Profile: Community Beneficiary

The Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO) partnered with the non-government organization (NGO) Kabantan-onan Nga Aktibo ug Responsableng Dabawenyo Andam Moalagad sa Syodad (KARDAMS) Inc. in identifying the beneficiaries of the Pens of Hope in Davao project.

To come up with a community profile, KARDAMS conducted a survey among 52 female and 6 male residents of the community. 40% of the respondents are between the ages of 25-35. 86% are already married, more than half (65%) were not able to graduate from high school and 60% are working as housewives. Below you'll find the tabulated result of the survey.

KABANTAN-ONAN NGA AKTIBO UG RESPONSABLENG DABAWENYO ANDAM MOALAGAD SA SOSYODAD (KARDAMS) INC.
COMMUNITY SURVEY TABULATION
Km. 6.5 San Miguel Vill. Matina Pangi, Davao City
I. Respondent
Male	6	10%
Female	52	90%
	58
2. Ages
18-25	6	10%
26-35	23	40%
36-45	12	21%
46-55	10	17%
55- above	7	12%
	58
3. Civil Status
S	6	10%
M	50	86%
W	2	4%
	58
4. Educational Attainment
Elem Level	13	22%
Elem. Grad.	7	12%
H. School Level	18	31%
H. School Grad	11	19%
C. Level	5	9%
C. Grad.	4	7%
	58
5. Tribe
Visaya	34	58%
Ilonga	5	9%
Bol-anon	7	12%
Bagobo	3	5%
Islam	1	2%
Ilocano	1	2%
Waray	1	2%
Nitibo	3	5%
Cebuano	3	5%
	58
6. Occupation (Wife)
Store Owner	4	6%
Cigarette vendor	1	2%
Namakal	3	5%
Housewife	35	60%
None	3	5%
Security Guard	1	2%
Insurance Agent	1	2%
Construction/Laborer	7	12%
Food Vendor	1	2%
Umbrella Girl	1	2%
Davao Light	1	2%
	58
II. Family Composition
Male	149	57%
Female	114	43%
	263
2. Relationship
Husband	45	17%
Wife	3	1%
Daughter	102	39%
Son	96	37%
Niece	3	1%
Sister	2	0.60%
Brother	7	2.60%
Grandmother	1	0.40%
Father	3	1%
Brother-in-law	1	0.40%
	263
3. Ages
1day old - 6 yrs	56	21%
7yrs - 12yrs	51	19%
13yrs - 17 yrs	31	12%
18 yrs - 21 yrs	19	7%
22 yrs - 30 yrs	32	13%
30 yrs - above	74	28%
	263
4. Salary Income (in peso)
1000 - 2000	8	14%
2000 - 3000	9	16%
3000 - 4000	12	21%
4000 - 5000	11	19%
5000 - 6000	10	17%
6000 - above	3	5%
wala	5	8%
	58
5. Occupation
None	5	9%
Radio Operator	1	2%
Construction/laborer	22	37%
Sales Lady	1	2%
Technician	1	2%
Tricikad Driver	3	5%
Salesman	1	2%
Fish vendor	1	2%
Driver	6	10%
Lawyer	1	2%
San Miguel Employee	1	2%
Namakal	9	15%
Sec. Guard	1	2%
Pensioner	1	2%
Farmer	2	3%
DCWD	1	2%
Fruit Vendor	1	2%
	58
6. Educational Attainment
Elem Level	18	31%
Elem. Grad.	8	14%
H. School Level	15	26%
H. School Grad	12	21%
C. Level	2	3%
C. Grad.	3	5%
	58
III. General Questions
1. Aduna ka bay anak nga Gigastohan sa Brgy Officials/Gobyerno? (Do you have any children supported by the government?)
Yes	1	1.70%
No	57	98.30%
	58
2. Unsay hinungdan nganong wala naka-paeskwela? (What are the reasons why you were not able to send your children to school?)
Lack of income	13	22%
None	45	78%
	58
3. Kinsa ang katimbang sa pag-paeskwela sa mga anak? (Who's paying for the educational needs of the children?)
Couple	55	94%
Sister	1	2%
Mother	1	2%
Barangay	1	2%
	58
4. Unsa ang bug-at na gatuhan sa High School o Elementary? (Which is more expensive, elementary or high school?)
Elementary	2	3%
High School	37	64%
None	19	33%
	58
5. Aduna ka bay paryente nga nagapuyo kuyog sa inyong balay (Do you have any relatives living with you?)
Yes	12	21%
No	46	79%
	58
6. Unsa ang kasagarang problema sa communidad? (What are the common problems in the community?)
No income	3	5%
Food	1	2%
Lack of income	16	29%
No comment	14	24%
Drugs	3	5%
Work	11	19%
Education	2	3%
Garbage	2	3%
Water	4	7%
Illness	2	3%
	58
7. Rehistrado ka ba nga myembro sa inyong GKK? (Are you a member of the Basic Ecclesiastical Community or GKK?)
Yes	46	79%
No	12	21%
	58
8. Kung aduna kay problema kinsa ang kasagarang ginadoulan? (If you have any concerns, from whom do you seek assistance?)
Family	17	29%
Husband	9	15%
Friends	8	14%
No one	19	33%
Relatives	3	5%
Politicians	1	2%
Purok leader	1	2%
	58
9. Unsa kasagarang problema sa panglawas ang nasinati sa imong mga anak (What are the common illnesses of your children?)
Runny Nose	14	15%
Cough	38	40%
Fever	36	37%
Toothace	3	3%
Asthma	2	2%
Stomachache	2	2%
Dog Bite	1	1%
	96	100%

