MORE POWER SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER AND CHARITY

MORE Electric and Power Corporations donated cash assistance to 10 institutions in Iloilo City. Mr. Roel Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company said “Well actually since this year is a very different year, it’s not a normal year I would say, there are so many sectors that are affected, and unexpectedly I mean nobody, you what to expect with this year because of the Covid pandemic, so tayo sa MORE it seems that we have a little amount, a little budget to, representation supposedly for this season, so we thought of instead of giving individual gifts to our accounts and we talk to them, sabi namin why we don’t just pull it together and then we will donate it in behalf of the customers to different institutions who are helping the sectors that are more affected than us.”

Asilo de Molo, Inc. This institution houses and gives necessary care to the poor elderly in and around Iloilo City. The youngest admitted beneficiary is 60 years old and the oldest is 92 years old. Asilo has 50-60 elderlies with one (1) social worker per twenty-five (25) patients. Most of the admitted patients are abandoned and neglected that are turned over by the Department of Social Welfare Development. Giving hope to the elderly is one of the foundations of bringing back their youthful smile. Old or young, everybody deserves to be nurtured and love.

Sister Nieva Manzano, Administrator, Asilo de Molo

“Malaki talagang tulong especially in this time of pandemic, all our fund raising activities are cut-off. So, we rely on what is being donated to us now. Wala na kaming other source of income it’s just that. Before we have our LRC, our alternative residential home for transient borders and students. So ngayon everything’s gone.”

Philippine Red Cross Iloilo Chapter. A humanitarian organization that provides life-saving services especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations. It has served the Ilonggos for 65 years as a helping arm during disasters and emergencies. It is through donations that they are able to advance their equipment technologies for emergency and in reaching out the areas that are hard hit by calamities. Anyone can be a hero by rendering significant contribution to the organization.

Mr. Ramon Locsin, Chairman, Board of Director, PRC-Iloilo Chapter

This is a very big help for our emergency operations, for now one of our biggest need is for the purchase of hospital tents while Covid pandemic remains one of our challenges aside from the other emergencies that have responded. Thank you MORE Power for making Red Cross as one of the chosen institutions to receive this great Christmas gift.

Covid-19 Molecular Laboratory. A health facility project under the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. that was made possible through the collaboration of Iloilo City and Iloilo province. The laboratory can initially handle 400 specimens per day. The laboratory is one of the steps by the city to further effectively curb the spread of the Covid cases. The culture of “pagbinuligay” of the Ilonggos can make all our dreams possible to Level Up Iloilo.

Mayor Jerry Treñas, Iloilo City

“We foresee a lot of people coming in from Metro Manila and other provinces to be with their families for this season, and ang aton we will continue to allow LSI and ROFS as long as they are tested. So may mga kinanlan nga balaklon nga mga consumables. So ang ini nga 50 thousand usaron ta ni para makabakal man kita sang mga additional nga consumables nga kinanlan naton.”

Colegio De San Jose. The Community Engagement program of the institution to their adopted community at Brgy. Benedicto, Jaro. They have 33 beneficiaries from 22 years old to 75 years old who are mostly mothers struggling to feed their children due to poverty. The program gives livelihood assistance to the mothers through the “Kapital Mo, Kauswagan Ko” program, wherein they are given a start-up capital to start a small-time business such as kakanin, street food, candle making and among others. Despite the pandemic, the program coordinator fearlessly visits and serve the community to distribute them food and continues to do values formation activity.

Sister Lily Ventura, Director for Christian Vincentian Formation for Community Engagement, Colegio de San Jose

“Thank you very much for the donation. It will be used to our adopted barangays because we have parents there especially mother who are needing the support financially. Actually, because we are giving them livelihood program. Livelihood program na cash loan without interest. So mga small time businesses na it could help them na ma augment yung daily needs nila.”

Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center, Inc. a social action arm in bridging the Church and the community where the beneficiaries are indigent children who wish to finish their education.

The poor local farmers have also benefited in their FOOD program through organic farming, rice and vegetable production, Bugasan sa Parokya and feeding program.

This institution has various programs with acronym SHEEF that stands for SHELTER, HEALTH, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, FOOD. One of the most active programs of JASAC is the education program that provides scholarship to the poor and deserving students who dream to complete their education and alleviate their impoverished situation. To date, there are 66 indigent scholars that have enjoyed this program. Aside from providing academic needs of the beneficiaries, the institution also created programs for the Parents and Students Values Formation Program for their families.

