A SPOON OF LOVE A CUP OF SMILE (Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-Asa Parish Feeding Program) May 2009-October 2009

Hunger of Body and Spirit

Of the many scourges that mankind faces, one might say that hunger is the most insidious of foes. Slowly, yet with sinister certainty, hunger and malnutrition eat away not just a person's health, but also his sense of self-respect, his dignity, and finally, his faith in the mercy of God.

The Parish, however, has always believed in the virtue of "small things", and that even the smallest advancement can make a considerable difference in a person's life - and thus, even the simplest of meals can still provide sustenance to a hungry child. While it is true that many families must cope with very meager resources, it is the belief of the Parish that - as in the story of the loaves and fish - modest resources coupled with a community spirit and faith in the compassion of a Merciful God, can indeed work miracles.

And so it was that in four (4) of the most populous areas in the Parish- Umboy Riverside, Faraon Subdivision, Garcia Subdivision Slums Area, Municipal Cemetery – the Parish began its humble efforts to give a handful of hungry children a spoon of love thru a hot and nutritious meal in exchange of a cup of smile.

Let the little ones come to Me …

A day at the Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-asa Feeding Program Site will start in much the same way as an ordinary day would start in homes across the country - with some exceptions. Here, the family is slightly larger, and includes volunteers from the parish as well as the mothers of some of the children who are the young beneficiaries of the program. Amid this domestic flurry, however, the project volunteers work to teach their young guests a number of ordinary habits that have extraordinary effects.

The food at the Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-asa table is simple, yet nutritious; it would not be unusual to see a bowl of steaming misua soup, made even tastier and truly healthful by the addition of vegetables - an excellent alternative to instant noodles. Yet what makes a meal at the Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-asa table truly a feast for the spirit are the gentle lessons learned by the children who come to share these simple yet nourishing meals. To say "magandang hapon po." To wash up before eating. To sit properly at the dining table. To say a prayer of thanks before a single morsel is eaten. Courtesy. Cleanliness. Self-respect. And yes, gratitude.

In many ways, the food that was offered at the Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-asa table is nourishment not only for the body, but certainly for the soul. The Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-Asa Program aims to alleviate extreme hunger among poor children in the parish. Its four major components: supplemental feeding, health education, spiritual formation and livelihood.

Good things lasts . . .

Last October 23, 2009, the Hapag-mamahal at Hapag-asa Parish Feeding Program ended after six months of daily servings of nutritious food prepared by volunteers from the different parish organizations. It is with deep pride and joy that all the malnourished sixty (60) children beneficiaries enrolled last May 2009 are already in normal nutritional status. However, in the end of the program only 59 children were able to attend the last day because one of the beneficiaries died two weeks before the end of the program due to vehicular accident.

During the last week of the program, the children were given especially prepared meals like chicken, pasta and pork that were donated by some generous individuals. The said feeding program is now considered as the most successful social action initiatives by the Parish given the outpouring of support from different groups and the outcome of the project itself.

The heroes of the program . . .

Members of Mother Butler Guild (MBG)
Members of Catholic Women’s League (CWL)
Members of Lectors and Commentators Ministry (LCM)
Members of El Shaddai Prayer Group
Members of Parish Catechetical Ministry (PCM)
Members of Ministry of Church Greeters & Collectors (MCGC)

Security Force of Barangay San Antonio
Brgy. Capt. Eric Jimenez
Brgy. Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Rowena V. Conde
Office of the Municipal Nutrition Action Office
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
Office of the Mayor of Binan, Laguna
Faculty & Staff of Pedro H. Escueta Memorial School
St. Michael’s College of Laguna

DSWD-Region IV-A
Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation (Funder)
Mead Johnson Philippines
Unilever Philippines

MCGC 2009 Advent Recollection

In our desire for all greeters and collectors in the Parish to be spiritually prepared for the Season of Advent, the Formation and Spiritual Development Group (FSDG) of the Ministry of Church Greeters and Collectors (MCGC) had scheduled an Advent Recollection to be held on the 5th of December 2009 at the Parish Hall from 8am to 11 am. The group has chosen the theme, Liturgy after Liturgy which will be facilitated tentatively by Rev. Fr. Christian Edward Abao, Director of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission of the Diocese of San Pablo. The activity will be very helpful in the spiritual growth of the greeters and collectors.

Basic Formation Seminar for Church Greeters and Collectors

Last October 24, 2009, selected officers of the Ministry of Church Greeters & Collectors (MCGC) attended the annual Basic Formation Seminar for Church Greeters and Collectors of the Archdiocese of Manila held at the Arzobizpado de Manila, Intramuros Manila. The Ministry of Church Greeters and Collectors (MCGC) of the parish was given the chance to attend and participate in the said event thru the established linkages between MCGC and Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission (ALC) of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The participation of the parish on said activity was also recommended by Rev. Fr. Christian Edward Abao, Director of the Liturgical Commission of the Diocese of San Pablo. Almost 500 greeters and collectors from the different parishes, shrines and chapels within the Archdiocese of Manila attended the event which started thru a Holy Mass that was led by Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari, Assistant Director of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission (ALC) of the Archdiocese of Manila and concurrent Director for the Ministry of Church Greeters and Collectors who also facilitated the whole day activity.

The participants of the parish include the former head of MCGC and currently the head of MCGC’s Formation and Spiritual Development Group (FSDG), Dingdong D. Baban, MCGC’s new President, Kevin Henry A. Jamisola, Antonio F. Alcazar and Joseph Hernandez of the Greeters Group and Kevin B. Argente of the Collectors Group.

MILESTONES:Father Toochy Installs the MCGC Members

October 18, 2009 was indeed a day of grace for all the greeters and collectors of the Parish. For the very first time since the group was formally established in the Parish, the members of the ministry was imposed and inducted into the service by Rev. Fr. Buenaventura C. Ubarco. A total of seventy six (76) members were installed coming from the different Masses of the Parish including those members servicing the Pavilion Mall Saturday Anticipated Mass.