“Higher higher higher!” The little kids screamed with glee while simultaneously pulling on the swing’s chain that was catapulting me into the air.

“Oh no! Baka mahulog ako! Nakakatakot ito!” I jokingly yelled back. (Oh no! I might fall. This is scary!)

“Okay lang yan, Ate. Sasaluhin namin ikaw!” Came their witty reply. (It’s okay. We’ll catch you!)

With the wind in my hair, it was such a liberating feeling being on the swings. What made playtime even better were my companions.

There were constant sounds of laughter all around me. Little boys everywhere were chasing each other and every now and then were yelling, “Ikaw yung It!” (You're It!) A little boy even got on the swing next to me and tried to copy what I was doing. Instead of sitting down on the swing, I was standing up. When I told the boy that it was dangerous and only big kids should be doing it, he told me, “Matapang ako! Don’t worry,” which put a smile on my face. (I’m brave! Don’t worry)

I found myself surrounded in chaos once again but it was a wonderful kind of chaos.

For the next 30 minutes, my friend Reggie and I found our selves acting like little kids in the playground. Every time a kid went down the slide, we were sliding right behind them. Every time a kid climbed a ladder to the top of the playground, we were climbing right behind them. I even taught a kid how to do a flip on the monkey bars and he rewarded me with a delighted hug after he accomplished it.

When playtime came to a close, I talked to someone who was also visiting Boystown for the day.

The person I talked to was a woman named Marissa and she has been visiting Boystown for several years.

“These boys have come to mean a lot to me. It makes me happy spending time with them and seeing their smiles.” She fondly told me when I asked her why she has been visiting for such a long time.

When I told Marissa that one of the things that I remembered from my first visit 2 years ago was their genuine and vibrant smiles, she told me, “That’s the best part eh, knowing that they’re not faking them. They are genuinely glad to have your company.”

When I asked her if she finds it a little strange that they’re so happy despite their situations, Marissa replied, “I personally don’t find it strange. I find it extraordinary how they are able to find something positive in their surroundings no matter how horrible their situation is.”

After thanking Marissa for her time, I thought long and hard about her insights and came to the conclusion that she was right.

It was astonishing how optimistic the boys are despite their hardships in life.

It reminded me of the times in my own life where I felt like giving up because something got too difficult.

I then realized that I was being selfish. My problems suddenly seemed very insignificant compared to theirs. While I worried about how I was going to pass the next math long test, these boys worried about whether or not they were going to eat for the day.

If these boys could find happiness and positivity in their less than ideal life, why couldn’t I?

Someone that by most standards is living the ideal lifestyle.

This whole situation reminded of the quote, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

In translation, make something good out of something bad.

From this visit to Boystown, I learned how important it is to always find a silver lining in any situation.

There is hope in every situation and the boys of Boystown have taught me that.

For that, I will always be grateful.

"Omphh!" I exclaimed as an animated little boy around the age of 7 came barreling into me. His excitement was palpable and his grip on my shirt emphasized his enthusiasm.

"Hi Ate! Visitor ka ba ngayon?" (Hi! Are you a visitor today?)

“Hi! Yes, visitor ako ngayon.” I replied with a smile. (Hi! Yes, I’m a visitor today)

“Yehey!” The little boy yelled and before I could ask him what his name was, he ran away into a little house nearby.

This gave my friend Reggie and me an opportunity to observe our surroundings.

The first thing I noticed was how bright and lively the location was. There were trees and grass everywhere giving the place a very peaceful and homey feel. The sun was also shinning brightly and it established the feeling of being at home.

There was also a playground nearby that gave a burst of color to the otherwise earthy feel of our surroundings and it added a touch of youthfulness to the atmosphere.

Lost in awe of my surroundings, I failed to notice the large gang of rowdy boys that were running my way. The boys immediately circled Reggie and me and we were slightly overwhelmed by the amount of little boys that were surrounding us.

One of the caretakers of the orphanage came running after them and told them to give us some space but that didn’t deter the boys from voicing their curiosity.

“What’s your name?”

“Ilang taon kayo?” (How old are you?)

“Ano yung nasa loob ng plastic?” (What’s inside the plastic?)

That last question caught my attention. The boys were very observant.

Reggie was carrying a yellow plastic bag that carried little bags of chocolate that we were planning to give to the boys.

“Regalo ba yan?” One little boy asked. (Are those presents?)

Reggie and I looked at each other and simultaneously nodded our heads.

“Nagdala kami ng chocolates.” I told them. (We brought chocolates)

Next thing we knew, it was pandemonium.

Little hands everywhere were grabbing for the bag and Reggie and I were shocked at how excited they were about something that we often take for granted.

It was heartening to see how something as simple as chocolate could bring the boys such sheer happiness.

One by one, I handed each boy a bag of chocolate and after they received their bag, they either stuck around to observe the chaos or ran off to tell the other boys of our presents.

Once the chaos calmed down and everyone got their chocolate, the little boys sat quietly enjoying their treats.

Sitting down next to the boys, I thought about what I had seen and their reactions towards such a simple gift.

The chocolates were left overs from my family’s Halloween candy stash last October and for months were just sitting around in the house because no one wanted them.

It reminded me of how blessed I am and how I often take little things such as chocolate for granted because it’s readily available to me even though in reality, it’s not the same for everyone else.

Instead of dwelling on an issue that was evidently out of my reach, I instead focused my attention on the boys who were still happily munching on their snacks and were telling me about their Christmas day.

Once they were done, one little boy grabbed my hand and exclaimed, “Ate, maglaro na tayo!” (Let’s go play!)

Although I knew that I couldn’t solve a major world issue such as poverty and greatly improve the lives of these boys, I knew that it was the simple pleasures that mattered to them.

With that thought, I followed the little boys into the playground with the full intention of bringing even the slightest bit of happiness into their lives by providing them with my time and company.

It was the little things that mattered the most.

To be continued…