MANILA, Philippines – After Kapamilya stars shared their talents nightly for three months for the benefit of Odette survivors, ABS-CBN News turned the spotlight to the families that they have helped in “Mga Kwento ng Operation Odette.”
Narrated by Bernadette Sembrano, it featured beneficiaries of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan” campaign. A new episode streamed every day at 8 pm on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube channels of ABS-CBN Entertainment and ABS-CBN News from April 9 to April 18.
Viewers first met the Guarin family from Dinagat Islands and Surigao Del Norte, where about a hundred thousand lost their homes and sources of income because of the typhoon.
After living in a temporary shelter, Wilmar Guarin and wife Lucinda can now start anew after receiving a home repair kit and two piglets to begin a new livelihood.
“A thousand thanks to ABS-CBN. The help you’ve given us will help us rise from our struggles. (Salamat po sa ABS-CBN talaga. Libo-libong pasasalamat ko po ma’am. Itong ibinigay niyo pong tulong, ito na po ‘yung makabangon na kami sa hirap namin),” said Lucinda.
Like them, fisherman Asisilio Cesar from Southern Leyte is also full of gratitude after receiving a brand new boat made from materials brought to them by ABS-CBN Foundation.
“We just had very little left. Before the typhoon, we always had food to eat. Nowadays, life has really become so hard. I am overjoyed to have my own boat again (Kaunti lang natira sa amin. Noong wala pang bagyo nakakakain kami. Ngayon parang mahirap na talaga ang buhay… Maligayang-maligaya ako dahil may bangka na ako),” he said.
Over in Bohol, materials for 300 new houses were delivered to residents of Brgy. Cabacungan in Loon, including Gaspar Palacio.
ABS-CBN Foundation’s director for advocacy Ernie Lopez was among those who helped build his new home.
“This is really a blessing from heaven. Thank you for your big help. (Talagang hulog ng langit po. Salamat talaga sa inyo dahil sa malaking tulong ninyo),” Gaspar said.
His wife Angelita added, “I was so happy when you arrived because my dream to have our own home will finally come true (Pagdating niyo sobrang saya ko na kasi natanggap ko na ang pinapangarap kong makatayo ng bahay).”
The Guarin, Cesar, and Palacio families were beneficiaries of the first three fundraising activities, which are “By Request,” “Truth or Dare,” at “PBB Online 10Dahan.” “Mga Kwento ng Operation Odette” also featured those helped by other fundraisers like “Kilig Match,” “By Request Part 2,” “Kapamilya Family Date Nights,” “It’s Showtime’s It’s Sharetime,” “By Request Part 3,” and “Star Magic Game Zone.”
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Meanwhile, “ASAP Natin ‘To” had a special segment to culminate the 100 days of fundraising of “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan” last Sunday (April 17.)
Overall, as of April 13, the campaign has raised cash donations of P105.65 million and P16.49 million in-kind donations while 207,649 families have received food packs and 584 were given home repair kits that they can use to fix their houses.
People may still donate via availing Tulong Vouchers on Shopee and Lazada which will be added to the funds for home repair kits. For more information on how to donate, visit the website of ABS-CBN Foundation and its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. This campaign is under ABS-CBN Foundation DSWD Authority/Solicitation Permit, DSWD-SB-SP-00026-21, valid nationwide until May 28, 2022.
For updates, follow @ABSCBNPR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.
