meet trish - the grand winner

Last sunday, we finally got the chance to meet up with our An Angel's Story proud grand winner Trish for her prizes-giving and D.I.Y-charm-bracelet workshop.


first she chose all the charms she likes

workshop and briefing begins...


it wasn't too tough for a fast learner like her

and her buddy got one too!

taadaa! good job girls!

An Angel Contest - Grand Winner!

Congratulations to Trish! Grand winner by 145 out of 273 votes :)
we pay our respect to her.

* signs of respect *


We feel so thankful that, we have you guys supporting this humble event of soak republic :) Cheers!

An Angel' Story Contest: week four

1st story:
Name: Toong Mun Ee
Gender: Female
Title: Angel with a heart of gold
Story:

To most people, the angels in their lives are those whom they know of. However in my case, the angel with the purest of hearts is one who do not exist in my life. That angel is one that I have only read of but I can’t stop admiring her sincere heart.

My story begins now.



Does this picture break your heart? This puppy was not sitting there posing for a picture. This puppy was one of the dogs thrown to Pulau Ketam by irresponsible people who still do not think that it is wrong to abandon them there. The person whom I call angel is the one who initiated the rescue of the dogs thrown at Pulau Ketam. This angel is Miss Sabrina Yeap.



Many do not realize how heart breaking the conditions of these dogs until one actually looks at these photos. How can one possibly think that dogs can survive here? The only way to curb the increasing numbers of strays is by neutering them. This is where they are left. Many who tried to leave the island by swimming either ended up drowning or had to turn back as they could not reach any further.



This is where the dogs are left. The little island is very remote and poisonous snakes are everywhere on this island. Those who were not prepared will become the victims of the snakes. The dogs are left with no food nor water. The starving animals resorted to cannibalism. They ate the carcasses of the fellow castaways who didn't survive. There is no way anyone could have survived this island without any food. Mud was everywhere and if one steps on the island, they will be swallowed in by the mud.




This island was so remote that people rarely go there. No one was willing to help without a payment. Sabrina and her team from furry friend farm had to rent a boat RM200 just to get to the island. What they saw was beyond imaginations.

This is Sabrina whispering words of prayer. The dogs really need help. And Sabrina and her team alone are not enough. More than half of the dogs abandoned there is already dead. The dogs that have been saved so far are too afraid of humans and are starved till they are left with a bag of bones.



Their mission was able to save several dogs from the hell island. Many more are still there. It was not an easy task at all to search for the dogs in a mangrove populated island where mud would swallow you in every step you take. Below is the picture of Sabrina saving one of the poor dogs.



Sabrina is one true angel who helped these dogs who have no voice of their own. She deserves to be the angel in everyone’s heart. These dogs have been thrown into this island of hell for two weeks. It’s about time the world hears about their sufferings.

More updates on Sabrina’s mission to rescue the dogs can be accessed at :
http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue/updates.html

2nd story:
Name: Trish
Gender: Female
Title: Angel story
Story:

Sitting on the garden floor ,I looked down at the scratch on my knee and tears began forming at my eyes. “ What happened?” he asked. I looked high up to meet his face and bit my bottom lip to keep from crying. “You fell down? It’s okay” he said, smile wrinkles forming on his face.”Come on, we’ll go inside and I’ll give you some ice cream and tell you a story,which kind would you like to hear?”, he held his hand to me. I took his hand and pulled myself up, “ Animals and jungle” I mumbled,sniffing. “ Animals and the jungle,that’s my favourite also, okay, So once upon a time in the jungle of Africa...”

A few years later

“ Wow he’s real pretty” I said, my eyes widening in amazement. I brought my face close to the window of display glass,taking in the sight of the little hamster with grey fur and a black line through his back.He looked at me, “ Do you like it?” he asked. I nodded,never taking my eyes off it. “You like it? Then I’ll get him for you, you can get a cage and give him a name, you’re first real pet.”, he said. I looked up from the display glass guiltily. “ Mum says I can’t get a pet. She said i’m too little and won’t take care of it and it might gets hungry and run away and she says we got no space in the house”. I replied with a frown. “ Oh is that so? Tell mum that it won’t run away because we picked the smartest hamster that knows how to find it’s way home.And if there’s no space in the house,then your house is too small and you should build a bigger one.” he said with a laugh. “ Really? So i can get it?” I asked excitedly. “Of course you can! We’ll just build you a bigger house” he replied still laughing. “ Oh thank you thank you!”, I hugged his legs, where I reached up to. “I love you the most and you’re the best in the whole wide worlds”.

