Look at these happy faces.

I bet you Donald Trump or Bill Gates with all of their billions would not have been happier than these boys after receiving their bagful of clothing gifts.

Blind woman receiving gift.

Even if she could not see, this woman's face brightens up as she receives her gift. Perhaps it was not so much the gift, but the fact that somebody cared enough to bring her a Christmas gift was enough to lighten up her spirits.

Happy family.

The father is pretending to be oblivious of the gift-giving, but I bet you he is just as excited as his son is receiving brand new clothings from the SMSS volunteer santa clauses. Just look at the son. . . . smiling and hugging excitedly the gift his family received . . .that for sure reflects the honest reaction of this family.

Another happy family gift-recipient.

The kids, the father and the alapos [lolas] are all beaming with Christmas cheers. Like other indigent gift beneficiaries, this family will forever cherish and remember Christmas 2005. It is most likely the unexpected gift sharing was a first in the lives of this indigent family. Rarely does an indigent family far from the media glare, share in the profit-sharings of the affluent society.

Family appreciating their clothing gifts.

The mother seems to be saying: "with the savings we have for not having to buy all of these clothings, we can now buy something a litte special to celebrate Christmas and New Year".

Another happy little face.

The boy's smile is just an expontaneous expression of feeling - of soaking up the Christmas spirit that the birth of the Lord Jesus has spread and keeps spreading all over the world.

Alapo [grandfather] appreciating his brand new clothes.

While looking at his gift the old man is murmuring: "Salamat ken Kabunian ay nang-itungi et wada da nan masegang ay mangpa kolismas ken sak-en es bado. Sapay koma ta nan eskuela id Santa Malya ay nang-idateng es datona ya matagotago ya gumsat da ta esa da kasin mang-iyali es kolismas ko". In short "Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all of you, specially to Mr. Chris Lu."

Another picture of alapo [lolo] trying on brand new jacket.

Ayeh na-i-hosto-hosto nan jacket ay na-ay ah. Gawis pay nan kolol na tay nalabaga dapay men-kimat. Mabalin ay umeyak mi-ki-alem kasin. Tankyu, muchas glacias wenno domo aligato ay kanan di sapon.

Grandma fitting in new clothes.

"Ayeh, mehn ahmay dapay na-i-hosto-hosto nan jacket ay na-ay. Wada et dadlo nan pala domingo ay badok. Ta esa-tako-et en miki-misa es domingo ta umeyak men i-yaman ken Gomowad ya men salamat ken Dios Ama." Whatever . . . it is certain that the gifts brought Christmas cheers to lola.

SMS students delivering gifts.

Na-ay di kolismas mu ay nagapo ken Chris Lu ya ken dakami guedan ay i-Santa Malya. Kadya pilma-am nan papel ay na-ay ta ipa-ilami ken Gomowad en talaga ay inted mi ken-sik-ah nan kolismas mo.

The little children are all excited with their gifts.

It is the little kids like these that SMS would like to provide quality education for when they come to high school age. Perhaps next Christmas time, it will be children's books that they will be receiving as Christmas gifts. That is only a suggestion.

Mother lugging her family's clothing gifts.

Ayeh pay datona es banablo ay bado ay inted da ken dakami. Ta isa-ak ay dagos ta modi ket kanan da en subliyen da. Ay guibek pay na. Ay intoy nang-il-ila-am es apehd da mehn i-dateng nan singka bunton ay bado ay libli. Ala, mely kolismas ya gawis ay balo ay tew-en yo am-in. Ala owen ngem i-la-em ta adika ka-isukba. Just making fun of this woman.

Mother and Grandmother posing for the Student Santa Clauses.

You can be sure that this mother and grandmother are very appreciative and proud of what the SMS students are bringing to their community. It is almost certain that they look forward to the day when their children/grandchildren will also be able to go to school at St. Mary's High.

The fair hopes of the fatherland.

It is usually children like these who have been exposed to extreme poverty that are the most thirsty for quality education. It is children like these that SMSS exists for - - providing the means by which these children can transcend hand-to-mouth existence such as what is agonizingly depicted in this and other pictures in this photo album.

Mother breast-feeding little boy.

With the clothings received from Mr. Chris Lu and the Lucio Tan group of companies, this little boy can now have pants to wear.