Breathe H.O.P.E. with Team STRATO!!!

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                                                                                                 By: Michael Amiel Benjamin S. Grape


City life, street life, club life, real life, all these things have different meanings to a gazillion people on this planet we call earth. Some mean different things, others something sort of similar, there are even areas on this luscious brownish green planet where these words are interconnected; sort of like a puzzle. But whatever dizzying stature of subjectivity this discussion would touch; one piece of it is without a doubt, down right analogous. Life, to live, in a state of existing in a particular space collecting proficiencies, these are but a few instances of how one might find oneself trying to expound the meaning of life.

And while the vast majority of us take on the philosophical pursuit to find the meaning of life, there are those among us whose views regarding the matter are so simple, that it becomes profound and a cause for celebration; life for them is to simply survive.

Not long ago, one of my newly found old friends celebrated his birthday. Nick Hernandez, Co-founder, convener, frontrunner, and overall tour guide of Team Strato celebrated the day of his birth the best way he knows how; to throw the sickest parties on the floors of Manila’s hottest watering holes. For days the celebrations rang from night to early morn, the music non-stop and the spirits high and overflowing to the brim. Team Strato is notoriously know as club promoters that put up highly stylized themed events, not only doing it outside the box; but tearing the shit out of that cardboard sucker.

In a nutshell, Stratosphere Productions is a lifestyle company that aims to innovate (thus dominating,) the game of entertainment alternatives. Not singularly focused to promoting clubs, Stratosphere has produced events for prominent brand names and companies in and around the metro bringing elements from overseas for Filipino consumption.

WERE TAKING YOU TO THE STRATOSPHERE!

Of course the crowned prince of club innovation and chilled tequila tied up his birthday celebration to the business by holding a week long celebration that went down at the clubs that he handles, inviting his dear friends to tag along; it’s been like this for years.

But this year, Nick and the mob wanted to do something special. They wanted to share the joy of living the hip-hop lifestyle of fun and having things with those who have more focused, and immediate concerns. Nick, Mj, CAPO, Kalvin, I and others decided to Breathe H.O.P.E.

Armed with a bag full of toys, a guitar, good looks and intentions we journeyed towards the sunny plains of Quezon City’s Philippine Children’s Medical Center in support to “Breathe Hope Care’s” event (ironic really.) which is a children’s party.

From the entrance we could see and hear the all too familiar sounds of a kiddie party. As we approached the venue we got a glimpse of fantastical, brightly colored things. Giant cartoon drawings of animals, people wearing funky multi-colored top hats with vivid artsy trimmings. The cacophony of clowns transforming foot long balloons into dogs, butterflies, giraffes and other oddities was the cream of this party float. The cherry was of course the rows and rows of gifts in front of the make shift stage that hid the shape of the toys and things straight out from a kids dream.

As we reached our destination and placed our bag of goodies with the others, we sat amongst the people to catch our breath. I was caught unaware as I saw the most amazing sight that I have seen in my life up to date, I saw a mother surrounded by her children. As she tried to juggle all of them in her warm embrace, I noticed that a couple of her kids were in an awkward angle inside her embrace. As I moved in to assist her I literally froze as I realized that the angle was peculiar because the two toddlers were joined, in the forehead. As I desperately try to fight the tears from exploding outward, I saw and instantly became conscious of the fact that all of the kids that were present there had some sort of malformation, malignant growth or a threatening complication that hindered their ability to live comfortably. Sadness washed over my entire body as I looked from left to right, wondering to myself how can such a burden be bestowed to one so young?

Forgetting about the people I came in with, (they were having a jovial time talking and frolicking with one of the kids anyway.) I decided to approach the mother and ask permission to take their picture. As I took the shot I eventually ended up chatting with her and her kids and the lola as well. She told me all about her challenges as I let her kids climb onto me and sit wherever they pleased, and how “Breathe Hope Cares” creates for them an avenue for their family to bond together and reel inside each other’s love even if for just a brief moment. At the corner of my eye as I was talking to their mother I swear the conjoined twins flashed an elated smile.

"BREATHE HOPE" - started because of a baby named JON ANGELO MODESTO VIADO, "a 2 year old great boy who was apparently having a hole in the neck allowing him to breathe for his life. He was hooked to a respirator 24 hours a day and was fed through a tube inserted in his nose going to the stomach (NGT).
Initially diagnosed of GastroEsoPhagealReflux Disease (GERD), a disease in the Digestive System wherein stomach contents hike out the tract causing Jon to vomit almost every after feeding. This disorder lead to frequent Pneumonia as the food and other stomach contents enters the airway; classified as Aspiration Pneumonia."

“Breathe Hope Cares” project is contemplated then organized because of the inspiration these kids has brought to the lives of the people who have the pleasure of sharing time with them. Children with neurologic challenges have a relative reversibility of their condition, yet have cheerfully lived with it.

That day was the most honest and open I’ve been in front of a crowd performing. It might not be perfect, but it was well worth it. Nick actually thanked me profusely because I sang for the kids. But In reality, Nick the slick and the whole team STRATO showed me something special and brought me back on track. The meaning of life is not simply living from day to day, hand to mouth. The meaning of life cannot be materialized as a reward after a long philosophical quest. No. Its meaning is found inside the warm embrace of love, in every shot of chilled tequila, hidden with fancy gift wrappers, and even in a transforming foot long balloon.