2013 National Day of Service (Second in Series)

Service to others is an important characteristic of the followers of Jesus Christ. Mormon Helping Hands provides organized opportunities for Church members to give their time and talents to bless others.   It also gives members the opportunity to beautify city streets, parks, schools, and recreational areas and to serve in other ways, showing that the Church is a friend to the community.

In this article, we continue to feature projects undertaken during the National Day of Service on April 27, 2013. 

La Carlota Philippines District

As a part of the week-long annual Pasalamat Festival, the La Carlota Philippines District (diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched a day of service on April 27. Public affairs representative Cristina Millado and high school principal, Mr. Deny Castenada, planned an activity to repair and clean the Dona Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School.

Under the direction of President Mario A. Malacaman, volunteers from all eight congregations repaired roofs of dilapidated school buildings, planted trees, trimmed the grass, cleaned and swept school grounds. The volunteers enjoyed their work. Some youth were able to meet new friends and mingle with 24 young cadets who helped plant trees.Holes were dug for Mahogany seedlings, ligh carpentry work done and galvanized iron roofs sealed in preparation for the rainy season.  

The principal, Mr. Deny Castaneda, was very thankful for the service of the volunteers. He said in a statement, “Service allows us to practice doing what Jesus would do. It connects us to those we serve and gives us a kind of satisfaction that our own interests can never offer. Through this activity, people may realize the importance of volunteering time and energy for the benefit of others.”

A total of 169 volunteers who came worked for 1,352 man-hours of service.

Camiling East Philippines District 

Armed with broomsticks, trash bags and a lot of energy, 105 Mormon helping Hands volunteers trooped to Libueg Elementary School to clean school grounds and plant trees.   New seedlings were also planted which added beauty to the neighborhood. The Libueg Elementary School administrator expressed appreciation for the service rendered by the the Mormon Helping Hands volunteers. Mrs.Feleciano, a staff member from the school said, “May kasama na tayo para sa Brigada Eskwela 2013.”

Residents of Barangay Surgui 2nd also attended a seminar addressing the needs of families in times of emergency or calamities. Volunteers shared knowledge on the importance of a 72-hour kit and demonstrated how to prepare it.  

A total of 525 man-hours of service was logged in by volunteers from the district (diocese) of Camiling.

Dagupan Philippines Stake

In their easily recognizable yellow vests, volunteers collected trash, litter and other waste materials along the shoreline of Tondaligan Beach. They swiftly combed the beach area from the assembly point at the Mayor’s Pavilion towards the end point of the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center-DSWD, a distance of about three kilometers. The collected trash was put in black bags and dumped in designated areas along the beach as identified by the Tondaligan Park Administration. Later they were loaded in a garbage dump truck from the city waste management division. 

Mr. Arthur Paragas, administrator of Tondaligan Park, stated that the arrival of Mormon Helping Hands Volunteers was the answer to his prayer for clean-up assistance. Prior to the group's coordination with his office, he received a memo from the City Mayor directing his office to conduct a coastal clean-up before the scheduled May 1 “Pista ng Dagat." However, it was a problem for Mr. Paragas since his office lacked the time and manpower to comply with the memo and considering that the entire Tondaligan Beach has a stretch of more or less 10 kilometers. He was grateful that the group arrived at an opportune time and became a solution to his problem.

A total of 198 volunteers from six wards (congregations) including 19 full time missionaries provided 495 man-hours of service.

Marikina 5th Ward, Marikina Philippines Stake

The Marikina 5th ward (congregation), under the direction of Elmo Abad, held a workshop in the Marikina Heights Barangay Hall to highlight the importance of a 72- hour Emergency Survival Kit. Brother Andaca and Sister Abad presented and demonstrated how to prepare a kit.

The workshop was conducted to the barangay health workers who will echo the training to people in the barangay. The barangay secretary expressed gratitude for the presentation and an attendee said, “I am very thankful for this workshop because it is my first time to learn about the 72-hour Emergency Kit. I am excited to share the information with my children.”

Placer Philippines District

Knowing that people are endowed with hands that touch others which can be manifested through service, volunteers from Placer District (diocese) consisting of Alegria, Placer, Bad-as, Mainit, Kitcharao, Matin-ao, Bacuag and Tubod cleaned the municipal police station, tidied and painted the Mabini Elementary School, planted coconut trees in areas in the Little Baguio Eco-Park and collected trash and debris at the shores of Kabantoy.

One of the residents in Alegria said, “I have been watching your members. I like your church and how it reaches out to the needy.” Virgel M. Morales, Public Affairs representative added, “People’s hearts were touched by the examples of many that day.”  

A total of 310 participants  provided over 1,500man- hours of service to the community

Dasmarinas Philippines Stake – Bayan 1^st Ward

More than 40 volunteers from the Bayan 1^st Ward (congregation) of the Dasmarinas Stake (diocese) met early on the morning of April 27 to share information with friends and neighbors in their community the importance of the 72-Hour Survival Kit. For two hours they distributed pamphlets filled with information about the kit. They highlighted the importance of being prepared in cases of emergency and how a community could collectively prepare.  

Volunteers worked for a total of 80 man-hours to share pamphlets and in conducting the information drive.