SOCIETY

SOCIETY

Sewing legacies amid pandemic

Two non-governmental organizations who are needles in a thread in a pandemic-struck Negros.

words by MARK JOHN PRIOLO photos courtesy of PROJECT HUMANGON & SOWING LEGACY MOVEMENT, INC.

Have you ever wondered why there are people who choose to serve without hesitation? Even without getting paid? Just voluntarily helping without due compensation. Or have you thought about how they found the courage to do that?

In their unswerving selflessness to help, Sowing Legacy Movement, Inc. (SLM) and Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute, Inc. (NYLI) became busy when the pandemic struck— mediating the disparities and being the light for others amid the darkest situation.

SLM’s main program is to provide educational assistance, while the NYLI to equip and empower the young leaders in Negros. They may be different in some aspects and on how they work, but they have one common goal: to help those who are staggering at the bottom.

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Long and weary travels were never a problem for SLM when it is already for the benefit of every life that they are about to touch. With the love and support inside and outside of the organization, they have been actively responding to the needs of the community— wherever in Negros might that be. They raised a project named “Love in the time of Corona” with two initiatives that have been a great help to people: “Buligay” and the Psychosocial Support Program.

“Buligay” program assists individuals and communities by giving them “COVID health kits” composed of food packs, vegetables, and sanitation kits. Since the start of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, they have reached almost 1,000 families in need, informal settlers, jails, and vulnerable communities in Negros. They also went back to their adopted community in Brgy. Sanke, Hinobaan, the southernmost town in the province, to assist.

For SLM’s Executive Director 3/E Charles Mangga, being part of the organization, one should be determined and committed to serving. “Determination and commitment, as well as love for the community, has helped us surpass these challenges,” he said. One should not embody just

the words, but show it in actions and exhibit ingenuity in finding solutions.

Knowing how draining and stressful it is for people to deal with different adjustments and the wariness of being infected, the group launched a free webinar series called “Psychosocial Support Program'' that aimed to provide tools for psychoeducation of people about coping in this pandemic. “We are helping people cope with stress and other related mental health issues we are all facing,” said Dr. Richelle Verdeprado, founder of Sowing Legacy Movement, Inc.

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Every peso, when pooled together, could change a life. That is the power NYLI wants to grow— that no amount was ever small to create possibilities. With multiple projects and initiatives, NYLI continues to be a helping hand to the youth.

A lot of Negrosanon students are facing problems in their education. “Alang sa Pangandoy” is a program NYLI aimed to aid students to continue their studies despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. “Project Pangita'' made it possible to assist college and high school students attending online classes struggling with a lousy internet connection. Another project is the “Higala”— an online concert for the benefit of pupils and teachers in municipalities of Don Salvador Benedicto and Calatrava. The proceeds were donated to assist the

With the love and support inside and outside of the organization, they have been actively responding to the needs of the community— wherever in Negros might that be.

transition of classes from a classroom setting to modular, which provides supplies in printing modules.

NYLI also has the project “#CareBags”, a relief goods distribution for the citizens of Negros Occidental.

To help micro-businesses that have been severely affected by the pandemic, “Project Humangon” was established. Spearheaded by NYLI alumnus Jason James Isada, the project aims to improve branding and marketing strategies of at least 10 fruit vendors; and utilize product surplus and market-innovative products. It was also to distribute 30 “Ligtas Tindahan Kits” to the fruit vendors.

Jason believes that the greatest resource is the human resource. “Without the help of one another, we would be struggling on our own. This difficult time has made the situation of other people more difficult than ever. If we are in the comfort of our homes, others risk their health for survival. Empathy is the main reason we continue to reach out and help others,” he said.

The role of SLM and NYLI does not just rotate in their circle. It is with the unity of everyone that helped them do what they have done today.

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The achievements of these organizations are not in the form of plaques, medals, and certificates. It is their growth by being flexible in coping with different situations and seeing those they helped thrive as they grow, too. Knowing those they inspired are also helping others is more than rewarding. For every genuine smile etched on their faces and blissful heart was more than any other material things they could ever receive. “It’s knowing that you made other people happy. Seeing them smile is heartwarming,” sentiments from 3/E Charles.

SLM and NYLI have been facing arduous challenges throughout the pandemic. All have been suffering from sudden adjustments, and they are not excluded from this. Demands and bigger budgets were needed. As they serve a lot of people at the same time, finding sources was an undeniable challenge. The threat of the virus and how they are going to distribute their goods and conduct their activities have also hurdled them.

The role of SLM and NYLI does not just rotate in their circle. It is with the unity of everyone that helped them do what they have done today. The spirit to serve was not just a word tangled in the mouths of those who said it. “It all boils down to commitment. We have committed to help others, and the pandemic would not stop us from adhering to that commitment. Because of the pandemic, we have been given more reasons to reach out. Instead of making it a reason to stop, it is giving us more reason to serve,” 3/E Charles added.

Life on Earth where we currently live is not easy for anyone. Everybody has a burden to carry, a goal to achieve, and a life to fulfill. There is always somebody greater and lesser than ourselves. But these disparities created by different situations caused the emergence of organizations that are devoted to uplift the common good. Organizations with the sole purpose of not gaining profit, but to be a helping hand and a bridge to those in need. To provide an avenue to help others, to voice their advocacies, or to simply employ their acts of love. These organizations are not made with special individuals. They are ordinary citizens with some things binding them together: commitment, the initiative to lead, and the heart to help one another. The key is collaboration, the drive is love, and the means is change—and together they are sewing legacies.