These past few months have seen the HAPI-Alabang Chapter make lemonade out of lemons.

Amidst the awful downpours last July, the Chapter wanted to give kids in the area something that would fill their stomachs. Thus, the team gave them champorado (sweet local choco porridge) and lots of rice. The volunteers began preparing for the champorado once Ms Angelica Driskell handed over the rice pack and other ingredients.  Then they started gathering kids who wanted to eat the classic Pinoy meal. Seeing the children grin when they received their bowls made all the volunteers’ efforts worthwhile. The kids even asked for seconds! Following the distribution of champorado, the volunteers began to gather other children to distribute a kilo of rice to them. That day, we made certain that all HAPI children have a good time at HAPI events.

“Even a bowl of champorado can make a child tummy HAPI.”

– Liberty Dedicatoria, HAPI Momma

As August arrived, the chapter’s Green Garden was decimated by Typhoon Falcon. In truth, the garden barely survived the heavy rains. Maintaining the garden, especially in those conditions, was even more difficult. Nevertheless, the volunteers decided to cut all the dead vegetables, trim the grasses around them, and do a general cleaning.

Volunteers picked up and swept the trash strewn around the garden. (Severe winds blew in rubbish as well.) They cleaned up part of the splintered plywood in the Green Garden. Among the veggies, they opted to cut alokbati, kangkong, talong, and okra because their conditions were too poor. Lastly, they also trimmed the wild grass that grew around the garden.

It was a disheartening series of events, but rest assured – HAPI-Alabang will pick itself up and rise stronger than ever.

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience,  everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.”

– May Sarton