Hope Above All
Published by World Vision Philippines.
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<strong>Hope</strong><br />
above all<br />
Your gifts give hope to children and communities in Zambales<br />
WorldVision<br />
i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s<br />
last quarter 2014
BINHI NG PAG-ASA<br />
<strong>Hope</strong>, above all<br />
Our dear sponsor,<br />
When we first set foot in Zambales in 1991, the effect of Mt.<br />
Pinatubo’s devastating eruption was evident everywhere. Many Aeta<br />
families were affected and displaced. The Zambaleños struggled with<br />
hunger and water-borne diseases. Parents, who subsist on farming,<br />
no longer had land to till and crops to raise. They did not know how<br />
to access government services, much more ask for help from others.<br />
Children had to walk long distances to reach the nearest schools.<br />
As a community, the Zambaleños still had a long journey ahead for<br />
them to fully recover. What was even more challenging than the<br />
physical ruin was the people’s growing hopelessness.<br />
That was the scenario then in Zambales, when we decided to have our first Filipino-assisted Area<br />
Program named Binhi ng Pag-Asa (Seed of <strong>Hope</strong>) to help them rise up by bringing back a value that was<br />
lost because of their tragic experiences: <strong>Hope</strong>.<br />
After 17 years, Binhi ng Pag-Asa has gone a long way in its development because of our joint<br />
efforts! Your help enabled us to assist over 101,000 children, which started from a small group of 200<br />
children in 1997. You have inspired them to dream big and to strive, especially in their education. Among<br />
these kids have emerged successful professionals and leaders in their spheres of influence, like Engineer<br />
Ervin Fernandez, whom we featured in this magazine.<br />
One hundred eighty assisted Aeta families were also blessed with a 235-hectare residential and<br />
farming land called “Lupang Pangako” because of our joint efforts. Aside from helping them access a grant<br />
to purchase this land, we have helped them search for the land that could both serve as a new haven for<br />
the Aetas and as a life-long source of income from farming.<br />
You supported us in investing and cultivating the people’s capacity to help themselves and<br />
become accountable partners in the development process. In fact, one of the Aeta farmers you have<br />
helped is now one of Zambales’ highly respected resource person in the Natural Farming movement, as<br />
we have also featured here.<br />
These are just a few of the many miracles that have happened in your sponsored community<br />
in Zambales. As they carry on the projects on their own, please remember that you have helped make<br />
so many children and families truly grateful to God for the lasting changes that were brought in their<br />
communities. And we can truly attest that you have been an important partner in making this possible for<br />
the Zambaleño families.<br />
We offer you this magazine to amplify the children’s joy and gratitude for your kindness and<br />
generous heart. We sincerely thank you for your faithful support. May God bless you for giving Binhi ng<br />
Pag-Asa the opportunity to grow the seeds of hope that we have planted together.<br />
Sincerely yours,<br />
Josaias dela Cruz<br />
World Vision National Director
Thank you<br />
for giving<br />
us hope!<br />
EDITORIAL BOARD<br />
Josaias dela Cruz<br />
WVDF National Director<br />
Filomena Portales<br />
Public Engagement Director<br />
Jun Godornes<br />
NRD Associate Director<br />
Cecile Corvera<br />
Donor Care Manager<br />
Genesis Jeff Lamigo<br />
Media and Communications Manager<br />
Project and Content Editors<br />
Estel Lenwij Estropia<br />
Donor Education Specialist<br />
Lanelyn Carillo<br />
Luzon Field Specialist<br />
Mikhaela de Leon<br />
Media Relations Officer<br />
Layout Artist<br />
Jon Carlo Fortich<br />
Graphic Design Specialist<br />
Photos<br />
Estel Lenwij Estropia<br />
Lanelyn Carillo
time to<br />
give<br />
BACK<br />
Engineer Ervin Fernandez<br />
stands on the lot where<br />
his next project, a public<br />
elementary school for his<br />
fellow Zambaleños, will soon rise. Each<br />
time he goes to the site, he can’t help<br />
but remember his life as a former<br />
sponsored child.<br />
“Life was tough for my family. Sometimes, I went to school with just my transportation allowance. During breaks, I dealt with<br />
my hunger by playing with my classmates or sharing their packed food. Despite that, I always looked forward going to school<br />
because I knew that education would save my family from poverty,” he said. But now at the age of 22 years old, Engr. Ervin is<br />
helping his father in supporting their family of six.<br />
Engr. Ervin became a sponsored child when he was in Grade 3. At that time, his parents were struggling to provide him<br />
and his siblings with complete daily meals, much more in sending them to school. Things became worse when he was diagnosed<br />
with weak lungs, which may lead to Tuberculosis if not properly treated. With the help of World Vision, Engr. Ervin underwent<br />
