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Category: Peppi News

The Joys of Motherhood

“Motherhood takes so much from a woman!”

is a common modern sentiment. And it really does! It will literally stretch your body and snap it back in place (but not quite). It will drain some nutrients off of you. The postpartum hormones will have you (and your hairfall) all over the place.

Having “time for yourself” is five minutes (if at all). Sleep will be scarce. The chores, the mess will be plentiful. It’s a lot. It’s jarring and confusing. You’re trying to understand it all and stay afloat while trying to keep someone else apart from you fed and thriving.

But there are the snuggles and the cuddles. The peace of watching a baby (finally) sleep is unmatched. Your kids will smile at you for the first time and it is the most precious thing.

You’ll find yourself cheering wildly for a little person because they managed to roll over on their belly. They’ll take their first steps, say their first words, count to ten—the little things are the big things! They will tell you and show you they love you every day. They’ll fall in love, they will feel betrayed, they will win and lose: everything is new for them and new for you once again.

But the greatest gift of motherhood is that we, like Our Lady, get to participate so intimately (albeit in a small way, in the grand scheme of things) with the suffering, the joy and the grace of self-giving that Jesus demonstrates for us on the Cross. On a daily basis, we are called to feed others, clothe others, care for the sick, counsel, grieve with others, lay down ourselves in many ways for others. Joy and grace are so abundant for us.

Motherhood will absolutely take us apart again and again. But motherhood puts us back together, again and again too, the same woman but different, blessed and hopefully holier too. Merry Christmas!

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Bonding and Building Memories: Mother-Daughter Day-Out in Pasig, Year 8

PEPPI members in the Sapphire and Daffodils Girls Clubs collaborated once again for a Mother-Daughter Day Out on July 6, 2024 in Pasig City.

This year’s “Bonding and Building Memories” event was the eighth year for these clubs to celebrate with carefully crafted and fun-filled activities for about two dozen mother-daughter teams.

The girls’ clubs have always put a premium on the human connection from friendship and growing in the virtues. The groups played human bingo, enjoyed games like “shoot it,” and actively took part in the mother-daughter activities.

DIY Bracelet Booths
New friends and matching aprons as souvenirs

Everyone enjoyed the treats including Sumilang avocado, ice cream, and of course, swimming!

The main activity of the day was a “cook-off” where the mother-daughter pairs put together sandwiches based on the ingredients from our bread, meat, and garnish boxes.

Congratulations to all participants!

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Quezon City: From Community Pantry to Super Nanays

During the pandemic, PEPPI moms from Katipunan, Quezon City began a community pantry to help out the families residing near the parishes of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje and Old Balara. The PEPPI moms used to share regular Coffee Mornings with formation talks at the home of Rina Garcia.

With the support of the parish priest, the group began monthly meet-ups in 2022 with the beneficiaries of the community pantry. They offer livelihood activities and share their professional expertise to the 20-30 participants, who are called Super Nanay.

As the mothers’ role is so important in a family, Super Nanay is a program for mothers to empower them with stronger values and give them opportunities to learn skills that would enable them to earn additional income for the family.

This program is similar to PEPPI’s Sampaguita Ladies program in Parañaque organized by Angie Martinez and Rosette Pinga with volunteers from Crestfield.

One impact of Super Nanay is encouraging members to live their Catholic life well. As an example, during the parish Kasalan Bayan in May, four participants also made their sacramental vows.

Join us to volunteer at Super Nanay! Contact Joji Fider at 0920 961 4088 or Rina Garcia at 0917 536 5699.

Super Nanays and Volunteers

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Courtesy Wins Friends

Courtesy is an attractive trait that wins us friends.

A warm smile or a cheery hello to the persons we meet at the corridor can brighten their day.

Thank you notes for gifts or kind gestures express our respect and appreciation for the other.

Being on time for our appointments says that we value the time of the individual.

