The “Ambush” Distribution
With so much going on at work, Miss N had been holed up for a couple of weeks. And when she was able to settle some things she finally came up for air, longing for another adventure.
So, she decided to call an airline company and was lucky enough to have availed of a promo ticket. The next thing she knew, she was already coming out of the plane and flagging down a tricycle. She asked the driver to take her to the schools on the outskirts of the town of Catarman, the capital of the province of Northern Samar. With her were pencils for distribution.
It was going to be something different from the distribution done here and here. Because this time, there were no previous arrangements made with the schools. She was in for an adventure: find schools, ask permission from the school heads, then distribute.
Here, my dear blogging friends, are the children you made smile this weekend with the pencils you have sent. May they also make you smile and soothe your heart in these trying times.
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For some more pictures, please click here.
It was another heartwarming experience. But, as in the previous distribution, I was also saddened by the pitiful condition of these children in the classroom.
Take a look at this picture, for example.
That is not a portion only of the classroom. That is the whole of it. It’s not actually a room, but a space between adjacent rooms which the school utilized for an extra room.
And on this other picture, please take a look at the stools which the children use as writing desks.
There are still a lot of things to be done in many public elementary schools in the country. I can only hope and pray that these will be done soon.
On behalf of the children who benefited from your generosity, my heart sings most sweetly with gratitude. Maraming, maraming salamat po for continuously supporting Pens of Hope. Mabuhay!
Patuloy mo akong tinutukso! hehehe lolzz
Lalo kong gustong maging daan sa pagpapangiti ng mga batang mag aaral dahil sa mga ginagawa mo
Sana magawa ko rin yang ganyan…Sa birthday ko kaya? 
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nortehanon Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
At nawa’y patuloy kang matukso hanggang sa bumigay ka hehehehe lolz! Para mas maraming bata ang maging masaya
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whoah…that was a real adventure Ms. N:D
Good Job!!!
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nortehanon Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Hi Deth!
Naku, sinabi mo, adventure talaga hehehe
Salamat!
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Good job! Congrats!
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nortehanon Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
hehehe Salamat, AC. Pero kayo ang dapat kong pasalamatan dito, kayong mga donor.
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AC Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
way to go!
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Saludo ako sa project/outreach(& adventure pa) mong ito Miss N.
—”There are still a lot of things to be done in many public elementary schools in the country.”
Sana magkaroon din kami ng ganitong project sa bayan namin.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Salamat, Lolo Jem. But the credit goes to fellow bloggers who sent the pencils. Lahat po iyan ay bigay lang po ng mga kapwa blogger na naniniwala sa proyekto at sumusuporta para kahit paano ay mapasaya ang mga bata.
Saan po ba ang probinsya ninyo?
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superlolo Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:41 am
Sa Laguna Miss N…sa bayan ng Liliw. Naisip ko itong project ninyo na puwede din namin gawain sa mga iskul dun sa mga baryo. Nag-browse na ako dati dun sa mekaniks ninyo & naisip baka puwede ko itong i-suggest sa mga klasmets ko na andun sa bayan namin. I-try ko muna silang kausapin & sana nga mamulat din sila sa ganitong proyekto. Pipilitin kong simulan muna ang pag-kontak sa mga klasmets ko kahit andito ako sa US.
Salamat sa inspirasyon.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Wow, taga-Liliw po pala kayo! Nakarating na ako riyan, naisama ako ng kaibigan ko sa pagbili ng sandalyas, dun sa tindahan na ang pangalan ay “Badong.”
Opo, malaking tulong na po ito sa mga bata sa baryo. Sabi nga nung isang nanay na nasa isang eskwelang napuntahan ko, “Miss, hindi ko na hahanapin pa ang pambili ng lapis ng anak ko.” Sobrang na-touch talaga ako dun.
Pwedeng-pwede po ninyo itong gawin. Ang payo ko sa mga gusto gumawa ng ganito ay magsimula muna sa maliit na target at identify muna ang recipients. Let’s say, mga Grade One muna sa isang maliit na paaralan. You will learn a lot from your experience tapos you can adjust na sa susunod.
Natutuwa po ako na ang Pens of Hope ay nakapagbigay ng munting inspirasyon sa inyo. Nawa’y wag tayong magsawa sa pagtulong sa mga bata.
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superlolo Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Oo sikat yung ‘Badong’ at yung bahay namin ay sa kabilang kalye lang ng ‘Badong’s Footwear’.
Salamat sa suggestion mo at I hope makatulong din kami.
—-”Nawa’y wag tayong magsawa sa pagtulong sa mga bata.”
