Yesterday, June 4, was both Most Holy Trinity Sunday and Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) Sunday.

Here in Tanging Yaman, we celebrate all the work done by BECs and the mechanisms for lay participation that are essential to the church: the Parish Pastoral Council, Social Action Ministry, Social Services and Development Ministry, Commission on Service to Human Promotion, etc.

Since late last week, we have been receiving reports from BECs, COSPH and parish social action ministry coordinators, etc who were busy organizing the distribution of veggies to the elderly, the chronically ill, PWDs, fire survivors, the homeless, and destitute. They displayed so much joy in service, with eyes that saw God in everyone. Truly, they are pillars of the church today.

This year, Tanging Yaman Foundation marks its 27th anniversary - we feel young and energetic!

We also recommit ourselves to TYF’s mission of serving as a conduit between those who have and those in need.

As part of our celebrations, we are sharing veggies once again with parishes and other partners. This way, we help feed the hungry and at the same time assist farmers by purchasing their harvest at a fair price.

On June 1 and 2, we distributed 9.6 tons of assorted vegetables to 40 parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila and the Dioceses of Kalookan, Novaliches and Parańaque who have immediately shared these with the destitute, elderly, and PWDs. Some are cooking the veggies to share with those who lost their homes to fire. In the coming weeks, we will distribute more veggies to other parishes.

Maraming salamat to all our partners who share our mission. Maraming taon pa tayong sabay-sabay na maglalakbay.

Synergy is a hallmark of TYF's experience. We often witness how our partner parishes help other communities beyond their borders.

When we offered washable face masks with the design of the Holy Family to the Holy Family Parish in Roxas District, Quezon City, they asked if they could share these instead with the 200 families who lost their houses to a fire on May 22 several kilometers away, in Brgy Balonbato, an area covered by the St Joseph the Worker Parish in Balintawak. And so we shared more resources - toothbrushes and toothpaste, sardines and instant noodles, and more face masks.

These items were repacked by the parish along with other donations.

Maraming salamat to parish workers whose concern for others compels them to act in solidarity.

The Diocese of Surigao Social Action Center Justice and Peace (DSAC) has distributed 11 more fishing boats to families in the San Vicente Chapel - Brgy Aurora, Inahan sa Kanunayng Panabang Chapel - Brgy Bilabid, San Rafael Chapel - Brgy Lipata, Santo Nino Chapel - Bgry Libuac, and in San Vicente Ferrer Chapel - Brgy Canturok, all in the jurisdiction of Surigao City.

Along with the 10 fishing boats previously distributed last March, this means the DSAC has now crossed the halfway mark of the 39 boats whose construction they have ordered for fisher families affected by Supertyphoon Odette.

Tanging Yaman Foundation has committed P1,950,000 for fishing boats to help restore livelihoods in Odette-damaged communities in Surigao.