I Went to the Philippines for Family… and Somehow Started a Slipper Giveaway 😂🇵🇭

My recent trip to the Philippines was primarily for personal reasons. What I didn’t expect was that it would turn into a slipper giveaway in the Philippines. 🇵🇭❤️

I went to see my brother, who recently suffered a massive heart attack and stroke, and to simply wanted to be there to see the rest for my family. Sometimes, especially in families like mine, showing up matters more than saying the perfect thing. A hug can do a lot. 🤗❤️

But of course, because apparently, I do not know how to just “visit” anywhere quietly 😂, I also had another goal:

Give back to the community. 🩴✨

And I had exactly 10 days to make it happen. No pressure. 😅

On the same day I arrived, despite everything else going on, I took the time to visit a nearby elementary school in Dasmariñas, where I hoped to organize a slipper giveaway. In the Philippines, the kids have to take off their shoes inside the classroom. Many poor students don’t have the money to buy extra slippers for school. 

The principal, office staff, and even the gate security were incredibly welcoming. 🙏🏽

The school has 2,851 students. Yes, TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE. 😳

The staff helped me break everything down by grade level so I could figure out how many slippers were needed and what sizes. We agreed to do the distribution the following Wednesday. ✅

I also found out that because of limited classroom space, the school operates in two shifts — one in the morning and another in the afternoon into early evening. That alone gave me a whole new appreciation for the teachers, staff, students, and families who make it work every single day. 👏🏽📚

That same day, I went to a store to find a vendor who was willing to help, and with some negotiation, to get a better price.

Normally, Business Development Aidalyn would say, “We need at least two more quotes.” 😂📊

But Travel Aidalyn said, “Girl, you have 10 days.”

Going all the way to Baclaran was not exactly strategic with our limited transportation and absolutely nonexistent warehouse. 😂

So I trusted the first vendor we found.

She agreed to sort the slippers, store them, and deliver everything directly to the school on distribution day. 🙌🏽

Of course, the budget was not unlimited. Once we figured out the average cost per pair, I had to do some very serious math — the kind where you stare at the calculator like it personally offended you. 😂💸

In the end, I settled on 950 pairs of slippers.

Not enough for all 2,851 students, but enough to make a meaningful difference and still keep Ted from changing the locks when I got home. 😂❤️

Now, both the school staff and the vendor looked at me like:

“Ma’am… are you sure about this?” 😂😂😂

Fair question.

But for the vendor, it was business.

For the kids, it meant new slippers.

For me, that was enough. ❤️🩴

Then the distribution day came.

Our Grab driver took us to the back of the school.

The vendor delivering the slippers also ended up at the back of the school.

Wonderful.

Except…

THERE WAS NO BACK ENTRANCE. 🤣🤣🤣

And from there, everything went beautifully.

What started as one of my slightly crazy ideas became a day full of giving, teamwork, laughter, problem-solving, and a whole lot of happy feet. 🥹❤️🩴

Special thanks to the principal, teachers, staff, volunteers, vendor, my family and everyone who helped make it happen. 🙏🏽

And of course, an extra-special thank-you to my Money Boss, Ted 💰😂❤️, who somehow keeps funding these ideas while probably wondering what project I’ll come up with next.

Overall, this trip to the Philippines was unforgettable. 🇵🇭

It reminded me that sometimes you travel for family. ❤️

Sometimes you travel to give back. 🩴

And sometimes…You accidentally create a full-scale slipper logistics operation while doing both. 😂😂😂