A sunny day out in the UP College of Science Amphitheater last September 27, 2014 was the Kythe kids’ special time to celebrate being the “heroes” of the hospitals, in line with this year’s Kythe-Ateneo I Am Hope theme.
In headlining Kythe-Ateneo’s annual external advocacy event as I Am Hope: Superheroes’ Day Out, project heads Bianca Santos and Christina Cruz agreed on the Kythe being able to “save the day”—inspiring those who meet them with their special energy and unique strength, persevering through incredible hardships beyond their age with smiles and laughter and, in all of this, helping to spread joy to others. The event’s tagline highlighted this courage: “they’re just kids, but they’re braver than you think.”
“I witness this kind of bravery every time I interact with a kid during our hospital visits or projects. Because of this, they really are my little heroes and they constantly inspire me to look at life in a different perspective, to be more, to give more, and most importantly, to be braver than I than I think I am,” Christina shared, on what drove the hospital hero advocacy.
Bianca continued, on the idea of the perfect “day out”: “…we just wanted the Kythe kids to have a day all for themselves—a day to celebrate their childhood. We also designed a venue to be carnival-like so as to relieve them from the stress and anxiety caused by the hospital setting. I was also inspired by my first Kythe kid, Shiatsy from AFP, who always loved piggy back rides and inflatables. Basically, I just wanted the Kythe kids to have fun!”
Among the activities that day were paper cone doll making; cupcake decorating; mini basketball; mini basketball; a freedom wall; and inflatables, among many others. The program included performances by Kythe-Ateneo resident magician Carlo Elopre; internationall-acclaimed ventriloquist Mr. Wanlu; Bumblebee and Ironman from Cosplay Performers. Some other activities were a bubble show, a superhero mask making structured activity, and games hosted by URC. The program’s guest stars this year were ABS-CBN stable members Nash Aguas, Alexa Ilacad, Sharlene San Pedro, Jairus Aquino, Kobi Vidanes, and Sophia Baars. Kylie Padilla also stayed at the event to play with the Kythe kids.
At the end of I Am Hope, and seeing that the Kythe kids will continue their legacy as the superheroes of the Child Life Program, Bianca and Christina also shared their wishes.
“Personally, my wish for the kids is that they enjoy their childhood—something that exceeds their four-walled wards,” said Bianca. “I hope that these kids never stop being happy, being amazing and hoping. I hope that they realize the strength that lies within them and how it makes them unique and special. I wish for them to win their fight against their illness. I wish for them to fly kites and not fight cancer.”
Christina concurred: “I wish that they never get tired of finding reasons to smile and be happy despite everything they’re going through. I hope that they see how special and brave each one of them are and I hope that they never let their illnesses and the circumstances they’re in limit and prevent them from becoming the heroes they truly are. One day, I hope that they realize how they’ve inspired so many people and hopefully, this will urge them to continue being inspirations to others.”
List of Student Partners:
• DLSU Industrial Management Engineering Society
• DLSU Business Management Society
• UST Red Cross
• UP Pugad Sayk
• UP Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Society
• UP Industrial Engineering Club
• UP Volunteers for Children
• UST UNICEF
• Keishables
• UP Lakan
• Dominican Network
• RoC
• Viare
• UP PreMedSoc
• Logos
• ORSP-UST
• Lions
• UPM Society of Occupational Therapy Majors
• UP Chinese Student Association
• Manila Downtown YMCA
• UP Industrial
• Pharmacy Honor Society
• AB Student Council Faculty of Arts and Letters
• UNESCO Club, UP Diliman,
• AdU Red Cross Youth Council
• UP CRAdle
• UST Chemical Engineering Society
Major Sponsors:
Lina Group of Companies:
• Air 21
• CargoHaus
• UFL
• LGC Logistics
• Go21
• Customs Brokers, Inc.
• Shopinas.com
• Dynamic Outsource Solutions
• Linaheim Corporate Services
• Credit Solutions & Business Alliances, Inc.
• E-Konek Pilipinas
• Integrated Waste Management, Inc.
• Waste and Resources Management, Inc.
• Solarlina Energy Systems Corp.
• Lina Farm
• Linaheim Corporate Travel and Tours, Inc.
DynaDrug
Universal Robina Corporation:
• All Good Instant Oatmeal
• Nissin Cup Noodles
• Hunt’s Pork and Beans
• Wafrets Brix
Timezone
Official Partners:
• Mister Donut
• Anding’s Toys and Flowers Inc.
• Alaska Milk
• Audioline
• Shutterbug
• Shutterpanda
• Sweet Patti Cakes
• Top 1
• Unlimited Bubble Show
• Cosplay Performers
• Schick
• Europharma
• La Roca
• Pepsi
• Ventrillusion by Wanlu
• Nelson Sweets
Media Partners:
• ClickTheCity.com
• Rappler
• WhenInManila
• Circuit Magazine
• Candy Magazine