Midterm Report - ovp.gov.ph

Midterm Report2016–2019

O F F I C E O F T H E V I C E P R E S I D E N T

viv

Message from VP Leni Robredo

Looking back at the past three years, the Office of

the Vice President has had the privilege of seeing

first-hand how embodying our bayanihan can shape

a better world we can proudly bequeath to future

generations. We say this with pride and remarkable

hope, because from the very start, we have known

of this extraordinary strength within each of us.

This strength is found in our resiliency as Filipinos

amid adversity. It is found in the hope and faith

that bind our communities together. It is kept alive

by the passion of our people, which characterizes

the relationships we build with others along the way.

In bringing bayanihan to life, we found what it truly

means to serve our people. If there is anything we

learned halfway through our journey together,

it is that this same force is what keeps us committed

to our promise since day one: to uplift lives, to create

meaningful change, to allow our people to dream

bigger dreams than ever before. To transform,

not just the present, but also the story of what

tomorrow can bring.

This report begins to tell that story. It brings to the

forefront the many faces of transformation that we

have encountered, and the many ways we can act

together to make things work for the better.

We cannot simply do one-time, big-time interventions,

counting heads instead of outcomes. Education is not

just about giving scholarships and school supplies,

and building classrooms. Healthcare is not just about

building medical facilities and distributing medicine to

patients. Nutrition is not just about feeding programs

alone. These extraordinary times call on us to think

of extraordinary solutions. We need to be holistic in

our approach and be creative in bridging the gaps that

need to be addressed, so that we can make impact

where it truly matters—in the quality of life of those

we strive to serve.

The work may still be far from over, but these stories

tell us that we are going the right way. So many

individuals and organizations helped us pave this path,

dedicating their time and energy to our collective

cause, and we cannot thank them enough for their

kindness and generosity. We could only hope to keep

doing the same in the years to come, and to reach out

to more people who need our help.

This is not just about our fight against poverty,

against apathy and negativity, against the growing

culture of mistrust in government. This is about

empowering one person and giving them the

opportunities to thrive and survive. This is about

changing the lives of countless others, creating an

impact that ripples through an entire community.

The story of what tomorrow can bring is shaped by

our actions today, and the choices we make every day.

And so: may we always choose to see the light,

in spite of these extraordinary times.

Lagi nating sinasabi: ang kuwento ng bawat Pilipino ay

kuwento ng pag-asa. Kuwento ito ng mga pagpupunyagi

at ng mga bagong simula. Kuwento ito ng isang

mapagpalayang bukas. Sa susunod pang mga laban,

ito ang patuloy na panghahawakan natin.

viivi

Introduction

Since the start of VP Leni’s term, the OVP has

remained faithful to its commitment as an advocacy-

centric organization that aims to uplift the lives

of Filipinos, especially the marginalized.

In pursuit of this goal, the OVP has spearheaded

various initiatives that promote innovations in

leadership and good governance. While the previous

years have focused on expanding the breadth and

depth of our programs, the focus of the next three

years is to build on the early wins as a proof of concept

and ensuring that these practices are institutionalized.

Aside from the deepening of our anti-poverty program

Angat Buhay and bringing Istorya ng Pag-asa to more

areas, this year has seen the launch of Ahon Laylayan

Koalisyon—a program that aims to empower various

sectors to determine their priorities and engage

community leaders in collaborative problem-

solving. Building on the example of the People’s

Council that was established in Naga City, Ahon

Laylayan complements Angat Buhay as anti-poverty

interventions provided by partner organizations are

conceptualized and implemented in consultation with

the local stakeholders themselves.

In advocating for good governance and shared

leadership in our communities, the OVP leads

by example as its commitment to continuous

improvement is manifested in various channels.

Among others, this has resulted in the expansion of the

Office’s leadership development program, which now

caters to both middle managers and a second batch of

emerging leaders, as well as the ongoing transition of

our Human Resource system to a competency-based

framework. In addition, the Office has successfully

leveraged available technologies to improve the quality

and efficiency of its services for both internal and

external stakeholders.

TO T H E O F F I C E O F T H E V I C E P R E S I D E N T

viii

BISErbisyong Level Up10Angat Buhay20Istorya ng Pag-asa94

112 Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon

TA B L E O F CO N T E N T S

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Democratizing Leadership:From Dreams to RealityBuilding on the gains from the first batch of the Junior

Leadership Development Program (JLDP), the office

has extended its organizational development efforts

to more employees, as it launched the second run of

the program and implemented an Executive Education

Program for mid-level management leaders.

For JLDP Batch 2, the central challenge that they

sought to address were strengthening internal

communications and reinforcing the core values

of Servant Leadership, Strategic Leadership, and

Shared Leadership among employees. Following

a similar process of action learning, four teams of

junior leaders conducted interviews and focus group

discussions in order to identify the root causes of

the identified challenges. Using their findings as

a springboard, they developed a combination of

initiatives that aim to address different aspects of

internal communications and employee satisfaction.

These include the development of (a) an on-boarding

package for new OVP hires; (b) a monthly newsletter

called “BiSentral”; (c) the conduct of an “Attitude

of Gratitude” campaign; and (d) the OVP Manifesto

Signing campaign. To sustain the gains from these

initiatives, teams from both JLDP batches collaborated

with the Human Resource and Management Unit to

ensure the proper implementation of these efforts.

To complement efforts to empower rank and file

staff, the Executive Development Program was

conceptualized for supervisors and heads.

Through this program, team leaders are empowered

to go beyond their function as managers and inspire

their team members to collaborate in the achievement

of shared goals.

Democratizing leadership begins with the idea that

everyone, regardless of position, is a leader. Through

these initiatives,these ideals are slowly, but surely,

becoming reality.

Core Values of the Office of the Vice President

S E R VA N T L E A D E R S H I PWe believe that serving our country

is both an honor and a privilege,

not a source of entitlement.

S H A R E D L E A D E R S H I PWe achieve our aspirations

for our country when leadership

and power are shared with the people.

S T R AT EG I C L E A D E R S H I PWe act with transparency,

accountability and integrity to

deliver transformative results.

13B I S E R B I S Y O N G L E V E L U P12 B I S E R B I S Y O N G L E V E L U P

Interwoven: Empowerment Begins with a Single Thread

Women and their economic contributions go

unrecognized. By enabling more women to pursue

entrepreneurship through a more favorable supporting

environment, social and economic benefits are

generated for the economy.

For our frontliners, providing assistance to aspiring

women entrepreneurs has always been one of our

focus areas, as we recognize the importance of

economic freedom in the fight for gender justice.

To promote this goal, we have implemented various

capacity building activities to support women

entrepreneurs in the development of their enterprises.

Several of our administrative and support staff

attended the Level 1 Public Procurement Specialist

Certification Course (PPSC) as part of the OVP’s

efforts to streamline the procurement process and

enhance the culture of fiscal prudence. Originally,

the goal was to ensure that the needs of the office

are procured on a timely basis while ensuring value

for money.

While the gains obtained from both efforts were

valuable, the OVP recognized the potential for

convergence. Building on the learnings from the

PPSC, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)

began exploring the idea of procuring products from

our women entrepreneurs in Angat Buhay areas,

rather than from established suppliers. By providing

interventions that would complete the product cycle

of our women entrepreneurs, we are opening wider

markets for their native products.

Following months of preparation, the initiative paid off

as we successfully procured indigenous products such

as Abaca placemats and backpacks from Bukidnon,

Yakan table runners from Lamitan, Basilan, and Ikat

weaves from Kiangan, Ifugao. These were given as

tokens of appreciation to our Angat Buhay partners,

as well as to foreign dignitaries.

The goal has always been to help our fellowmen

in any way possible. In supporting the livelihood

of our women entrepreneurs, the OVP hopes to

encourage countless others to do the same and create

partnerships with them, deepening our collective

appreciation of our culture and traditional crafts.


ISO Certified: Making the Best Better

More than calling it an accomplishment, the

organization-wide ISO 9001:2015 certification is a

reminder that we can always make the best better.

The essence of quality management is not a state

but a process—one which poses the recurring

challenge of how we can serve better. Fortunately,

the Office of the Vice President has positively

responded to this challenge as it has found innovative

ways to improve its service.

Within the organization, support units have created

a charter that declares the standard processing time

for our internal processes. These deadlines are strictly

observed and performance is measured objectively

vis-a-vis these standards.

Each year has seen the efficient migration of processes

from a purely manual platform to an increasingly

digitized platform. Since the start of the term, several

Information Systems have been implemented for

document and human resource management, with

others in the pipeline. While the transition has not

been easy, the resulting gains from automated reports

and improved analytics have led to more people being

receptive to information technology, with some even

serving as champions who share best practices.

In measuring performance, the OVP commits itself to

ensuring excellence in service by focusing on actual

results rather than simple activities. The goal has

always been to report achievements in terms of actual

benefits enjoyed by our people. This is the norm we

hope to establish, relying on data and outcomes as

proof that the projects and initiatives are delivered

to communities.

As we approach our third year of certification,

we recognize the extent to which the organization

has matured vis-a-vis where we have started.

But rather than be complacent, we see this as a

challenge—one which we willingly embrace in the

next three years, so that we can deliver as effectively

on our mission to serve the last, the least and the lost.


Tatak OVP

In facing the challenges ahead, one of the key

ingredients in achieving success lies in the

competencies of our employees. While the past few

years have led to the emergence of an employee-

focused culture, attempts at improving employee

knowledge, skills, and attitudes remained limited

to general trainings that may not fully address the

identified gaps.

With the objective of strengthening its Human

Resource systems from a transactional one to that

which is process-defined under the Civil Service

Commission’s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy

and Excellence in Human Resource Management

(PRIME-HRM), the OVP is in the process of

institutionalizing a Competency-based Human

Resource Management System (CBHRM).

A competency-based HRM enables the systematic

and targeted integration of all HR systems towards

the achievement of both organizational and

individual objectives. The competency framework

will act as a guide to managers in selecting and hiring

candidates who are the best fit for the organization,

and in the long run, effectively execute the goals of the

agency as a whole. Additionally, as it fosters objectivity

in performance assessment and enables the effective

alignment of individual contributions to organizational

goals, a higher degree of performance can be

achieved both by the individual and the organization.

The framework can also serve as a guide to identify

the necessary learning and development initiatives,

as well as recognition programs.

While the upgrading of our HRM’s processes by

an external validator is important as a milestone,

it is clear for the office that the end goal of

this continuous journey is to ensure that every

OVP employee is able to realize the best version

of themselves—both as a person and as

a professional.


Launched in October 2016, ANGAT BUHAY is the

contribution of the Office of the Vice President Leni

Robredo in the fight against poverty. The program aims

to bring together the public and the private sectors—

organizations and individuals alike—to address the

needs of families in the farthest and the poorest

communities in the country.

The OVP reaches out to these areas by working with

partners in providing interventions and mobilizing

support through six key advocacy areas: food security

and nutrition, universal healthcare, public education,

rural development, housing and resettlement,

and women empowerment.

As there is no single way to solve poverty in a

community, the OVP capacitates key sectors, including

disaster-affected families, grassroot stakeholders,

urban poor, women and the youth by empowering

them through various modes of engagement.

