hope can be found in sunrise - Andrea Siaton

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Hope can be found every day - Julia Arendain

Sharing hope Always, for the people by Allyssa Montañez When misinformation and fake news is prevalent, it is vital to understand the purpose of the media and journalism in people’s lives. It definitely has a significant impact on society, and it continues to increase every day as a result of global connectivity. As a result, it is important that each of us must understand the power of journalism and the media. Journalism exists to shine a light on what someone wishes to keep concealed, challenge the presumptions of those in positions of power or pursuing authority, inform citizens about the good or bad management of our collective resources, or to put it another way: to empower the informed. As a student and a citizen, it is important to realize that we also have the power to give voice to the voiceless and to give strength to the powerless. This can be achieved by providing the public the right to know and freedom to the truth. This is one of the motivations behind the establishment of Vital Signs. In the year 2005, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines College of Nursing was founded. Since its establishment, Vital Signs continues to uphold its principles which include giving the people the right to know and the right to freedom and thought of expression. It also aims to fulfill its duty of struggling for the truth side by side with the students and the people while pursuing the mission of social transformation through responsible, active, and advocate journalism. After its re-establishment last year, Vital Signs remains steadfast on its goals and principles of serving primarily as a publication for and by the students.

This school year, 2021-2022, the organization aims to widen and strengthen its reach to the whole University of the Philippines Manila community and other individuals outside the campus. This could be achieved through various activities and projects that the organization plans to establish for the current academic year. One of the plans of the organization is to organize a journalism workshop or webinar that will cover a variety of aspects of journalism, such as graphic design/layout, editorial writing, and news writing. This activity endeavors to spread awareness of the importance of journalism and to urge students to join various journalism organizations. As students learn to explore and discover their interests and improve their skills, this program can be an avenue for discovering their talents and honing their ability in writing and literacy learning. With the goal of achieving a more interactive environment for the readers, a website for the organization’s published articles was created. This seeks to reach a much wider audience that can learn from and participate with the articles being published while still providing rapid, efficient, and accurate news reporting in a matter of seconds, giving society a synopsis of events as they occur. The organization is also planning to reopen the application in the next semester for positions in the different categories, including graphics designing/layouting, news, editorial, feature, and literary writing. The application will remain open until the end of the term to accommodate more students who want to be a part of Vital Signs. While Vital Signs may appear to be a small organization, it thinks that regardless of size, making a difference is what matters. It has remained and will always remain in the service of the people and will continue to fight courageously for press freedom and student rights. The organization recognizes the importance of informing and educating the public, especially the whole University of the Philippines Manila community.

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Upcoming Events ACLE 2022: A Tale of Hope by Kevin Ng On March 14, 2022, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, THP will be hosting a webinar entitled “A Tale of Hope: Knowing How to Help Yourself While You Help Others”. This will be a webinar where advocates from different NGOs and representatives from different university organizations will be invited to share their advocacies, with a focus on the discussion of mental health. The project aims to teach participants how to maintain their wellbeing while making an impact by helping others through their actions, to introduce advocacies and give importance to mental health, and to provide a better understanding of the concept of mental health. The activities planned for the webinar include a workshop headed by a professional, talks from the point of view of a student volunteer, and other surprise activities that the participants will enjoy. This webinar will be open to the entire UPM community.

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One of the co-heads, Pia Habana, shares that attendees can expect unique ways to take care of themselves through the workshop-like activities and talks from the speakers. “This event will allow individuals to further reflect on themselves and provide an opportunity for growth. We hope that these new learnings will highlight the mental health of volunteers and how it is important in the aim of making an impact”. Chia Lademo, project co-head, hopes that the topics of the talks will be fruitful for the participants and helpful in their dayto-day lives. “I am very glad and grateful that I was teamed up with hardworking women. Ate Pat and Ate Arrianne, who are guiding and encouraging us to continue with our advocacies, and also Pia, my co-project head whose dedication inspires me to give my best for this project”.