Pens from Dubai

I checked my emails tonight and saw a message from Alfie that I would like to share with you. By the way, Alfie and Lorna are both alumni SICO volunteers. Alfie's based in the UAE and Lorna's currently working in Bahrain.

I met with Jaja (Lorna's friend) yesterday and was very overwhelmed to receive 757 pens and pencils!!! I felt like I receive a very nice early birthday present! Now I've got a total of 807 pens and pencils, not counting Nookie's items (Kikit's friend from Ateneo). I still have to meet her. I am also looking forward to receive another batch of pens/pencils from Lorna's officemate.

Pens of Hope from Dubai: 807 and still counting.

Truly there's a profound feeling of accomplishment when you see for yourself that goodness still work in this world; that people are bonded by a common language: hope. Hope igniting in every stranger's soul.. and when we find this tiny spark of hope, we know at that moment how powerful it is to exude and illuminate into a wonderful smile of a child.. as for our part who are witnesses to this miracle, we understand simply and deeply what happiness is all about.

More Pens and Pencils From Tokyo

I talked to one of our Filipino friends over YM today and learned that she has some stock of pencils that she plans to give away to whoever will go home to the Philippines. I was even more delighted when she said that she will give it to Pens Of Hope in Davao instead, after she read about the project in this site.

So to Kikit and to all others, know that there are many who cares.

Let's continue in our advocacy and the pens and pencils will just come.

The Beneficiary

Mailah, my batch mate at Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO) visited the community beneficiary of the program in Matina Pangi, Davao City last Saturday with Sir Ian, the SICO Director.

As Mailah briefly described to me, the residents of this urban poor community used to earn a living out of garbage and trash. Many of the teenagers were forced to leave school due to lack of food and other financial constraints. Unfortunately, when stomachs grumble, everything has to be put aside, including education.

We'll post the complete community profile soon. For the meantime, please take a look of the pictures they took last Saturday. These somehow give us an idea about the recepients of the pens and pencils.

The petite woman in red shirt is my fellow volunteer, Mailah, on her way to the community.

The community at a glance.

A beneficiary's typical dwelling.

The Poster

Here are two poster designs for Pens Of Hope in Davao. If you want to help and collect pens and pencils yourself in your area, you may download the poster by clicking on the links below for printing and distribution. This is in the hope that it will reach more hands and more people.

Download here: Pens Of Hope in Davao 1

Download here: Pens of Hope in Davao 2

Thank you so much for supporting this simple cause.

Encountering Kind Souls

After sending my blog about Pens of Hope in Davao to almost all of my e-mail contacts, I felt a bit disappointed when it seemed like only a few people are supporting it and I was pretty worried if we can meet our target.

BUT BLESSINGS COME!

This morning, when I arrived at my workplace, I saw about 10 slightly used pens and pencils in my drawer. I think those were from Naoko, the Volunteer English Teacher (VET) I work with on Thursdays. That will be confirmed within this week.

When I met Satoyo, the VET I work with on Mondays (by the way, I work with 5 VETs), I instantly and happily told her about what I saw. I didn't know she had something for me too until she handed me three black pens as her initial contribution to the project. Another kind soul along the way. :)

Yuko's Great Effort

After school, I went to the small pub of Yuko, my Japanese friend whom I study Japanese with. I was surprised with what I saw in her pub! As you can see in the picture above, she also collected pens from her customers and she has already gathered some since I told her about this cause. She promised to collect more and give it to me on the first week of July. Great, great, great!

And the greatest news?

When I got home, there was a notice for me in the mailbox. It says there's a package for me from Jorlan. Since this fellow Filipino who's currently working in Osaka has already informed me that his donation for the project is arriving within this week, I was already expecting it. What I didn't expect was the number of pens he sent. Yeah, the two plastic boxes contained 490 pens and 52 pencils!

Pens and Pencils from Jorlan

Since he's someone who has just read my blog out of nowhere, someone who doesn't know me at all, I consider his effort to reach out as one of the kindest acts I've known. The trust he has given to me is very overwhelming. I just feel so happy imagining the smiling faces of the beneficiaries that will receive his gifts.

As I'm about to end this post, my heart is still grateful for encountering kind souls.