328organizations

has partnered with more than

224,336families

for

₱353.33 million

mobilizing a total of

worth of resources,

193unique areas nationwide.

in

196,014individuals

and

A S O F O C TO B E R 201 9,

A N G AT B U H AY

23A N G A T B U H A Y22 A N G A T B U H A Y

Tubao, La Union

Anda, Pangasinan

Binalonan, Pangasinan

Calasiao, Pangasinan

City of Dagupan, Pangasinan

Lingayen, Pangasinan

Batanes, Batanes

Itbayat, Batanes

Peñablanca, Cagayan

Province of Cagayan

Batangas City, Batangas

Calatagan, Batangas

Lipa, Batangas

Mabini, Batangas

Taysan, Batangas

Imus, Cavite

Rosario, Cavite

Calauan, Laguna

Nagcarlan, Laguna

Mulanay, Quezon

Angono, Rizal

Rodriguez, Rizal

Tanay, Rizal

Boac, Marinduque

Santa Cruz, Marinduque

Marinduque

Torrijos, Marinduque

Lubang, Occidental Mindoro

Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro

Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro

Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro

Pola, Oriental Mindoro

Agutaya, Palawan

Culion, Palawan

Abucay, Bataan

Balagtas, Bulacan

Calumpit, Bulacan

Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan

Hagonoy, Bulacan

Malolos, Bulacan

San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan

Santa Maria, Bulacan

Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija

San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija

Candaba, Pampanga

Bamban, Tarlac

Camalig, Albay

Daraga, Albay

Guinobatan, Albay

Legazpi, Albay

Ligao, Albay

Tabaco, Albay

Tiwi, Albay

Province of Albay

Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte

Baao, Camarines Sur

Balatan, Camarines Sur

Buhi, Camarines Sur

Bula, Camarines Sur

Calabanga, Camarines Sur

Canaman, Camarines Sur

Iriga, Camarines Sur

Naga City, Camarines Sur

Oas, Camarines Sur

Ocampo, Camarines Sur

Pasacao, Camarines Sur

Pili, Camarines Sur

Sagñay, Camarines Sur

Tinambac, Camarines Sur

Province of Camarines Sur

Baras, Catanduanes

Bato, Catanduanes

San Andres, Catanduanes

San Fernando, Masbate

Bulan, Sorsogon

Bicol Region, Bicol Region

R E G I O N I

R E G I O N I I

R E G I O N I V

R E G I O N I I I

R E G I O N V

luzonBaguio City, Benguet

Itogon, Benguet

Benguet

Kiangan, Ifugao

Tinoc, Ifugao

Natonin, Mountain Province

C A R

Caloocan, National Capital Region

Malabon, National Capital Region

Manila, National Capital Region

Marikina, National Capital Region

Muntinlupa, National Capital Region

Navotas, National Capital Region

Parañaque, National Capital Region

Pasay, National Capital Region

Pateros, National Capital Region

Quezon, National Capital Region

Metro Manila, National Capital Region

N C R


visayasInabanga, Bohol

Maribojoc, Bohol

Panglao, Bohol

Argao, Cebu

Bogo, Cebu

Carcar City, Cebu

Cebu City, Cebu

Dalaguete, Cebu

Mandaue, Cebu

Naga City, Cebu

San Francisco, Cebu

San Remigio, Cebu

Talisay City, Cebu

Tuburan, Cebu

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental

Province of Biliran

Balangkayan, Eastern Samar

Hernani, Eastern Samar

Quinapondan, Eastern Samar

Salcedo, Eastern Samar

Province of Eastern Samar

Baybay, Leyte

Leyte, Leyte

Province of Leyte

Catarman, Northern Samar

Lope de Vega, Northern Samar

Gandara, Samar

Malay, Aklan

Panitan, Capiz

Province of Guimaras

Dueñas, Iloilo

Iloilo City, Iloilo

Lambunao, Iloilo

Oton, Iloilo

San Joaquin, Iloilo

Province Iloilo

Bacolod, Negros Occidental

Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental

Isabela, Negros Occidental

Province of Negros Occidental

R E G I O N V I R E G I O N V I I R E G I O N V I I I


Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte

Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte

Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur

Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur

Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur

Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur

R E G I O N IX

Lantapan, Bukidnon

Malaybalay, Bukidnon

Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

Maramag, Bukidnon

Sumilao, Bukidnon

Talakag, Bukidnon

Valencia, Bukidnon

Balo-i, Lanao del Norte

Iliigan City, Lanao del Norte

Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte

Tangcal, Lanao del Norte

Tubod, Lanao del Norte

Alubijid, Misamis Oriental

Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

Tawi-Tawi, Tawi-Tawi

Montevista, Compostela Valley

New Bataan, Compostela Valley

Mati, Davao Oriental

Basilan, Basilan

Lamitan, Basilan

Sumisip, Basilan

Tuburan, Basilan

Balindong, Lanao del Sur

Bubong, Lanao del Sur

Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur

Lumba-Bayabao, Lanao del Sur

Maguing, Lanao del Sur

Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur

Piagapo, Lanao del Sur

Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur

Tubaran, Lanao del Sur

Datu Piang, Maguindanao

Maguindanao, Maguindanao

Matanog, Maguindanao

South Upi, Maguindanao

Upi, Maguindanao

Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu

Jolo, Sulu

Santiago, Agusan del Norte

Loreto, Agusan del Sur

Veruela, Agusan del Sur

Dinagat, Dinagat Islands

Loreto, Dinagat Islands

Bislig, Surigao del Sur

Cortes (Lanuza Bay), Surigao del Sur

Province of Surigao del Norte

Midsayap, North Cotabato

Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

Polomolok, South Cotabato

Tampakan, South Cotabato

Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Kudarat

R E G I O N X

R E G I O N XI B A R M M

R E G I O N XI I I

R E G I O N XI I

mindanao


The Office of the Vice President believes that hunger

is a silent crisis that affects the lives of many of our

people. It is one of the most urgent issues we face

today, because the effects of stunting and malnutrition

are irreversible in children after the age of five.

To address this, the OVP has mobilized a total of

in nine areas, with the help of Assisi Development

Foundation, Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines

and Negrense Volunteers for Change, among others.

Aside from this, the OVP also supports innovative

solutions to address the root cause of hunger and

malnutrition in the country. This includes advocating

for sustainable agricultural practices and sharing these

models to other interested areas and communities.

₱18.92 millionworth of resources to conduct nutrition programs for

9,703 individuals


BM Jason hopes to establish the Champion Farmers

Institute to reach and encourage more farmers

everywhere, not only in Iloilo, to embrace sustainability

in their livelihood.

The Office of the Vice President believes that ensuring

food security in our communities does not only mean

giving them access to hot, nutritious meals. It also

means innovating agricultural practices, like sourcing

produce from farmers schools, to ensure that the

benefits will be long-term. To assist the Champion

farmers, the OVP, through Angat Buhay, has provided

additional livelihood subsidies and farm inputs to more

than 100 farmers in 19 barangays in Lambunao.

Enriching lives, from farm to table

In Lambunao, Iloilo, farming is king—or so it used to be. Despite

having abundant tracts of land for agriculture, the past years saw

a decrease in the number of farmers utilizing it, a situation that

then-Mayor Jason Gonzales found worrying. This issue led to

a number of other implications: families who depended on this

livelihood made little income, and children residing in the area

were malnourished.

To address the issue of undernourished children in the

community, Angat Buhay has brought several development

partners to see what can be done. One of them is Assisi

Development Foundation (ADF), who brought their Hapag-Asa

Integrated Nutrition Program to six barangays in Lambunao,

whose residents are indigenous peoples. Beneficiaries of this

program included 724 undernourished and underweight children

and 247 pregnant women. Aside from receiving vitamin- and

nutrient-rich meals, the communities were given intensive

lectures on the value of eating healthy food, and how to best

continue their progress beyond the feeding program. When the

initiative culminated this August, it was reported that almost

all beneficiaries have already achieved their normal,

healthy weight.

Magine Garin-Gutana from Hapag-Asa has been

with ADF for more than a decade and her dedication

in pushing the food security and nutrition agenda

in their partner communities has never faltered.

“We just cannot stop in doing the program, because

malnutrition is an emergency situation. It’s now or

never for these children,” she said.

Now a Board Member of Iloilo Province, Jason is

already focusing on how Lambunao’s project, the

Champion Farmers Program (CFP), can be a tool to

address food security in the province. The program was

initially BM Jason’s way to revive the farmers’ interest

in local farming, by combining values formation

with sustainable agriculture to increase the farmers’

production and income. Now it has become more

than that, as the CFP community continues to grow.

L A M B U N AO, I LO I LO


The Office of the Vice President aims to ensure

that each member of society has access to quality

healthcare. This includes improving maternal and child

well-being and providing assistance to the elderly and

persons with disability.

In San Remigio, Cebu, a mental health facility has been

built by the OVP, furnished with the help of Solanaland

Foundation Inc. and ANCOP Foundation USA, Inc.

of indigent patients from 8 areas have received

assistive devices such as wheelchairs, canes and

hearing aides, care of Physicians for Peace Philippines.

ANCOP USA also provided 120 hipseats and carriers,

and 39 nebulizers to

Through our program Metro Laylayan, several surgical,

dental, and medical missions have given free health

services and consultations to communities in need.

84

156

individuals

children with cerebral palsy.

A total of

70families


loved ones. The mental health program also raised

awareness among residents, as more patients approach

them and ask for help.

One of them is Linda*, 42, who thought it was

normal to hear voices in her head. She used to work

abroad, but was eventually sent home because she

was deemed unstable. In 2016, Linda was diagnosed

with schizophrenia, an illness she developed after

experiencing abuse from her husband. Since then,

she has been receiving treatment, with the help of

San Remigio RHU’s program and facilities. Now, Linda’s

condition has significantly improved, and she is able to

provide for her two children by selling food and snacks

in the comfort of their home.

Nurse Luth is proud of Linda’s progress, and reminds

everyone of the importance of self-care. “There is no

health without mental health,” she said.

*Names were changed to keep confidentiality.

In 2013, the Philippines suffered the onslaught of

Super Typhoon Yolanda. San Remigio, a small town

in Northern Cebu, was one of those badly hit, with

many houses swept by strong winds and floods, and

trees toppled to the ground. Many non-government

organizations came to the town to assess how they

could help, but as these groups surveyed the area,

they discovered something else: families hid and

restrained their mentally-unstable relatives in cages,

not knowing what to do with them.

It was during this time that Mayor Mariano Martinez

realized there was a problem. With the help of

Americares, an international NGO that focused on

health, a community-based mental health program was

launched. In February 2019, an Angat Buhay-funded

mental health facility—the first of its kind in Northern

Cebu—became operational. The facility was furnished

with the help of Angat Buhay partner Solanaland

Foundation Inc., while another partner, ANCOP

Foundation USA, Inc., donated an X-ray machine and

provided psychotropic medications for the patients.

From an initial count of 32 diagnosed mental health

patients in 2016, the San Remigio Rural Health Unit

has served 258 patients free of charge, some from

neighboring municipalities like Medellin and Bogo.

Nurse Luth Cabario, who has been part of the program

since the beginning, shares that families have learned

to become encouraging support systems to their

“There is no health without mental health.”

Finding hope in healingS A N R E M I G I O, C E B U


to parents who live far from doctors and hospitals,

because now, they can go to their regular check-ups

with much ease.

For Holly, these donations are a blessing for parents

like her, since many of them could barely afford to buy

these themselves. “Dati, talagang…10 percent lang

siguro, sa mga members namin iyong may nebulizer,

o kung anumang bagay na puwede po sa anak namin,

hindi namin maibigay,” she said. “Sa ngayon, malaking

pasalamat namin, lahat po ngayon nabibigyan na po,

nagkakaroon na po.” (Before, maybe only 10 percent of

our members have nebulizers, or have enough to give

our children what they need. But now, we are thankful

because each one of us were given these things.)

Caring for warriors

For most women, motherhood means learning to let go

of their children, little by little as the years pass by,

and watching them grow and be independent on

their own. But for mothers of cerebral palsy patients,

caring for their children is a life-long commitment born

out of love.

Annarose Salazar and Holly Lacbanes face these

struggles every day as they raise their sons. These

shared experiences led them to form CP CARES

Philippines, Inc., a support group for parents of cerebral

palsy patients—fondly called “warriors”—many of

whom seek care at the Philippine Children’s Medical

Center (PCMC) in Quezon City.

The Office of Vice President saw the need to help

these families after a visit to the PCMC in late 2018.

It has since tapped its Angat Buhay partner, ANCOP

Foundation USA, Inc., to provide hip seats and

nebulizers for the children during the first anniversary

of CP CARES Philippines in July 2019.

