St. Hannibal Empowerment Centre

St. Hannibal Empowerment Center (SHEC) is a religious organization of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus. It is a community of Spirit-led persons which aims to follow Jesus Christ in his union with his Father and in his proclamation of the kingdom of God. It is an inserted community among the squatters. The goal of SHEC is to empower the poor people of Metro Manila, Philippines, through housing, livelihood, education, health, waste management, youth and values formation.

Name:
Location: Pasay City, Metro Manila

Mission: Its mission is to empower the poorest of the poor and catalyze an integral Christian transformation of urban poor communities in collaboration with the local Church by a holistic process that addresses concerns on housing, livelihood, education, health, environment and sanitation, justice and peace, youth formation and values formation. The goals of SHEC consist of assisting in alleviating poverty among urban poor communities in Pasay and other cities in Metro Manila; and building the foundation of community transformation through intensive values formation. Its objectives are, specifically, to facilitate the organization and formation of people’s organization that are self-sufficient and empowered, facilitate the values and spiritual formation and capability building of urban poor leaders, to assist the urban poor / informal settlers of Pasay and other cities in Metro Manila in realizing their dreams of achieving security of tenure through in-city relocation, to facilitate the implementation of economic programs and basic social services in urban poor communities, and to facilitate access to formal education in favor of the poor and deserving students.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Seemingly hopeless people


As i was going around to visit the victims of fire (360 families), my healt felt so bad as i looked at their faces and their conditions. Some of them are just lying on the pathways. They don't have anything to cover themselves even just to lay their heads on. These poor people are just waiting for the possible assistance of other people. Some children are already getting sick because of the pitiable condition. Some are trying to reconstruct their own houses but they find it difficult to do so because of financial problems. For this, they are trying their best to ask for assistance from people with a generous heart.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

A gloomy yet merry Christmas


Yesterday, after coming from my anticipated advent mass at 9:00 PM in a particular chapel, I was to surprised to find out that a raging fire has razed one of the areas which we are assisting. In just a short while, 400 poor have been found homeless. What a gloomy moment of preparing for Christmas. Nonetheless, we are still hopeful that other generous people can make the homeless feel the true spirit of Christmas by sharing whatever they have. Any simple gesture of kindness would perhaps be the best Christmas present to the victims.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Moving people

At this point in time, the poor people in our area are now moving in order to do something for their land tenure issue. They are the ones making the research on the land titles. Such documents are needed in making subdivision development in their own areas. It is truly encouraging on the part of collaborators to know that the poor people can really move themselves.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Voluteers: partners of SHEC

Finding the right persons to assist in the programs of SHEC is very difficult. But, with the advent of a group of volenteers, the work in SHEC has become more effective and prolific. In order to sustain these volunteers, at least once a month, there is the so called "prayer encounter." During this moment, their understanding about their volunteer work is clarified. Besides, through meditation and silent encounter with God, they are being energized to spend more time with the less fortunate. Today, the vounteers hold their prayer encounter in Pook ni Maria Makiling, Laguna, Philippines. At the same time, this serves as their Christmas party. This develops bonding and stronger spiritual life.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Health

In order for people to move on normally in their daily living along the creeks, they need to pay attention to their health. Just yesterday, a group of leaders from St. Hannibal Christian Community attended a seminar on feeding program. This is under the guidance of Caritas Manila. What was agreed upon was the setting up of feeding centers for all the malnourished children from the squatter areas within the areas of coverage of SHEC whose ages range from three to five years old.