More than 1000 volunteers from 30 organizations got their hands dirty in participation to Hands On Manila’s Servathon 2008.
From public schools to indigent communities around the metro, the participants offered half their day for the 
disadvantaged sectors–with various activities including tree planting, mural painting, home building, and community clean ups.
The event culminated at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Philippines, where corporate volunteers and sponsors were honored for their utmost participation. Celebrity volunteer, Marc Nelson, hosted the lunch engagement.
This year’s Servathon 2008 chairperson, Gina Roxas, was elated with the growing number of organizations participating in the event.
“With a growing number of participants, we may be able to fill the Araneta Coliseum next year,” Roxas quipped.
The Hands On Manila Servathon is a day that combines service, and relevant activities that are fun. It is also a fund raising event which substantially helps contribute to the running of its year-round programs.
More photos from my Multiply site.
Just for variety’s sake, I post a series of short stories which documents my two-year stay in Australia.
I quickly wiped the tears off my cheeks when someone knocked on the door. Paul, an engineering student at the University, was my dorm block’s resident fellow. He gave me the warmest of welcomes by touring me around the place, introducing me to the other residents, and offering me my first bottle of Australian beer, XXXX (four X). Before dinner at six, he drove me to the nearest bottle shop so I could get a six pack. Most of the brands were Australian. I opted for the more familiar…BudWeiser…or bottled water in other words.
“There will be a party at the club tonight. Are you going?” he asked.
“I heard about it earlier. Yes, I think I will be going.”
“cool.”
We went back to our college and rushed to the dining hall. I was surprised to see a lot of people. The dorm didn’t look that big but the mess area was packed. I sat down at a table nearest to the buffet area with senior students…that would be the first and the last I would be sitting with them.