According to Annarose, the nebulizers were a big help

to their kids who had asthma—a common occurrence

among cerebral palsy patients. “[H]indi na po kami

iyong ganoong katakot. Anytime na sumpungin iyong

aming warrior, napapalagay na po iyong loob namin, kasi

kami mismo sa loob ng pamamahay namin, may gamit

na kami (We are not that scared anymore. Anytime

our warriors get sick, we don’t worry anymore, because

even in the comfort of our homes, we have the

equipment already),” she said.

The hip seats, meanwhile, would allow them more

freedom to move during their commute, even with

their children in tow. This is a huge help, especially Annarose Salazar Holly Lacbanes


The Office of the Vice President aims to achieve

accessible and inclusive quality education for each

Filipino child, while promoting love for learning

and ensuring they are skilled and equipped for

employment.

To do this, a total of

Every year, the OVP also takes part in Brigada Eskwela

to help public schools in their preparation for the

beginning of classes. This was made possible with

the help of partners like the American Chamber of

Commerce-Philippines (AMCHAM), Bato Balani

Foundation, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of

Commerce, Inc. (FICCI).

to equip the youth today with the right skills to prepare

them for employment. More than

has been built, including 81 classrooms, five

dormitories, learning spaces and utilities for students in

remote areas. We have also been able to provide

₱122.96 million

₱4.49 million

worth of educational infrastructure

worth of scholarships and technical training

₱8.27 millionworth of school kitshave also been provided for students in our adopted

communities.


mga magulang ko] dahil malapit na ako sa paaralan at

makaka-focus na ako sa aking pag-aaral (My parents

are very happy because I now live near the school, and

I can focus on my studies),” he said. Rain-Rain is the

only one studying among his four siblings, and believes

that education is the only way he can help his family

out of poverty.

The YBH, led by its president and co-founder Anton

Lim, also donated a computer set for the dorm and

carpentry tools for SNHS’ technical vocation students.

BEAGIVER, another Angat Buhay partner, also

awarded scholarships and donated bags and school

supplies for the dormers.

“If you want to change the life of a kid forever, you have

to educate them,” Anton said. “By making sure that

one kid will graduate, you’re saving not just one kid but

the whole family. And if you save one family, you save

one community.”

a job so that I can help my parents, so that I can give

them a better life),” she said.

SNHS Principal Dexter Fabricante said the dorms

helped in reducing distance-related dropout cases in

their school, and improved the academic performance

of those who used to skip classes. Loveliemay

Bontuyan, one of the house parents of the dormers,

said the facility also helped the students be more

independent, as they learned to do chores on their own.

One of them is Grade 12 student Rain-Rain Tusing,

17, who happily takes pride in being able to learn

how to cook rice for himself. “Sobrang saya po [ng

“If you want to change the life of a kid forever, you have to educate them.”

In Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte, once the poorest

municipality in the Philippines, students spend up to

six hours trekking mountains just to get to school—

either soaked in sweat under the scorching heat of the

sun, or drenched by the rain. One of them is Elgie Lais,

16, who used to wake up before daybreak, just to get to

Siayan National High School (SNHS) on time.

In July 2019, the Office of the Vice President and Angat

Buhay partner Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation (YBH)

turned over a girls’ dormitory to SNHS for the benefit

of students like Elgie who live far from campus. This

follows the boys’ dormitory that was turned over in

February 2018.

“Noon po kasi hindi ako makapag-aral nang maayos dahil

nahihirapan kami sa kuryente (Before, I could not study

well because we did not have electricity),” Elgie said.

Now, they can study well and do their assignments on

time. “Nais kong magtrabaho upang matulungan ko [ang

mga magulang ko], upang maiahon ko sila (I want to find

A step closer to a brighter futureSIAYAN , Z A MBOANG A DEL NORTE


sabihin o kung ano ang hitsura.” (This is different from

what we used to do...when we would rely on books.

This gives us an advantage, instead of asking us to

memorize the terminologies that we don’t understand

or haven’t seen before.)

Aside from Mulanay, CACS and Masflex KitchenPro

have been helping the OVP provide necessary kitchen

equipment for senior high students in other areas

like Panglao, Bohol and Santa Maria, Romblon.

This ensures that Grade 12 students have the

appropriate equipment to learn the necessary skills,

so that they can be employable, even after finishing

high school. This is important, especially in booming

tourist destinations like Panglao, where students have

higher chances of getting the job if they have the skills

needed by hotels and restaurants in the area.

When VP Leni Robredo visited Mulanay, Quezon in

February 2018, Sharmaine Funtilar and Zyrine Padilla,

both 19, were beside themselves with excitement. In

front of them were high-end kitchen equipment—

knives and pots, among others—that they only knew

from the illustrations in their textbooks. Now, it was

theirs to use.

Soon after, Sharmaine and Zyrine, Grade 12 Cookery

students from Bagupaye National High School

(BNHS) and Pakiing National High School (PNHS),

respectively, were selected as two of the four recipients

of the scholarships provided by Angat Buhay partners

A dream now within reach

Center for Asian Culinary Studies (CACS) and

Masflex KitchenPro. It was a two-month long

certificate program in Quezon City, where they honed

their skills in cooking, baking, food preparation, and

restaurant operations.

The all-expense-paid scholarship was funded by

the sales of KitchenPro items for the past five years.

Celebrity chef Gene Gonzalez, founder of CACS

and brand ambassador of KitchenPro, said this is his

way of sharing his passion for both Filipino cooking

and education.

“Ang advocacy namin, bukod na sa pagtuturo ng mga

makabago at tamang mga professional methods sa

pagluluto…ay ang paglalagay ng pagkaing Pilipino [bilang

isa] sa pinakamasarap at pinakasikat na cuisine sa buong

mundo,” he said. (Our advocacy, aside from being

able to teach modern and appropriate professional

methods in cooking…is to place Filipino food among

the most delicious and sought-after cuisines in the

entire world.)

For Sharmaine, this training takes her one step closer

to her dream of becoming a chef. As for Zyrine,

she will never forget the simple joy of preparing the

dishes and getting to taste them: “Ibang-iba sa ginawa

namin...na puro sa libro lang namin nakikita ang mga

iyon,” she said. “Advantage iyon, kaysa magsaulo lang

kami ng terminologies na hindi namin alam ano ibig

M U L A N AY, Q U E ZO N

Sharmaine Funtilar Zyrine Padilla


The immeasurable gift of education

Sitio Bugtong Lubi in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental is

one of the farthest municipalities in Angat Buhay’s list

of adopted communities. To get there requires riding a

habal-habal for up to two hours, crossing tricky terrain

that get slippery during the monsoon season. Despite

the distance and travel, this did not stop committed

partners like Roxas Foundation Inc., (RFI) to help our

students in need.

Last June 2019, RFI returned for the third time to

distribute 165 backpacks with school kits to students

of Magsaysay Integrated School (MIS). This is part

of their five-year commitment to reach out to school

communities by donating school supplies under its

education program, Tulong Aral.

RFI Executive Director Chaco Molina believes there

is no easy way to development, explaining the reason

behind the five-year project for schools like MIS. “We

know [that] every time we enter a project, it would be

a long-term engagement. There’s no shortcut,” he said.

“Development is hard work, hard work, hard work—

then, the sun will rise.”

Being a remote community, residents found it difficult

to access basic needs and services. Going downtown

requires a motor ride that costs P500 each way—a

price too expensive for locals in the area. For mothers

like Alma Panuevo, the school kits from RFI are a big

help, because they can save more money for the home.

Nanay Alma, 43, tries to stretch their meager budget

to care for 12 children—all except one are currently

studying in MIS. Their home is a three kilometer walk

going to school, but the children endure, because of

their eagerness to learn.

Not being able to afford the ride going to town, Nanay

Alma walks all the way down and traverses rocky trails

just to buy her family’s everyday needs. She said the

expenses at school, like uniforms, books and supplies,

were the most difficult to manage. Now, thanks to

RFI’s yearly distribution of school kits, they have more

money in their pockets.

The Office of the Vice President values the importance

of long-term partnerships because not only does this

contribute to the sustainability of the project but it

also ensures that students are staying in school and

are provided with the necessary tools to supplement

their education.

H I N O B A-A N , N EG R O S O CC I D E N TA L

“Development is hard work, hard work, hard work—then, the sun will rise.”


The advocacy of the Office of the Vice President

to provide shelter goes beyond building homes for

our fellowmen in need. We also need to focus on

ensuring access to basic needs, such as water and

electricity, especially in resettlement areas. By building

communities that are livable and resilient, we are

improving the quality of life of every Filipino family.

have been mobilized by partners such as Piso Para Sa

Laban Ni Leni, Sigma Delta Phi – Southern California

Alumnae Association, JS Unitrade, RAF International,

Uratex, JVR Foundation, EMCOR, United Architects

of the Philippines – Quezon City Elliptical Chapter,

and Metro Stonerich Corporation to help build the

transitory shelters and provide starter kits for

affected families.

now live in OVP’s Angat Buhay Village, a transitory

housing area catering to those displaced by the siege

in Marawi, Lanao del Sur.

₱12.89 million

A total of

More than

72 families


Operations to provide immediate relief assistance just

two days after the siege started. A total of P12.3-billion

worth of assistance, including food packs and hygiene

kits, community kitchens, water filters, livelihood and

education assistance, were turned over to families in

Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Cagayan de

Oro and Iligan City.

Jason Dalman, a student from XU who helped organize

Stand with Marawi, said it was difficult seeing so many

people being displaced because of the conflict. But

eventually, because of the help of many groups and

organizations, life in Marawi is changing. “Ang Maranao

ay napaka-resilient...Gumagawa sila ng paraan para

makaahon (Maranaos are very resilient. They find ways

to lift themselves up),” he said.

already, from every direction. My daughter and her

husband loaded their children into the car. They were

one of the first ones to leave the city.) The days that

followed were not easy, as they cramped in evacuation

centers with hundreds of others displaced by the war.

“Ang iba, natulog sa labas kasi wala na silang matirahan.

Gipit na gipit kami doon, parang sardinas (Others slept

outside because they had nowhere else to go. We

squeezed ourselves in tight spaces, like sardines in a

can),” he said.

Months before the siege started, the Office of the

Vice President had launched Angat Buhay in Lanao

del Sur, seeing the untapped potential of the province

and the rich culture that Marawi itself boasts of. A lot

had already been in store, waiting to happen: training

for women weavers of landap, a traditional Maranao

textile known for its vibrant and colorful design; farm

inputs for residents who depended on agriculture for a

living; scholarship and job opportunities for graduating

students, and more.

In fact, women from Marawi were in Manila a day

before the war began, to receive donations from

Metrobank Foundation, one of our Angat Buhay

partners. Plans of selling their cloth to bigger markets

were already underway, but because of the siege, the

weavers had no choice but to set aside their dreams.

With the help of student leaders from Xavier

University, the OVP mobilized the “Stand with Marawi”

On 23 May 2017, it was as if the world stopped, and all

eyes were watching the city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur

as armed militants stormed its streets, disrupting the

lives of hundreds of residents in the area. It was a five-

month siege that laid waste to the city—their homes,

schools and mosques left in ruins and riddled by bullets

from the battle.

Tatay Zubair, 65, was in Iligan when the first explosions

happened. It was his daughter who broke the news

to him, telling him to stay where they were and to not

come home yet. “Doon sa bahay namin putukan na,

kahit saang direksyon,” he recalled. “May sasakyan [ang

anak ko], kinarga niya iyong mga anak niya at asawa niya,

sila ang unang lumabas.” (Back home there was gunfire

It takes a villageM A R AW I , L A N AO D E L S U R

“Ang Maranao ay napaka-resilient...Gumagawa sila ng paraan para makaahon.”


