Kythe Camp 2014: Making a summer splash!

Last May 14-15, our Kythe kids excitedly made their journey from the affiliated hospitals to take part in one of the most anticipated events of the year: Kythe’s annual Summer Camp, an opportunity to take a break from regular hospital routines to rest, relax, and enjoy the gifts of the summer season.

This year’s camp was celebrated in D’Farm Resort, San Isidro, Bacolor, Pampanga. D’Farm’s grounds span 14 hectares of a resort proper, sprawling orchards of fruit trees, fish ponds, and rice and vegetable plots. The Kythe kids enjoyed both the fresh country air and the resort’s full amenities—among them the swimming pool and water slide since, for Kythe kids of every age, swimming is almost unanimously decided to be the favorite activity of all.

As Camp coincided with Pampanga’s fiesta season, campers participated in activities with a uniquely Filipino twist. For arts and crafts, kids and staff alike decorated straw bayongs with colorful beads and cloth strips; for the afternoon activities, campers were divided into teams for traditional Filipino games such as relays.

The highlights of Kythe Night were a special talent portion and a pageant, where participants had a wonderful time dressing up their representatives from their respective hospital teams in indigenous materials. Kythe kids creatively combined traditional Filipino dance with modern moves for their talent showcases, and Ate Chay Ramos and Kuya Rudy Labata came away with the titles of Mutya and Macho of Kythe Camp 2014. When asked the question, “If you won a million pesos, what would you do with the money?”, she replied, “I would keep a small portion for myself, and donate the rest for the medication of the children.”

Kythers also took special time to pay special tribute once again to Ate Girlie, who was recently awarded an international fellowship to Ashoka Innovators for the Public, and Ate Ninin, who recently celebrated ten years of service to Kythe Foundation.

Kythe thanks Jojo Almeda & Family; Artist Madhouse for sponsoring the activities of the campers; and especially welcomes the presence of Ian Celis Productions for the videography and Reynaldo Mendoza for the volunteer photography.

Upon leaving Summer Camp, our Kythe kids will have the same summer dreams: a chance to get away from their everyday difficulties, a chance to share each other’s company once more. Until then, they will surely treasure this year’s summer memories.