Politeness to steer a conversation from an unpleasant topic to a happier course is an admirable social skill.

The practical detail to separate garbage into labelled bins is care for the good of the community.

Listening before answering promotes effective communication and mindfulness.

Be a sower of peace and joy to multiply our friends.

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Mother-Daughter Summer Camp: From Soil to Soul

This year’s Sophie May Summer Camp was a Mother-Daughter Summer Program entitled “From Soil to Soul: Growing Together.” It was held in Samuzon Farm in San Juan, Batangas on June 10-12, 2024 with nine pairs of mother-daughter participants. 

Bonding activities included bottle-decorating, the relaxation massage for Mom and by Mom, and a farm tour and lecture with owner Joy Tañada. We strolled around the farm to look for interesting finds like pink snail eggs clamped around fallen tree branches. We also had fun preparing peanut mixture into round panutsa and toured a terra cotta factory where the girls learned how to decorate pots.

Bonding time with peers was fun too. The girls learned to make yummy banana crumble (good job, girls!), while the moms gathered for a talk with Lara Camacho. We also had time to go swimming.

One of the highlights was the walking rosary after dinner as we held candles and had the chance to lead a mystery—truly lovely moments between mother and daughter, and with Our Lady.

Testimony 

I’ve been searching for a special mother-daughter activity beyond our usual routines, and Sophie May’s Summer Program turned out to be a perfect fit for my 9-year-old daughter Kelly and me.

It filled my heart with joy to see her delight in exploring farm life, discovering various livelihoods (and trying them out), and deepening her appreciation for our Catholic faith, especially our devotion to Mama Mary.

For the first time, she prayed the rosary, and I was amazed that this beautiful habit has continued to this day. Now, she eagerly initiates rosary time every night with the family.

To me, that is the most precious takeaway from this wonderful experience.

To me, that is the most precious takeaway from this wonderful experience.

Kabbie R. Alipio

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Trailblazer Summer Camp Turns 15 with 75 Campers

Camp Trailblazer celebrated its fifteenth year with another Summer Leadership Camp for Girls held on June 26-30, 2024 in El Sitio Filipino Camping Facility, Batangas City.

This year’s camp welcomed 75 campers from Grades 7-10 from different schools in Metro Manila for six days of faith, friendship and fun.

The camp was run by volunteers: seventeen counselors, most of them former campers, and six staff, including PAREF Woodrose School’s Chaplain, Fr. Francis Ongkingco.

Trailblazer was filled with both fun and formative activities. There were sports (volleyball and swimming) and workshops such as clay art, food preps and science experiments. Then of course there were the camp traditions such as the bonfires, cabin cheer, costume night and the elegant dinner.

The camp also included daily Mass, catechism classes, Rosary walks, and inspirational talks.

This year we added a new tradition: the friendship bracelet swap.

The camp was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to get away from their screens, to spend time with nature, and to have good old-fashioned fun. The girls reconnected with old friends, made new ones, and more importantly, grew closer to God.

Check out their videos at facebook.com/camp.trailblazer and contact camp.trailblazer.phils@gmail.com or +639177957632 for more information!

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PEPPI Gracias Party: Appreciation and Gratitude

People Engaged in People Projects Foundation, Inc. (PEPPI) celebrated our 33rd anniversary with the heartwarming “GRACIAS” Thanksgiving Party on February 15, 2024 at the Makati Sports Club.

This special event was dedicated to expressing gratitude to those who have been contributing to PEPPI’s success.

As PEPPI embarks on our next chapter, our President, Elenita “Nits” S.A. Sandejas, along with the Board of Trustees and Management, eagerly anticipate nurturing these bonds and relationships with benefactors, donors, partners, volunteers, patrons, and friends.

Captivating Moments: Volunteers and Kabataan beneficiaries shared their inspiring stories and extraordinary experiences during an engaging Q&A segment. Our lovely mother-and-daughter team, Ladybird and Luisa Pineda, hosted this insightful discussion.