After the siege, women weavers of Dayawan, like

Mocrimah Mohammad, 29, used the donation of

Metrobank Foundation to buy looms and threads, so

they can start weaving again. The Dayawan weavers

have also been linked to other Angat Buhay partners

like AKABA Ltd. Co., ECHOSI Foundation, and the

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to

help them develop their products and to introduce

them to larger, more diverse markets. Mocrimah has

also earned enough from weaving that now, she is

pursuing further studies to fulfill her lifelong dream

of being a teacher. “Kung wala iyon, I don’t think

makakabangon kami ulit (Without it, I don’t think we

could ever recover),” she said.

The most important part of helping Marawi recover

from the war is providing them with safe places where

they can thrive and return to their normal lives. So with

the help of our partners, we built the Angat Buhay

Village. Currently, there are 72 transitory shelters

built for residents of Marawi who were displaced by

the siege, and plans are underway to build more to

accommodate others.

“We are not just building houses but we are building a

community,” Jason said. “Ngayon, nandito na po sila sa

naibigay na bahay, at iyon iyong pinakamalaking aspeto…

Nakumpleto muli iyong optimism ng mga tao upang

[bumalik sa] ordinaryo nilang pamumuhay.” (Now, they

live in the houses given to them, and this is the biggest

aspect. They become optimistic in going back to living

their ordinary lives.)

For Nina Yuson, one of the organizers of Piso Para sa

Laban ni Leni, who donated P7.4 million to construct

the houses, this is the kind of work that people should

be doing right now. “Peacebuilding really starts in the

home,” she said. “How can you teach that if they don’t

take care of their basic needs?”

More than a year after the siege, residents of Marawi

are already waking up to better, brighter days. With

the help of Ernst and Young Philippines, an on-the-

job training program in Manila was offered to 17

accountancy students from Mindanao State University,

who thought their futures were lost because of the war.

One of the students, Mich Amerol, 21, said she found

her purpose again after her practicum experience.

Asked where she wanted to work in the future,

Mich said she prefers to stay in Marawi. “Great people

are just leaving Marawi behind…I think people should

start focusing on [its] improvement,” she said.

Once again, all eyes are on Marawi City—this time,

as it builds itself back up.

“Peacebuilding really starts in the home.”

41 Partner OrganizationsANCOP Foundation USA, Inc. Children’s HourCity Government of NagaCoca-Cola Foundation Costa BravaDepartment of EducationDouble Dragon Properties CorporationEMCOR Ernst and Young Philippines International Care MinistriesJollibee Group Foundation, Inc.JS UnitradeJVR Foundation Kaya Natin! MovementLatter-day Saints CharitiesLBC Foundation, Inc.Metrobank FoundationMuslim Christian Youth Alliance for Progress Negrense Volunteers for ChangeOKIR University Arts Club Operation CompassionPhilAm Foundation, Inc.Philippine Business for Social Progress Philippine Toy LibraryPhysicians for PeacePiso Para sa Laban ni Leni PrettyLooksRAF ForwardingSeaoil Foundation, Inc. Sigma Delta Phi – Southern California

Alumnae AssociationSolanaland Development Inc. SPARK! PhilippinesTeam Energy FoundationTOWNS FoundationTzu Chi FoundationUP Philippine General HospitalURATEXVice SquadXavier UniversityYoung Southeast Asian Leaders InitiativeYouth for Mental Health Coalition


in areas like Agutaya and Quinapondan, with the

help of our partners Team Energy and Solanaland

Foundation. This has helped families become more

productive and efficient, especially in the work that

they do at home.

The Office of the Vice President believes that the

Filipino family can thrive if given the opportunity and

support to rise to their fullest potential. This means

creating means for livelihood and income, such as

providing access to assets, introducing them to larger

markets, and opening inclusive supply chains.

A total of

6,214farmers and fisherfolk

₱13.53 millionworth of resources have been mobilized to

provide livelihood opportunities to

1,445indigent families

3,776 households

This includes giving them access to credit, farm

inputs and livelihood assets such as boats, livestock

and equipment. Partners such as Jollibee Group

Foundation have provided trainings and other

technical assistance that push us closer to the dream

of inclusive growth and development.

Aside from this, we have also energized a total of


squash to LCC in August 2019. The OVP is looking to

deepen this partnership with the shopping mall chain,

which has nearly 80 branches all over the region.

The Omasenso farmers were also able to expand

their reach through the Bishop Gainza Trade Fair in

September 2019. In the annual event, the farmers were

able to introduce their products—including rambutan

and lansones, cherry tomatoes, calamansi, lettuce,

and others—with their sales doing well during the

week-long affair.

Reaping the fruits of hard work

For farmers of Metro Naga, Camarines Sur who

joined Angat Buhay’s Omasenso sa Kabuhayan

program, fighting for a space in the market meant

changing mindsets—allowing themselves to learn new

technologies in order to produce better crops and to

answer the demands of the market, even if it meant

breaking away from the products they knew.

It was not an easy feat, one that required the support

of various stakeholders, including institutional buyers

across Metro Naga. But the efforts are now bearing

fruit for the 11 farmer organizations from across the

province—slowly but surely—as institutional buyers

look at them to supply crops such as calamansi, gabi,

ginger, lettuce, and sili.

For Robert Buayaban, 32, president of the Agripreneur

Farmers and Producers Association, Inc. of Libmanan,

Camarines Sur, the program has made them more

confident and proud of the work they do. “Dati,

may produkto kami, kaso kinakabahan kami kapag

harvest time, kasi hindi namin alam saan namin

ibebenta [ang mga produce namin], dahil wala kaming

buyer at maraming natitira sa mga tinanim namin na

nasasayang,” he said. “Ngayon, dahil sa Omasenso,

naging confident at panatag kami na may bibili na ng

mga produkto namin.” Kuya Robert now serves as

Cluster Lead of the Core Group of Omasenso, in an

effort to convince more farmers to join the program.

(Before, we had products, but we would be nervous

come harvest time, because we didn’t know where to

sell then, since we didn’t have buyers and there was

always a surplus of produce that would go to waste.

Now, because of Omasenso, we are more confident

and at peace, because we know someone will buy

our products.)

Among the growing number of partners is the Liberty

Commercial Center (LCC), a known shopping mall

chain in Bicol. Omasenso farmers from the towns of

Libmanan and Tigaon delivered a total of three tons

of produce that included calamansi, tomatoes, and

M E T R O N AG A

“Ngayon, dahil sa Omasenso, naging confident at panatag kami na may bibili na ng mga produkto namin.”


Earning from a new way of farmingIn 2007, farmers of Sumilao, Bukidnon walked 1,700

kilometers to Manila to protest their decades-long

struggle to own their ancestral land. They marched, not

only for their livelihood, but also for the generations to

come that would inherit and benefit from it. But years

after their monumental walk, successfully gaining back

what was theirs, farmers remained hungry. Some days

were spent getting up as early as three in the morning

and labor all day, only to earn too little from their toil.

Now, the Sumilao farmers face a new dawn.

The Office of the Vice President linked the farmers

with Pilipinas Shell Foundation to teach them about

modern techniques and provide them with a wider

range of options for diversifying their crops.

Pilipinas Shell introduced the integrated farming

and bio-systems (IFBS) training to our communities

in Sumilao, Tampakan in South Cotabato, and

Tinambac in Camarines Sur. A total of 690 farmers

were included in the program, where they learned

about the sustainable benefits of crop production and

animal agro-forestry, as well as converting farm wastes

into bio-organic fertilizers. They also studied about

soil erosion and pollution, and the dangers of using

chemicals and pesticides.

Through these new practices, they have been able to

increase their earnings, growing more than one crop

in their fields and raising livestock alongside it.

From earning P2,000 per crop, they are now earning

as much as P4,000 to P6,000—double their usual

income. Since the farmers are now organized, they are

able to sell their products in more public areas, like the

Sumilao public market, among others.

Farmers like Vic Lastima, 63, have also noticed that

some farmers who were not part of the program

became interested in organic farming. Since then, she

took it upon herself to impart what she has learned

to those who were not able to join the training.

“Tinuturuan namin sila noong nalalaman namin tapos

ine-encourage po namin sila na i-integrate na ‘yong farm

nila (We teach them what we know and encouraged

them to integrate this in their farms),” she said.

For James Bruma, program officer of Pilipinas Shell,

the impact of the program has always been meant

to benefit more than one batch of farmers. “Itong

programa na ito, tulungan mo iyong isa, hindi lang isa ang

makikinabang. Kunwari, tatay ang natulungan, pati iyong

kaniyang mga anak [natutulungan rin] (In this program,

when we help one, he or she is not the only one who

benefits. For example, when we help the father, we are

also helping his children),” he said.

S U M I L AO, B U K I D N O N

“Itong programa na ito, tulungan mo iyong isa, hindi lang isa ang makikinabang.”


Brgy. Cambilla in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar sits on

top of a mountain, 4.5 kilometers away from the main

highway. Because of its remoteness, it is considered as

one of the farthest and most inaccessible communities

in the province.

When Angat Buhay first visited the community to

conduct a needs assessment in the area, we saw that

there were still households that did not have electricity.

Risalyn Yaquit, 27, a farmer’s wife and a mother of

three, has been living in Brgy. Cambilla for six years,

and has relied heavily on a kerosene lamp for light. The

family spends P20 for every bottle of gas, which usually

lasts them three days.

Last year, with the help of Angat Buhay partner

Team Energy Foundation, Inc. (TEFI), we were able

to provide solar kits for 15 households, including the

Yaquit family. Each kit was composed of light bulbs,

a cellphone charger, radio, panel lamp, battery,

and adaptor.

According to TEFI Executive Director Ricky de Castro,

their primary advocacy has always been rural

electrification. “TEFI works with communities that

are in dire need of basic services with some focus

on sustainable energy,” he said. In working with

Angat Buhay on this endeavor, he said: “Nothing can

be more impactful than the private sector working

with government.”

When Nanay Risa found out that she was one

of the beneficiaries, she was overjoyed. Since then,

their daily life has become easier: they can save the

money used to buy petroleum; her three kids can

already study from afternoon until evening; and now,

Risa can attend to household chores and be more

productive by working on the side.

Aside from Quinapondan, TEFI has also helped the

Office of the Vice President energize 317 households

in Agutaya, Palawan. Another Angat Buhay partner,

Solanaland Foundation. Inc., has helped us bring solar

kits to a Tadyawan IP community in Pola, Mindoro.

When light comes againQ U I N A P O N DA N ,

E A S T E R N S A M A R

“Nothing can be more impactful than the private sector working with government.”


The Office of the Vice President believes in giving our

women today economic, social and political spaces

of influence to participate in, which will facilitate their

growth and contribution to community development.

Several programs and awareness campaigns have been

launched to make this possible.

The OVP, together with the Embassy of Sweden,

SPARK Philippines and Empower, launched

#RespetoNaman, a campaign focused on bringing

an end to gender-based violence (GBV).

The project hopes to normalize the discussion on

GBV, empowering victims to speak up, and getting the

message across to the general population. After the

campaign’s successful run in Metro Manila, it has been

the campaign has also been launched in Cagayan

de Oro, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Naga.

The OVP and the United Nations Population Fund

(UNFPA) also worked together to start the

Babaenihan campaign, which aims to raise awareness

about the rise of teenage pregnancies in the country.

Community and national level talks have already been

conducted in the following areas: San Fernando

in Pampanga, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Pili in

Camarines Sur, Cubao in Quezon City, and Iloilo City

in Iloilo.

A program for women political leaders called

Angat Bayi was also launched, through the support

of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives - Philippines,

in partnership with the University of the Philippines -

Center for Women’s Gender Studies. As of 2019,

a total of 18 women leaders in local governments have

already graduated from the program.


“We are prolonging the campaign for the whole year,

and [will] extend it outside of Metro Manila,” he said,

adding that #RespetoNaman will be brought to more

provinces soon.

After the campaign’s successful run in Metro Manila,

it has been making its way around the Philippines,

visiting places like Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Bacolod,

Iloilo, and Naga. Forums were also held on sexual

harassment and rape in schools and in the workplace.