medication for six months until he recovered.<br />
As he continually received education and medical support from World Vision programs, and especially the support from<br />
his sponsor, Engr. Ervin was inspired to do his best. True to his, when he graduated in high school, he did all that he can to go to<br />
college and finish BS Civil Engineering.<br />
Now that he is a professional, Engr. Ervin’s parents shared how helpful he is to his family, especially he’s generosity to siblings.<br />
His mother comments, “He is very thrifty and seldom buys anything for himself. But when it comes to us or his siblings’ needs,<br />
he is always ready to give whatever he has.”<br />
Engr. Ervin is one of the many former sponsored children who are now leading better lives for their families, through the<br />
consistent help of generous sponsors. With the success that he is now experiencing, Engr. Ervin said, “Thank you, for helping<br />
me become who I am now. You did not just help me finish my studies; you inspired me to dream without limits, without letting<br />
poverty hinder my vision of who I could be.”<br />
“Thank you for helping me become who I am now. You did not just<br />
help me finish my studies. You inspired me to dream without<br />
limits, without letting poverty hinder my vision of who I could be.”<br />
4 <strong>Hope</strong> above all Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales
We build a brighter future by sending children to<br />
school and we build a stronger nation by giving<br />
them opportunities to lead.<br />
Danny Son, a former sponsored child from Zambales,<br />
is a testament of how much a child can contribute to his<br />
community if given the tools and opportunities to become a<br />
leader.<br />
Growing up, Danny Son was unfortunate to have to<br />
go through a lot of painful experiences. But thankfully, by<br />
attending several World Vision initiated children’s activities<br />
in his barangay, Danny Son was able to move on and adopt a<br />
positive outlook in life.<br />
Apart from the learning sessions, Danny Son relishes his<br />
experiences as a participant, most especially during learning<br />
trips to different parts of the country, which he says he would<br />
not have experienced if not for the sponsors and World Vision.<br />
“Through World Vision, we are encouraged to participate<br />
in activities, from planning to execution. They told us that even<br />
as children, we too have a voice in our community. We do not<br />
only receive material help from them, but leadership trainings<br />
as well.<br />
Danny Son said that having the attitude of a leader, above<br />
his skills and experiences, helped him become the a barangay<br />
secretary at the age of 22. Also, by serving as a church youth<br />
leader, he is also a role model to the children of his church by<br />
serving as a church youth leader.<br />
With the closing of the ADP, Danny Son shares this lesson:<br />
“You must never lose hope. Instead, always remember to<br />
dream high because as long as you are hopeful and there are<br />
people willing to help you, nothing is ever impossible. Thank<br />
you for helping us achieve our dreams!”<br />
<strong>Hope</strong><br />
Your lives on<br />
through Danny Son<br />
“You must never lose hope. Instead, always<br />
remember to dream high because as long as<br />
you are hopeful and there are people willing to<br />
help you, nothing is ever impossible. Thank you<br />
for helping us achieve our dreams!”<br />
Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales<br />
<strong>Hope</strong> above all<br />
5
In 1991, Mt. Pinatubo violently<br />
erupted, causing 800 casualties<br />
and more than a million displaced<br />
people in Northern Luzon.<br />
Among the most affected were the<br />
indigenous Aetas of Botolan, Zambales.<br />
They were the first recipients of World<br />
Vision’s relief and development efforts<br />
after the eruption.<br />
Knowing that farming is the main<br />
source of living of the Aetas, World<br />
Vision sought a resettlement area<br />
that could accommodate 185 families.<br />
After five years of immense search, the<br />
235-hectare farming land was found for<br />
the relocatees to live on and manage.<br />
This land was aptly named “Lupang<br />
Pangako”.<br />
AETA Community:<br />
From Ashes to Healthy Harvests<br />
6 <strong>Hope</strong> above all Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales
“We, Aeta families, went from church to church to share<br />
our life testimonies. I can’t believe how generous and goodhearted<br />
people are. People left the church crying after hearing<br />
our story. In time, we helped raised enough to finally purchase<br />
Lupang Pangako,” said Ka Arting, a community leader from<br />
Lupang Pangako since World Vision started there.<br />
Seventeen years after they acquired the land, not only<br />
did the Aetas relocate and build a safer community. They also<br />
worked hard to cultivate the land through sustainable means.<br />
Ka Arting said that the World Vision led organic farming<br />
seminars he attended educated him on the advantages of<br />
