Last December 2011, the Social Action Office launched the “Alay Kay Hesus” program, as part of Poveda’s annual Advent and Christmas relief efforts.

          With the support and participation of the entire Povedan community, the program was able to collect 731 Alay Kay Hesus bags, 331 packs of school supplies, and 129 bags from the Preschool’s Tree of Life project.

The “Alay Kay Hesus” bags were a product of the combined efforts of the different year levels and the Poveda staff. The different year levels and offices were assigned to donate a particular item such as canned goods, rice, coffee, and spaghetti ingredients.

Volunteers, including college and high school students, teachers, and members of the maintenance and administrative staff, gave some of their time to help sort and pack the goods.

These donations were then given to the PEAP scholars, to the Panuluyan guests, and to the different partner communities of Poveda and the Teresian Association, including those in Manila, Pasig, Makati, Payatas, and Bataan.

“We could see the multiplication of the loaves happening in many ways,” says Ms. Kritzia Santos of the Social Action Office. She mentions how they initially thought that they would not be able to collect enough goods, but in the end, they were able to achieve their goal.  

Ms. Kritzia also mentions that aside from the collection of donations, the Social Action Office also had several outreach projects during the Christmas break. They organized advent recollections and Christmas parties for the PEAP scholars, residents of the Poveda Gawad Kalinga Village, and other members of Poveda’s partner communities. Also, along with some volunteers, they delivered goods and sang Christmas carols for those affected by recent calamities.

Lastly, Ms. Kritzia believes that as one whole Povedan community, we were truly able to reach out and share the Christmas spirit to our partner communities during the Advent and Christmas season.