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New Feeding Centers to Launch in Metro Manila
By: May Cruz

For 2009, FGG will open up 2 new feeding centers in Metro Manila. A Weekend Feeding Program in Camarin, Caloocan City will initiate in March while a Daily Feeding Activity at a preschool in Novaliches will set off in June.

FGG to Fee 100 Children in Camarin, Caloocan City

The Weekend Feeding Program in Area-D Camarin, Caloocan City is an aftermath of FGG's recent Gift-Giving activity to 100 underprivileged kids on December 21, 2008. Camarin is a barangay in Caloocan City which became a dwelling place to a lot of people who don't have residential properties of their own. The populace are either original residents, government relocated citizens or unlawful tenants hoping and waiting for unclaimed lands in the area.

Camarin has a rural ambiance situated south of Caloocan City. While considered a part of a city in Metro Manila, the standard of living of the people remains to be laidback as compared to the Manileños. That is why FGG chose this barangay to be the beneficiary of the weekend feeding program for 2009. Somewhat ignored in the past by government advancements and non-profit organizations perhaps due to its location, FGG took the big step to offer them importance and attention. This March, one hundred children will benefit through FGG's hunger alleviation program.

FGG to Partner with a Preschool in Novaliches

Sta. Cruz is an urban poor community sandwiched in between three big subdivisions in Novaliches. The location does not seem destitute at first glance, since the nearby villages depict middle to upper-middle class lifestyles. Upon closer inspection however, one can only feel sympathy and compassion for the inhabitants of Santa Cruz, since unlike its neighbors, this once vast and rich land has now become a slum and squatter's area.

This same sentiment is what Mrs. Perlita Gonzales (Teacher Perla, as she is called) felt towards the residents of Sta. Cruz. She was burdened by the disheartening way of life of the people and at first felt paralyzed to do anything to help their present situation. But then she established a small preschool in her house, The Shepherd's Grace School of Hillcrest (TSGSH), and found a great opportunity to improve the welfare and education of the children. Every school year, since the foundation of TSGSH in 2003, she sponsors 5-10 preschoolers in Sta. Cruz and provides them with scholarship so to speak - free education, uniform, books, school supplies, and other materials needed for their learning.

For Teacher Perla, the joy of teaching them how to read, write, count and ascertain good values is enough to bring forth satisfaction in her heart more than she can imagine. As a retired Public Grade School Teacher, she is doing this more than just a profession, a business or a hobby as she had originally thought; instead it has become a mission that she has to fulfill - a calling she had from the very start.

This coming June 2009, FGG partners with The Shepherd's Grace School of Hillcrest sponsoring a Feeding Program for 20 undernourished students who live in Sta. Cruz, feeding them once a day from Monday to Friday.

In this partnership, FGG hopes to realize the importance of providing proper nutrition to students before going to school. A study conducted by Harvard researchers reveal that students who eat breakfast before school were significantly more attentive in the classroom; FGG hopes to see increased learning and better performance by the students through this daily feeding activity.

This tie-up with a school is a new venture for FGG. With this new partnership hopefully producing fruitful and long-lasting results, the foundation is looking forward to opportunities in the future to collaborate with various schools in the Philippines.