Acknowledging the Heroes: GRACIAS took this opportunity to extend heartfelt thanks to the dedicated management staff and volunteers of PEPPI Centers. Their unwavering support and passion have been the driving force behind transformative activities, consistently delivering fruitful and life-changing experiences.

Gratitude Overflowing: To everyone who graced us with their presence, thank you! Your participation made this event truly special and heartwarming.

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Our Children and Their Freedom: Raising Future Campers

There is no doubt that we parents want our children to be the best that they can be and to explore all their capabilities, but we are also biologically hard wired to protect our children.

This is especially true and useful when we are first time parents, when our children are very small and need a lot of attention.

But our children often outgrow this need much sooner than we learn to adapt to. At times we don’t even acknowledge their need for more freedom. Unwittingly, we might be hovering over our children, helicopter parenting as it is called, and hampering their growth instead of allowing them to flourish.

Some of the ways we can overcome this tendency are:

  • Allow our children to make small decisions as they grow and help them understand the consequences of their decisions
  • Let our children make mistakes and encourage them to try again
  • Give them appropriate chores at home and allow them to fulfill their responsibilities independently
  • Set goals together as opposed to enforcing goals on them
  • Be mindful of their developmental needs and our corresponding responses

St. Josemaría Escrivá advised parents, “Love your children’s freedom and teach them how to use their freedom.” Indeed, our children are their own persons, gifted by God with their own freedom.

We can rest easy in the knowledge that our children are entrusted to us by God who loves them infinitely more than we ever can.

~ Sab Elane, Woodrose alumna and young mom of two children

Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz in Manila

Manila and Cebu welcomed Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, the Prelate of Opus Dei, on his 3-week apostolic trip to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia in July-August 2023. He was accompanied in several activities by Rev. Father Julio Dieguez, the Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines.

At a get-together on July 29, 2023 hosted by Punlaan School with the PEPPI Board and the directors of other foundations, Msgr. Ocáriz encouraged everyone to take care of the quality of their work and always have a supernatural outlook, reminding the participants that “it is God who will help us if we work well.”

He also said it is important to work in collaboration “with a lot of people, dealing with everyone as children of God within a family, with the spirit of service, and understanding others’ needs.”

He reminded the participants that most of all, “we need to love the Lord and live in fraternity with others as we share our apostolic zeal.”

It was a lovely opportunity for the foundations to present their initiatives and have small chats with the Prelate.

~ Vida Ty
PEPPI President Elenita Sandejas greets Msgr. Ocáriz
PEPPI President Elenita Sandejas greets Msgr. Ocáriz
Msgr. Ocáriz at Punlaan School with the Board of Directors of PEPPI and other foundations
Msgr. Ocáriz at Punlaan School with the Board of Directors of PEPPI and other foundations

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Summer Camp Fun 2023

Summer Camp Fun

The July 2023 summer camps of Pathfinder and Trailblazer were a big success. It was the first time since the pandemic for the girls to get together for fun and adventure within a supervised program that included skill-building and sports in a safe, nurturing environment. What a joy to have140 campers in two camps led by 29 counselors and 12staff! Congratulations, campers! See you all next year!

Pathfinder Club 2023 attended by 50 girls 11-15 years old. 
Held in Mt. Purro Nature Reserve, Tanay 

June 29 to July 2, 2023 
Trailblazer Summer Leadership Camp 2023 attended by 90 girls entering Grades 7-11. Held in El Sitio Filipino Camping and Teambuilding Facility, Batangas.
 
July 4-8, 2023

The Return of Camp Trailblazer 2023

In July 4-8, Camp Trailblazer 2023 proved to be a transformative summer experience for young women from various schools coming together for six days of faith, friendship, and fun. With its mission centered on lasting friendships and dedicated guidance, Trailblazer aimed to empower 90 participants to lead, serve, and forge unbreakable bonds.

