With the onset of the rainy season, volunteers of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Baclayon, Bohol, have been speeding up the construction of houses for Balay Igsuonay, a project that seeks to provide a new house for the poorest family in each of the chapel areas in the parish.

From Libertad Chapel: Federico and Fidela Sambayon look visibly moved during the handover and house blessing on June 4.

Parish volunteers also donated curtains, a small altar with holy images, and a feast for the house blessing. The bibingka, torta, and budbud (suman) look delicious! (smiley)

As always, we are grateful to Msgr Harold Parilla, who is always available to bless the Balay Igsuonay houses and whose inspiring vision has mobilized teams of committed volunteers.

Balay Igsuonay is a partner of TYF's Supertyphoon Odette rehabilitation project. TYF committed funds to construct 18 houses in the parish.

From the first appeal last February 2023 to rescue buy tomatoes up to our recent Kalabasa rescue this July, we are continually awed by our donors' generous outpouring of support.

We have supported farming communities from Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, and Ilocos Sur and have distributed more than 120 Tons of kamatis, sibuyas, and kalabasa to PWD groups, indigent families, the elderly, the homeless, fire survivors, and Mayon evacuees.

This Ignatian month, we honor all our donors and mission partners for their continued support and assistance.

Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity,
Teach me to serve you as you deserve,
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward,
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.

Amen.

TYF Chairman Fr Manoling Francisco SJ also visited Cebu Caritas Inc, where Fr Alex Cola Jr (president) and Fr Alden John Baran (program director) briefed him about their programs, including those funded by TYF.

Notable among these is Balay Caritas, a shelter project in Cansuje, Argao, where TYF contributed P2,250,000 for the construction of 31 houses for families whose houses were damaged during Supertyphoon Odette. Balay Caritas is also funded by Caritas Germany.

Through Cebu Caritas Inc, TYF also funded other Odette rehab projects such as the rehabilitation of the Academia de San Pedro Calungsod in Naga City, the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Barili, and the construction of a building in the Socio Pastoral Formation House in the Archbishop’s Palace.

He also met Gghie Hermunda, a TYF scholar who works part-time with the Cebu Caritas media ministry.

In a recent trip to Cebu, TYF chairman Fr Manoling Francisco SJ visited Brgy Inayawan, site of the former dumpsite where residents continue to make a living by scavenging.

There, he met with Enfant Du Mekong which manages six daycare centers with the help of community volunteers. The women go to the market and cook meals every day, which the men then deliver to the daycare centers and 60 elderly residents. In a daycare center Fr Manoling visited, the space had been expanded using hardiflex donated by TYF.

He also met with some of the winners of 12 e-bikes donated by TYF that were raffled off in December 2022. By driving passengers around the community, the e-bike owner earns approx. P400/day, with P50 spent for charging the battery.

During the visit, Fr Manoling was joined by representatives of the Cenacle Sisters who provide values formation classes in the community.