LARO by Creative Kids

I have this friend Bambi Mañosa.

I met her soon after we moved to Manila, because I found her Creative Kids advertisement in the AAV News. When I enrolled my kids in her art classes that were taught out of her home, I was thrilled that I found someone who was teaching art classes in a way that I was familiar with. I actually felt as if I was enrolling my kids in activity the same way I would from back home in NY.

And it was clear to me back then, that she taught these art classes, simply because she loved what she was doing. I realized this after I asked the question of who was the architect that designed her lovely home when she invited me over for dinner one night. Being new to the country and not knowing much in terms of architecture, I didn’t realize that her dad was THE Bobby Mañosa. 

The Mañosa family is not just a family that is well known for the architecture that calls on Filipino tradition and incorporates it into modern homes. They are also known as a family who continuously gives back to the communities that they live in, and the communities that call for it. And when Bambi heads the community service you can count on children being involved.

Soon after school let out this year, I was contacted by Creative Kids to see if any of my children wanted to participate in an outreach that would build a playground for children who desperately needed one. 

Y’all know how much I deem the importance of play to be an integral part of raising children. I have written about it here before so many times. Every child deserves the right to play…and every child deserves the right to play in an area that is safe and happy for them.

Laro will build a playground for a group of children who have settled in Calauan, Laguna. These families had no where to go after the natural disasters that left them homeless. The entire community is struggling to get back on their feet after Ondoy and Yolanda, and on top of providing opportunities for livelihood, Bambi and her crew would like to lift their spirits through children AND play.

So our kids will help build a playground for their kids…

Thank you Bambi for inviting Miguel to be part of such a worthwhile endeavor. You can bet on our attendance to the opening of the exhibit here in Alabang Town Center.

If you have any questions on how to donate to this project through UNICEF and Creative Kids check out their Facebook page, or http://kidsforkids.org.ph/.