Kapuso Village rises in Palo, Leyte

MANILA, Philippines - After successfully turning over 403 concrete houses at the Kapuso Villlage in Tacloban City, Leyte to beneficiaries in May 2015, the GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) recently marked the second anniversary of super typhoon Yolanda with the inauguration of Kapuso Village Palo. The 169-unit village in Palo, Leyte is the fifth Kapuso Village nationwide.

GMAKF EVP and COO Mel Tiangco led the official turnover of the units to their recipients and acknowledged the contributions of donors and partners in making the construction of the housing units possible.

One of the beneficiaries of the newest Kapuso Village, Vilma Casin narrated her experience during typhoon Yolanda and the dreaded aftermath that cost the lives of her two children. Casin recounted her story of courage and conveyed her gratitude as the foundation helped her move past the tragedy and regain her foothold in life with a new roof above her head.

Hanabishi appliances were distributed as gifts to welcome the new home owners, while Whirlpool and Fujidenzo appliances were also given away in a raffle draw. More trees will adorn the village in the future as a tree-planting activity was held to conclude the turnover.

A tree-planting activity is always an integral part of GMAKF inaugurations to impart environmental awareness and elicit compassion for Mother Earth.

On the same day, each beneficiary received a certificate of occupancy and was filled with the hope of new memories to build and new dreams to fulfill.

Also inaugurated were 36 rehabilitated and constructed classrooms in five schools in Eastern Samar and Leyte, including San Pedro Elementary School, Quinapondan National High School, Tugbong Central School, Villaba National Comprehensive High School and San Joaquin Nation High School.

A multi-purpose hall and a Kapuso elementary school within Kapuso Village Tacloban are also under way. These will serve as new additions to the five Kapuso Villages and 376 Kapuso classrooms all over the country.