FIGHTING HUNGER IN PAYATAS (With Final Version)

By Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM

A survey came out recently that the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of food sustainability during the pandemic. And this government does not seem to have a sustainable plan to avert impending hunger. From the start of the lockdown, there was one thing we feared in Payatas - hunger.

There was one father who said: "COVID na kung COVID. Ikulong na kung ikulong. Hindi ko lang matiis na makita ang mga anak kong tumitirik ang mga mata sa gutom." (I don't mind being infected with COVID, nor being detained. What I could not take is to see my kids die of hunger).

But thousands of generous donors came to our aid. We distributed rice to each family every week, pandesal for each family every day, milk for the children, elderly and PWDs, vegetables, fish and other goods as they come, those that generous people gave us through #VincentHelps. In a way, extreme hunger was averted.

But after several months of relief operation, the leaders of the Basic Ecclesial Communities of the Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish, who are mostly women, came together to ask what next. We will not have rice distribution forever. After the relief operation what?

These same women-leaders, who risked their lives to go out and distribute goods during the lockdown, decided to press on. They thought of using their meager space to plant - vegetables of all kinds. With the help of some technical people but mainly with their efforts, resolve and creativity, they now enjoy the harvest for their own families and neighbors.

Today, there are eleven communal gardens under the care of Basic Ecclesial Communities in the different areas of Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish. For lack of space, many individual families creatively use plastic containers, used tires and empty cans to plant vegetables for their daily consumption.

Thanks to the leadership of our parish priest, Fr. Peter Hequilan, C.M. and the collaboration of #VincentHelps. Thanks also to Armando Sombilon Baring for sharing his technical knowledge on organic farming with us. Thanks to Mike Punzalan for creating this video. But above all, thanks to the BEC leaders and volunteers who are resolved to fight hunger in Payatas.

We have realized that poor people do not need to rely on this corrupt government in order to survive.

"Ensuring everyone's right to food and nourishment is an imperative we cannot ignore." (~Pope Francis)

For the video: https://www.facebook.com/danny.pilario/videos/10157874899811279

Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM
St. Vincent School of Theology
Adamson University
danielfranklinpilaario@yahoo.com
10.20.2020



November 25, 2020

FIGHTING HUNGER IN PAYATAS - Final Version

We have journeyed with these women-leaders of our parish community in Payatas. They were the ones whom we asked what is the best thing to do to fight hunger in Payatas in the midst of the pandemic. With "no work, no pay" arrangement, our greatest fear was hunger and social unrest. In the midst of fear of the virus, we tried many things --- rice distribution to all families, pandesal for each family every day, milk for infants and children, and many other stuff which generous people gave to help. We thank all our donors through #VincentHelps that made all these possible.

But relief goods do not come forever. So, after six months, we sat down again and planned: they have decided to go into urban farming. In a place like a garbage dumpsite, land is a scarce commodity. But the creativity of these women (and their men-collaborators) surpassed that problem: they planted on borrowed lots, on little spaces in between houses, in empty plastic containers, used bottles and cans, on whatever can contain soil to grow something.

At first, we had the "rice for work" program to encourage people to work on urban gardens. But they soon found joy in the work. They later agreed to take turns in working on the gardens. They experimented on different ways to plant, asked the help of technical persons who know organic farming, etc. And now, the harvest! On to the next planting season after the typhoons.

We welcome any help to make these efforts sustainable. Mabuhay BECs of the Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish. Thanks to Armando Sombilon Baring for helping us with your expertise. Thanks Michael Punzalan for making this video for us. Maraming salamat #VincentHelps.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pQTDfKsOWc&fbclid=IwAR0yIL0Ty5iH63xwhrrI7T3Vm48P70g32YkJlvWqsVFyBBbdS-TIDIQK0C0

URL:     https://youtu.be/9pQTDfKsOWc

Daniel Franklin Pilario, CM
St. Vincent School of Theology
Adamson University
11.26.2020