It is ironical that many carpenters and construction workers in the Philippines cannot afford a decent house for themselves.

Ruben Tupos is a carpenter in Ubay, Bohol; he and his wife Rebecca, who works as a manicurist and occasional agricultural worker, have three children. Their old house was patched together with discarded pieces of wood and GI sheets.

Thanks to the TYF Super Typhoon Odette rehab fund and our partnership with the Diocese of Talibon Social Action Center, the Tupas family moved into a new house constructed by the St Vincent Ferrer Parish HALAD Team. The parish volunteers also provided colorful curtains, blankets, table cloth, and grocery items.

Today, Labor Day, we pay tribute to Ruben Tupos and all workers who deserve a fair wage and safe working conditions. We also thank the parish HALAD team and to Rev Fr Epifanio Gupita, the DSAC Director and Parish priest who blessed their house. St Joseph the Worker, pray for us.

After a brief break to focus on Lenten activities, the Immaculate Conception Parish of Baclayon, Bohol has resumed construction for its Balay Igsuonay (Solidarity House) project.

Over the weekend, a team of volunteers finished building a house for the extended family of Narcisa Sisican, who was endorsed by the Sta Cruz Pooc Chapel. Parish priest Msgr Harold Parilla immediately blessed the house.

One of the projects supported by Tanging Yaman Foundation Supertyphoon Odette rehabilitation funds, Balay Igsuonay is a testament to the power of faith, solidarity, and action.

Surveying the devastation from Supertyphoon Odette in December 2021, Fr Christopher Aupe wrote, “Hope seemed to be nowhere.” All structures had sustained damage.

When the San Pascual Academy of Ubay, Bohol slowly rebuilt the school facilities, TYF responded to Fr Aupe’s call for assistance and provided P302,995.00 for the rehabilitation of the toilets, technical vocational education laboratory, and school stage. Because the school is located beside the St Vincent Ferrer Parish church, its stage was the perfect venue for this year's commemoration of the Last Supper and the Easter salubong.

Daghang salamat to all our donors whose generosity has given boundless hope to numerous schools and reconstruction projects.

The St Vincent Ferrer Parish Team Handumanan sa Ligdong mga Alagad sa Dios (HALAD) Team has been very busy constructing houses for beneficiaries of TYF’s Super Typhoon Odette rehab project, implemented in partnership with the Diocese of Talibon Social Action Center.

The 5th house they built in Purok 7, Brgy Bongbong, Ubay, Bohol was recently handed over to Antonina Curit and her three young daughters.

The parish wrote, “We are so blessed and grateful to Tanging Yaman Foundation for the financial support, and to our beloved Bishop Dan Parcon, D.D. for always inspiring and motivating the DSAC staff of Talibon in this humanitarian endeavor.”