By Xander Lauren Cipriano
De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) handed out food packs to families living in the Manila North Cemetery in Caloocan on April 26, as part of its “Isang Libo, Kada Uno Campaign,” a unified approach in reaching to the most vulnerable sectors affected by Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Launched on April 25, the initiative aims to encourage everyone to donate PHP 1,000.00 to feed one family for a week. Additionally, donors are requested to tag 10 friends after donating to pass on the message.
One day after its launch, the accumulated donations for the campaign reached half a million pesos, which aided half of the target 1,000 families in a single day.
In an exclusive online interview with one of the campaign volunteers Reigner Sanchez, he shared that the idea of the initiative started out as a call for support for the frontliners of De La Salle University Medical Center (DLSUMC), which has eventually grown bigger.
“We also heard other appeals from our fellow citizens na maraming pamilya ang walang official address talaga since nakatira sila sa sementeryo. Therefore, hindi sila, technically, qualified sa mga makakakuha ng relief goods. Kaya, naisip ng De La Salle Brothers, as well as ‘yung mga student leaders from various batches ng DLSU na tumulong,” Sanchez explained.
Aside from extending help to families, the campaign also assisted fisher folks and farmers in Hagonoy, Bulacan and Sariaya, Quezon in their livelihood by including their products in the relief goods, such as daing na bangus and vegetables.
“Marami sa [mga farmers at fisherfolks natin], hindi ma-deliver ‘yung mga goods nila because of the pandemic, kaya naisipan naming isama ‘yung [products] nila sa mga food packs,” Sanchez said.
When asked about the expansion of the scope of areas to be helped, Sanchez stated that as of now, residents of the Manila North Cemetery are the primary focus of the initiative. “However, based on the results of the campaign, hindi malabong mag-extend to other areas pa ‘yung [“Isang Libo, Kada Uno”],” he added.
For more details on how to send donations, you may visit their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/delasalle.ph/. You may donate to the account of the DE LA SALLE BROTHERS, INC. through the following banks and send the deposit slip to [email protected]:
- BPI Peso Savings Account – 3103-3749-86
- BPI US Dollar Savings Account – 3104-0289-09
- BPI Swift Code – BOPIPHMM
- RCBC Peso Savings – 7590-569081
- RCBC US Dollar Account – 8-296-00115-6
- RCBC Swift Code – RCBCPHMM
- Security Bank Savings Account – 0000014366500
- Security Bank US Dollar Account – 0000011740719
- Security Bank Swift Code – SETCPHMM
- PayPal – https://paypal.me/DeLaSallePhilippines
