This was the humorous constant reminder of the teachers of Sisters of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary School to contain the din of their more than 200 hyperactive pupils. The 3 to 6 year-old toddlers, about 96 boys and 119 girls, were hard to restrain as they caught sight of the abundant presents awaiting them.  This non-formal education center, founded by the French nun Sister Anne Healy, was the beneficiary of the annual P&AUSE project of P&A Cebu.

On October 7, 2006, P&A for a Cause (PAUSE) formally kicked off its long-term undertaking, "Project P&Aaralan," with a contract signing at the P&A Head Office.  P&A and its partner organizations for this project -- Philippine Business for Social Progess (PBSP), Kapitbahayan Elementary School, Department of Education (DepEd), and Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation-- signed the contract.

Through Project: P&Aaralan, PAUSE will provide educational assistance to deserving students and teachers of a selected school in Metro Manila.  (PBSP and PAUSE selected the Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas for this project.)  PAUSE will donate workbooks and other educational materials to outstanding students, and scholarship grants will be awarded to two teachers who are willing to take enhancement courses in special education.

In addition, the project is geared toward the development of the physical, cognitive and psycho-social conditions of "differently-abled" children and malnourished students.  In coordination with Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation, PAUSE will implement an enhanced feeding program to support 100 malnourished children, and will provide educational materials and supplies for differently-abled students.

Project: P&Aaralan also advocated employee volunteering, where P&A staff members will be engaged in various volunteering activities in support of the P&Aaralan project and nearby PBSP-assisted urban poor communities.

Present during the October 7 contract signing were Greg Navarro, Fred Damina and Francis Albalate; Edwin Umali (PBSP board member); Vicky Wieneke (President, Kabisig ng Kalahi); and Dr. Emelita Delos Reyes (Principal, Kapitbahayan Elementary School).

Last month, P&A for a CAUSE (PAUSE) visited the little angels of the Fe Del Mundo Medical Center - Pediatric Cancer Unit.  Spearheaded by Che Iglesias of Audit Group A, the event was held on September 23, 2006 in cooperation with the Leukemic Indigents Fund Endowment (L.I.F.E).

The day began with art activities, which gave the kids the chance to showcase their creativity through t-shirt painting and coloring.  After all, the kids of L.I.F.E. have been known to be little artists.  The medical center was, in fact, decorated with the children's paintings and various works of art.  Even the PAUSE volunteers, taking the lead from Mai Sigue-Bisnar and Paz Malubay joined in the fun, squeezed their creative juices and designed T-shirts for the kids.

 The day became even more vibratnt after the T-shirt painting activities, with the performance of Enzo, the Magician.  His colorful tricks and funny antics tickled the imagination of the children, and eager faces intently watched the magician as he created various animals and shapes from balloons. 

What may have been a simple activity for us meant a lot to these kids.  Sharing our time with them was a way of showing them that despite the trials that we face, life can still be beautiful.  As one PAUSE participant put it, "God gace us the chance to be with these children, not to pity their present plight, but to realize how truly blessed we all are."