#RespetoNaman also includes a year-long roaming

Women empowerment is not only giving women

economic opportunities but also creating a space

where women can feel safe, pursue their fullest

potential, and actually be successful.

Last November 2018, the Office of the Vice President

—in partnership with UN Women, the Embassy

of Sweden in Manila, SPARK Philippines and

Empower—launched #RespetoNaman, a nationwide

campaign against gender-based violence. Inspired

by the #MeToo movement in the US and the

#DontTellMeHowToDress campaign in Thailand,

it aims to bring the issue of rape and sexual

harassment into light and to empower women and

girls to speak up. It campaigns for change in policy,

better practices, and rehabilitation for victims of

gender-based violence in the country.

Swedish ambassador to Manila Harald Fries said he

hopes that this campaign will have an impact, in that

more people will be aware of the problem at hand.

Creating safe spaces for Filipinas

exhibit, “Don’t Tell Me How to Dress,” which aims to

ignite dialogues to end the culture of victim-blaming,

sexual violence, and harassment.

Last July 2019, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2019

Resham Saeed was introduced as #RespetoNaman’s

celebrity ambassador. Saeed said she hopes to use her

platform to encourage women to speak up and let their

voices be heard.

“These issues…they exist, and for them to cease

existence, for us to have a better world tomorrow,

actions are necessary,” she said. “These conversations

are tough conversations to have…but it’s important for

people to continue doing this, so we can have a better

future, so we can educate ourselves, and prepare for

the circumstances.”

The work does not stop at making people aware.

As Saeed said, what matters is what we do with what

we know. “Inspire people to join the movement,

to push forward, to create real sustainable change.

Conversations are great, but actions have to follow.”

“Inspire people to join the movement, to push forward, to create real sustainable change. Conversations are great, but actions have to follow.”

Photo courtesy of SPARK! Philippines. 65A N G A T B U H A Y64 A N G A T B U H A Y

In 2017, a year into Angat Buhay, the Office of the Vice President intended to create a mechanism that would

sustain and nurture its collaborative initiatives with local government units under the flagship program. Together

with Seaoil Foundation, a leadership training program was offered to local chief executives, patterned after the

Bridging Leadership framework that pushes the values of being immersed, engaged and results-driven.

A total of 34 local chief executives graduated from the two-year Bridging Leadership Program. To further motivate

the LGUs in the implementation of their local projects, Seaoil Foundation gave monetary grants that local

government leaders can use to implement projects in their community. The awarding ceremony recognized

10 LGUs, judged on their project’s positive results, community participation, social innovation and public narrative.

Among the top awardees are: Lambunao, Iloilo for its Champion Farmers’ Program; San Joaquin, Iloilo for its

Angat Kababaihan initiative; and San Remigio, Cebu, for its mental health program.


Leadership and servicewith a heart Mayor Carolyn “Sweet” Reyes of Pilar, Sorsogon

never thought she would be a public servant. She was

a businesswoman, something she wanted to be since

she was little. It was only when she married a politician,

then-mayor Dennis Reyes, when she realized her

true calling.

Pilar was already riding the momentum of

development when her husband’s term was about to

end, and so, the responsibility to continue his programs

fell on the hands of Mayor Sweet. Before running for

office, she visited communities first to see for herself

the real condition of the people on the ground.

There, she saw that so much remains to be done.

Fueled by this passion to serve, Mayor Sweet

pursued her candidacy in 2016, and won.

Mayor Sweet’s dream was simple: to uplift the

economic status of every Pilareño. She did this by

capacitating farmers and empowering the youth,

among others. She was passionate about women’s

rights, so she looked for livelihood opportunities for

nanays, conducted seminars to raise awareness against

gender-based violence (GBV), and overall, organized

women as a sector.

Her advocacy for women was also at the forefront,

when Mayor Sweet joined the Office of the Vice

President’s Angat Buhay Bridging Leadership Training

and Fellowship Journey. The two-year program

hopes to inculcate in local chief executives the value

of ownership and cross-sector collaboration in the

way they lead and govern—giving them a deeper

understanding of the issues around them and come up

with inclusive solutions that would best benefit

their stakeholders.

During her practicum, Mayor Sweet conceptualized

“PATAS” or Pantay na Pagtratar sa Lambang Saro

(Equality for one and all), a program that aims to

reduce the incidence of GBV by at least 60% in five

target barangays in Pilar. For this project, the LGU was

recognized as a Special Awardee during an Awarding

Ceremony last February 2019, and received a cash prize

of P55,000 from Seaoil Foundation. The OVP, through

Angat Buhay, has also committed to help the LGU

build “Home Sweet Home”—a temporary shelter for

women and children who were victims of abuse.

Reflecting on her experience, Mayor Sweet

emphasized the importance of listening with empathy

and allowing the people to have ownership of programs

in the community.

“Kung anuman ang puwede kong gawin dito, by heart,

gagawin ko, kasi ito ang pinangako ko sa tao (Whatever

I can do, by heart, I will, because this is what I promised

my people),” she said. “Kung maibubuhos natin iyong

puso natin…nakikita [natin] na mas involved iyong tao,

kasi naintindihan nila (If we pour our heart into this,

we can see that people are more involved, because

they understand).”


Organized by young people for young people, Angat

Buhay Youth aims to mobilize young Filipinos today to

join the fight against poverty, by providing them with

skills and support needed to implement development

projects in their respective communities.

The pioneering batch of the program included over

60 youth organizations from all over the country,

empowered to create meaningful change through their

passion and advocacies.

A total of three summits have been launched in

Manila, Mindanao, and ARMM, tapping the creativity

and innovativeness of over 220 youth leaders in solving

the problems our nation face today. Meanwhile, a

three-month fellowship program for 40 young leaders

in government started in September 2019, which aims

to strengthen the foundations of good governance in

the minds of our modern-day public servants.


Hope manifested through action Two years and four successful summits since it was

first launched, Angat Buhay Youth (ABY) continues to

empower young Filipinos to make impactful change in

their communities.

Last February 2019, various youth organizations that

participated in past ABY summits gathered at the ABY

Padayon Alumni Fellowship, with the goal of harvesting

best practices. One of them was the Oro Youth

Development Council (OYDC), the youth policy-

recommending body of Cagayan De Oro.

OYDC founder, Atty. Ernesto Neri, said their ABY

experience helped them develop programs that

“address the deep-seated issues at the margins

of society.” OYDC used their seed grant from the

ABY summit in funding their anti-human trafficking

initiative.

“I dream of a country [where] you can prosper

and thrive regardless of where you come from,

your background… To realize this vision, I think it is

important for the youth to first buy in that idea, and

then organize themselves around those ideas,”

Neri said.

In partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Philippines, the Office of the Vice President

also opened the Angat Buhay Young Leaders in

Government Fellowship (ABYLGF) in September 2019,

a leadership training program where young leaders can

explore their leadership values and goals, and learn

new skills in participatory governance.

ABYLGF mentor and art therapist Susan Quimpo

led a session on visioning the self and highlighted the

importance of having idealistic people in government.

“One thing that we want to [do] is to give hope. These

are very trying times not just in our country but in the

entire world… And so it is important most especially

for youth in government to still rekindle that hope and

then lead their countries into the right path,” she said.

ABYLG participant Ranel Cheng, who is a senior

economic development specialist at NEDA, said

hope is not just something we should look for. “Hope,

I realized now that I am in government, is something

[you have to work on]…Hope means being able to find

the light, but also in a way [being] the light to others.”

Other ABY projects slated for the coming months

include: an event for young peace advocates, which

seeks to create a hub of ideas for peace-building

initiatives; and a conference for Sangguniang Kabataan

officials that aims to capacitate the youth in finding

solutions to various community issues.

This way, the OVP hopes to empower our young

people today to take an active role in nation-building,

and turn this hope into action that will shape a better,

brighter future for all.

“Hope means being able to find the light, but also in a way [being] the light to others.”


Angat Buhay Women places a more focused lens on

the women empowerment advocacy of the Office

of the Vice President, in that it seeks to invest in the

capacities of our women to actively participate in

the decision-making process within their families

and communities. This means increasing their

awareness on business and women’s rights,

influencing communities to be gender-responsive,

and providing avenues and channels for women to

engage in business.

A total of 108 participants from Visayas and Mindanao

joined our entrepreneurship programs, which allowed

them to learn business hands-on and meet with

larger markets where they can sell their products.

This was made possible with the help of our partners,

SPARK Philippines, J. Amado Araneta Foundation,

Seaoil Foundation, and the Philippine Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, among others.


Now, Perla is well-known not just for her business

success, but also because she mentors other women as

well who have been abused or marginalized.

Nanay Perla is just one of the many inspiring

participants of the Angat Buhay Women Workshop for

Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (WAWE), a capacity

development training program focused on developing

the competencies needed by entrepreneurs who come

from the poorest communities in the country.

The first run of WAWE for 30 aspiring women

entrepreneurs in Mindanao was held last September

2018, in partnership with SPARK Philippines and Seaoil

Foundation. The participants were asked to come up

with a written business and financial plan and to pitch

their business proposals. At the end of the program,

all of them also received seed grants to jumpstart their

own businesses.

“[It is] something so basic, something so simple… but

when a woman can make her choices and she can do

with whatever she earns, that is empowerment,” said

Maica Teves, Executive Director of SPARK.

AB WAWE was also launched last July 2019 in Visayas,

where 31 aspiring entrepreneurs like Nanay Perla were

taught how to effectively run a business. Thanks to our

partners, SPARK and J. Amado Araneta Foundation

(JAAF), seed grants were also given to each

Empowering Women to Be the Best They Can BePerla Bacuna, 75, is a single mother from Roxas City,

Capiz. For 25 years, she was a victim of domestic

violence, losing all of her livelihood, self-worth and

self-esteem to an abusive husband who hit her

every day. All this, until one day, she decided she had

enough. With nothing but her nine children, she left

their house. Eventually, Perla found a way to make a

living, picking up capiz shells from the seashore and

transforming them into shell crafts. Through this, she

successfully raised all her children single-handedly.

participant. A one-stop shop for government services

was also set up for participants to learn about the basic

rules in business processes.

“Mahirap magkamali kapag nag-invest [tayo] sa nanay,”

said Diane Romero, Executive Director of JAAF. “If you

help the nanays, iyong multiplier effect niya, malaki.

You don’t just help the person, you help the whole

family, you help the whole barangay.” (You can’t go

wrong if you invest in mothers. If you help the mothers,

the multiplier effect is there.)

As for Perla and the other women entrepreneurs, the

OVP is hoping that they will be able to improve and

expand their businesses in the coming months.

“Mahirap magkamali kapag nag-invest [tayo] sa nanay.”


Servehappy JobsSocial Security System (SSS)Southern Global Services Multi-purpose

Cooperative Staffwise Solutions IncTechnical Education and Skills Development

Authority - NCRThe Eagle Guard Global Security Services, Inc.Trail AdventoursUnilever Philippines, Inc.University of the Philippines - Philippine General

HospitalV-Cargo Worldwide

To engage with the urban poor sector, Angat Buhay

launched Metro Laylayan. Since it started in June 2017,

10 cities and municipalities have been visited,

providing services and opportunities for livelihood

for many communities.

Angat Buhay partners Philippine Association of

Pharmacists in the Pharmaceutical Industries (PAPPI)

and Merck Sharpe and Dohme (MSD) have been

helping us deliver medical services to our communities,

while organized groups such as Alitaptap, Democratic

Alliance Movement Philippines-International

(DAMPI), Hapinoy, Metro United Livelihood

Initiatives Inc., Jobstreet Work Abroad, Lingap sa

Laylayan ng Lipunan, Rotary Club of San Juan North,

and RAF International Forwarding, have helped us

open livelihood opportunities and provide monetary

assistance to our communities in need.

