Pens of Hope
image from www.bbc.co.uk
Sometimes we take pens and pencils for granted. But for some unfortunate but beautiful children, these are very special things. These can make life in school a little better, a little easier.
A few years ago, I visited a school in my home province and noticed that some kiddos go to school without any writing instruments. In one classroom, I noticed a child writing with a pencil about 2.5-inch in length. Imagine how difficult it is to write with a writing instrument of that length!
It made me sad to see those children in that situation. In spite of the government’s effort, there are still many poor families in my province. These families struggle between between buying meals and buying pens and pencils (and other school supplies). Meals always win, and pens and pencils (and other school supplies) take the backseat. But I was consoled by the fact that at least they still manage to attend school instead of dropping out.
So today I am launching this little project called Pens of Hope. It aims to gather as many pens as possible. I know that the pens will not sustain their education but they will remember the kindness of strangers who sent them pens and pencils. I, too, was a recipient of so many acts of kindness from strangers. Born into a poor family, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to finish school without the help of some strangers. Their acts of kindness gave me hope and encouragement. I am sure your help will also give the children in Northern Samar hope and encouragement.
I welcome everyone who is willing to help. You can give one pen, two pens, any number. Doesn’t matter how many. Doesn’t matter what kind of pens and pencils. I will give proper documentation on the pens that I receive and on the distribution process so you can see where your pens go.
Please note that Pens of Hope does NOT accept money and is not affiliated with any political or religious group. This is also pure voluntary work and is free from any economical motive and interest.
If you would like to help these kids you may:
1. Send pens or pencils to:
PENS OF HOPE
P.O. Box 16
Post Office, Bgy. Dalakit,
Catarman Northern Samar
6400
2. Put a Pens of Hope badge on your blog. You may get a badge here.
3. Tell others about Pens of Hope.
Maraming, maraming salamat po! (Thank you very much!)
UPDATES:
1. First batch of pens was distributed on Dec. 19, 2008 — please click here and here to see smiling faces.
2. Second batch will be distributed in June 2009 — Please note that instead of pens, it will be more helpful to send pencils this time because the recipients are preschoolers and Grade 1 pupils.
Count me in my dear friend. E-mail me the info on how and where to send the pens.
God Bless! *HUGS*
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Wow! Thanks, Ate! Will email you.
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ano ine hiya dear,? hmp medyo nalilito pa ako ha.
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nortehanon Reply:
November 26th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Hello utro, Arnie,
(Because my Waray is different from yours, allow me to try to speak ala-westehanon nga Waray hahaha)
Akon gad la ini guti-ay nga project para han mga bata didto ha amon. Nagtitirok ako hin mga ball pen o bisan ano nga writing pens tapos ipanhahatag ko hit mga bata didto ha Norte. May-ada na mga nag-pledge, an iba tikang pa ha abroad. Amo nga malipayon ako
(So, how did I fare with my westehanon nga Waray?hahaha)
Salamat hiton imo pagkanhi uto.
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Very interesting project. How is the project going? Let me mull over how i could possibly help…
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Hi Dfish!
Maraming salamat po sa pagparito.
To what do I owe the honor of your visit?
I have just finalized the date when I’d be giving away the pens. Isasabay ko sa Christmas party ng mga bata. I’ll be writing a post about it later.
Salamat uli.
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Hey, I like this project of yours…. do you accept paypal. I could send my donation through paypal and you can use the money for the project… though it may not be that much. But knowing the exchange rate there now, it could help. Just let me know ok?
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nortehanon Reply:
December 7th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hello po!
Maraming, maraming salamat sa suporta! I do appreciate it very much. However, I am not accepting money, only pens and writing materials lang po eh. (Or perhaps reading/learning materials for children if the donor would like to go beyond giving pens). But not money. This is to avoid putting my little project in a bad light. I hope you understand.
Thanks again!
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Hello. just added you to my blogoases but i need to do some correction kasi mali yung blogname na naisulat ko.
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Finding North nga pala ang link from my blog. Thanks also for adding me to your blogroll.
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Salamat po!
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do you have other activities pa after this? are you open to volunteers? maybe i can join you (with my friends) in one of your programs in the future. i used to be a part of HOM and a lil bit of volunteer work for GK.
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hi Anna!
It is great to know someone like you. I have tried volunteering for HOM, too. I wanted to be involved sana with their breakfast with kids project. Unfortunately, nagkaroon kami ng pasok kapag Saturday so hindi na ako natuloy sa HOM.
Volunteerism is alive!
Salamat sa suporta. ‘Yan lang po ang project ko, so far. Baka di kayanin ng powers ko pag nagdagdag pa ako hehehe.
