SSC OP/PS And GSP REACH OUT TO GAWAD KALINGA COMMUNITY IN TAGUIG CITY
By: Arianne Joy G. Costumbrado,
Planning and Development Office Technical Staff
Posted: Wednesday, May 2, 2012

“The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm”
– Swedish Proverb Quotes

The Office Personnel and General Services Personnel of St. Scholastica’s College Manila teamed up in conducting an outreach activity in the Gawad Kalinga Community of Napindan, Taguig City last April 13, 2012.

The Gawad Kalinga helps build brightly painted homes in sustainable communities for the poorest of the poor. So with the kind permission of the School Administration, the Human Resource and Development Office headed by Ms. Evelyn Jaymalin and Sr. Vicenta Anuran, OSB, pushed through the outreach activity in coordination with the Social Action Center (SAC). The staff from the SAC Office prepared a program for the said activity. Everyone who volunteered to join the outreach activity was given an orientation on how to go about with the planned activities.

Upon arrival, everyone was welcomed by the Gawad Kalinga volunteers headed by Mrs. Elsa Molar who were very much appreciative of the kindness of St. Scholastica’s College to their community.    Sr. Vicenta then asked the volunteer employees to divide themselves into three groups: house building, feeding, and tutoring.

House Building
The group who was surprisingly composed mostly of female employees helped build the foundation of another building that is to be constructed in the area. The group members showed cooperation and perseverance in handing and relaying the construction materials to each other. Even Sr. Vicenta Anuran, OSB, Vice-President for Administrative Affairs, joined the construction group.

Feeding

The feeding group composed of Ms. Emmie Barsigan, Ms. Rose Angus, and Ms.Angielyn Mabiling (as seen in the picture) prepared the sumptuous champorado for the kids and the volunteers.

Tutoring
This group was tasked to teach the kids who were grouped by grade level from Grades 1 to 6. The different groups of volunteer personnel taught catechism, mathematics, arts, and spelling. The kids were very happy and eager to learn from their “Titas and Ates”.  The parents were also thankful to the employees for sharing their little time and knowledge to their beloved children.

At the end of the program, the kids from the Gawad Kalinga Napindan Community rendered two beautiful dance numbers for the volunteer personnel. Some personnel also shared their learnings and insights from the outreach activity. One employee reiterated the essence of “bayanihan”. She mentioned that in spite of the heat of the sun, the volunteers continued the mixing of cement and helping out one another. She even mentioned that during an outreach like this, the volunteers can make those less fortunate feel that there are people who still care about them and are willing to help them.

Before leaving, the SSC Outreach Team gave a little present to each Gawad Kalinga Voulunteer who helped in the facilitation of the outreach activity. Indeed, a little time spent in helping and being just present during the activity can create so much happiness for other people.
That in all things, God may be glorified!