Street child enjoys Christmas
Jessie riding on a bump car.
On most days, Jessie was on his shirt and pants, driving his "trisikad" and collecting recyclable materials to sell. His everyday task is to collect, sell and get paid for whatever he gets as he and his family continue to battle against poverty. A child as he is, Jessie yearns to celebrate and remember a different Christmas this year.
His dream was answered when a family from the United States read the story of his life through the The News Today website. They thought of giving Jessie a break even just for day and make him feel the life of being a child.
Through e-mail, Eden Harder, communicated with the The News Today. Eden, known as Mr. Lol (Laughing Out Loud) asked her sister Malou, who lives in Mandurriao to facilitate his plan.
The philantropic Mr. Harder
with his wife (center) and
daughter.
As humble as they are, they did not provide more details of their life in the United States but what they are after for is to make Jessie enjoy and experience the life of being a child and same time feel the true spirit of Christmas. Eden's wife Tata and his only 13-year old daughter Danielle agreed to Eden's plan. Danielle even gave her father the $10 dollars she saved for Jessie.
The Harder's gesture coincides with the message of Pope Benedict XVI on his midnight mass at St. Peter's Basilica last Christmas Eve that the image of the baby Jesus in a manger should remind everyone of the plight of the poor, abused and neglected children.
On December 22, 2006, Malou along with his aunt Sonia Peñaredondo fetched Jessie at the St. Anne Parish Church. At first, they thought of bringing Jessie to Racso's in Guimbal. However, because of time constraint, they changed the plan and instead took Jessie to SM City.
The first stop was the SM Storyland Fun Park. Jessie's first ride was the funny flight. It was a kind of ride where Jessie did not enjoy as it makes him feel dizzy. After a short ride at the funny flight, Jessie went to the bump cars area. At first, he was ashamed to mingle with the other children as he does not know how to drive the cars.
After a few minutes, he learned the tricks and ways to drive the car. By then, he was already smiling and enjoying his ride. He was so careful not to bump the cars of little kids, younger than his age. He was also surprised to see a male foreigner joining the kids at the bump car area.
From the bump car, Jessie's hosts brought him to Jollibee for a snack. While eating, Jessie suddenly wants to go home as he remembered his father and three other siblings at home. His hosts brighten his mood by buying food for his father and three other brothers.
Jessie's hosts brought him home and delivered the food to his father and brothers. The enjoyment does not stop there as they also brought Jessie's brother Jason with them as they went back to SM City.
The kids tried all the rides: from mall train, fairy tale carousel and funny flight. After the rides, they were brought to Pizza Hut for another eating session. They also toured the city and witnessed some of the Dinagyang tribes practicing their steps.
The kids were also delighted when they were given remote-controlled cars as gifts aside from the clothes, rice and groceries. The kids went home with a big smile on their faces.
Jessie was so glad with the time, effort and gifts they received from the Harders. He said he was very happy. Even for a day, he experienced how it feels to become an 12-year old child, playing and enjoying things that children his age enjoy.
Jessie felt an immeasurable happiness that he will always remember during Christmas Season. The Harders added to his long list of people, aside from St. Anne Parish Church, who untiringly supported him in whatever they could to help him.