Ay korek na korek talaga itong sinabi mo.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Aha! Dun lang pala kayo. Makapamiyesta nga sa Liliw hehehe
Good luck, Lolo Jem!
i like to spend my xmas vacation making kids smile too.. haizzz… i have the dream pero wala pang step.. huhu
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 8:37 am
Hello Patola,
It was how Pens of Hope started. It used to be a dream 
Ang dream mo ay ang mismong first step mo
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glad you finally had this break miss n! we’ll have another distribution in davao in december, hopefully. and i’m happy to say i’m joining it once again.
congrats miss n! you always inspire us.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 9:19 am
Oo nga, Kikit. Parang nawala lahat ng pagod ko sa work in the previous weeks when I saw the children.
Excited na ako para sa December distribution ninyo! I’m sure it’s going to be a fun-filled one again, lalo na at kasama ka uli. Yeeeey!
Sana makapag-distribute ako again in November and December. I’m hoping and praying for it.
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each time how u work hard for this project and see the smile in their little faces..we cant really help but do our part.
heartwarming indeed. i’ll cross the hills too, when i get there
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 10:03 am
Hi AJ,
Medyo confused lang ako sa comment mo hehehe. Salamat, anyway. God bless! And thanks for visiting my blog from time to time.
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naalala ko ang elementary days ko sa mga pictures na ito..
ang sarap maging bata.. kahit inosente palang ang pag-iisip pero may kakaibang saya.
first time kong napadalaw sa site mo.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 8:50 am
Aba, si al capone, este, alkapon, naligaw sa blog ko. Dala mo ba ang mga goons mo? hehehe. Kidding lang.
Welcome dito sa blog ko. Malamang madalas mong maaalala ang elementary days mo dito hehehe. Kasi yan madalas ang topic ko: kabataan, kalikasan, at simpleng buhay.
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congrats miss n. its really nice to see those smiles…
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Maraming salamat, Eli.
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this post evokes a feeling of pain in me…it made me question asan na ang mga perang nilalaan ng ating gobyerno para sa edukasyon?
asaaaaaaan naaaaa!!!! (galit mode)
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Naku, Father, awat na po muna sa galit mode hehehe. Let’s pray some more na sana ay matauhan naman ang mga dapat na matauhan.
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miss n. ang galing naman ng adventure mo. panalo. galing galing!
pag nandito ka sa manila text mo naman ako. baka pwede kang mag guest sa radio…
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Salamat, Bro. Yes, it was a fun adventure. Pero somewhat disappointing din because of some sad realities I’ve mentioned in the post.
Radio guest? Parang celebrity at politician lang naman po yata ang ini-interview
. Kidding lang po. And you were also just kidding, right? 
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jun-g Reply:
October 28th, 2009 at 12:15 am
seryoso po ako miss n. basta timbrehan mo lang ako kung nandito ka sa manila…
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Ms. N…. Nice to see those pictures of Happy Students… Congratulations… Long way to go….
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nortehanon Reply:
October 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Ana! Na-miss kita!
Salamat. But that would not have been possible without the generosity of bloggers like you
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What a very nice and heart-warming post! Surely that is one experience those children won’t forget.
Good luck and God bless!
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nortehanon Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Maraming salamat, Mommy Sheng. Actually po, it was also one experience FOR ME that I will never forget
God bless din po!
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sana makasama ko minsan sa mga ganyan.
tapos makikipaglaro pa ko sa mga bata ng habulan at base base-an hahahaha
ang galing ah nakakainspire.
namiss ko pagka elementary ko!
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Nortehanoon Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
hahaha oo nga, tiyak mananalo ka sa base base-an kasi magaling ka yatang mag-base dito sa blogging world lolz
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nakakaalis ng pagod ang ngiti ng mga bata. totoong too. at puno ng pag-asa.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
You nailed it, Naleyn! Totoong-totoong nakaalis ng pagod ang ngiti ng mga bata. Maraming salamat. Na-miss kita.
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hey, really good job, Ms. N! I could feel the happiness of the kids… my prayer goes to them…for better chances at being properly educated. at alam ko, makatutulong ng mabuti ang mga ipinamahagi mo…
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nortehanon Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Maraming salamat po, Ms. Kaye. Pareho po tayo ng prayer para sa kanila. At hindi po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Kasi po katulad nila ako noon. Wala rin pong pambili ng lapis. Hindi man ako mayaman ngayon, masasabi ko na mas mabuti na ang buhay ko ngayon kaysa noon. Just because I dreamed and I hoped and I was blessed with many kind acts from strangers. Umaasa akong sila rin ay ganun.
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kaye Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I am sure, knowing that a stranger blessed them, they will also pay it forward someday.
we are also lucky to be given the opportunity to help.
your story is touching. just a proof that having less in life is never a reason to be complacent.
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Hi Ms. N. Magka-batch kami sa DOH beat ni Sheila at Jenny M. si Pekto siya yung may hitsurang guy di ba? Si sheila na lang ang natira dun with other health reporters. may picture ka ba? baka mamukhaan mo ako o mamukhaan kita kung sakali. saan mo ba sila nameet? sa DOH Central office ba? thanks sa pagdalaw.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Yes, Ms. Yami. Sa DOH central office sa may Tayuman hehehe. They are nice people.
