The Edge Radio is asking for decor donations to decorate an orphanage this Christmas. Deadline is December 15, 2009. Click here for list of drop-off centers.

With your decorations we will spruce up the little home of Shepherd of the Hills Foundation in Project 4 which houses 25 orphans (teens to toddlers). IF WE RAISE ENOUGH DECOR DONATIONS, we will be able to decorate a SECOND place this year: A children’s cancer home.

If you want to make a difference in a child’s life, please donate your used (but still beautiful) Christmas decor. IF YOU HAVE NO DECOR there are other ways to help: through food donations, toys, clothes and books.

One of our good friends Lino answered our prayers and sent us a Christmas Tree for the First Day of Christmas project! He went out of his way to buy a new 7 foot tree for the kids at the Shepherd of the Hills orphanage and I can’t wait to set it up and put on all the ornaments and trimming donated by friends!

Now all we need is ONE MORE CHRISTMAS TREE for our next venue: A ward that houses children with cancer. We don’t need the Christmas Tree to be new; a sturdy second-hand one would be very welcome. Donations given with love are the best ones!

Edge Volunteer Nico presents Lino's lovely Christmas Tree donation!

The Early Bird Award goes to my dear friend Loli dela Cruz. She showed up with a bag of decor donations in mid-November. Loli was such a blessing that day when she popped up at my office at the Edge Radio with her donations – I had been concerned that Typhoon Ondoy took the wind out of this year’s First Day of Christmas project; many people had lost so much including Christmas decor so I felt really shakey about asking. But Loli’s happy face gave me so much encouragement and I’m believing that we will be able to raise enough decor donations and food for a second venue.

A shell parol - from Loli dela Cruz's bag of decor donations!

Loli dela Cruz and me with her decor donations!

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One of the COOOOOLEST donations I recieved was two big bags of STUFF! One bag was filled with decor and bundles of Christmas lights while the other bag was full of mega-fun games and hobby sets. Oh, how I wish I were a kid again; I would claim them all for myself, hahaha!

Thanks to my other dear friend Yvonne Sy for the this lovely surprise – it is her 2nd time to participate in the First Day of Christmas; last year, aside from donating decor, Yvonne got her friends to send in a big box of  Teddy Bears and other toys Yvonne, I know you’ve got your own challenges in life and that’s why I am so inspired by your ability to go out of your own sphere to help others. I am not the only one who has felt your kindness!!!

Toy Sets from Yvonne Sy!!! Can I have them for myself? LOLOL!

I just want to thank God for all these kind people who are pitching in to bring some joy into the lives of the kids at Shepherd of the Hills Foundation.  And I am also grateful to Him for helping me through it all – I am as organized as a 5-year-old, you know and I can get lost in the details easily. So pulling this thing off is going to be a miracle for me a miracle that’s going to happen on Dec 12!!!

If you want to donate decor or sweet treats please click here for the drop off centers!

A lovely Santa figuring from actress Isabel Rivas!

The Edge Radio is asking for decor donations to decorate an orphanage this Christmas. Deadline is December 15, 2009. Click here for list of drop-off centers.

With your decorations we will spruce up the little home of Shepherd of the Hills Foundation in Project 4 which houses 25 orphans (teens to toddlers). IF WE RAISE ENOUGH DECOR DONATIONS, we will be able to decorate a SECOND place this year: A children’s cancer home.

If you want to make a difference in a child’s life, please donate your used (but still beautiful) Christmas decor. IF YOU HAVE NO DECOR there are other ways to help: through food donations, toys, clothes and books.

Ron displays one of Alina's decor donations

When I picked up a batch of Decor Donations from our drop-off center in  Robinson’s Galleria, I found a colorful Christmas bag with no name. Who could’ve donated it? After some investigatory work, I recieved this text:

No, I didn’t (put my name on it). The decors are in a Christmas paper bag. Brand new decors cause our old decors were destroyed by Typhoon Ondoy.

That text came from Alina Co, a friend of mine. I was so touched that she could give out of her lack. People like Alina don’t happen everyday and I am hoping that I can pass on that kind of spirit to the children at the orphanage. That even in the midst of their lack, they have the capacity to GIVE.

One of the early bird donors was actress Isabel Rivas who sent over some whimsical Santa pieces and mini-Christmas Trees.  I am hoping for more donations like this that can be placed on the side table of a child’s bed. When we visited PGH last year, we were able to give little mini-Christmas trees from Belo Clinic to some of the patients so they could have their own little personal tree next to their beds. My heart broke to see just how happy they were with the little trees that would remind them of Christmas and our time spent with them.

Santa and Golden Tree from actress Isabel Rivas, Poinsettia from restaurateur Joy Antonio and Gold and Red beads from Loli dela Cruz

This stuffed Dugong from animal lover Josie Caro

One of the more unique donations was from my dear friend Josie Caro who is an animal rights activist. She and I used to man the booth of CARA (Compassion and Responsibility for Animals) at bazaars. Josie sent over several little stuffed dugongs that were just SO adorable that I am going to ask her if I can keep one to put in my Christmas tree! My tree is covered with Teddy Bears but this dugong is just TOOOO CUTE, I have to have one in my tree!!!

This is the second time for Josie to help out; last year she sent a big Christmas Tree which we used to decorate the Rehabilitation Ward at PGH. Thanks SO much Josie for your constant generosity!

Our next lovely donor is swimmer Akiko Thompson Guevara who is now the Comissioner of the Philippine Sports Comission. She and I grew up together in the same swimming team at the Army and Navy Club of Manila. Of course, she went on to make swimming a career while I entered the world of beauty pageants and modelling.

The parol below is one of Akiko’s donations and when I saw it I thought, “that is SO just like my dear friend who glows for Jesus Christ!”

Jesus Christ IS the center of Christmas and the decorating activity at the Shepherd of the Hills Foundation is really just a vehicle we use to deliver the message of Jesus. Every shiny ball and Christmas light will glitter with the love of Jesus. Every mini-tree and string of golden beads will come with His grace. And every sweet donut and cup of of hot chocolate will bring His sweetness. I can’t wait for DECORATING DAY!!!

Click here to find out where you can drop off your donations!!!

Akiko Thompson Guevara's lovely parol