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When ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation turned over 40 houses to the families
of the ABS-CBN Simon of Cyrene Village in Peńafrancia, Daraga,
Albay, an outpouring of gratitude filled the air. One by one, as the
beneficiaries went on stage to receive the keys to their new home,
some of them still couldn’t believe that they now have a place to
call their own. Some shed tears of happiness, while others
even jumped with joy, elated with the realization of a lifelong
dream.
The turnover was more meaningful for ABS-CBN
Bayan Foundation since the village is comprised of families with
differently abled members, including the crippled and those with
cerebral palsy and polio.
“We will help you achieve a bright future
because you were able to show the whole country what you can do even
with differently abled members in your family. We will help you with
education, skills, and training. Manage your life with honesty and
integrity and always remember that God is behind you. There’s no
way you cannot succeed if you try,” said Gina Lopez, managing
director of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.
This was reiterated by broadcaster Karen Davila,
the host of the turnover ceremonies. She stated that “giving
a family a home, does not only provide them a place to live. You
also give them hope, dignity and encourage them to become a vital
part of the community.”
Dr. Ed Morato, president of ABS-CBN Bayan
Foundation, said that the families will not only get a key to a
concrete abode but to a brighter future as well.
“Giving the keys is the easiest part of our
work since the house is already constructed. What is more important
is ensuring your future; what will you do to feed your children,
what livelihood can you engage in, how do you take care of your
community,” he pointed out. “We are moving into livelihood and
education with the families in the village. We are giving them the
skills and the training. We are going to move in with microfinance.”
The ABS-CBN Simon of Cyrene Village is turning
out as a showcase of a vibrant and self-reliant community. In fact,
there will be 20 more houses that will be turned over within the
year. This scenario seems far-fetched exactly two years ago
when two major typhoons struck the Bicol region. The typhoons
damaged roads, properties and schools, and displaced thousands of
families. Without homes and livelihoods, the young ones especially
the differently abled have suffered the most.
ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., through its “Sagip
Kapamilya,” immediately responded and helped Bicolanos rise above
the challenges.
Since then, the foundation has repaired 49
classrooms; improved 14 toilets, school fences, and school water
systems and repaired 167 armchairs. The beneficiaries were the
Daraga North Central School and the Oas North Central School in
Albay. By the time the repairs were done, the schools were given
educational television (ETV) packages to aid teachers in teaching
math and science lessons.
However, the foundation observed that it had to
address another urgent concern. The displaced families, especially
those with differently abled members, needed decent shelter and a
holistic community development program to rise above poverty.
“Since there were more than 5,000 families
that were relocated out of the danger zone, housing became an urgent
concern. We focused on helping the most deserving families and that
became the driving force of our PRIDE program in Bicol,” said
Oscar Esguerra, PRIDE program director of ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation.
PRIDE (or the Pacific Rim Integrated Development
Effort) focuses on communities located at the Pacific side of the
country which are often visited by typhoons. These include
Aurora, Quezon, the Bicol provinces, down to Samar and Leyte.
With PRIDE, ABS-CBN Bayan is providing a holistic package combining
both social development and entrepreneurial needs to the communities
it rehabilitates.
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