10 years later.

We walked along the dock and I looped my hand through his to steady his walk, he needed someone to help him walk now. He didn’t like sitting for too long and the others were still chatting away in the restaurant. A lull of wind blew and he closed his eyes to enjoy it, I smiled at this. “ So what do you wanna do now?”, I asked him. “ Nothing just wait for the old ladies to stop talking then we can go,but I have a good story to tell you about gorillas and kangaroos”, he said, smile wrinkles showing , they had grown more prominent throughout the years making him look more jovial. “Okay”, I smiled and he began with his story. He hadn’t been well for the past week , so I flew up to see him although I having my finals in a week,I cringed slightly wondering how I was going to cram studying to catch up.He stopped his story midway and turned to me. “ You know, I’m glad you flew down.I haven’t seen you in almost 5 months” he said earnestly. “I’m glad too, were you starting to miss me?” I asked teasingly. “ Of course.How can I not miss my favourite? This is my favourite one” he patted my hand.
“ Okay, I smiled, I still want to know the end of the story, so what happens next?” and he continued.

A year later

I closed my eyes to hear the silence. The serenity of my surrounding. I opened them at the sound of footsteps, an old lady knelt by a headstone a few feet away from me saying a silent prayer.I looked at my hands and gently folded the letter I wrote for him, I kissed it gently and placed it on top of his headstone. A tear escaped my eye and I wiped it away quickly. No he wouldn’t like to see me crying,he never liked seeing me sad. I gazed up to look at the sky and smiled. He was my angel. I knew he was watching me, like he always has been and always will be.

Dear grandpa,
Can’t wait to hear more of your stories
Love you
your favourite

An Angel' Story Contest: week one

Hereby we announce the winner for week one is...
Name: Alvina Tai Wen Ling
Story:
Throughout my whole life, there was only one angel. An angel that cared for me. An angel that was full of love. That angel is my mum..It may sound very common but what i can say is that my family wasn't a perfect family.

We were constantly shifting houses due to unsettled debts. That was when I was 12. Now I'm college and I'm 19. 7 years of constant hiding from certain people. When I was 12, my dad left me, my brother and I with debts. My mum had to hide us from those 'people' in a low cost budget hotel. She stayed back at our condo trying to salvage whatever she can with constant harassment from those 'people'.

Me and my brother got a high fever at the same time one night. She had to drag the both of us to the 24 hours clinic and took care of us till we were well enough. Thank GOD she had friends that were kind enough to help a find a small apartment to stay at for the mean time. We did not have much back then. She slaughtered her way in her job just to make ends meet. She was my angel and I thank GOD for where we are today.

Without my mum I don't think we would be alive and happy today.

we have made an exceptional decision too!
another winner is

Name: Nat Yong
Story:
*sigh* A stork perched himself on a roof contentedly. Below him, in a quaint, little white house, a young mother was cuddling her newborn baby. The stork congratulated himself on being able to find a suitable home for the baby. The baby was a child of the stars, bright, sensitive and true. It needed a mother who was kind, compassionate, understanding and loving for it to blossom into its potential. This new mother with the face of an angel seemed perfect to bring up the star-child.

Having had his work done, the stork flew away but not before making a promise to check up on the little one from time to time. He wanted to make sure that the star-child grew up in the most perfect environment.

In that little house, the little mother was gazing wonderingly and happily into her baby’s face. She had never seen anything so perfect in her life before. Is this how real happiness feels? she wondered. Kissing her baby’s forehead, the mama made a vow to give her child the best of everything so that she can grow up to be the best she can be. The little baby was fittingly named Star.

*******
Several years have passed. Little Star could be seen running around the garden outside of the little, white house. She was about 7 years old. Curls flying behind her, she ran straight into her mother’s arms. The young mother did not change much since the last time we saw her. She wrapped her arms around Star and smothered the giggling little girl with kisses. “Mama! Mama! I saw a caterpillar just now! It was all squishy and green an’ wriggly an’ an’ it was all hairy! There was a butterfly an’…….” Star’s voice babbled on and on to her mother. Looking at the mother’s face, it could be clearly seen that Star was the light and joy of her life.

