"It was horrifying," Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation, recalls. "I realized, right then and there, that we are living in a social volcano and that something should be done about it."
When Gina returned to the country, she met with her friends and talked about making a difference: something concrete, long-lasting and heartfelt for the poor and dispossessed. "There was palpable discontentment with what was happening in the country. We thought of doing something that will convey a message to the rest of the Filipinos: the perceived indifference of the rich and the middle class to the poor doesn’t exist, and that people do care."
Such gatherings with friends gave birth to Bantay Kinabukasan, the ABS-CBN Foundation’s multi-sectoral poverty-alleviation project. Bantay Kinabukasan aims to use a holistic development approach, integrating solutions to problems that hinder the growth of a community, adopting a framework focusing on empowerment, opportunity and security in terms of child care, health care, nutrition, waste management, values formation, etc.
Chosen as the pilot area was Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City, with its blind winding alleyways, smattering of shanties, hardluck souls and daunting stats. More than 500 families are poor: 65 percent are not regularly employed; six percent are forced into child labor; 64 percent of the families with children below seven years old leave their children unattended; 74 percent do not have safe potable water – figures that do not even begin to describe the harshness of the living conditions, but the woman remains optimistic.
"The key is to do it together – the government, the corporate sector, the NGOs, the youth, media. If we succeed in Commonwealth, we’ll be sending the message that it can happen anywhere," Lopez shares, adding that she and her friends went house to house, talked to people, got their sentiments as well as a few epiphanies along the way.
"Even if the people lived in very dismal surroundings, I sensed something positive about them. I found their attitude to be very healthy. I felt if we just give them a little help, make a difference in the quality of their lives, then the change can happen. "
She plans to set up a day care center in the area to save kids from roaming the streets and exposing themselves to drugs, violence and their ilk. "At least the children will grow up in better surroundings, an environment of love and affection. You know, Bantay Bata started a feeding program in Batasan Hills for two years and the children have become healthy. Now, the mothers are willing to take over."
Lopez has many other plans for the place, and she has asked institutions and individuals to help her out in setting up programs on health, education, child care, livelihood and the environment for Barangay Commonwealth. An illustrious group of professionals has agreed to volunteer its services, but there is still the need to cover operational costs for the community.
"We wondered how we could raise the money," avers Gina. "So we thought of a way that would bring everyone together. We said why not do it through a street festival."
If last year’s May Day melee was a naked display of angst and frustration, Lopez sees the street party to be held on April 30 on Tomas Morato Avenue as an open prayer for a brighter future.
"It will be a celebration of hope, joy and goodwill," Gina shares. "This is our response to EDSA 3, our way of saying that we truly care and that we’re making a real effort to help the less fortunate. I approached Mayor Sonny Belmonte and he was very enthusiastic about it."
The whole stretch of Tomas Morato, from the Timog Circle to Scout Albano, will be punctuated with assorted booths. Participating corporations include Globe Telecom, Shell, Global Brands, Petron Foundation, Splash and Colgate. The restaurants that line the avenue (such as Annabel’s, Alex III, Alfredo’s, Chili’s Don Henrico’s, Marco Polo, Anything Goes At, Burgoo, Rasa Singapura, Tia Maria’s and Figaro) will be participating as well. Practically the whole city is giving its full support.
"Quezon City’s cultural performing arts group will have a number with the ABS-CBN stars. The Quezon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also helping. Firetrucks will be there and kids could climb in. The police will show children around. The event will be educational as well."
The street party, billed as "Fiesta Para Sa Kinabukasan," will kick off with a motorcade and a fun run featuring showbiz personalities. There will also be kiddie games, storytelling sessions, a book fair, a puppet show, a drawing contest, face and henna painting, as well as free dental clinic courtesy of Colgate. A basketball clinic will be conducted by Shell cagers. A slam dunk face-off, a three-point shoot-out and a street basketball competition will be held for hoop fanatics. Guests will also get to see a cooking demo by Petron and a street fashion show, to be followed by a karaoke singing contest featuring the waiters, waitresses and cooks of participating establishments. After that, the party climaxes with a variety show cum concert featuring a slew of ABS-CBN stars. Tickets for the street party are priced at P100 for adults and P50 for children.
"What’s good about this is that 100 percent of the money goes to the poor families in Commonwealth," enthuses Gina. "ABS-CBN is donating its airtime, the network talents are donating their time and skill, the corporations are buying booths and helping us with this project. We all want to help, and this is our contribution. You know, I always believe that if you do a good thing, you set off ripples."