
Hey Hilombuhay fam! This Friday we’re celebrating two very different but deeply heart-warming stories. First, a Filipino teen turns an everyday veggie into a thriving business and helps his friends along the way. Then, how a volunteer-driven animal-welfare project uses books and quiet company to heal neglected pets. Both stories show what happens when creativity meets compassion. Let’s end the week feeling inspired.

Meet Josh Mojica, at just 17 he launched his own snack business using his aunt’s recipe for kangkong chips. He began in 2021 with only about ₱3,000 capital. Within months he was earning roughly ₱150,000 a month. He hired his friends, supported his family, and turned something humble (kangkong!) into something meaningful. It’s a reminder that your context doesn’t limit your greatness. You don’t need to wait for permission. You just need to start.
Read here
The PAWS Project CALM (Comforting Animals through Literacy Movement) invites volunteers to read to newly rescued, shy animals in their quarantine period. According to their website, this simple act of sitting, reading, being present, helps the animals trust humans again. In a culture where malasakit is often about people, here we see it extended to animals. And especially on a Friday when you might feel drained from the week’s grind, this is a reminder to extend kindness beyond the obvious. It could be the cafeteria guard, the stray dog by the street, or your own heart asking for gentleness.
Read here