(5 years later)

“Star? Star! Wake up!!” the mama shook Star’s limp body. Panic filled her every senses as she saw that her daughter’s eyelids remained closed. Gently slapping her cheek, the mother tried to wake Star up but to no avail. Several minutes later, Star’s eyelids fluttered open to her mother’s relief. “What happened, mama?” “You fainted sweetie,” replied the mama. “Let’s get you to the doctor’s to check you up ok?” Star nodded weakly.
At the doctor’s, kindness was not shown to the mother and daughter. It was discovered that Star had a genital heart defect. Speechless with shock and misery, the mama asked how the problem can be solved. “She has to get a heart transplant,” said the doctor. “She has to get a new heart within 4 months time or she will not live,” added the doctor softly.
After leaving the hospital, the mama paced the floor of her home all the while thinking of a solution to the problem. I’ve got it! I’ll write a letter to the local newspaper to ask for their help. Dear God, please help my baby. She prayed silently, tears running down her face.

*******
The 4 months were almost up. No suitable heart donor had turned up. All the while, Star’s fainting spells grew more and more frequent and she grew weaker by the day. The mama became more frantic when she saw her beloved baby’s pallid face.

One day, realization hit her. Who was more suitable to donate a similar heart to her daughter than her own mama? She was certain that her heart would save Star’s life. She felt a pang of sadness as she realized that she won’t be able to see her daughter live on healthy and well. But she would do anything to save her daughter’s life even if it means giving up on hers.

*******
Star lay cradled in her mama’s arms. She was mute with misery. “Who’ll take care of me, mama? Do you really have to leave me?” her voice cracked on the last word. “I don’t want to leave you, sweetie. But it’s for the best. I want you to live your life,” the mama replied sadly. “I want you to know that I’ll always love you and will always be watching over you, okay sweetie?” “Okay mama. I love you too. Always and always,” Star was fighting back her tears.

“Mrs Richards?” A white-capped nurse called to the mama. Standing up slowly, she hugged her daughter one last time, gave her one last kiss. She then entered the operation room but not before mouthing the words “I love you” to Star.

The doors swung shut behind her.

*******
A girl of about 18 years old was walking down the street, singing softly to herself. The girl was Star. It had been 6 years since the operation and the day her mother blew her last breath to save her daughter’s life. She had been living with her aunt and uncle ever since. Her young life was filled with activities from morning to night but she had never a forgotten a certain smile, the sweetest laugh, the tenderest eyes. She missed her mother dearly. Thinking about her mother always brought an ache to her heart. This time though, it was different. The dull ache in her heart made it hard for her to breathe. Gasping slowly for air, she rushed to the doctor’s to see what was wrong.
At the doctor’s, the atmosphere was tense as the doctor examined the results from the checkup. Finally, the doctor looked up with a sorrowful expression. “There’s nothing we can do,” the doctor said softly. “I’m so very, very sorry.”
Star walked out of the clinic in a daze. The image of her mother’s face flashed before her eyes, face filled with tender love, arms held out to her as if to embrace her darling daughter. Star shook her head, her mother’s face disappearing from her vision. I miss you, mama. I miss you so much.

*******
From among the clouds, the mama looked down at her beloved baby. My baby needs me. My poor, poor baby. I’m so sorry that it has to be this way. The mama vowed to be there for Star every single step of the way. I don’t want her to leave the world without anyone there for her.

*******
Pressing her temples, her headache did not subside at all. Star is getting more and more depressed everyday. She thinks she is starting to go crazy as she is having hallucinations. Most of her hallucinations were of her mother beckoning to her, holding out her arms as if she wanted to hug her. The truth was her mother had come to her as a guardian angel to guide her through her last dark days. Little did Star know that she only has a few days left to live. However, every time she sees her mother’s face, she feels happier and more peaceful.

One lovely, clear Saturday afternoon, Star felt very exhausted. She lay down for a short nap. As she closed her eyes, her mother’s face yet again came into her mind. The expression on her mama’s face was of joy, as if they were to be reunited again. Star felt strangely at peace. She knew at once that it was time. She gathered the last of her breath to whisper out her last words.

Thank you for everything, mama. I love you my angel mama.

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note from soak republic:
we find this story is down-to-earth and very sincere. we appreciate if she could have spend more time on the structure to make it more exciting for reading.
good start we have :)

Look forward for more CREATIVE writing peeps!