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Advocate Best Buddies

Best Buddies Earth Day

This year, Earth Day fell on April 22nd.

 

So this past Saturday, @bestbuddiesphl organized our first #treeplanting in #Marikina. We did this with the help of many partners like #BEST #AustralianAid and #DepEd. We asked our friends from all over to join us as we planted 70 new tree in the Roman Gardens at Marikina River Park. It was a day full of smiles. It was a day full of fun. Kids and adults doing good with each other for Mother Earth. All because this little girl chose me as her momma. ?: @dsapi1 #inclusion #bestbuddies #BestBuddiesPh #BestBuddiesAsiaPac #dsapi #downsyndromelove #downsyndromeawareness

A photo posted by Michelle Aventajado (@mommanmanila) on Apr 25, 2016 at 6:24am PDT

While, I have always observed Earth Day with my children in a quiet way, this year, I wanted to celebrate Earth Day with Best Buddies Philippines. Together, with the core group of volunteers, we came up with the idea that we could host a tree planting with the help of some very important friends.

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-596copy

One of these friends is Cess Narva.

Because her son Eugene, is one of our Citizen Buddies, Cathy (our Citizen Buddies Program Manager) and I knew that she would be able to help us put our tree planting dream into action.

Cess works for the Marikina City Government, and she played a very important part in facilitating our day of service that was full of friendship, AND inclusive for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-467copy

We put together a wonderful plan of learning more about the environment, planting trees, and even holding a contest for a river clean up for the buddies.

We opened this activity to all who wanted to participate. Because that’s what we do here at Best Buddies. 

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-650copy

Best Buddies Philippines provides an opportunity for others to come, volunteer, and maybe even learn a little bit more about others and THEMSELVES in the process.

Being Country Director of Best Buddies has afforded me so many learning experiences that I would not have had, had it not been for this organization.

There truly is a beauty in this global volunteer movement that I know I am lucky to be a part of.

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-600 copy

So, over coffee one day in Marikina, Cess, Cathy, and I hatched the plan that gave birth to our first tree planting activity.

But we knew we would need help.

And that’s where BEST (Best Education Sector Transformation), DepEd, and the Australian government stepped up to help us carry out our plan.

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-1093 copy You see our ideas and plans were two fold: 

  1. We wanted our Buddies to have fun together, doing something good for the environment. 
  2. We wanted the community to see that our Buddies are completely capable of giving back.

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-385copy

Through the financial aid afforded us by our partnership with Australian Aid, BEST, and DepEd, we were able to plant over 70 trees, forge bonds through service, and further inclusion in a small way.

It is through our programs like this, community events, and fundraising that we can educate even the youngest of individuals that we are more alike than we think…that we should all be included…and that everyone has a purpose and the right to share themselves with others.

While, we did have financial partners in this process, there were also other partners in our event who helped us in kind, as well.

 

One. Two. TREE! Getting ready for our #BestBuddiesPh Tree Planting tomorrow! Thank you @gatoradeph for making sure everyone will be hydrated tomorrow!!! #inclusion #DepEd #friendship #BestBuddiesAsiaPac

A photo posted by Michelle Aventajado (@mommanmanila) on Apr 21, 2016 at 8:34pm PDT

We are so grateful for Gatorade Philippines. They made sure our buddies were well-hydrated in the scorching weather.

The Marikina City Government made sure we had ambulances on standby in case of emergency, and our private donors and volunteers made sure that our event ran smoothly, even behind the scenes. 

Best Buddies - Earth Day - April 23 2016 - Lianne-239 copy

Can I share one thing I have realized through my volunteer work? 

People are inherently good and want to help.

YES THEY ARE.

And for that I am thankful. 

I’m sure you will think so to, when you take a look at the joy and happiness that was captured by our volunteer photographers Lianne Bacorro and Jhun Richie Chua.

 

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Comments

  1. Peter A. Ressa says

    June 6, 2016 at 9:04 pm

    Great Job Michelle, Nino, Kids and all that helped make this Earth Day a successful event!

    • michelle says

      June 7, 2016 at 12:18 pm

      Thanks Dad. Love you.

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Do you? Gelli doesn’t. 😜 Join me on Tuesday Do you?

Gelli doesn’t. 😜

Join me on Tuesday at 4pm for another episode of @kitchen143 where we dive into another conversation about preparing our kids and families for hybrid and face to face school.

@kitchen143 
@rappler 

We will also be partnering with quite a few brands that will make #BackToSchool just a little easier:
@uvcareph 
 @themayakitchen1 
 @brightbrands.ph 
@yumboxph 
@candishhhbakes 
@thesysufoodhub 
@claraoleph 
@treetopjuice.ph 
@smuckers.ph 
@jifphilippines 
@berrysdeliph
Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta by @gi.aventajado last Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta by @gi.aventajado  last night for dinner. I loved that every time I bit the rigatoni, it was cream filled!

