MANILA, Philippines -- De La Salle University's Enrique Razon Sports Complex is best known as the training facility for their sports teams, and has hosted many UAAP events.
The covered courts of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (CSB), meanwhile, is the stomping grounds of the Blazers.
In the face of the crisis, however, both venues have been transformed into shelters for the homeless amidst the enhanced community quarantine that is currently in place in Metro Manila.
Both schools are working with the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center in providing a haven for the less fortunate.
"The AJ Kalinga Center is serving the homeless regularly. Their main ministry is providing food and free showers for the homeless," said La Salle's vice president for Lasallian mission Fritzie De Vera.
"But now that we are under quarantine, they are looking for shelters for them. They worked with several schools to give them a safe space during the community quarantine."
As of Monday, there are 79 guests staying at Razon, and 80 in the CSB covered courts. Nearby St. Scholastica College in Manila also houses a number of guests.
There are volunteers from AJ Kalinga Center handling the guests on all sites.
To provide for the daily needs of the guests and the volunteers, the school is asking for donations either in kind or in cash.
"We are requesting for donations in kind or in cash. For donations in kind, we would appreciate cooked meals for them. The center is also providing meals which they get from the cash donations. We provide three meals a day," De Vera said.
Many have responded including a couple of donors who provided mattresses and protective gear, Chooks-to-Go who provided 50 packs of chicken for them, and La Salle's student government who provided vitamins which will last for 14 days.
In urgent need for the guests are pillows; two industrial rice cookers; two percolators for coffee; packs of garbage bags; medicines for first aid; small bath towels; clothes for men, women, and children; toiletries; and alcohol.
Donations are accepted through:
Cash donations can be deposited to the ff:
1) AJ KALINGA FOUNDATION INC.
ASIA UNITED BANK
PESO SAVINGS ACCOUNT NO. 082-11-000496-2
2) PayPal
info@ajkalingafoundation.org
3) BPI (Congressional Road Branch)
Savings Account No. 1959-3450-46
The Philippines has reported 501 cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, with 33 fatalities.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