sustainable agriculture. Like the other families who attended<br />
the seminars, initially, he was hesitant to go organic with his<br />
farm. But when he tried it, he realized that he should not<br />
return to chemical-dependent farming anymore. Just last<br />
year, he made a harvest of watermelon at his personal farm<br />
amounting to P100,000, with just P22,000 as capital because of<br />
organic farming.<br />
“Organic farming is hard work. But if you come to look at<br />
it, all the hard work pays off in the end. I have smaller capital<br />
and bigger income because the products are much better<br />
than those I had with chemical-dependent farming,” said Ka<br />
Arting while showing off some of his best plants. He now uses<br />
organic farming from watermelon to root crops and even<br />
palay. He also shared how happy he is to sustain all his children<br />
schooling because of this. He is now even helping other Aeta<br />
children go to school because his continuous farming success.<br />
With this, Ka Arting, with his most delightful smile on,<br />
said on behalf of the families in Lupang Pangako, “World Vision<br />
has helped equip us with what we needed to rise from our<br />
nightmare and we know that this was made possible by the<br />
sponsors who support World Vision in their projects. So to all<br />
sponsors, thank you for all the help that you gave us. Even as<br />
World Vision is moving on, we will always remain grateful to<br />
you.”<br />
[ ]<br />
“Thank you for all the help that you gave us.<br />
Even as World Vision is moving on, we will always<br />
remain grateful to you.”<br />
Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales<br />
<strong>Hope</strong> above all<br />
7
“I won’t let my fears<br />
eat away my dreams.”<br />
This is what Efren keeps repeating<br />
to himself while trying to convince his<br />
father to sign the waiver for his first<br />
track-and-field competition. He was in<br />
grade 6 then, and he knew that it was<br />
time to conquer his fears.<br />
After one long day at school during<br />
his second year in Elementary, Efren<br />
went home limping. His parents didn’t<br />
understand how their once active child<br />
was suddenly losing control of his legs.<br />
Over months, it became harder and<br />
harder for him to walk. But despite<br />
this he refused to stop schooling.<br />
His mother recollects, “I could<br />
not bear to see my youngest<br />
son suffering like that, but I<br />
did not know what to do.<br />
We already consulted with<br />
our local therapist and even<br />
with our folk healer but they<br />
could not determine what<br />
was wrong with him. I was<br />
so afraid that we would lose<br />
him.”<br />
With the aid of World<br />
Vision, Efren was examined by<br />
a reputable physician and was<br />
diagnosed with Tuberculosis of the<br />
bone (A debilitating disease affecting<br />
the joints and spine). Within months of<br />
his year-long medication, the support of<br />
World Vision and his family helped Efren<br />
be able to move his legs again.<br />
Four years after recovery, Efren<br />
unexpectedly became attracted to<br />
playing in his school’s track-and-field<br />
program. “I don’t know why, but I felt<br />
sure that this is the sport for me,”<br />
said Efren. His father, severely worried<br />
about his son’s health, was reluctant<br />
at first. It took Efren days to convince<br />
him to finally sign the waiver and let<br />
him compete. Efren did not only come<br />
out uninjured after the track-and-field<br />
meet— he came out as the fastest in his<br />
class during the sprint competition.<br />
RUNNING<br />
WITH<br />
HIGH<br />
HOPES<br />
Efren’s family did not expect that<br />
this was the start of his many amazing<br />
successes in track-and-field. From<br />
barangay to municipality, then to the<br />
national levels, Efren, who is now in<br />
Grade 9, competes to the best that<br />
he can. Just recently, he was trained<br />
to compete in the National Games<br />
representing Zambales with much pride<br />
and confidence.<br />
“Without World<br />
Vision, and my<br />
sponsor who has<br />
been helping me<br />
since I was in<br />
grade 2, I do<br />
not think<br />
I would<br />
bounce back<br />
to being as<br />
healthy as<br />
I am today.<br />
Thank you for<br />
all the help and<br />
I hope to make<br />
you proud and<br />
happy for helping<br />
children like me,”<br />
8 <strong>Hope</strong> above all Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales
The<br />
Community<br />
Managed Savings<br />
and Credit Association<br />
(CoMSCA) of Binhi ng Pag-<br />
Asa gave families the chance<br />
to use their savings for their<br />
livelihood. Here are just a<br />
few of their livelihood<br />
investments.<br />
Sharon was able to purchase these fishing<br />
nets one by one because of CoMSCA.<br />
[ ]<br />
Cristita Galindez, an active<br />
member of CoMSCA, recently<br />
put up a sari-sari store from<br />
her CoMSCA savings.<br />
Members of<br />
CoMSCA are enjoying<br />
the fruits of their<br />
bagoong project which<br />
they started through<br />
their CoMSCA fund.
