Cop raffles off painting to build house for elderly man

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Isabela Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental has initiated a housing project for less fortunate individuals.

Captain Joseph Partidas, town police chief, said the first recipient of their project was Raymundo Renilla, 71, of Barangay 5.

Partidas said they saw Renilla’s house during their police activity in the barangay.

“Guba na gid iya balay, kag wala siya upod,” he said.

The moment he saw Renilla’s situation, Partidas thought of providing him with a simple but decent home.

Ever since, Partidas started to love painting even before he was assigned to the town, the Police Captain painted the ruins of Isabela for two weeks and raffled it through “Spin a Wheel” last month.

He said 40 participants joined the game, with P100 registration fee for each participant.

The winner took home the canvas painting while the P4,000 collected from the fees were used to buy materials for Renilla’s house.

Renilla’s children helped in the construction of the house. He said the town police also contributed for the other expenses and for the groceries.

Meanwhile, policemen also built a house for 72-year-old Eddie Canatoy of Barangay 9 early this month.

Partidas said they were also concerned with the situation of Canatoy, who also lives alone.

“Iya balay may bungyod pa sulod, wala salog, tumba na gid, wala man hiligdaan,” he added.

Canatoy recently suffered a stroke and was being taken care of by his neighbor who gives him food, Partidas said.

They helped each other to build Canatoy’s house in three days, and they also provided him groceries.

Partidas said he was happy to help especially in these trying times.

“Nagdako ko wala tatay, and I really wanted to help those na taken for granted ka ila family, ang mga wala mayo gina gaan attention,” he said.

He said he stopped painting when he got busy but he is planning to do it again to raise more funds so that they can help more people in the community.