HAPI Reaches Out to Help Our HAPI Kids in Alabang During COVID-19 Crisis

Written by Jamie del Rosario-Martinez
April 27, 2020
Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Nang mag-chat sa akin si Ms M upang kamustahin ang kalagayan ng HAPI Kids ngayong panahon ng enhanced community quarantine o ECQ, binigyan ko agad siya ng update. Karamihan sa mga magulang ng mga bata ay nawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa lockdown kaya wala sila mapagkuhanan ng pagkain. Ang relief naman na mula sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Barangay Alabang at Muntinlupa City ay isang beses pa lamang dumating simula nung nadeklara ang lockdown nung March 15, 2020

Nagulat ako at biglang nagpadala si Ms M bilang tulong ng HAPI para sa mga pamilya ng mga bata kaya agad-agad akong nagpabili ng 100kg na bigas, 200pcs na sardinas, at gulay na kalabasa upang ipamahagi sa 50 pamilya ng HAPI Kids sa Purok 7C Alabang.

Katuwang si Jhing Dedicatoria na isa pang volunteer ng HAPI at ang kanyang asawa sa pag-aasikaso sa pamamahagi ng tulong, mahigit 75 na relief packages ang na-repack ng grupo para naman mabawasan ang iniisip ng mga magulang tungkol saan sila kukuha ng makakain ngayong krisis. Ang bawat pamilya ay nakatanggap ng dalawang kilo ng bigas, apat na sardinas, at isang  bahagi ng kalabasa. Meron din mga pamilya na may mga maliliit na bata ang nakatanggap ng gatas.

Sobrang saya at pasasalamat ang isinalubong ng mga  bata at kanilang mga kaanak dahil may HAPI na handang tumulong sa kanila sa mga panahong halos pakiramdam nila ay nakalimutan na sila ng Muntinlupa/Alabang LGU. Napakalaking pasasalamat nila sa founder ng HAPI na si Marissa Torres-Langseth dahil sa napakalaking kaluwagan at saya na naidulot niya sa mahigit 50 na pamilya sa Purok 7C. Sadyang ang HAPI ay nakakapagpa-HAPPY sa mga nangangailangan.

Malaking parte ng tulong ay umabot din sa dalawang pamilya na mula pa sa Tanauan, Batangas na mga biktima ng pagputok ng bulkan noong Enero at humingi rin ng tulong bilang sila lamang ay mga nagungupahan lamang sa lugar at hindi mga residente kaya sila ay hindi talaga kasama sa listahan  ng pwedeng tulungan ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Mula sa Purok 7C Alabang, MARAMING SALAMAT PO HUMANIST ALLIANCE PHILIPPINES, INTERNATIONAL!!!

Jamie del Rosario-Martinez
HAPI Kids Alabang Project Coordinator

English Translation:

It was April 4 when Ms M sent me a chat message to ask me how my wards in Purok 7C Alabang are faring during the enhanced community quarantine and I immediately gave her an update on how the children and their families are coping during this global pandemic crisis. I told her that since a lot of the breadwinners in the families are no work – no pay, they have no means of supporting their families in purchasing food and essential items. The relief help from the local government unit of Barangay Alabang and the City Government of Muntinlupa only came once since March 15 when the lockdown was announced.

I was immediately surprised when Ms M suddenly told me that she already sent me money as HAPI’s help to the HAPI Kids and their families. Because of this, I instantly sought to purchase 100 kilograms of rice, 200 cans of sardines, and sacks of squash for distribution to at least fifty families adopted by the HAPI Kids Program in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

With the help of Jhing Dedicatoria, another HAPI volunteer and coordinator, and her husband, over seventy five (75) relief packages were repacked and distributed to our community members to ease their worries where they would get the next food to place on their dining tables during this global pandemic crisis. Each family was able to receive two (2) kilos of rice, four (4) cans of sardines, and a part of a large squash. Some families with babies also received some milk.

The HAPI Kids Alabang were very much enthusiastic and thankful receiving the precious gifts from HAPI. They are very much grateful knowing HAPI is there to assist them still despite this crisis and most especially when they felt that the local government forgot about them already. They are also very much thankful to HAPI’s Founder Marissa Torres-Langseth for the big help and smile she has provided to the more than fifty (50) families living in Purok 7C Alabang. HAPI is indeed providing HAPIness to those in need.

A big part of the help also was received by two (2) indigent families from Tanauan, Batangas who were also victims of the past volcanic eruptioon last January and sought help being temporary renters in the area and not considered as local residents by the local government thus not entitled to getting help.

From Purok 7C Alabang, THANK YOU VERY MUCH HUMANIST ALLIANCE PHILIPPINES, INTERNATIONAL!!!

Jamie del Rosario-Martinez
HAPI Kids Alabang Project Coordinator