4th Panaghiusa Festival Put Spotlight on Various Sectors

The story of a homeless youth, a senior citizen and a solo parent was put on spotlight during the opening salvo of the 4th Panaghiusa Festival of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII held on December 11, 2018 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

Johanna Heart Genon, whose family is a partner-beneficiary of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) shared her inspiring story in front of the audience.

“Himuon nimong strength ang imung weakness, focus ra gyud sa imong goal ug huna-hunaa nga naa ra si God nagpaluyo nimu (Make your weakness as your strength, focus on your goal and always remember that God is always behind you),” uttered Johanna Heart. She is currently pursuing Civil Engineering course at the University of Cebu (UC) and one of the scholars of UC Chancellor Candice Gotianuy.

Mario Villafuerte, a senior citizen from Brgy. Kalubihan, Cebu City explained how the cash stipend from the social pension program for indigent senior citizens helps augment his basic needs.

“Dako akong pasalamat kay ang mga tigulang gitagaan gibug-aton (I’m thankful that the elderlies are being valued),” expressed Mario during the live interview at the Ayala Activity Center.

Daisy Ostia, a solo parent and a Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) participant, said “Para nako kung unsay mga kalisdanan nga matagamtaman dili kini angayan surrenderan apan himuon kini nga oportunidad nga mahimong malig-on (For me, whatever challenges one encounters, it should not make one surrender but take it as an opportunity to become stronger)”.

Colorful dances from the Cebu Normal University (CNU) Kudyapi Folkloric Ensemble featuring various Philippine dances add spectacle to the event while the dancing grannies of the Goldies & Goodies from Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City showed their dancing prowess to the delight of the audience.

Deniez Abregana presented again her winning piece under the Draw and Tell category during the recently concluded 2018 Regional Children’s Contest.

Prior to the opening salvo, DSWD-7 staff joined the festival parade that started from DSWD regional office going to Ayala Center Cebu. DSWD-7 staff also promoted their own programs and services by showing their own banners and creative headdresses in the major thoroughfares of Cebu City.

“In this festival, not only that we talked about highlighting products but this is also showing the impact of the programs of DSWD to the lives of our partner-beneficiaries and through their stories we will also learn their successes,” said DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Shalaine Marie S. Lucero during the opening salvo.

The opening salvo ended with a SLP fashion show which showcased partner-beneficiaries’ livelihood products from Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces like hablon, macramé, sinamay, raffia, fashion accessories, guitars, recycled products, nito basket, hand painted table cloth and placemats, pan bisaya and various souvenir items.

For the 2-day exhibit, the SLP partner-participants gained an accumulated gross sale of Php 106,625.00.

After the ceremonial ribbon cutting of SLP trade exhibit and information booth, a symposium entitled Embracing Knowledge Exchange was conducted in partnership with the Social Welfare Development Learning Network (SWDL Net) composed of various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).