(Published Mar. 21, PDI-2bU)
A barkada tries to make the world feel a little better, one community at a time
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Photo by Aldwin Aspillera
Once a Bedan, always a Bedan.
That’s how it is for some former San Beda College students, who keep in touch with each other to plan gatherings for less fortunate members of different communities. Through their annual outreach events, they help make things a little easier for others.
The volunteers in the Pater Benedictus Movement first met many years back, when they helped organize religious activities on campus.
“We were Peace Retreat Movement auxiliaries,” says president Mark Parlade. “The ‘auxis’ used to facilitate retreats every weekend for students. We’d basically run the retreats, with the aim of making these kids realize that they are loved by their family. We are basically just a group of friends from San Beda College (Mendiola) and
They remained friends after school, and felt it was “natural” to spread values they learned during their time as auxis and Bedans. Butch Delos Reyes, Jing Canson-Abia, and Ian Abia spearheaded the movement about ten years ago, and the roster immediately grew.
“A lot of us brought in friends, wives, relatives,” says Parlade. “Now, we’re bigger than just a group of Bedan alumni. It started getting a little bigger when my wife, Nike, proposed to do it in Isla Puting Bato in Navotas, eight years ago. We would try to help as many families as we could from the island and the surrounding communities. For six years, we did our outreach there.”
After a decade of successful Christmas season events, Pater Benedictus is now registered with the DTI and the SEC as a full-fledged, non-profit organization.
“We wanted to be an organization so that we can issue receipts, and the companies we ask help from know that they’re dealing with a legal entity that they can trust. It’s a more professional way of doing it; we’re all still good friends at the heart of it. We are now Pater Benedictus Movement, Incorporated, after Saint Benedict. Our objective is to spread goodwill and make people from the most impoverished communities feel loved, especially during Christmas.”
Some Pater members give money, while others pack giveaways or organize events. Hundreds of groceries and toys are distributed.
Months before each community visit, ideas are pitched and studied. Last December, Pater Benedictus chose to visit Tala, the leper community in
“We found out that not so many outreaches have been done there. When people have leprosy, there’s a stigma. Others are scared of them.”
“We were touched by how genial, pleasant and grateful the people were. We helped over 200 families. We gave loot bags to 100 kids. You should’ve seen the kids; when the Jollibee mascot appeared, they mobbed him!”
Pater Benedictus is currently planning for the next event, and is welcoming new members, whether they’re Bedans or non-Bedans, professionals or students. They hope to bring joy to more communities in the years ahead.
“As corny as it sounds, there is always a way to make the world a better place. Nothing beats having your friends share that vision with you!”
For more information on Pater Benedictus Movement, Inc., contact 0928-6639435 or 0922-8480310.
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