Will be sharing this recipe on @kitchen143 soon! 

#recipe #diy #cookingathome #cooking #homecooking #delicious #yummy #yummyph #yum #letseat #teamgellibean #fresh #itswhatsfordinner #dinner #meatlessmonday
How did you get so big, @gelliaventajado? You hav How did you get so big, @gelliaventajado?

You have given me so many gifts through your extra chromosome. As your 11th birthday draws nearer, I’m thinking of ways we can celebrate with you. I’m counting my blessings because you chose me as your momma. 

#gellibean #theluckyfew #t21 #downsyndromeawareness #downsyndromelove #downsyndromeawarenessmonth #ndss #upsyndrome #aintnothingdownaboutit
I always love getting together with like minded pe I always love getting together with like minded people. @akiko.guevara is not only the Chairwoman of the Board of @specialolympicspilipinas, she is also a stakeholder. She is a #halfie like me and has strong roots both here in the Philippines and in the U.S. 

@ericsonperezj also grew up in the states, graduated with a teaching degree, (like me) and is the Headmaster of @thevanguardacademyph. He is a pillar in the community and a good friend. He has believed in @bestbuddies_ph from the beginning, and has always supported our initiatives.

L👀k out for something fun coming soon! I’m excited to come together for the sake of #inclusion. 

#inclusionmatters #bestbuddiesph #specialolympicspilipinas #thevanguardacademyph
We are still figuring out and solidifying our morn We are still figuring out and solidifying our morning routines as we send some of the kids off to school and log on with some of the kids to zoom.

Some days we are super early and some days we are chasing time. The beauty in this, is that while we are figuring things out, we are working with the kids to assess and adjust as we go along. It’s a great lesson on going with the flow.

How about you guys? 
How’s back to school for you?

Join us in the conversation with @carolatmanila @kayecatral @gellinamaala.md 

@uvcareph 
@themayakitchen1 
@brightbrands.ph 
@yumboxph 
@candishhhbakes 
@thesysufoodhub 
@claraoleph 
@treetopjuice.ph 
@smuckers.ph 
@jifphilippines 
@berrysdeliph
Happy to be preparing meals for my parents. Someti Happy to be preparing meals for my parents. Sometimes lunch is simple with meat and @realcaliforniamilkphl cheese, with crusty bread and a big bowl of soup. 

Simple. Easy to prepare. Comfort.
Lunch for the big girl and snack for the little gi Lunch for the big girl and snack for the little girl. @yumboxph Presto is a bigger container for bigger appetites. It’s sustainable. Easy to pack and easy to clean. #Yumbox Snack Box for the little girl is the perfect size for a 4 hr day at school. 

#WhatsInMyYumbox

@unileverfoodsolutions_ph Not Chicken Burger, breaded and fried like Katsu. White Rice. Pickled Radish. @tasteaustraliaph Premium Produce 🍊Shredded Lettuce and roasted sesame dressing because I ran out of cabbage. 

Little girl got the same but she loves #NaturesCandy and gets @california.raisins.asean and @welchs_ph to help boost immunity too.
Swipe left to see how far we have come in a year. Swipe left to see how far we have come in a year. #AlwaysLearning 

@kitchen143 
@rappler 
@seamoraone
Last week’s episode episode was so informative a Last week’s episode episode was so informative and full of different ways we can prepare our kiddos for hybrid and face to face school.

What else do you want to chat about as we settle into the new school year? Join us next Tuesday at 4pm for another conversation in @kitchen143.

Special thanks to our partners for this upcoming episode:

@uvcareph
@themayakitchen1
@brightbrands.ph
@yumboxph
@candishhhbakes
@thesysufoodhub
@claraoleph
@treetopjuice.ph
@smuckers.ph
@jifphilippines
Fifty is fast approaching. There are so many thing Fifty is fast approaching. There are so many things I want to do for myself. And by taking care of myself, I know I’m also showing my kids how to take care of themselves too. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Self care. Self aware. Self love. Self improvement.

All while being thankful for His GRACE and doing the best I can with what I have at the moment. Part of that means monthly skincare with Doc @yaneelove over @aestheticscienceclinic. Cleaning,  Glycolic Acid, Diamond Peel keeps me looking fresh and feeling fine. 

Finding a dermatoligist whose energy matches yours and has a holistic approach to your skincare is even more important as we age. I have been going to Doc Yanee for years. We have studied reiki together, we are both yoga teachers, and she is my friend. Grateful that @gi.aventajado is mindful of her skin as early as now, and I love that we get to do these #momanddaughter outings together. 

#skin #skincareroutine #skincareph #skincaretips #skinhealth #metime #selfcare #roadto50 #bestfacialinmanila #aestheticscience #noninvasiveskincare #routine #monthly
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