92 Partner Organizations7 Star Manpower Services of the Philippines

CorporationAAI Worldwide Logistics, Inc.Adventurer’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative

(AMCOOP)AlitaptapAlpha Delta Mu SorrorityANCOP Foundation USA, Inc. Asiapro Multipurpose Cooperative Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI)Astoria Culinary and Hospitality Institute (ACHI)Barangay Tumana OfficeBayan Academy for Social Entrepreneurship and

Human Resource Development Big Apple Express SpaBlack Arrow ExpressChildren’s Hour Philippines Foundation, Inc.City Government of MuntinlupaComm Trend Construction CorporationDAMPIDepartment of HealthDuBredo ArmyFamilyDOCFederation of Indian Chambers of Commerce

Phils. Inc.Ferino’s BibingkaFresh Salon & SpaGawa at Kalinga Labor Service CooperativeGenerika DrugstoreGokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc.Gruppo EslabonHapinoyIntegrated Bar of the PhilippinesJobStreet PhilippinesJollibee Group Foundation, Inc.Juan PortraitKythe Foundation, Inc.L’Oreal PBSPLakan Bakor Foundation, Inc.Latter-day Saints Charities Philippines, Inc.LCRLikhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc

Lingap sa Laylayan ng LipunanLots‘A Pizza, Inc.Love BagsManila Medical Society, Inc.McBride CorporationMerck, Sharpe, and Dohme Corporation (MSD)Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc.Metro United Livelihood Initiatives, Inc. (MULI)Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation, Inc.Office of Cong. Edgar R. EriceOffice of Cong. Emi G. Calixto-RubianoOffice of Cong. Manny LopezOffice of Cong. Romero S. QuimboOffice of Mayor Antolin A. OretaOffice of Mayor Antonio CalixtoOffice of Mayor Edwin AlvarezOffice of Mayor Jaime R. FresnediOffice of Mayor John Rey TiancoOffice of Mayor Miguel F. Ponce IIIOffice of Mayor Rex Manuel C. TanjuatcoPag-Asa Steel Works, Inc.Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko,

Industria at Gobyerno (PAG-IBIG)Paranaque City Health OfficePeanut WorldPhilippine Association of Pharmacists in the

Pharmaceutical IndustryPhilippine Health Insurance Corporation

(PhilHealth)Physicians for Peace Philippines, Inc.Pinoy Laughter YogaPowerminds Asia, Inc.Public Employment Service Office (Malabon,

Navotas, Pasay) RAF International Fowarding Philippines, Inc.Renegade Leather Enterprise Limited - Hong KongReyes HaircuttersRIPARORotary Club of MakatiRotary Club of San Juan NorthSentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal

(SALIGAN)

ten areasC A LO O C A NPAT E R O SM A L A B O NN AVOTA SPA S AYM A R I K I N AM U N T I N LU PAPA R A Ñ AQ U ETA N AYM A N I L A

June 2017

June 2017

July 2017

Aug 2017

Sept 2017

Dec 2017

Jan 2018

Feb 2018

June 2018

Nov 2018


Helping the pamilya sa laylayan

In its commitment to serve the pamilya sa laylayan,

the Office of the Vice President has sought ways on

how to help even the disenfranchised families living

in urban areas. With the help of almost 100 partner

organizations, the OVP has brought our Metro

Laylayan program to 10 areas, helping 339 families and

7,606 individuals through various interventions.

One family that the OVP was able to help is the

Antipuesto family from Parañaque. Prudencio, 44,

and Jane, 38, met when he moved from Zamboanga

to Cubao to work in a construction site. Eventually,

they got married and moved to Parañaque, where

Prudencio’s brother lived. Here, they sold bopis,

a spicy dish of minced pork innards cooked in onions,

garlic and chili. Prudencio saw the potential of the

business, so he set up a sidecar and used it to sell the

food in the streets. He has been doing this for 19 years.

What they earn from a day of work is usually enough

for the family expenses, but if Prudencio doesn’t ride

his mobile bopis cart, they won’t have anything to eat.

“Kapos kapag hindi nagtitinda (It’s not enough if I don’t

sell),” he said, adding that most of their expenses go

to buying school materials for their three children, and

getting the ingredients that will be used to cook bopis

for the next day.

Through our partners, the Antipuesto family received

a similar livelihood seed fund, which they used to

replace the old wooden sidecar and additional capital

for buying the needed ingredients. Prudencio hopes

to stabilize the business, so he can focus on building a

better home for his family.

These interventions have allowed the OVP to touch

base with many other urban poor organizations in

different parts of the country, each raising their own

issues they faced in their respective communities.

Plans of conducting an urban poor summit is

underway, to provide a space where different urban

poor organizations can gather and share their best

practices in addressing the needs of the sector.

Assemblies such as this reinforce OVP’s commitment

to people empowerment, one of the foundations that

ensure a democratic society that works for all.


PublicAssistanceThe Medical and Burial Assistance program

has been a staple service provided by the Office

of the Vice President to indigent Filipinos from

different parts of the country.

As of September 2019, the program has benefited

through Office-Based Assistance and

43,545 individuals

13,022 individuals

through

25 partnerhospitals.


Social worker Chelet Loiz, who works at the EAMC,

said because of the partnership with OVP, the hospital

has been able to serve more satisfied clients because

of the fast turnover of Guarantee Letters. As of

September 2019, the program has benefited 43,545

individuals through Office-Based Assistance and

13,022 individuals through 25 partner hospitals.

Commitment to quality service To ensure quality service, the Office of the Vice

President has taken great strides in ensuring a better

experience for clients and improve the scope and

delivery of medical and burial assistance to

indigent Filipinos.

In an effort to align with the best practices of other

agencies with similar programs, the OVP recently

strengthened its own program by establishing a

service delivery network that minimizes the provision

of cash to clients and shifting to the provision of

Guarantee Letters. This will allow the office to adopt

a systematic and targeted approach in identifying

and assisting poor, marginalized, vulnerable,

and disadvantaged individuals.

Expanding its program reach, the Public Assistance

Division established partnerships with various service

providers, not only within the metro, but also in

Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. With the help

of partner institutions and implementing agencies, the

OVP has been able to bring its social services program

to more areas nationwide.

25 Partner HospitalsAmai Pakpak Medical Center (Marawi, Lanao del Sur)B. Braun Avitum Philippines, Inc. Dialysis CenterBicol Medical Center (Naga City, Camarines Sur)Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (Legazpi City, Albay)Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital

(Bacolod, Negros Occidental)Dr. Jose Rodriguez / Tala Hospital (Valenzuela)East Avenue Medical Center (Quezon City)Jose R. Reyes Memorial Hospital (Manila)Lung Center of the Philippines (Quezon City)Manila Doctors Hospital (Manila)National Childrens Hospital (Quezon City)National Kidney Transplant Institute (Quezon City)Navotas City Hospital (Navotas City)Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Manila)Philippine Childrens Medical Center (Quezon City)Philippine Heart Center (Quezon City)Philippine Orthopedic Center (Quezon City)Rizal Medical Center (Pasig)Schistosomiasis Control and Research (Palo, Leyte)St. John Biocare and Dialysis CenterSt. Theresa Dialysis CenterTherapy Management Services Philippines, Inc. Dialysis CenterValenzuela Medical Center (Valenzuela City)Western Visayas Medical Center (Mandurriao, Iloilo)Western Visayas Sanitarium (Santa Barbara, Iloilo)

One of the program’s beneficiaries is two-year-old

Princess Cyanne Dominguez, who has cancer.

Her aunt, Analyn Paelma, sought assistance from

the OVP, knowing that the office can help provide for

their needs.

“Ang OVP kasi madaling lapitan at alam naming

tumutulong sila sa mga mahihirap na gaya namin,”

Analyn said. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa napakabilis na

proseso ng pagkuha ng Guarantee Letter. Hindi kami

nahirapan sa paghingi ng tulong dahil approachable ang

mga staff.” (We know that the OVP is approachable,

and we know they help the poor like us. I am thankful

that the process of getting a Guarantee Letter is fast

and easy. We did not have a hard time in requesting for

assistance because the staff were approachable.)

Analyn said the Guarantee Letter helped in ensuring

that Princess Cyanne was discharged immediately after

treatment. Today, Princess Cyanne and her family have

returned home to Bulan, Sorsogon. She is now more

energetic and can play again. 85A N G A T B U H A Y84 A N G A T B U H A Y

In the face of several calamities that had devastating

effects to our people in the past year, the Office of

the Vice President coordinated with various local

government units as well as our Angat Buhay partners

to send help where aid is needed.

A total of

worth of resources from our partners have been

mobilized for disaster response and rehabilitation,

while the Office of the Vice President was able to fund

a total of

from its own. A total of

207,244families

₱71.06 million

₱48.96 million1,022individuals

have been assisted.


RAF International recognizes the important role of

collaboration between private and public institutions

when it comes to disaster relief and rehabilitation.

“RAF will not be able to provide the right kind

of assistance if not for the efforts put in by the

government agencies we have worked with,”

RAF President Judith Azarcon said. “As a partner,

we have learned that helping others becomes more

effective when all the participants share the same goal.

Helping others need not be a burden.”

During times of disasters, collaboration is key in

ensuring that we reach the farthest, poorest, and

smallest communities. With the help of partners who

aim toward the same goal, we can help more of our

countrymen bounce back.

Responding togetherin the face of danger On the early morning of July 27, 2019, just before

dawn, the residents of Itbayat woke up to the ground

trembling, as a 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook

the archipelago. As dust settled, residents saw the

scope of the quake’s destruction: homes and schools

crumbled to the ground, and major infrastructures like

government and commercial buildings were reduced

to piles of debris. Even the famous limestone houses of

Batanes, known for their resilience from typhoons and

harsh weather conditions, were no match to the force

of the earthquake.

Just days after the calamity struck, the Office of the

Vice President, led by VP Leni Robredo, flew to Itbayat

to personally assess the damage, provide relief items,

and find out how to help the victims during their

time of need. Together with Angat Buhay partners

Latter-Day Saints Charities Philippines and

Manila Water Foundation, straw mats, food packs,

and bottled water were turned over to evacuation

centers. Various donors also donated medicines and

were distributed to those in need.

The OVP considers itself lucky to have found

dependable partners who have been instrumental

in delivering immediate relief assistance to disaster-

affected areas. Latter-day Saints has been joining

the OVP in almost all of its disaster relief operations,

providing relief goods to those affected by typhoons

and landslides.

Another one of Angat Buhay’s partners, RAF

International, stands at the forefront of the OVP’s

disaster response operations. Given the challenge of

transporting relief goods to areas where calamities

hit, RAF International’s expertise in logistics and

transportation has been crucial in making sure that aid

reaches those who need it the most.

“As a partner, we have learned that helping others becomes more effective when all the participants share the same goal. Helping others need not be a burden.”


The Angat Buhay Sustainable Livelihood and Training

is a program that aims to improve the socio-economic

conditions of individuals and groups that would want

to start or scale up their respective business initiatives

by giving them access to financial assistance.

The Office of the Vice President has provided a total of

have been assisted by the program.

worth of projects and trainings to beneficiaries in need,

including farm inputs, livestock, product development

and relevant trainings. A total of

₱6.25 million

474 individuals


Sustainable livelihoodfor emerging farmers In March 2018, Angat Buhay distributed livestock

subsidy to select families in Samar under the

Sustainable Livelihood and Training (SLT)

intervention—a program designed to provide financial

and technical assistance to those who want to

jumpstart their small-scale businesses. The subsidy

includes procurement of livestock animals, feeds,

vitamins, and construction of pens. Beneficiaries also

received relevant training that will help them in taking

care of the animals.

Jessie Odtojan, 42, from Gandara, Samar, is a person

with disability, preventing him from doing physical

work. He was one of those who received a carabao

from OVP, which his family can use in farming.

Tatay Jessie will also be able to source milk from the

carabaos, creating keseo—a cheese delicacy that

is known in Gandara. “Pangarap ko [na] makatulong

sa aking pamilya,” he said. “Kahit ganito lang ako,

nakatulong ako para sa aking pamilya…[dahil] may

naibigay ang Angat Buhay.” (I have always dreamed of

helping my family. Despite my disability, I was able to

help them because Angat Buhay gave this to us.)

