Recycling and renewal at BayaniJuan

MANILA, Philippines - The bayanihan spirit is alive and well in Southville7 in Calauan, Laguna. Displaced residents who once lived along the esteros of the Pasig River and victims of tropical storm “Ondoy” now find themselves living together as a community.

A program of the ABS-CBN Foundation, BayaniJuan brings together the national government, local government units, non-government organizations, and private companies to provide relocatees not only with shelter, but also access to basic utilities, and health, sports, recreational and educational facilities. BayaniJuan also offers livelihood opportunities to the residents of Southville7 by providing training and grants for small businesses.

“BayaniJuan is very community-driven,” says deputy project manager Hazelle Bautista, adding that relocatees are not reliant on the provided livelihood opportunities alone. They also facilitate employment in outside agencies and provide the residents with as many options as possible.

From the different training programs that have been conducted under the BayaniJuan program, the residents have been able to produce picture frames, candleholders, ID laces, and accessories decorated with recycled paper beads; denim aprons and bags; and food items like salted eggs, salabat (ginger tea) and atsara (vegetable relish).

The products have found a regular clientele at the  Rockwell Power Plant Mall and at various bazaars. Bautista adds that they are constantly working to establish a permanent venue to market their products.

The picture frames, ID laces, and candle holders are decorated with rolled paper beads. The resulting designs resemble shells, far more elegant than their humble recycled origins.

Imelda Bueno is among the group of women who roll the paper strips that are turned into these paper creations. She still gets emotional when she talks of her memories of Ondoy and how she and her family had to leave their home in Santolan. A former overseas worker, everything that Bueno worked hard for was washed away in the flood. But, thanks to BayaniJuan, she has recovered. Her children have even gone back to school through the community’s Alternative Learning System. “Marami na kaming natutunan (We have learned a lot),” she says of the many training seminars she has been able to attend.

Nerian Dona is another relocatee whose life has changed because of the BayaniJuan seminars.

She and Bueno agree with the motto of the project: “Walang iwanan sa (No one is left behind at) BayaniJuan.”

Like many of the relocatees, Dona says she had a hard time adjusting at first, but she is grateful for the project as it has given her a new livelihood to earn from.

She has attended seminars including those for making boneless bangus and fish balls.

Aside from these, BayaniJuan food items also include salted eggs, atsara, herbs, and vegetables. Ingredients for these are mostly grown onsite in the BayaniJuan community garden.

Cora, one of the first to relocate to Southville7, attended all of the trainings she could. She has become so accomplished in cooking that she has become the community’s resident chef and has even cooked for important visitors, including ABS-CBN Foundation’s Gina Lopez. “Dito ako nakaranas ng magandang buhay (I have experienced a good life here),” she says.

Using available resources, homegrown ingredients, and recycled materials challenges the project leaders to be creative in coming up with new products. For example, when Jag donated jeans to the foundation, the residents learned how to make denim aprons and bags.

This project was perfect for Lando Sosmeña, another victim of Ondoy who found himself in Southville7. Before relocating, he was a tailor in Pasig for some 20 years. Because of his experience, he no longer needed to be trained in stitching the bags and aprons. He even helps in training others who are involved in the project.

“Mas maganda ang buhay ko dito (My life is better here),” he says, adding that perhaps being caught in Ondoy has turned into a blessing because it brought him to BayaniJuan.

Field operations officer Francisco Quilas notes that aside from skills training, residents also attend a business clinic where they learn how to do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis and book keeping.

“The idea is to be able to train and echo or transfer the knowledge,” says Lina Calimutan, the community organizer in charge of livelihood production. Quilas adds, “Even if they leave BayaniJuan, they will have skills and training.”

Quilas says that so many sponsors have been supporting BayaniJuan because they see that their donations are really used for the benefit of the community. “We want to equip the community,” he says. “Paghubog ito ng komunidad, para makatayo ito ng sarili (We are shaping the community so they are able to stand on their own).”

“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat kay Gina Lopez,” says Lino Garanaw Batua-an, a long-time relocate. “Ngayon may sariwang hanging na, safe na kami, mas maganda ang kalagayan namin. Magiging maunlad kami dito (Now we have fresh air, we are safe, we are better off here. We will become successful here).”

Just like the BayaniJuan products that take recycled newspapers, magazines, and old jeans, the residents of Southville7 have been given a chance to start life anew – and make it even better.