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Congrats pala sa project mo ha. Bihira ang mga taong may genuine concern sa mga bata. Mabuti ka pa may ganyang chance to reach out and help.
by the way, magkasama kami jenny macrohon sa journal. sa Philippine journal, broadsheet namin, at ako naman sa People’s Journal. Bago ako umalis ng PJI i was connected with People’s tonight.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Salamat, Ms. Yami. Sana nga ay maraming pang matulungan ang proyektong ito. Anyway, hindi po ito akin. Those pencils are from fellow bloggers. Buong-pusong bigay nila. Ako lang ang tagadala hehehe
I remember Ate Jenny fondly. She was so kind to me.
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Oo Ms. N ako nga si Miriam, bakit natouch naman ako bigla. ano ba ang story sa likod nito?
Oo naman matagal ko nakasama si Ate Baby ng PNA at si Pia kumare ko sa panganay ko pero dami na utang non sa inaanak niya since binyagan 12 years ago.
Oo kilala ko din si Perfecto Caparas. siyempre si Edgar andu pa sa DOH till now. may edad na rin ang lokah.
bakit gusto mong magpasalamat? email mo nga ako gusto kitang makita naeexcite ako. (mvtorrecampo@gmail.com)
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sweet
nawa ay patuloy kang gawing blessing ni papa god sa mga bata ms. n 
keep rocking! ^^
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nortehanon Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 9:52 am
How sweet, chenn. Salamat, iha! Actually, yung mga kapwa bloggers ang may gawa niyan, di po ako. Tagapagbitbit lang ako
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whatttttaaaa……adventures….gusto ko yan…yung tipong sasakay lang na walang agenda…..surprise ka …at surprise din sila….
…salamat pala dun sa comment mo sa edelwiess…u know what i mean…galing mo miss n
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nortehanon Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
True, Kapatid na Blu, napakasarap nga nung ganung adventure minsan, yung unplanned
Walang anuman. Hehehe, di ako magaling, Kapatid. nagkataon lang na kilala ko ri ang babae na ina ni joshua at nag-ampon kay jude
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Hi Miss N!
This post made my day, errr, night… hehehe… I am delighted and sad to see this… However, kids being at school is already a silver lining…
Thank you also for giving us your readers this privilege to be part of your noble work…
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nortehanon Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Yes, Kapatid, silver lining na talaga na nasa eskwela sila.
Maraming salamat uli sa suporta.
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Ms. N, kumusta na po?..miss kita
congrats po!…you did a great job palagi..God bless!
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nortehanon Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Hi Muymuy!
Ginagaya ko lang si AC hehehe
Amishu, too!
Salamat, Muymuy. But this is not mine, sa inyo ito hehehe. Kasi kayo ang nagpadala ng mga lapis
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Yes Miss N, indeed another heartwarming adventure even from a reader/listener’s side. Inspiring ka kapatid…
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nortehanon Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Salamat, Dfish,
Nagbabalik ka na po ba sa blogging world?
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ang galing nito miss N. at saludo rin ako sa kagandahan ng iyong kalooban.
sana marami pang bata ang maabot ng proyekto mo.
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nortehanon Reply:
October 29th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Salamat, Eli. Pero mas karapat-dapat sa saludo mo ang mga kapwa blogger na sumusuporta dito, maging sa paraan man ito ng pagbibigay ng lapis o pagpapakalat ng impormasyon tungkol dito
Tulad ng sinabi mo, sana nga ay marami pang maabot na mga bata ang Pens of Hope.
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Congrats Ms. N.! very inspiring…
Mabuhay!
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nortehanon Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Maraming salamat, Kapatid. At maraming salamat uli sa malaking tulong. God bless!
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Miss N! Touched na naman ako sa post mo…and Congratlulations! *nagkubli dahil guilty sa nakatenggang mga lapis na ipadadala*… Pramis talaga… lalarga na ang mga pencils.. marami pang nangangailangan.. sana di matapos ang schoolyear bago ko ito maipadala….. *paumanhin po!*
Chuva
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nortehanon Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Inay! Salamat po. Naku, di naman po kailangan humingi ng paumanhin at wag ka pong magkubli, okay lang po. Hindi naman po nagmamadali iyan eh. Marami pa naman pong pagkakataon, meron pa pong forthcoming schedules ng distribution. After December, baka po sa June na ang next distribution. Kasi po, malapit na ang pagtatapos ng klase. Kaya mas mabuti na sa June na mamigay uli after December.
Salamat, Inay! God bless po!
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I don’t know the story behind this post yet ~ but it sounds like friends sent you pencils to distribute. What a wonderful thing to have organised.
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miss N ikaw ba yong naka itim? Maganda ka pala *kunwari di pa nakikita si miss N*
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Miss N ikaw ba yong naka black? *knwari d ko pa na site si Miss N lol*
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Thank you so much for doing this on our behalf. Dakila ka talaga
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