DSWD-7 Beneficiaries, Partners Join Panaghiusa Festival

Some beneficiaries and partners of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII (DSWD-7) joined the 5th Panaghiusa Festival and spoke about how they have been benefited by its programs and services during the opening salvo of the festival held on October 22, 2019 at the Activity Center of Ayala Center Cebu.

Jason Sanchez shared his inspiring story as an adoptive parent to the audience.

“If God will not give you a child (your own child), you can have the opportunity to share your love to other child. It is a very nice feeling that we were able to adopt a child as we have been praying for a child,” said Jason.

He further shared that they offered a prayer to the Señor Sto. Nino de Cebu during the Sinulog on 2016 and in November of the same year they were blessed with a child named Francheska whom they adopted with the help of DSWD-7.

“I love you even though I am not your biological dad but I love you more than anything else,” expressed Jason when asked for his message to Francheska during the live interview at the Ayala Activity Center.

Albert Bompat, Brgy. Captain of Bil-isan, Panglao in Bohol, enthusiastically expressed how their family donated a lot for the construction of a Kalahi-CIDSS high school building in their community.

“Sangko sa langit nga pasalamat nga na-realize ang high school building sa among barangay (Greatly thankful to God that we were able to realize the high school building in our barangay),” expressed Albert, one of the twelve siblings who agreed to donate the 5,000 square meter lot.

“Kabilin ni sa among amahan mao nga nakapangalan sa iyaha ang eskwelahan ang Felix E. Bompat High School ug mag-ani kini pipila ka mga kabataan nga mapahuman nato og high school (We inherited the donated lot from our father that is why the school is named after him, Felix E. Bompat High School which will enable more youths to graduate high school),” said Albert.

Tommy Daomani, a former Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiary, shares his desire to empower his fellow Sama Bajau. He is a graduate of Social Work and recently passed the board exam.

“Gusto nako maipakita sa ubang tawo nga aduna pud mi mga pangandoy nga gustong kab-oton (I want to show to other people that we also have our dreams that we want to achieve),” said Tommy.

The DSWD-7 performing arts ensemble composed of its workers performed an energetic opening number while the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC II) composed of PWD active-trainees showcased their angelic voices and performed two folk songs.

The Sama-Bajau women of Brgy. Mambaling, Cebu City also performed a tribal dance. They are partner-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Regil Alby Gador presented again her original song composition entitled “Paglaom sa Pag-ampon.” She is the first placer of the ‘Duyog sa Paghigugma’ Songwriting Competition held in February 2019 during the Adoption Consciousness Week Celebration of the Department.

Jessyl Hyacinth Hernandez, 8 years old, rendered a Cebuano song. She is a student of Tunga Elementary School, a Kalahi-CIDSS subproject in Moalboal, Cebu.

Prior to the opening salvo, DSWD-7 staff joined the festival parade that started from DSWD regional office and ended at Ayala Center Cebu. DSWD-7 staff also promoted their own programs and services by showing their own Panaghiusa t-shirt design in the major thoroughfares of Cebu City.

The opening salvo ended with a fashion show of different SLP livelihood products made by partner-beneficiaries from Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces like nito basket, guitar, shell craft, raffia table top, macramé bags, pandan bags, bags made from recycled materials and other souvenir items.

For the 2-day exhibit, the SLP partner-participants gained an accumulated gross sale of Php 144,000.00.

As part of the Panaghiusa Festival, a symposium entitled Edukar OSEC Prevention Advocacy Project was also held at Ayala Center Cebu in partnership with the Social Welfare Development Learning Network (SWDL Net) composed of various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The activity was participated in by social work students from various schools like University of Cebu, University of Southern Philippines and St. Theresa’s College.

“This festival is a manifestation of our convergence efforts in addressing social concerns not only of DSWD but also with other partner stakeholders. I am delighted that we have this activity that we are doing our best to ensure that our less fortunate brothers and sisters are being protected and served by the different agencies lead by the DSWD,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala.