Transport workers suffered a blow when they had no income during the lockdown years, another blow from the spiraling prices of petrol since last year, and the threat of having jeepneys phased out altogether with the national modernization program.
Your P1,000 donation to TYF’s Lenten campaign will provide 5 kg packs of rice to the families of five jeepney and tricycle drivers.
The Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Baclayon, Bohol traces its origins to the first Christian settlement in the island. Not many know that it was originally a Jesuit church, completed in 1737 before the Augustinian Recollects took over. A heritage church is undoubtedly a blessing, but its maintenance can also be quite a burden. Wood rots; coral stone crumbles.
Baclayon Church suffered significant damage during the 2013 earthquake. Restoration was completed in 2017, only for the church to be damaged again during Supertyphoon Odette. The roof over the church façade and belfry were damaged, along with the roof of the museum which is an integral part of the church.
TYF donated P500,000 for rehabilitation of the damaged sacristy, whose wooden ceiling also serves as the flooring of the museum storage room. The Parish continues to raise funds to meet the P1,945,664 budget needed to retrofit the sacristy as the heritage church approaches its 300th year.
In a congested neighborhood of the former Inayawan dumpsite in Cebu City, 12 families celebrated an exceptionally merry Christmas. Each had won an e-bike that they could use for their livelihood. The raffle draw was organized by the Cenacle Sisters and Friends, who sold more than 1,000 tickets; proceeds from ticket sales were to be used for food packs. An additional e-bike was used for a livelihood project in Medellin, Cebu.
TYF had donated P400,400.00 to purchase the e-bikes, one of its Odette rehab projects.
Our thanks to Sr Perry Inso of the Cenacle Sisters, Beth Lim Go, the Enfants du Mekong Foundation, and Fr Arnel Dionaldo who immediately blessed the e-bikes and their winners.
Unlike other housing projects, Balay Igsuonay does not hire a team of professional carpenters and masons. Instead, the construction team is composed of volunteers, mainly from the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Faith Defenders, guided by a seasoned carpenter. This is because Balay Igsuonay is not just a housing project but above all a solidarity project of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Baclayon, Bohol.
Led by Msgr. Harold Parilla, the Parish aims to build 26 houses for the poorest families, one in each of their chapel areas. On February 19, the project’s 7th house was blessed and turned over to Jennifer and Gerald Dizon.
TYF donated P1,200,000 from the Odette funds for the construction of 18 houses under Balay Igsuonay.
After supertyphoon Odette, for TYF it was important to support the rehab not just of parish churches in town centers but also chapels in far flung villages. When Fr Ricky Beboso, Diocese of San Carlos Social Action Center requested help for the rehab of 22 chapels, TYF approved their budget proposal for P924,000.
One of these chapels is the BEC Cluster 3 Community Chapel in Barangay Bagonbon, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D. led the celebration and blessing of the completed chapel on Feb 20.