“After my 1st visit there I started to think on how I could do my own part and help in my own simple way. I have been passionate about Marine Life and its conservation and also about Art. I was able to come up with an initiative that could combine both- Marine Conservation thru Arts and Kids. And so I started working together with YBH in their adopted coastal community in Bohol.”

“Marine conservation starts with awareness. And I decided to use my art to do so. With the support of my friends and fellow advocates in Bohol, I was able to create my 1st Coloring Book for Children. In this coloring book i placed my drawings of Marine creatures and a little description of each. I hoped that this way I could raise awareness in kids on the importance of Marine conservation in a fun and interactive way. Not only awareness, but love and care for Marine Life too. Art really is a great tool. I have been drawing since I was little, and using art to express myself even to this day.”

“Now, i’m able to use my gift in a meaningful and purposeful way. I hope to be able to make more coloring books for kids and to keep working alongside the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, not only in my Province, but in coastal communities all over the Philippines.”

I have to admit, the 1st two weeks of the ECQ in Bohol, I had trouble finding a routine or things to do. The situation was new and sometimes even overwhelming. Being a PUM, I had to self isolate for 2 weeks and find out how I could best spend my time. I tried my best to balance productivity and rest. One of the things i did appreciate from this otherwise troubling situation, was the time that was given to us to do more. I was able to discover skills I didn’t think I had – like cooking and gardening. True, my cooking skills are not 100% developed yet, but i’m enjoying becoming more capable to do these little things that also benefit my parents and maybe even more people around me in the future. Wait for it, soon i’ll get to prepare a decent 3 course meal.”

“Gardening is now an activity i share with my mom. Together we have planted many different seeds already ,like kangkong, pechay and lettuce, and repotted the sprouts to the earth. I think our Vegetable Garden will be our biggest achievement during the lockdown and I hope that at some point we also get to share some of the vegetables we are growing. Gardening was not only a therapeutic activity, it made for great bonding moments too which i think we both needed as I’ve been in Manila for a while for work and pageant preparations prior to the lockdown. Spending as much quality time with my parents as possible is very important to me. If i share gardening (and cleaning) with my mom, then my dad and I have card games as our way of spending time and bonding. This time given is precious, and spending time with my parents is a great way of showing that I love and care for them (my new found cooking skills is just another way of showing that haha).”

“Everyday, we do try to stay updated with the developments of our current situation. And sometimes the news is saddening and even alarming. I was told once “if you can, it’s better to give and be grateful, than having to be on the receiving end in times like this”. So i was determined to find ways to help from home. Aside from sending donations to organizations and causes for PPEs and alcohol, my mom and I came up with an initiative to prepare food like spaghetti and home-made ice cream and give it to the volunteers who were manning the checkpoint of our barangay. In our own simple way, we were able to share what we had.”

“I also realized that kids too have been at home in quarantine for months already. This is when i thought that I could re-print my coloring books from my advocacy and give them to kids in my barangay for them to still have a fun and yet educational activity to do at home. My mom, some friends who volunteered and myself went house to house to give those coloring books to the kids as well as some coloring materials and fruits for snacks.”

“We call the initiative, “Hope in a Box”. I pray that these simple things will help the children and their parents find and hold on to hope during these difficult times. That as the kids color those pages, they’ll be reminded that despite of the things that are happening now, life is still colorful and beautiful.”

“The past few weeks I have also been working from home. The company was able to find a way to adapt to the new normal. As a Retail and Sales consultant, i’m still capable of working with clients online at home. (although the wifi connection in the province is a challenge sometimes). But i am still one of the lucky ones who gets to work from home. This way I can still contribute to my family and help my parents out a bit.”