SCAW BLOG: Philippines, 2026: May 10

Philippines

May 15

We gathered in the hotel lobby and took photos within the decorative frame the hotel staff had set up. They repeatedly wished us "Happy Mothers' Day" as we boarded the van and left the hotel around 6 a.m. for our distribution at Magaland 1.

It was a beautiful and sunny day.

For the first time, we traveled on a new toll road with solar powered light poles, and through various villages with changing landscapes. There were many garden centres with attractive displays of potted flowering plants along the sidewalks.

The children, moms and dads greeted us with wide smiles, shouts and screams as we entered the covered basketball court where the distribution would take place. Everyone was very excited.

Our assistant team leader, Sally Jo, reconnected with an old friend and his wife. They first met 20 years ago at a bedkit distribution in the Philippines.

We distributed 300 bedkits there, had a small lunch and then traveled about 20 minutes to Imus Cavite to distribute another 300 bedkits.

I interviewed a mom with her son in the afternoon at this site. They were excited to receive the bedkit items, especially the school supplies. The son was not wearing the pajamas because they were too small for him. He's taller and bigger than many of his classmates and enjoys going to school. He likes writing, drawing cartoon characters and creating stories with intense action!