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sigbin.com shared this to me.
you prove that there is no such thing as “little” when you want to make a difference. im happy to have discovered your place here.
hearts and hands.
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Tinay!
Thank you!
I visited your blog and I like how you write. Are you also from Dumaguete like the owner of sigbin.com? Lahat yata ng taga-Dumaguete magaling magsulat ah
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hi N (oha.. hehe)
open pa ba? abot pa sa 19th? where can i send my donations? pens lang ba o kahit paper or notebook or whatever stuff for school? hehee. dami ko question.
im so inspired by you i want to have my own project in the future too. or maybe join you in your future projects. lalaki yan im sure.
good luck!
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Hello, Anna!
Will send you an email again
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episode Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
thank you! looking forward.
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thanks for visit my dear. good luck to your project. i want to help but like you said you don’t accept money. sending stuff from where i am will take long and it’s not going to be there on time. where are you from? i read about karay-ah. my parents are in Antique right now. maybe if i know your from Antique they can help you. please let me know. let’s try to work this out. God bless you!
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi Ria!
Thanks for dropping in. Salamat din sa suporta.
I left a comment at your blog, in your post about Connie Talbot
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this is a great project. hope the world has many people as good as you are…
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Hi Mai!
Salamat po.
I have been a recipient of too many kind deeds from other people. So I am just paying forward through this little project.
Thanks for dropping in.
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great to be here…hope to be here more often!
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Hi Friend ! visiting with
today God Bless
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Thanks for the visit.
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pano ba to? pwede pa nga ba makijoin? hehe. . nakonsensya aco dun sa post ni sigbin eh. . joke lang. .
gusto co rin sana makatulong sa project mo kahit 3piraso lang ng ballpen. . hehe. .
teka. . . libutin co lang ung contacts mo. .
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hi Paper Doll!
Thanks! I have replied to your email.
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PACQUIAO NEWEST UPDATES..news on my 2 sites http://www.kumagcow.com http://techcow.blogspot.com SMILE it’s 15 Days B4 Xmas!
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nortehanon Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Indeed, Christmas is just around the corner. Thanks for dropping in.
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hi there. thank you sa appreciation. i am from iloilo but dan (sigbin.com)is someone i really look up to when it comes to making a difference. we have this youth org that aims to inspire the young to dream on, love life through arts and music.
what’s your mailing address langga?
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nortehanon Reply:
December 11th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Wow, nasa Iloilo ka pala. I love the galletas there hahaha.
I really admire people who try to reach out to others. I admire you and Dan and your org. If you have projects let me know, baka sakali may maitulong ako. Good luck to your endeavors.
As for the mailing address, I am applying for a P.O. Box for Pens of Hope. I’ll let you know once I am able to get one. Medyo dumami na kasi ang gusto magpadala and I cannot accommodate everything in my mailbox.
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ah sige let me know. i am introducing to you our org: http://friendster.com/singgitsirkulo
we accept donations rin gaya ng mga simpleng musical instruments such as kubing or kahit mga indigenous pa. by next year, meron kaming weekend school for kids, we will teach arts and music for free. keep in touch ha. my email is patadyong@sigbin.com
godbless amiga.
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nortehanon Reply:
December 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi Tinay!
I’ve sent you an email.
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hi there! i like the cause you are fighting for. i love pens too! what a simple yet powerful thing. can you please send your details to me to. i would like to contribute. I will promote and link you on my blog! let’s exchange links if you want… Ü
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nortehanon Reply:
January 4th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Hello richard without the vowels hehehe
Thank you very much for your support. I am planning for another round of collection. I will surely let you know about it. But this time, instead of pens I will be gathering pencils because the recipients will be first graders.
Sure, we can exchange links. Thanks.
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i was so inspired by this.
a month ago, i lost my favorite pen, and felt so depressed. when i saw this, i was moved and enlightened.
nakakalungkot isipin na ang daming estudyante ang hindi nakakapansin ng kahalagahan ng panulat, samantalang napakaraming bata ang hindi pa nakakahawak ng ganito.
haay. continue serving the people in your own ways.
you are not merely helping. you are serving them. and that makes a big difference.
padayon!
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Hi, i just love pens and notebooks and books and this little project of yours, i’d like to help kahit paano. I’ve seen first hand how kids have a hard time having no pens and making do with teenie-weenie pencils. How do we go over this? Just leave a comment in my blog and i’ll follow through.
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Please tell me more info about this project
I’m excited and the beneficiaries etc. etc.
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nortehanon Reply:
March 30th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I’ve sent you an email. Thanks for the support and thanks for dropping in.
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Hi.. paki email nyo po ako.. magpapadala din ako ng..kung kaya via Lbc.. pencil and pens ba?
salamat
sandi
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nortehanon Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Hi Sandi, thanks.
