Amid the festive atmosphere and powerful performances, what really took centerstage at the recent 9th Jollibee Family Values Awards Gabi ng Parangal were the exemplary Filipino families and their inspiring stories and noteworthy advocacies.
As the JFVA turns the page to the next chapter and approaches its 10th year, it continues to spotlight even more inspiring and touching stories, always chronicling stories of goodwill and kindness from Filipino family heroes.
The transformative power of reading and learning is the centerpiece of the Bacudio family’s advocacy. In 2006, they started their Dagdag Dunong Learning Center, turning their garage in Malate, Manila into a full library facility with over 2,000 books. They have also started building a second learning facility in Baco, Mindoro, for the benefit of the Mangyan communities there.
Knowing that education is not confined within the four walls of a classroom, the family also spearheaded the Matuto sa Lakwatsa program, an initiative that provides 50 to 100 students the opportunity to go on free educational trips to museums, zoos, and parks.
“As long as there are kids who cannot read and poverty-induced hunger persists, we will be relentless in our advocacy, all for God and for our country,” said Ana Maria, the Bacudio matriarch.
For Rey and Grace Bufi, storytelling can spark hope and inspiration amid challenging times. They are the husband-and-wife team behind The Storytelling Project (TSP), an initiative focused on teaching literacy and bringing the joy of reading to far-flung communities faced with scarce resources. Established in 2012, the program’s vision is to encourage kids to make reading a habit and give them enjoyable experiences through books.
Throughout the years, TSP has grown into a community of passionate volunteers willing to lend their time and talents for one common goal—to provide storybooks for every Filipino child, to build a library in every Filipino community, and to raise a nation of learners. To date, TSP has trained 5,000 teachers and has catered to over 10,000 children. Its Little Helpers program also trains Grades 4 to 6 students to become their own storytellers and writers. In 2014, TSP was able to launch their first book “Super Labandera”, written by TSP participant Jim Carolino.
Rising up to inspire
The Mansing family is proof that challenges can be one’s motivation to do good. Two of the family members have disabilities, but this did not step them from lending a helping hand to others in need. They promote disability awareness and anti-bullying, and are actively engaged in school outreach programs, the flagship of which is the Book for Kids Project.
Founded in June 2017 as a response to DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela and in their belief in the long-term and widespread impact of education, this project is focused on donating children’s books to public schools, especially those located in remote areas across the country: Dumaguete City, with four public schools in the municipalities of Sta. Calina, Pamplona, and Mabinay, and has expanded its presence to over 17 municipalities and cities in the province of Negros Oriental.
Now, Book for Kids has already reached over 200 public schools and benefitted 45,000 students from across the country. It has also donated almost 20,000 books since it started.
Meanwhile, Sandra Montano’s experience during the 1990 earthquake in Baguio City made her and her family realize how ill-equipped the Philippines can be in dealing with disasters. This prompted them to start CHEERS (Community Health Education Emergency Rescue Safety Services) Foundation, which conducts outreach and disaster training programs for capacity and resiliency building. To date, the foundation has conducted more than 130 capacity building trainings and more than 130 basic first-aid trainings, where more than 100,000 people have been estimated to have attended and participated. They have also conducted about 60 outreach programs, benefiting more than 10,000 individuals.
The Montano family was also instrumental in developing TROPIKA flour, to help address the need for food during calamities. They partnered with the Department of Science and Technology in developing this kind of flour from combining the nutritious elements of mung beans (munggo), moringa (malunggay), cassava and sweet potatoes (camote). Far more nutritious, Tropika can also be produced even during hard times, as its raw materials can be grown easily.
Forging a clearer path
An optometrist, Dr. Jeson Viñas and his family have made their mission to provide “Malinaw na Mata Para Sa Maliwanag na Kinabukasan” (Bright Eyes for a Brighter Future). Following this guiding principle, they have been providing free eye check-ups to underprivileged students in public elementary and high schools. In a span of 20 years, the family was able to conduct an estimated 100 medical missions across the country, and examined more than 20,000 students.
Guiding those who may have lost their way is the Paler family. They started Rehab Without Walls, a six-month community-based, therapeutic rehabilitation program. Aiming to create a positive environment for beneficiaries as they work toward a more productive life, the family decided to call former drug users “aspirants”, while their facilities are called community care centers instead of rehabs.
The therapeutic program designed by the Paler family has also served as a template for other communities to replicate. Other LGUs such as the Province of Southern Leyte have already followed suit and tailor fitted the program based on their own community’s needs, clearly helping the lives of others towards a drug-free environment.
No doubt, the stories from the Jollibee Family Values Awards—poignant tales of generosity, change, and creating a positive impact without counting the cost—serve as inspiration for other Filipino families to emulate.