A mother’s<br />
leadership<br />
beyond her home<br />
“<br />
They call me Madame and I’m not even a teacher,”<br />
Marissa Arlega, a volunteer community leader in ADP<br />
Zambales says in between laughs.<br />
Marissa, or better known in their community as Ysa, was<br />
once contented spending her days running the household for<br />
her husband and three sons. Her daily routine changed when<br />
one of her friends invited her to volunteer for World Vision.<br />
Gradually, Marissa went from a stay-at-home mom to one of<br />
the most active members of her community.<br />
Ysa, who has been an active World Vision community volunteer<br />
for 13 years shares “I am honored to be part of World<br />
Vision’s activities. I always feel empowered each time people<br />
recognize me as part of how their life changed because I am<br />
a community volunteer.” She even jested how delighted she<br />
feels when people recognize her participation in community<br />
activities. Ysa’s involvement as a community volunteer started<br />
from the standard filing and documenting reports, to being the<br />
secretary and treasurer of the Board of Trustees from 2004<br />
onwards. She is now even the official leadership trainer for<br />
other soon-to-be leaders of the community.<br />
Ysa recounts, at first, her sons and husband were not<br />
used to seeing her outside the home, socializing and meeting<br />
up with various community people. But, slowly, they became<br />
interested of her activities to the point when they too, would<br />
look forward to learning about her leadership trainings and<br />
seminars. They would often ask Ysa to share what she learned.<br />
“My sons have grown to be responsible and I am very<br />
proud of them,” said Ysa with a warm smile. “My eldest son<br />
is finished with his studies and is now looking for work. My<br />
second son is studying Education and my youngest is in his high<br />
school. <strong>All</strong> of them have been very supportive of my role as a<br />
community worker. In fact, I think it had a positive impact on<br />
them as I also discuss with them my everyday role in World<br />
Vision.”<br />
Now that World Vision is moving on from their community,<br />
Ysa has nothing but gratitude to all sponsors. She said, “To all<br />
World Vision sponsors, thank you for helping make our community<br />
a better place for children. You have given me and other<br />
members of the community a chance to develop the leaders in<br />
us. For that, I will always remember you in my prayers.”<br />
“You have given me<br />
and other members<br />
of the comamunity<br />
a chance to develop<br />
the leaders in us.”<br />
10 <strong>Hope</strong> above all Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales
ON TO A BETTER FUTURE WITH<br />
ORANGE BIKES<br />
For five years, I have been walking<br />
to and from school. Since I was<br />
in Grade 3. I walk for more than<br />
30 minutes every day,” said Totoy, an<br />
eight-grade student. Totoy wakes up as<br />
early as five in the morning just to get to<br />
school, 3 kilometers away from his home.<br />
When Totoy learned that he and<br />
his friends, who also walk far to go to<br />
school, will be receiving bicycles, they<br />
felt very blessed, “I’ll not walk through<br />
dirt and mud anymore. I’ll get to school<br />
early”, Totoy expresses.<br />
Orange Bike is a project of ING<br />
Bank, a Dutch Financial Institution, in<br />
partnership with World Bicycle Relief<br />
and World Vision. The project aims to<br />
improve children’s school performance<br />
by providing them a bicycle for easier<br />
and faster transportation to and from<br />
school. To keep them safe during their<br />
travels, the children were also provided<br />
with helmets, reflective vests, knee and<br />
elbow guards and even raincoats to<br />
protect them against rainy weather. 592<br />
Orange Bikes were given to families in<br />
World Vision-assisted areas in Zambales.<br />
During the launch of the project,<br />
World Vision National Director Josaias<br />
dela Cruz left this reminder: “For the<br />
parents, the greatest gift that you can<br />
give to your children is education<br />
because it opens their door to a lot of<br />
opportunities. With education, you can<br />
help transform your children’s life for the<br />
better,” he said.<br />
“For the parents, the<br />
greatest gift you can<br />
give to you children is<br />
education.”<br />
- Josaias dela Cruz, World Vision National Director<br />
Stories and images of hope from children and communities in Zambales<br />
<strong>Hope</strong> above all<br />
11
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