Pencils po ang kailangan sa ngayon. Baka po mas mahal via LBC eh.
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ang galing naman ng project nyo. makabuluhan!
i’ll contact you later. i am willing to help
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nortehanon Reply:
April 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Hi Eli! Salamat po sa suporta.
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huwaw! ang galeng naman… gusto ko yan… im willing to help…
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Hi Dhyoy!
Welcome dito sa site ko. Salamat po sa pagsuporta sa project na ito.
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Hi,
My husband is from Northern Samar, too. He’s from Gamay. Our group also supports kids from Visayas through Batang Pinoy, Bayani Ka!. Our first recipient are kids from Abuyog, Leyte but is hoping to grow bigger so we can help more kids.
Hope to collaborate with you in the future!
Iris B. Rebao-Pulga
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nortehanon Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Hi Iris,
Thanks! Nice to know your husband is from Gamay. Incidentally, children in Gamay are supposed to be the recipients of this batch of pencils. But it might be hard for me to do that because I’ll be distributing the pencils in June and it might be maulan na and the road to Gamay is really tough on rainy days. So I had to look for another school.
I salute your group for helping out children, especially those who are in dire need of material things as well as inspiration.
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hi! i would love to send you some pencils. i was thinking of sending it via Air21. kaya lang i don’t think they deliver to a P.O. Box address. is there another address i can use? i really look forward to hearing from you
thanks!
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nortehanon Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Hi Kris!
Thanks!
I have sent you an email.
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hi Ms.Nortehanon
im grabbing the badge and posting it on my sidebar now.
the blog post and my pens will be delivered ASAP. kindly pls gave us a non-PO box address so that we can use courier services like LBC & 2Go.
ill come back again here when i posted the blog & delivred the pens, until then
good luck on this good deed
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Wow, ngayon ko lang nalaman ang tungkol dito. I’m a student taking up early childhood education and this is a good news to hear. I like your advocacy and I hope more and more people would donate pens and pencils, I’ll be spreading the news to my friends. Keep it up! God bless!
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Pens lang? Pwedeng books din?
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aaw, mabuhay!
I hope and I know this project will be a success!
i’ll spread the word as well.
God bless you
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it breaks my heart reading this post… and appreciate that you have this kind of program… moreover i have posted an entry for this campaign at my blog….
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morepower sa campaign na to! already done with my post about this. http://beyond-the-norms.org/2009/06/pens-of-hope/
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Hello,
I am a member of an international fraternity. I would like to make this as one of our community project. Once my proposal will be approved and be given budget then I will get back to you.
May I know your exact location? We have brods maybe in your place who can hand over the merchandise.
Until when will be this project?
Keep me posted…!!!!
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hi! it’s my first time here.I saw your link from Blographics. it is so kind of you launching project like this. ongoing pa ba ito? if so, please let me know. iwan ka lang po ng comment sa site ko. i’d like to help. God bless you and more power to Pens Of Hope.
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Hello. wala po kayo DONATION BOX sa site nyo? I have posted one entry ksi about pens of hope. Dami nag tano how they can help. It would be nice if you put a donation box sa site via paypal…bloggers get paid ksi via paypal. Its a lot easier for us to help pag may donation box kayo…
Buzz me po if may update. Im gonna post another entry for pens of hope
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You dont accept money pla. Bakit naman? Dba it would be a lot easier para samin to help if thru donation box na lang then kayo na lang buy ng mga pens… suggestion lang po…
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Hi Ms. N,
Thank you very much for coming up with this kind of campaign…we’ll try to help out…^_^
Take care…^_^
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oo pwede po ba donation box sa paypal? mahal kasi ang mag snail mail from where I’m from… plus, it would take forever to arrive…
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a very kind heart!
Napakalaking bagay na para sa kanila yang mga munting handog na iyong ipinagkaloob. Munti man, malaking saya ang naidulot mo sa kanila.
I would love to participate.
You gave me an idea how to raise funds for less-fortunate people. I, too do have outreach program to the children in our area every year. Sarap ng feeling makatulong. It’s our own little way to help people like them, even in our own little way.
God bless!
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Hi Ms. N,
I really appreciate your effort to start this project. There are less privileged kids around that needs help and the Pens of Hope obviously is truly answering few of their needs. When I get home next month I am giving out my share here as well.
Keep touching the hearts of these kids….
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I am so impressed by this project. After reading some more info you have here about it, I got a badge and posted it on my site too. I was actually excited to post it!
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Hi Miss N,
Sobrang nakaka-inspire naman ang Pens of Hope and your efforts encouraged me to help in your cause. I’d like to send my pencils soon, same address pa rin po bah?