Before receiving three hogs, Jose Busa from

Balangkayan, Eastern Samar, 58, sold carabao meat

for a living. Now, taking care of the pigs has become a

family affair: his wife and children have learned how to

raise and feed the animals. The income they get from

hog raising is also bigger compared to before. For the

first harvest, for instance, Tatay Jose earned P9,000

for selling one pig. The other two pigs were sold during

a town fiesta, where he yielded P16,000. He used the

money to buy an inahin (mother pig) to keep the

business sustainable, and saved the rest to purchase a

carabao in the future.

Inocencio Elospa, 51, a fisherman from Quinapondan,

Eastern Samar, also received three hogs as an

additional source of income to provide for his family.

While he was at sea, his wife Myra took care of

the pigs. Together, they have multiplied what was given

to them: they sold all the pigs for P22,000, and used

the earnings to buy five hogs, feeds, and constructed a

temporary pig pen to maintain the business.

Like the others, Nanay Myra dreams that this will be

enough to ensure the future of their family. “Pangarap

ko na makapagtapos iyong mga anak ko… [at] magtatayo

na kami ng bahay [na] hindi na [inaanod] ng tubig (It is

my dream that my children finish their studies. We will

build a high house that won’t get flooded),” she said.


Istorya ng Pag-asa (INP) is one of the flagship

projects under the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

A travelling photo gallery that features stories of hope

of everyday Filipinos, INP was originally part of Quezon

City’s annual reading advocacy program “Araw ng

Pagbasa, Araw ng Pag-asa.” It was officially adopted by

the OVP on 27 November 2016 at the Ayala Museum,

in an effort to change the conversation and fight

negativity and misinformation with true stories of

hope. By spreading extraordinary stories of ordinary

Filipinos, INP aims to inspire, empower and unify all

Filipinos in their shared struggles, triumphs and hopes.

In recognizing extraordinary acts and heroic deeds,

INP serves as a reminder of the Filipino’s strength,

compassion and resiliency to rise above and triumph

against all odds, especially in these trying times.

Since 2016, INP has launched and opened its galleries

in 30 key areas and cities nationwide, featuring over

400 homegrown stories. INP Partners include socio-

civic groups and local government units, extending its

reach even to different schools and universities.

Filipino communities abroad have also partnered with

the OVP in bringing INP to New York, Vancouver,

Berlin, London and Hong Kong. INP opened its first

photo gallery abroad in March 2019, featuring the

stories of OFWs in Hong Kong.

In an effort to reach more people, INP has also

tapped more platforms where we can start changing

the conversation. In May 2017, the first episode of

the BISErbisyong LENI radio program aired on Radio

Mindanao Network (RMN), featuring Nanay Lorna

Tambaoan as its first INP guest. Since then, the INP

segment has become a regular feature of the show,

dedicated to showcasing guests whose stories inspire

and give hope to viewers and listeners. The radio

program, hosted by VP Leni Robredo and RMN’s

Ka Ely Saludar, airs live every Sunday from 9 to 10AM

on DZXL 558-Manila, with live simulcast on RMN’s

stations in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Naga.

The show is also streamed live on Facebook,

through the RMN and VP Leni Robredo pages.

97I S T O R Y A N G P A G - A S A96 I S T O R Y A N G P A G - A S A

an astronaut—so she took flying lessons to be a pilot.

Chezka continued to work as a flight attendant but

during her days off, she would travel to Bulacan for

her ground schooling and flying class. She eventually

got her commercial plane pilot license and now flies

an Airbus 320 as a First Officer of Air Asia. Since then,

Chezka has been featured in commercial ads, and has

been invited to share her stories to others. Some of her

colleagues even told her that they were also studying

to be a pilot because of her.

Mabini Colleges High School and eventually became

a scholar at the Mariner’s Polytechnic College

Foundation in Naga City. Being one of the youngest

licensed marine officers in the country, he had hoped

to join the Philippine Coast Guard in order to serve

more. However, during a medical exam, the doctors

found a tumor in his lungs. Despite this, Jerome

remained hopeful and positive: he received treatment

to remove the tumor, and even went back to school

again--this time studying law, with the help of a

scholarship from the Philippine Law School.

Even as a kid, Jerome experienced great challenges.

He used to walk two to three kilometers just to get to

school. His father died when he was in the Grade 4,

and his mother was forced to leave them behind and

work abroad. Unfortunately, Jerome’s mother died in

2008, leaving him to take care of his younger sister and

elderly grandmother. Jerome became a scrap trader

under the program of the Daet municipal government

for the employment of students. During the harvest

season, he also worked in the rice fields to earn extra

income to support the family. Despite this, he still

managed to graduate as Valedictorian of

Ferdinand, or “Ding” to his friends and family, suffered

from polio when he was just five years old, leaving him

without the use of one hand and both legs. Despite his

disability, he was able to establish himself as a TESDA-

certified electronic technician. Ding now runs his own

electronics repair shop in Puerto Princesa. He also

designs and assembles special customized wheelchairs

to fit the needs of other persons with disabilities, and

even uses one for himself. Ding inspires others as a

regular volunteer at the Bahatala Rehabilitation Center,

where he is a regular speaker, trainer, and mentor to

newcomers.

JeromeDA E T, C A M A R I N E S S U R

DingP U E R TO P R I N S E S A , PA L AWA N

Antonio is the youngest of 10 kids. Early in his life, he

experienced discrimination because of his appearance:

he had skinny arms and no lower extremeties.

Despite his circumstance, Antonio would travel

over 10 kilometers just to get to class. Antonio was

hardworking: he spent his free time working at a

coconut stall owned by his aunt so he had money in

his pocket going to school. Antonio was also faithful:

Before the day began, he made it a point to always

attend Mass. This was where the parish priests of

St. Raphael the Archangel Church saw him and

pledged to help finance his studies. Currently,

Antonio is taking up Computer Hardware Servicing

and aims to be the first in his family to finish college.

For Antonio, no disability can ever hinder you from

achieving your dreams.

AntonioL EG A Z P I C I T Y, A L B AY

At 16, just when she was about to enter college,

Chezka got pregnant. One school refused to accept

her because of it, but Far Eastern University gave her

a chance. She grabbed the opportunity, and even

became a Dean’s Lister even though she had to study

and raise her son. Chezka graduated with flying colors,

and became a registered nurse in 2012. However,

her passion for travel pushed her to apply as a flight

attendant in Air Asia. After four years, she realized

she could partly fulfill her childhood dream of being

ChezkaFA R E A S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y


In August 2017, JP came up with GoGoBaon, as a

means to help out a friend who was always packing

instant noodles for lunch. This was when he realized

that this was the case for most OFWs. To help them,

JP officially registered the program, turning it into a

virtual canteen and convenience store for Filipino food

to cater to his kababayans. JP also works as a financial

educator for other OFWs, and gives seminars and talks

to help them handle their money well. He is currently

writing a book on financial education.

and is currently on a mission to boost her rankings and

title by competing in top-caliber chess tournaments

around the world. Considered an empowering figure

in promoting chess among the Filipino youth,

she will lead the Philippine national chess team in

the 30th Southeast Asian Games in November 2019.

She graduated from FEU in 2017 with a Bachelor

of Science degree in Psychology. In her valedictory

speech, she stressed the need to keep fighting and to

never let your mistakes define who you are.

Janelle started to make a name for herself when she

was winning tournaments as part of the FEU Diliman

Juniors Chess team. But heads started turning

when she became the first woman to defeat a male

grandmaster and another male international master

in the Battle of the Grandmasters tournament in

July 2014. In September 2016, Janelle became the

Philippines’ First Woman Grandmaster. A multiple

UAAP champion and the UAAP Season 77

Athlete of Year, Janelle has not rested on her laurels

JanelleFA R E A S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y

Unsung Heroes is a choir made up of Overseas Filipino

Workers (OFWs), most of whom are domestic workers

in Hong Kong. The choir was first assembled in 2014

by Jane Engelmann, the head of performing arts at

a Hong Kong primary school. Jane also wrote their

signature song, “I Wish I Could Kiss You Goodnight”—

an emotional ballad that tells the great sacrifice many

OFWs make to be able to provide for their families

back home. From having only four members show

up to Sunday rehearsals, the choir has now grown to

having more than 70 members. The choir performs

regularly at concerts and community events in Hong

Kong, garnering widespread media coverage. In 2017,

they were even featured in the documentary “The

Helper” by Joanna Bowers. Unsung Heroes aims to

give a voice to OFWs, many of whom are women

simply trying to lift their families out of poverty.

Unsung HeroesH O N G KO N G

JP learned about struggles early in life, with his mother

single-handedly raising him and his two siblings.

He was able to finish college through scholarships,

particularly through a dance scholarship opportunity

given by the University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi

Dance Troupe. What started out as necessity paved

the way for JP to find his true passion. JP auditioned

for Hong Kong Disneyland five times before he finally

got accepted. Earning enough, JP was able to send

his youngest sibling to college, and marry his then-

girlfriend before bringing her to Hong Kong.

JPH O N G KO N G

LTJG Carina Dayondon PCG is the first Filipina to

conquer the “Seven Summits” or the seven highest

peaks of the world’s seven conti nents. A Lieutenant

Junior Grade Officer of the Philippine Coast Guard,

she completed the impressive feat after reaching the

summit of Mt. Vinson in Antarctica last December 16,

2018. Before this feat, she was known as one of the

first Filipino women to ever reach the world’s highest

peak in 2007. The three-woman team did not only

climb Mt. Everest but traversed it as well, making it

the first and only crossing of Everest by women.

For Carina, this achievement goes beyond the physical:

“We all have our own Everest in our lives. I want to

show we can all achieve it.”

CarinaB I S E R B I S YO N G L E N I


and the Bernardo family (“Pamilyang Bernardo” by

Mika Quizon) were given a small capital to help set up

their own sari-sari store or banana cue stall.

The Malaya Lolas of Mapanique, Pampanga (“Liham

Pagmamahal para sa Kasalukuyan” by Jocelyn Frago)

received medical equipment such as blood sugar

monitors, electronic blood pressure instruments,

nebulizers, crutches and wheelchairs from ANCOP

Foundation USA, Inc. Ernie Gawilan (“Gawilan”

by Kelsy Lua) also received medical assistance from

ANCOP in the form of multivitamins, which will

help in keeping him healthy through competitions.

Jhalanie Matuan (“Dibuho” by Errianne Rojo) received

art materials for her work as a street artist, while

Maricor Book (“Liwanag” by Kimberly Ilaya) was

endorsed and accepted for contractual work with

DOLE Caloocan, which led to an internship with the

Schools Division Office in Caloocan.

INP Film Festival

In celebration of the first anniversary of Istorya ng Pag-

asa, the Office of the Vice President, in partnership

with Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI), launched the Istorya

ng Pag-asa Film Festival (INPFF) on 27 November 2017

at the Ayala Museum.

INPFF is a nationwide competition for original short

films with the aim of providing a bigger platform

for sharing true and inspiring stories of hope. The

film competition is open to all Filipinos, including

professional and amateur filmmakers, even those

based abroad. Due to its very successful and well-

received debut, the OVP, in partnership with AFI and

the Film Development Council of the Philippines

(FDCP), launched the film festival’s second run the

following year.

In the process of searching, collecting, and sharing

extraordinary stories of ordinary Filipinos, INP has

also been able to identify the needs of several INP

Champions and provide assistance and tools to

further advocacies and improve living conditions. Most

recently, the OVP has been working on giving aid and

establishing partnerships with INPFF film subjects.