Msgr. Melton Oso, JASAC President

“Thank you very much to MORE Power for reaching us especially to our scholars. The donation is too much that it could even help our scholars for the next semester. To More Power thank you very much and may your tribe increase. All the best for 2021.”

Iloilo Two Hearts Foundation. The foundation supports the clergy, staff and ministry and the missionary works of the different parishes of Panay. There are six (6) parishes that is supported by this foundation, namely, Sto. Niño Mission Chapel, St. Joseph Regional Seminary, Carmelite Nuns and Fathers, Jaro, Sta. Teresita Parish, La Paz Parish and Bo. Obrero Parish. Also, they have been supporting the Daguiao Foundation that promotes educational and social projects in and for the island of Panay. Iloilo Two Hearts Foundation is also an advocate of education that is to be enjoyed by every child, thus, they have scholars who come from the indigent family.

Martin Jamora, Sto Niño Mission Chapel Representative

“As beneficiary sang MORE this Christmas, kita sa Iloilo Two Hearts Foundation nagapasalamat sa bulig nga ginhatag sang MORE. Sigurado nga ang mga programa, mga outreach program sa pagsuporta sa Sto Nino mission chapel mapatigayon gid bisan sa sini nga tion sang pandemya bangud man sang bulig nga ginhatag sang MORE, so Merry Christmas kag madamu gid nga salamat.”

Iloilo City District Jail Female Dormitory. A support to the Beauty Behind Bars program with the support of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo created a program

to help the women in jail to have livelihood program. One of the livelihood programs is from the advocacy project of Ms. Iloilo World 2020, Ann Roxal Palmares in helping these women earn their livelihood by making handmade beaded bags. A support to her advocacy is also one way of sharing her love by helping the women deprived of liberty.

Atty. Jobert Penaflorida, President, PCCI Iloilo Chapter

“In behalf of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo, we are thanking MORE Power especially its President Mr. Roel Castro for the strong support for the Beauty Behind Bars, one of the projects of the Market-Market organized by the PCCI, the donation today will go along way to provide a generator for our women, persons deprived of poverty, at the Iloilo City Police Office. Thank you very much and more power!

Assumption Iloilo Educational Foundation, Inc. advocates to help the deserving learners by offering scholarships and improve the teaching facilities of the school. Aside from Iloilo City, there are three other assumption schools in Panay that the foundation is supporting to offer a transformative education to the students. Other than improving the academic facilities, this institution has also taught the students to do outreach programs in depressed communities.

Sister Mary Fidelis Estrada R.A., Head of the Apostolate, Assumption Iloilo

“There are real power po lies in the heart, and the heart expresses itself through service and that’s what more wants to do. To serve in order to empower people carry on. Never mind what other people say. People will always talk. As long that in your heart, you know that you are doing right. Yan yung sundin natin. Yung puso natin.”

Carmelite Sisters. In Iloilo City at Sambag, Jaro, there are 15 contemplative nuns in the monastery that needs our support for their daily needs and as well as for their mission through prayers. They are the powerhouse of prayer and contemplation and are very much in tune to the very needs of the world. While people worry over the pandemic that hits globally, the contemplative nuns are one of the first to be called for prayer. While people are very busy thinking on how to cope up with the new normal, their prayer is the silent arm that fight against any adversaries that this world may encounter. As they focus their love and energy in praying for us, we give back to our Carmelite Sisters through our simple gift. Through this, we have shared the Christlike love to one another.

The Carmelite Nuns expressed their gratitude that they will include MORE Power and its employees in their prayers for them to have strength to continue their programs in converting the jumpers to be legal consumers and for the rehabilitation of the electrical system of the franchise area. Despite all the challenges, MORE Power still continue and thrive to deliver their commitment to better their service in the city.

Philippine Catholic HIV and AIDS Network. The Iloilo Chapter is run by St. Paul Hospital that supports in the advocacy for the transformation programs of the person with HIV AIDS for the prevention, treatment care and support advocacy networking. There are fifty (50) active persons that are under the treatment and counselling program and there are more than one hundred (100) that needed to be reached out that are commonly indigent. Their vision is to be a dynamic bastion of healing and hope committed to bringing the everlasting love of God to people living with and affected by HIV & AIDS and to help create an HIV-free society. Among the activities under the prevention program is the Pastoral Training on HIV and AIDS conducted by the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Health Care, Archdiocese of Jaro Commission on Health and the University of St. Paul.