Of the 17 tons purchased by TYF last week, a total of 4.75 tons were given to 19 parishes in the Diocese of Antipolo, each of whom received 250 kg.

Distribution to almost a quarter of the parishes in the diocese required a lot of coordination, and we are grateful for the help of Mr Jojo Bernardino of the Diocesan Social Action Center, who has been unfailingly cheerful and efficient.

In their reports, the parishes described bringing the kalabasa to garbage collectors, padyak and jeepney drivers, construction workers, barangay tanods, the ill, and impoverished families. They also shared the kalabasa with church servers and parish volunteers.

Maraming salamat to the Diocese of Antipolo and the parishes who glorify the Lord through their services to the poor.

Most Filipinos buy just a wedge of kalabasa in the market and can't imagine what one ton looks like.

Well, this week, TYF is distributing 27 tons to 75 parishes, the prison ministries of 6 dioceses, the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service, various feeding programs, and community programs of religious sisters.

We couldn't have done this without the support of numerous donors as well as the parishes and charity organizations that bring the kalabasa to the consumers in their communities.

And this all started with the labor of Filipino farmers in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

Every day, we receive pictures and reports from parishes that distributed our kalabasa donations to the communities they serve.

In Malate, Paco, and Sta Ana, Parokya ng Laging Saklolo, Holy Family Parish, St Anthony of Padua Parish, St Pius X Parish, and Santisima Parish shared one ton of kalabasa with persons with disabilities, pregnant women, scavengers, and recyclers from urban poor communities in the vicinity. Among these is the Jaime Cardinal Sin Village, a resettlement project developed for the urban poor. St Anthony, which runs a soup kitchen, served ginataang sitaw at kalabasa and pinakbet.

Maraming salamat, Fr JD Zaldivar, for coordinating both the pick-up of kalabasa from TYF's talipapa as well as the parishes' submission of reports.

May we draw strength and inspiration from parishes who tirelessly strive to feed their communities.

It gladdens our hearts when we hear about parishes that feature kalabasa in their celebrations. In recent weeks, some parishes gave away TYF's kalabasa to churchgoers during Mother's Day and parish fiestas.

Last Sunday, the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Parañaque City distributed large slices of kalabasa to around 500 churchgoers as part of their celebration of Father’s Day. The parish stressed it was also their way of showing solidarity with farmers; it even printed a poster saying

Kalabasa Project
Ang ating parokya ay sumusuporta sa ating mga lokal na magsasaka!

Maraming salamat to Rev Fr Locarno Anor, CP and to the parish team led by Nilah Barles, coordinator of the Commission of Service to Human Promotion. In your hands, the kalabasa isn’t just a vegetable we rescue, but one we celebrate.