by Sem. Geowen A. Porcincula, CM
Climate change, environmental degradation, high prices of basic goods, and job security are just a few of the challenges we face almost every single day. Mindful of these “signs of the time”, the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul took up the challenge of raising critical questions but also looking for practical “doable” solutions to how we, as a community, could contribute in the promotion of care for the environment, a healthy lifestyle and an alternative source of income. After a series of meetings and reflection, the Santuario settled on the idea of Urban Gardening as a response to these pressing concerns.
That project idea has become a reality with the active partnership of the office of Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Brgy. Tandang Sora and St. Vincent Seminary. The St. Vincent Seminary Complex provided the space for the “Seedling Bank” and the vegetable garden as well. The seeds were provided by the department of Agriculture. The innovative urban garden grows various kinds of vegetables that Filipino families commonly carry on their tables such as eggplant, cabbage, squash, radish, sitaw, upo, saluyot, kangkong, ampalaya, tomato and lettuce.
The Urban Garden at the Santuario serves as a model for other urban communities, particularly in the surrounding area of our Shrine, and they can also duplicate this program and perhaps even enrich and expand. All that is required are some unused, idle land and people willing to work and to make it productive. Promoters of urban gardening and all sorts of technical assistance are very much available. More than just providing a healthy and delicious source of food, the Urban Gardening can also be a source of additional income for the family.
The formal blessing of this novel Santuario response to a thorny multi-faceted challenge was held last September 26, 2010 during the celebration of the Santuario Fiesta and the 350th Death Anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul with Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte herself as the guest of honor.
The St. Vincent Medical and Dental Clinic (SVMDC) will inaugurate its 1st year anniversary on September 26, 2010. Volunteer doctors headed by Dra. Teresita Agda, MD and other members of the management team including Dra. Mercy Agustin, MD and Ms. Norma Manalili as coordinator, among others. Activities planned for September 26, 2010 (Sunday) is a Thanksgiving Mass at 7:30 am where all volunteer dentists, paramedics, as well as the patients who have benefited from this program will be invited. During the mass, all will be acknowledged for their generosity and participation in sharing their time and resources and for the services they rendered in helping alleviate the physical condition of the poor among us.
The 14 students of the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFF Asia) who came from Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, China, and Philippines facilitated a youth club to 19 teenagers and 20 children of Santuario de San Vicente de Paul last August 14, 2010 from 9 am to 12 noon held at the Columbary Lobby with the theme: “Let’s Hang Out!” A club is a Fondacio youth activity with different components that combines fun, food, learning and prayer. The day has been a fun-filled day for everyone both for the students of IFF Asia and the children and youth of Santuario. Club will be a monthly activity at Santuario and the next club will be held on September 18, 2010. The students are hopeful to have more youth to attend on this activity as it will help the youth to meet new friends, have fun, learn more about things that interest them and pray with others.
