When it rains, it pours
ICES Updates the Adamson Community on its
Relief and Humanitarian Efforts
By Yael Esperat
When it rains, it pours, so goes the saying. Indeed, when it rains
blessings at Adamson University, the Integrated Community Extension
Services (ICES) makes sure that these pour on to those who need
it.
In updates given to The Adamson News by the office, the ICES has
been working round the clock with its mission to provide relief
and uplift to those in dire need. One of their biggest missions
post-Ondoy was their intercession for the informal settlers living
at the PCSO compound beside the University. A total of eight families
were relocated to a housing project in Calauan, Laguna. ICES Director
Fr. Nonong Fajardo, C.M. led the intercession.
ICES helped these families with the pre-relocation and post-relocation
process. The office helped arrange the necessary paperwork, conducted
a census, as well as find schools near enough for the children
to attend. ICES also helped get the families housing units from
the National Housing Authority (NHA) at terms affordable for them
and payable within 30 years. As for the post-relocation process,
the ICES helped establish livelihood programs for the new residents
to enable them to build their own income and avoid relying on
dole-outs.
Apart from ICES, PCSO, and the NHA, other organizations who lent
their help for the relocation were the Society of St. Vincent
de Paul, Caritas, the Urban Settlement Office of the Manila City
Hall, volunteers from several religious organizations, and the
Office of the President (Malacañang).
Plans to relocate the families were already in place back in September.
However, the onset of Ondoy and subsequent events pushed the relocation
to December.
ICES hopes that this latest relocation will also give these families
the same benefits enjoyed by the 38 families previously moved
by Adamson from the Estero de Balete and another 15 families moved
from Mahatma Gandhi St. in Paco (the latter with the initiative
and assistance of the Canossian Sisters). All of them were also
given houses and livelihood in Calauan. Relocation has given these
families a new lease on their lives as they now have the chance
to live out a better future. Moving them also made an environmental
impact as it lessened pollution and waste in the Estero and in
Paco.
ICES also brought Christmas cheer to the children of Hope Day
Care center in Cabuyao, Laguna together with Ms. Melanie David
from the Basic Education Department and Dr. Florante Garcia from
the College of Education. Hope Day Care is also another extension
service project, where Adamson provided training to five volunteer
teachers and took on the task of finishing the construction of
the center.
In-Campus Mission
ICES continues to draw support within the Adamson community. Two
projects by the colleges of Business Administration and Liberal
Arts provided a big boost to ICES’s programs.
The first is the BA’s 4Ps in Performing Vincentian Center
for Social Responsibility project where students were tasked to
sell Adamson products such as SV Sudz laundry detergent, dishwashing
liquid, and fabric conditioner. The four Ps signify their project
aims: to patronize the VCSR products; to pioneer a distribution
network; to promote social responsibility; and to create profit
and benefits for the students and the community.
Apart from the marketing strategy that students will come up with,
they are also battling it for a contest. Among the awards to be
won will be Best Marketer(s)/Top Seller, Best Documentation, Best
Coordinator, Best Leader. Prizes and rewards will be given to
these winners in February.
The Mass Communication Department also did their part in boosting
the ICES mission. Mass Comm students donated 50% of their total
profits earned during their Sales Rally last December 2009. The
event, which took place at the ST Quad, was part of their Advertising
Management/Marketing class project wherein they created their
own products along with marketing and advertising strategies to
sell them.
Relief Operations Report
ICES is also posting its report of the donations received and
the beneficiaries during their relief drive for the victims
of Ondoy and Pepeng:
ICES REPORT FOR ONDOY & PEPENG RELIEF OPERATIONS
As of January 6, 2010
A. Donations
>
In-kind Donations
> Corporate/Private Institutions 110,000.00
> Other Academic Institutions 157,400.00
> CASH DONATIONS
> Individual Donations (AdU Community) 254,621.30
> International Support 236,212.75
T O T A L P 758,234.05
B. Beneficiaries
a. Northville 4, Marilao, Bulacan
b. Northville 4a, Marilao, Bulacan
c. Northville 4B, Marilao, Bulacan
d. Northville 3, Meycauayan, Bulacan
e. Paco, Manila
f. Caritas Manila
g. Northville 8, Malolos, Bulacan
h. Pangasinan
i. Taytay, Rizal
j. CEAP
k. Mamamayang Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS)
l. Miraculous Medal Shrine
m. Mountain Province
n. Los Baños, Laguna
o. Paco Park dwellers