Last June, the OVP conducted art therapy workshops

for the youth of Marawi, in partnership with Alexander

Quizon (“Obra” by Geneva Malit) and the White

Helmet Rescuers (“White Helmet Rescuers” by Ana

Puod). The following month, Alexander again worked

with the OVP to offer an art therapy workshop in

Quezon CIty, this time for children whose families

have been affected by extrajudicial killings. Future

partnerships with INPFF subjects like SPO4 Bill

Felisan (“Modern Day Hero” by Roy Robert Rusiana),

Ryan Homan (“Maestro ng Pagbasa” by Immaculate

Estepa), and Anthony “Lamaroc” Lawang (“Breaking

Through the Darkness” by Ronald James Baculo) have

also been discussed, for several awareness campaigns,

including opposing the lowering of the age of criminal

liability, promoting reading literacy, and pushing for

mental wellness. The OVP is also working on providing

assistance for the brothers Robinson and Rodrigo

Rada (“Yapak” by Romel Lozada), to help with their

dehusking work and day-to-day living.

The subjects of INPFF 2018 have also received

assistance with the help of Angat Buhay partners.

In support of the advocacy of Marky Talibutab

(“The Climbing Puppeteer” by AR Angcos), the OVP

has endorsed his project to One Meralco Foundation,

which is now working on providing electricity to one

of the communities where Marky regularly volunteers.

Vejiel Velez (“Ang Gahum Sang Daku Nga Handum”

by Demy Cruz, Jr.) received school kits for all her

students in Bagac, Bataan, donated by Angat Buhay

partners International School Manila and Keys School

Manila. John-John Andeza (“Alkansiya” by Sandra

Fajardo) also received school supplies, shoes and

clothes from various donors. Marlon Fuentes

(“Ang Biyahe ni Marlon” by Florence Rosini), Daniel

Padilan (“A Person With This Ability” by Kristel Reyes),


In its first run, INPFF received 73 entries from all over the

Philippines and even one from California. The 15 finalists

were chosen by a panel of esteemed judges: respected

screenwriter and director Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.;

multi-awarded director and cinematographer Dan Villegas;

Globe Studios director and head Quark Henares; film

and television actress Shamaine Buencamino; and Film

Development Council of the Philippines Chair Liza Diño.

From the 15 finalists, top three best films were chosen,

along with recipients of three special awards. The three

best films were also screened in Ayala Cinemas nationwide.

“Ang Biyahe ni Marlon” by Florence Rosini was named

Best Film. It features Marlon Fuentes, a man who has

Tourette Syndrome, a condition that shows through

involuntary movements or tics. “Tago” by Meg Serranilla,

a short film about the Tago Jazz Cafe owner and drummer

Nelson Gonzales, was named First Runner-up. Meanwhile,

“Gawilan” by Kelsy Lua, a story about paralympic swimmer

Ernie Gawilan, was named Second Runner-up.

Other awards given that night included Best Director

for “Pamilyang Bernardo” by Mika Quizon,

Best Cinematography for “The Climbing Puppeteer”

by AR Angcos, and Best Script for “Ang Gahum Sang Daku

Nga Handum” by Demy Cruz, Jr. The INPFF Gala Night

and Awarding Ceremony was held on 12 June 2018 at

Glorietta 4 Cinema 6 in Makati City. It was hosted

by actor Dingdong Dantes.


This compelled him to look for ways to help, and bring

different kinds of assistance to the communities,

with the help of his friends and his networks. He also

teaches the children and reads them books, but with

a twist: with a trusty puppet, he introduced to them

the art of ventriloquism. Now, every time Marky climbs

mountains, he brings with him his puppet to conduct

shows and learning sessions for the communities.

He is now widely known in the communities as

“Coco Marky.” As a climbing puppeteer, Marky hopes

to be able to spread the message of hope and the

“spirit of bayanihan” to those around him.

he missed qualifying for the London Olympics by

1.2 seconds. Ernie promised Coach Tony that he would

be back for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. True to his

word, Ernie qualified for the Summer Paralympics in

2016. Ernie also bagged Gold in the 400m Freestyle

event and a Bronze in the 50m Butterfly event at the

2018 Aon New Zealand Open Championships.

Ernie went on to win the first Gold for the Philippines

in the 2018 Asian Para Games. He finished that

tournament with three golds and two silvers.

Ernie’s story proves that seemingly impossible goals

can be made into reality if you do everything within

your power to accomplish them.

Marlon Fuentes, who has Tourette Syndrome (TS), is a

long-time Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS)

driver. His story initially became viral on social media

when his passenger, Hazel Alvero, posted about how

she was moved upon seeing the sign he had placed

in his car, explaining his condition and ensuring the

safety of his passengers. Marlon shared that he did

this because he often had passengers who felt scared

because of his involuntary tics. He said he also wanted

to educate Filipinos about TS. Hazel’s post about

Marlon gained much traction on Facebook, where it

touched thousands of other people who were inspired

by him. Instead of being discouraged by people who

look down on his condition, Marlon is now motivated

more than ever to continue working in order to support

his family and to serve as an inspiration to others who

also have TS.

John-John, 12, used to dive in the dirty and polluted

waters off the coast of Manila to fish for coins and

what little change can be scavenged below. He saved

the money he collected in an improvised piggy bank,

hoping to save enough money so that he could bring

his mother, Roselyn, back home. Roselyn had to leave

to find a job elsewhere, and so John-john and his

two other siblings were left under the care of their

grandmother. While shooting the documentary,

the filmmakers reached out to Roselyn, and featured

their reunion at the end of the film.

Ernie is a paralympic Filipino swimmer who survived an

attempted abortion and was orphaned at a young age.

Since his birth, he has faced unimaginable hardships

that forced him to fight his insecurities and strive

toward success. His grandfather eventually took him

in, and Ernie then began swimming at a training school

run by nuns. In 2008, he joined his first-ever swimming

competition where he finished a strong second.

He lost to an athlete who introduced him to the

Philippine national team. Since then, he has traveled

around the world and won 15 international medals.

In 2005, he satisfied the Olympic qualifying time for

the men’s 400-meter freestyle event. However, in 2012,

MarlonB I YA H E N I M A R LO N

ErnieG AW I L A N

Marky grew up in poverty and worked hard to be able

to support himself and his studies. One of the things

he is most grateful for is having been able to earn the

trust of a military officer in Taguig, who gave him free

lodging in exchange for work in the military base. Not

long after, and after earning the trust of other officers,

they adopted him. With help and support of his new

found family, Marky was able to finish college and

work as a BPO back-office professional on weekdays,

and transform into a mountaineer on the weekends.

During one of his climbs, he discovered poverty-

stricken villages on top of mountains.

John-JohnA L K A N S YA

MarkyC L I M B I N G P U P P E T E E R


of Zamboanga Sibugay. “Maglabay Ra In Sakit”

by Mijan Jumalon, a short film about a young Tausug

rap artist from Zamboanga City, won First Runner-up

and Best Editing. “Litratista” by Allan Lazaro,

which features an optimistic and hardworking single

mother who supported her family as a photographer,

was awarded Second Runner-up and Best Director.

The additional special awards—People’s Choice

Award and the Office of the Vice President Special

Recognition Award—were given to “Yapak”

by Romel Lozada and “Modern Day Hero”

by Roy Robert Rusiana, respectively. The INPFF 2019

Gala Night and Awarding Ceremony was held last

8 June 2019 at TriNoma Cinema 7 in Quezon City.

It was hosted by INPFF Ambassadors Dingdong

Dantes and Iza Calzado.

In its second run, the Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival

received a total of 98 entries, surpassing the number

of submissions the previous year. The top 10 finalists

were selected by the same panel of judges. This time,

the finalists underwent workshops given by Baby Ruth

Villarama and Dr. Mike Kho Lim, who are both active

in the local film industry. In addition to the top awards

of INPFF 2018, this year’s film festival featured bigger

cash prizes for the winning filmmakers, additional

special awards, and cash assistance to all film finalist

subjects. The top three films would also have a longer

screening time in Ayala Cinemas nationwide compared

to last year.

“Ka Dodoy” by Meg Serranilla and Mark Aposaga

won Best Film, Best Cinematography, and the

Ayala Foundation Community Development Award.

The film tells the story of Ka Dodoy, the head of

a fisherfolk organization whose efforts were

instrumental in rehabilitating the mangrove forests


Because of their bravery during the Marawi Siege, they

were commended by the DILG-Central Office Disaster

Information Coordinating Center Chief for being the

very first on the ground, for initiating the body retrieval

operations, and for risking their lives to save Muslims

and Christian civilians. To this day, the White Helmet

Rescuers are helping rebuild the city of Marawi,

by providing trainings on preparedness and crisis

management, and establishing projects to address

first aid, security, and mental health issues in the city.

Ka Dodoy is also the chairman of Coalition of

Municipal Fisherfolk Associations in Zamboanga

Sibugay (COMFAS), through which he replicated

the efforts of KGMC in Brgy. Concepcion in the

13 municipalities of Zamboanga Sibugay. COMFAS was

recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for

their work in developing technical skills of fisherfolks,

expanding their knowledge on social enterprise and

providing access to finance. COMFAS has also reduced

illegal fishing, established marine sanctuaries in over

90,000 hectares of mangrove forests, and handled

the massive rehabilitation of mangrove forests in

Sibugay Bay.

Bill Felisan grew up as a street child in the 1980s,

scavenging for scraps in markets and piers. At 13,

he was apprehended for a petty crime and was

turned over to Cebu City’s Community Scouts Youth

Guidance Center, a facility where street children are

given a fresh start. Now, Kuya Bill is a high-ranking

policeman, a motivational speaker for troubled youth,

and an inspiration to all those who struggle to find

their way.

Since the 1970s, overfishing has led to the sharp and

steady decline in fish stocks and the loss of many

marine species in the Philippines and around the world.

Ka Dodoy Ballon, the beloved chairman of the

Kapunungan sa mga Gagmay’ng Mangingisda

sa Concepcion (KGMC), a fisherfolk organization in

the municipality of Kabasalan, Province of Zamboanga

Sibugay, sought to change this norm. His leadership,

compassion, and sense of duty were instrumental in

saving his barangay’s fish stock from collapsing and

helping their community regain their fish by inspiring

and educating people about cooperation

and conservation.

BillM O D E R N DAY H E R O

Ka DodoyK A D O D OY

When Maute-ISIS members attacked Marawi City

in May 2017, a group of volunteers came together

to rescue civilians trapped in the city, armed only

with white plastic helmets, rubber gloves and a

pick-up truck. The group, which included fishermen,

farmers, students and other civilians, came to be

known as the Suicide Squad, and eventually as the

White Helmet Rescuers. Aside from rescue missions,

they also facilitated burials, provided links between

Management of the Dead and Missing Persons teams

and local religious leaders, and gave logistic support to

various groups within the area.

White Helmet RescuersW H I T E H E L M E T R E S C U E R S


The Office of the Vice President has always believed

in the importance of people empowerment: to create

spaces where our people are partners in governance,

and not simply beneficiaries of programs. This entails

listening to the concerns of marginalized sectors,

consolidating these into an actionable agenda, and

capacitating them to champion these plans. These are

the foundations of Jesse Robredo’s tsinelas leadership,

and these are the guiding principles of Ahon Laylayan.

Ahon Laylayan is a formation of multi-sectoral

organizations bound by the belief in fighting

poverty and hunger, building a strong democracy,

and strengthening people’s participation to make

governance responsive.

Organizing sectoral groups plays a vital role in this

endeavor. The coming together of different sectors

from as many areas as possible creates a stronger

voice for the people to push for their agenda, enabling

them to leverage their strength in numbers and their

presence in all levels of decision making.

113A H O N L A Y L A Y A N K O A L I S Y O N

SectorsAreas

Aklan

Albay

Bohol

Bulacan

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Catanduanes

Cebu

Iloilo

Laguna

Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

Masbate

Misamis Oriental

National Capital Region

Negros Occidental

Negros Oriental

Quezon Province

Romblon

Sorsogon

115A H O N L A Y L A Y A N K O A L I S Y O N114 A H O N L A Y L A Y A N K O A L I S Y O N

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