AGONCILLO, Batangas – On Feb. 23, 2020, volunteers of the Manila Street Love and US-based nonprofit Sama Sama Foundation drove to Agoncillo, Batangas to visit families severely affected at the ground zero of Taal eruption that happened early January 2020.
The group was welcomed with extra warmth, literally, as it reached Agoncillo town of Batangas, under the scorching heat, on an ashy Sunday afternoon.
A total of 200 love bags were given away, with each containing soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol, towels, deodorant, pandesal, coffee packs, bottled water and ice-cold KKK Soya milk. While for those with infants, additional baby diapers and baby food were given. The bags were given in reusable eco bags.
The town was severely affected as it was shaken by earthquake after the Taal Volcano eruption, damaging homes and businesses.
Sama Sama Foundation founder, Fil-Am Knowa Lazarus pulled together resources for this project via a concert held in LA, California last January in collaboration with FilAm Arts, likewise, via a Facebook birthday fundraiser.
Additional resources were collected by friends of Manila Street Love via donation in kind, cash and volunteerism.
In the video, Manila Street Love founder Diana Dayao shares how different the outreach is from their past outreach – with this one targetting families that are not originally homeless and were actually income generating. MSL has been known for reaching out to the homeless and sick kids of Manila who are poor.
Batangas historian and civil servant Derrick Gerardo C. Manas, coordinated the team on ground.
To all those who made #DriveForTaal happen, the families thank you all with heartfelt smiles!!!
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
From fundraising, to buying, to packing, to coordinating, to actual outreach, to documenting – a whole village was behind this. We would like to thank:
Sama Sama Foundation, FilAm Arts, all the artists at the concert fundraiser held in Los Angeles, USA, Diana D. friends/supporter of Manila Street Love namely Mer Layson of KKK Soya Milk, Karen Kay Santos of Santos Hot Pandesal, Reenah B. Tolentino, Franklin Acfalle, Jose Elmer “Emoy”Francisco, Sahlee Dangca and Gerald Aldana.
The volunteers tagged as ManilaStreetLovers consisted of Margeaux Cadavez, Rico Rael, Cook Jom, Dion Martin, Diana Dayao and Knowa Lazarus. The drives to and back were longer than the actual outreach. Krisel and Carlo Sabinay helped with the packing of all bags in our small living room.
Of course, to Knowa Lazarus who made sure we bring our outreach to Taal, and who dedicated his own birthday fundraising for this project. Cheers to you and all!
Let’s keep spreading love a street at a time, together! 💕
More photos at Manila Street Love FB page!
For collaborations visit www.manilastreetlove.com www.samasamafoundation.org www.dianadayao.com
You may also e-mail manilastreetlove@gmail.com
