MANILA, Philippines – Habitat for Humanity Philippines honored its prime movers by coming up with a coffee table book featuring those who have helped provide shelters for Filipino families.
Speaking during the book launch at the Manila Peninsula Hotel last August 23, ABS-CBN broadcast journalist and Habitat ambassador Karen Davila said the book is "a story of love, gratitude to all our donors, volunteers, ambassadors, people who have given their time, their money to build a new country.”
Titled “I Build My Philippines,” Davila said the book also recognized Habitat’s government partners “who wanted to build their country in their own way.”
“We in Habitat for Humanity believe that government cannot do it alone. The backlog is so big that the government will have no choice but to partner with organizations like Habitat for Humanity which is completely non-profit,” Davila said.
Government officials including Budget and Management Secretary Butch Abad, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, as well as the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, were given special recognition in the book.
Davila said Habitat came up with “I Build My Philippines” in the hope that its prime movers will stay with the organization to help build a better country.
Meanwhile, Sarangani Representative and Habitat Heroes’ Ambassador Manny Pacquiao, who was also at the book launch, said he is proud to be part of this cause.
“Ang Habitat po malaking tulong sa akin. Malaki ang pasasalamat ng mga taga-Sarangani dahil sa ginawang housing doon ng Habitat. Marami ang nabigyan ng bahay. Bumili kasi ako ng lupa pagkatapos ng fight tapos binigay ko sa mga tao at nilagyan ng bahay ng Habitat,” he said.
Pacquiao added it is the group’s vision and integrity, along with the guidance of the Lord, that made Habitat successful.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, meantime, related how much Habitat “has done to slake nation’s thirst for dignified housing.”
“Just as we seek to create communities, Habitat goes beyond building mere shelters and labors to create sustainable communities to uplift Filipino families,” he said.
“The ‘I Build’ campaign in particular has met with the warmest receptions if not admirable success, and the seeds for healthy and vibrant communities have flourished because of this movement,” he added.
The Vice President said Habitat’s advocacy “is a way of life that we wish to see embraced by all men for all time, and recent events show us how important it is for us to see this enterprise succeed.”
Also present at the book launch event were Habitat capital campaign chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Ramon Ang of the San Miguel Corporation, Doris Magsaysay-Ho of the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, Roberto Panlilio of JP Morgan Chase and Virgie Ramos of Swatch.
Also there to grace the event were Habitat ambassadors Margie Moran, Kim Atienza, Arnold Clavio, Alex Eduque, Derek Ramsay, Matteo Guidicelli and Chris Tiu.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
