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Hand-over Ceremony of Project Silong’s Ten Housing Units

The 10 housing units built under Goducate’s Project Silong were handed over to the occupants during a ceremony held on May 29. The houses were built for some of the people who lost their homes during last November’s Typhoon Ulysses (see blogs on March 12 and April 9).

The houses were built over a period of 8 weeks by members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 4A , which is led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ledon Monte. The land for the project, at Barangay Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna, was provided by the Local Government Unit led by Municipal Mayor, Hon. Jose O. Padrid.

At the ceremony, the beneficiaries were given the certificates of ownership of their new homes, and they expressed their gratitude. The volunteers too were given certificates and a token of appreciation for the many hours they spent building the houses.

Speakers at the handover ceremony included Goducate founder Dr. Paul Choo, and the sponsor of the houses, Dr. Low Lee Yong, who gave their messages virtually.

The guest speaker and guest of honor, former Regional Director of Police Regional Office 4A (PRO4A) and presently the Sergeant at Arms of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, Police Major General Mao Aplasca (Ret), and the Regional Director of PRO4A, Police Brigadier General (PBGen) Eliseo DC Cruz, also gave encouraging and inspiring messages.

Even before the ten housing units were finished, an additional unit (still unbuilt) was donated by PBGen Eliseo DC Cruz. As Dr Paul Choo said, “Our journey and partnership does not end today, but it is just phase 1”. Phase 2 of Project Silong is still to come.

*Our guest writer is Donnalyn Pereira, one of our Camp Goducate staff, Laguna.

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Goducate volunteers in Laguna, Philippines, set up Green Thumb Garden

A group of five female Goducate volunteers in Laguna, Philippines, has set up Green Thumb Garden in the premises of Camp Goducate, Laguna. The group decided on this business because of their shared passion for gardening.

They hope the project will give them a self-sustaining income to help their families and also contribute to the voluntary work they are doing. For instance, Annaliza, one of the women, said that the income helps pay for the medicines her son needs for his heart condition. And Febie said that she has been able to use some of the earnings to buy what her kids ask for. The others are glad to be able to build up a fund for emergencies.

Green Thumb Garden will showcase different kinds of ornamental plants, herbs and spices, edible plants, as well as gardening supplies and materials.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a spike in people’s interest in urban gardening. The demands from plantitos and plantitas (males and females, respectively, who enjoy taking care of plants) have increased rapidly and resulted in the setting up of new garden businesses.

The Green thumb Gardeners have already thought up marketing strategies such as online as well as live selling, vlog (video blog) features, and advertising on tarpaulin sheets.

The long-term goals of the Green Thumb Gardeners include having their own premises and their own truck.

*Our guest writer is Melissa Espanola, the daughter of Annaliza, one of the green thumb gardeners.

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Goducate to provide new homes and potable water in Bay, Laguna

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Goducate Meek and Lowly Sanctuary, Barangay Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna on March 9, 2021, to mark the beginning of two projects.

One project is the installation of potable-water systems for the community. The people in this barangay (village) have been using a hand pump to get their water from a deep well.

The other project is to construct new houses for families whose homes were badly damaged during typhoon Ulysses in November 2020 and who do not have the finances for reconstructing their homes.  Some of the families have continued to live in their damaged homes, whereas others moved into evacuation centers. The new homes are also designed to be elevated so that occupants need not have to evacuate when the village is flooded. Also each of the new homes will include a toilet. Some of houses in the villages do not have their own toilets, and some do but in a low-lying area that can get flooded.

Ten households have been chosen to be the beneficiaries of the housing project.

This Goducate project is being led by Mr. Leo Decinal in partnership with the Municipal Mayor of Bay, Laguna, the Hon. Jose Padrid, the Barangay Captain of Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna, Hon. Florencio Dungo, and Water Mission.

Other partners helping with the projects are the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in the leadership of PLTCOL Ledon Monte, and Municipal Link, Department of Social Welfare and Development under the charge of Mr. Maynard Marasigan.

*Our guest writer is Donnalyn Pereira, a staff member at Goducate Laguna.