Actually, am from Bohol and was wondering if Pens of Hope could expand in my hometown as well.
ps. i really enjoy reading your blog entries; makes me appreciate life more
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nortehanon Reply:
September 17th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Thanks, Cathy.
Paki-check na lang po.
I’ve already sent you an email
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I was at Walmart and saw this family gathering a bunch of packages of pens, the man looked up at me and said that he is buying them for some children who don’t have the money to buy them for school, and he mentioned that there is a fundraiser to collect pens for these children, so I asked him for the address. I will be sending them out soon, but just wanted to tell you that this is a wonderful idea. I am an American but love to help out in other countries when I can.
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nortehanon Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Hi Patricia,
You have no idea how surprised I am with your comment. Thank you so much! I am all the more inspired with this project. I wish I have an idea of the identity of that family you met at Walmart. How I wish I could thank them for directing you to this site.
Feel free to click on the Pens of Hope tab in the header. It will take you to the different distributions that we have done last year. Another school year has started in the Philippines (our school year begins in June and ends in March or April) and we’re gearing up for another distribution.
Again, maraming salamat (Thank you very much!). I will be sending you an email later.
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Nice project brod, count me in and tell me how can I join you in your noble idea. By the way thanks for visiting…. nice blog huh
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nortehanon Reply:
August 26th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Hi Leon! Welcome to my blog and thank you for visiting. It’s sis po, not brod
Details on how to help and how to send help can be found po above 
Salamat! Good luck sa bagong career na pinasok mo: ang blogging hehehe
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Hi Miss N. Bless you for having a kind heart.
I am willing to help, I will ask my mother though kasi wala ako sa Pinas, mas madaling magpadala mula doon kesa manggagaling dito sa UAE.
You made me miss my Pinoy Forumers Society Family. If my time ka you can visit the page in FB. I will ask my friends to help. Sure ako na magugustuhan nila to.
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nortehanon Reply:
September 4th, 2010 at 10:56 am
And bless you, too, for your kind heart.
Will visit the FB page you referred me to. Maraming samalat!
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Aktibo pa rin ba ito hanggang ngayon N?
Nakakataba ng puso ang iyong adbokasiya.
Salamat
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nortehanon Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Opo, aktibo pa po. I sent you po an email.
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Hi,
I would to let you know that my husband Steven and I are going to send a box full of school supply to your charity through Ms Angie Majestrado.Her sister and I are good friends here in Las Vegas USA.
Your charity is something to be admired and rest assured that we will help you and the children in the coming years.Thank you very much for your kind heart and soul.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sencerely Ms Caroline Campbell
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nortehanon Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Hi Ms. Caroline,
Thank you so very much! The box full of school supplies you are sending will definitely go a long, long way in the heart of the children in Davao and in Northern Samar. Will be sending you an email soon.
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Miss N dehins ako blogger.. I mean member ng blogger.. paano ako kukuha ng badge?
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nortehanon Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Hi Wendy, wala na pala yung link hehehe. Sorry ha. Gawan ko na lang ng paraan. Salamat.
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this is way too cool!!
hope that i can find a way on helping those people.. as well.. 
but for now.. 
..
imma send em those pens..
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Halu Ms. N
imissyou 
nasa opis pa po ako kaya mabilisan lang po ito..malapit na po kasi ulit ang pasukan sa PinAS kaya ikaw agad ang naisip ko at ang mga bata..hmmm kelan po ang next distribution ng Pens of Hope?
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nortehanon Reply:
May 4th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Muymuy! (sabay hugs at beso-beso)
Amishu here! Kumusta ka na? Maraming salamat sa patuloy na suporta. Alam mo bang kamakailan lang si AC naman ang komontak sa akin tungkol din sa Pens of Hope? Magandang coincidence
Sa June po ang susunod na distribusyon. Mga third week po. Yun daw ideal time sabi ng kausap kong titser kasi sa panahon pa lang daw na yun sila makakapag-settle nang maayos sa mga classroom. Prior to that eh medyo magulo pa sa eskwela hehehe.
Salamat uli! Ingat ka dyan lagi.
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I am glad that there are people like me and my friends who are involved in this kind of charity work. We still have a lot of time and opportunities to give love, so do not stop sharing what you have.
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nortehanon Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Sheng, yes, sobrang nakakatuwa na maraming gustong tumulong sa mga bata. Tama ka, we should not stop sharing what we have, whatever it is na kaya nating ibigay, be it material things or otherwise.
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Dati nakikibasa lang ako tungkol dito. Ngayon isa na sa mga gumawa ng paraan para makadonate.
)
I salute you Ms. N.
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nortehanon Reply:
April 16th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Maraming salamat, Angie. Ikaw ay masugid na supporter ng proyekto sa Davao. I hope you continue helping the children there.
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