Santa in Bantayan 2014

[island14]

[island14]

Originally Posted by Dixievet

Attachment 3158

This makes me happy. I have been thinking about this all day hoping you would wear the suit.

I'll tell you what... that is one hot ass uniform to wear! and now a sweaty suit that needs washed in the morning.

I knew it was hot... but had no idea how bad you really had it last year till today..

Wow!

I came straight home and took a bath, only to suit back up to go to Sillion about an hour later to do it again.

When we finished from there I came home and went swimming at the beach out front for awhile with my kids just to cool down and relax.

It's been a long kinda stressful day.. as you know how these kids can get..

The disco music is jamming loud now across the street already and when I get done posting photos here for everyone, I'm going to hit the shower again.. and then head over there for a few bottles of Rhum..

Next year.... YOU ARE SANTA!!!... I was only your replacement one time only... and my contract is over!

[Shrike6]

So happy to see those kids enjoying Christmas. Looks like liquid snow!

[Rob]

Originally Posted by island14

I'll tell you what... that is one hot ass uniform to wear! and now a sweaty suit that needs washed in the morning. I knew it was hot... but had no idea how bad you really had it last year till today.. Wow! I came straight home and took a bath, only to suit back up to go to Sillion about an hour later to do it again. When we finished from there I came home and went swimming at the beach out front for awhile with my kids just to cool down and relax. It's been a long kinda stressful day.. as you know how these kids can get.. The disco music is jamming loud now across the street already and when I get done posting photos here for everyone, I'm going to hit the shower again.. and then head over there for a few bottles of Rhum.. Next year.... YOU ARE SANTA!!!... I was only your replacement one time only... and my contract is over!

I am glad you did it Tim. I am glad the kids got to experience some happiness today. It is the gift of giving that make me happy.

[island14]

Ok.. now with all the toys that had been picked through, most of the better stuff was already gone, but we took the rest over to the village where we stayed when we had to evacuate during the last Typhoon that passed through here earlier this month.

These kids had no idea we were coming so were very happy to see us.

Along the way we had been tossing candy to kids we would see along side of the road.. then we ran into a small group of kids on a dirt road and stopped to give them toys also.

When we got to the little housing project built by Islamic Relief, the kids just started chasing us down the street as soon as they saw Santa.

And yeah Dixie, it really was worth it to see their eyes looking up at you in total Joy..

What a awesome feeling!!.. Words alone cannot describe it

[island14]

[island14]

OK.. Santa's work is done for this year...

Over 800 Toys later.. Bunches & Bunches of rice....

105 photos posted from our village, and 32 more posted from Sillion

There is only one thing left I have to do...





Thank you all again Very Very Much! for helping to make this happen!

It is still early there in your time zones, so I want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas!

[DAB]

Merry Christmas Tim and all.

Well done thou good and faithful servant.

[CertInsaneC5]

Tim

You just made my Christmas. The looks on those kids faces are priceless.
Although in a couple of the pics they looked kinda pissed off having to stand in the rain.

I hope you continue to do this in the years to come. Of all the presents I bought this year. The ones for those kids mean the most to me.

God bless you.

[Shrike6]

That Islamic Relief project looks like the houses would be a lot better in bad weather than the traditional huts. Did locals build them, or did people come from outside to do it?

[86RAG]

Such an awesome thing to see and be a part of. This truly is what Christmas is about, good job everyone!

[78SA]

[island14]

Originally Posted by Dixievet

I am glad you did it Tim. I am glad the kids got to experience some happiness today. It is the gift of giving that make me happy.

Makes me happy also as I know dang well that without us.. most all of them would have got nothing at all.

Maybe a toy is not really that important in the big picture and all, but even if it brings just a little bit of joy to a little kid it makes this well worth the effort to me.

None of those kids have ever seen Santa their whole life until last year. and the ones over in Sillion today was probably their first time ever.

I can tell you this.. as you know I end up back at a lot of the homes here over time drinking rhum with the people here, and you would be surprised to see how many kids still have their toy from last year..

Just the other day I just noticed some of the dolls we gave away last year hanging on the wall still in the original boxes like trophys at a few homes I was at, and asked to be sure of they got them from us.. they did.

I took some pics also, and need to look for them to post.

[island14]

Originally Posted by CertInsaneC5

Tim

You just made my Christmas. The looks on those kids faces are priceless.
Although in a couple of the pics they looked kinda pissed off having to stand in the rain.

I hope you continue to do this in the years to come. Of all the presents I bought this year. The ones for those kids mean the most to me.

God bless you.

I myself would love to do this every year if everyone here is up to it..

And think it would really be neat if any of you want to join us here for Christmas next year..

[island14]

Originally Posted by Shrike6

That Islamic Relief project looks like the houses would be a lot better in bad weather than the traditional huts. Did locals build them, or did people come from outside to do it?

The people from Islamic Relief bought the land, and had these built for them and even paid the carpenter labor.

My bother in law is working for them right now building some more on the other side of the island.

These are also built a little bit better than the ones that we helped to build last year.

They are concrete hollow block 4 foot up, then plywood walls from there up to 10 foot. the roofing material is thicker, and also the roof trusses are better construction.

Measure 14 foot by 16 foot.. with a front and back door.

They also have concrete floors and each one has its own private restroom out back that shares central septic tanks.

This site where I was today and the photos above has 75 homes built there now in rows like streets, and room to build more homes even.

Not much of a house really, but better than what shacks most had before..

The night I spent in one we had 19 people in it sleeping.. kinda crowded with that many, but I have some pics somewhere here.. if anyone wants to see..

[Fastguy]

BRB, I think I have something in my eye....

[Grey Ghost]

So many beautiful smiles! It doesn't get any better than that.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

So many beautiful smiles! It doesn't get any better than that.

I'm glad to be a small part of it too.

Thanks again Tim....er....Santa!

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Originally Posted by island14

I myself would love to do this every year if everyone here is up to it..

And think it would really be neat if any of you want to join us here for Christmas next year..

That would actually be a great way to spend Christmas.

Maybe next year for me. Depending on costs and what the year brings.

Awesome pics. Love the kids and the pure joy.

[Chris Fowler]

I knew it before I donated from everything last year, but these pictures and the smiles on the faces are a great reminder that every penny I sent was completely worth it.

Thank you for your time and effort for these kids. Sending money was the easy part.