Campers enthusiastically blended the glamor of this year’s ‘Hollywood’ theme with their aim of personal growth. The nightly campfires echoed with laughter as voices united in camp songs, fostering a sense of togetherness. Cabin cheers became a creative outlet, cultivating teamwork and collaboration among campers and their junior counselors, all while embracing the essence of the camp’s code.

Talent Night shone a spotlight on the God-given gifts within each camper, as they inspired awe and admiration in song and dance. Costume Night allowed campers to embody their aspirations. At an elegant dinner, campers dressed in their finest attire as they practiced etiquette and camaraderie.

The peak of adventure was concluded with the Amazing Race. Teams raced against time, demonstrating unity and determination. This physical challenge mirrored their personal transformations as they evolved from shy to enthusiastic.

Without cell phones, campers reconnected with nature and themselves as they nurtured real-life connections.

The comeback of Camp Trailblazer exemplified the power of faith and friendship to shape young women into leaders. All these trailblazers now carry cherished memories and the unbreakable bonds of friendship, ready to lead and serve in their communities, schools, and homes. Thank you to their energetic counselors! That’s a wrap for Camp Trailblazer 2023!

~ Gabby Ignacio, Assumption College Class 2023

My Six Years of Summer Camps

I was always known as shy. On my first year at camp, when people would ask for my name, I would respond by pointing to my name tag and a quick nod.

Despite starting out as an introvert, from 2015 to 2019, I came to Camp Trailblazer ready to have fun, deepen my faith, and make long-lasting friendships. It was the highlight of every summer.

I shared a cabin each year with kind, mindful, and funny girls. The ates—counselors and senior campers—welcomed us warmly and formed an environment that allowed us to love camp as they did. I looked up most especially to my counselors who took care of us like we were their younger sisters.

Daily Mass and night prayers were gifts I learned to appreciate through camp. I owe it to Trailblazer for teaching me how to incorporate my faith into the fun of each day even now. The sports and team building activities at camp also instilled perseverance and sportsmanship: “Play to win, Learn to lose.”

Many of the people I met in camp, I am still in contact with—some, I can even call my closest friends to this day.

In 2020, on my sixth year at camp, even with the pandemic, we offered online camp. I became a counselor who listened to the stories of my young campers, seeing that camp was bringing them a refreshing sense of joy through the struggle. I realized that the spirit of camp was still very much alive.

To many, Camp Trailblazer helped us grow, learn, and discover ourselves. In those few days, we gained the confidence to grow into women of strength and compassion with genuine, joyful hearts for service.

Undeniably, attending camp every year since Grade 6 was life-changing. That young Therese who could hardly speak to introduce herself years ago became a leader in the high school student council, in socio-civic and church organizations, and even now, in college.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity at Trailblazer to indeed blaze my own trail and share the flame of joy and service, so that other girls can also find the spark that would lead them to who they are meant to be.

~ Therese Amante, Woodrose Class 2022 / University of the Philippines Diliman

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Growing in Gratitude

Thinking about gratitude reminds me of a French prover that goes, 

Gratitude is the memory of a heart.

- Jean-Baptiste Massieu
The Lumo Project Scene

Everyone is familiar with the gratitude of the Samaritan who was healed by our Lord along with nine other lepers, and how he came back to our Lord as he threw himself at Jesus’ feet to thank Him (Luke 17:11-19). The Samaritan was the only one who showed gratitude to our Lord, the ultimate source of his healing.

Going back to our present lives, and on a lighter note, we appreciate the invaluable help we senior citizens receive in going through our daily digital transactions. 

On the other end, we are thankful for the lessons teamed from the Covid-19  Pandemic, harsh though they may have been, most especially in the areas of  pandemic preparedness and response.

Young people can express gratitude for so many reasons, too: for their parents’ caring attentiveness, for the fun they have with friends, for the constant support of their families.

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