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: Saint Hannibal Empowerment Centre

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.

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Saturday, April 21, 2007

The graduates, with flying colors!!!

After having their fieldwork in SHEC, the students of Asian Social Institute have finally come up with their presentation of their work with some other students. Their excellent work of community organizing in Pasay has proved that they indeed have been equipped with the skills and inspiration needed in assisting the poor as a way to follow Jesus Christ, the first social worker. Congratulations. (From left Beta, Bench, Van, Tin, Susan, Gladdys, Lina, Jenny)

Fr. Orville, a gift to the oppressed!

During the celebration of the birthday of Fr. Orville Cajigal, he decided to hold in the midst of the fire victims. In his homily, during the mass, the pointed out that the people should be one with the Father in their quest for a meaningful life despite their deplorable condition. Besides this, they should continue their cooperation among other fire victims in moving on with their desire to have a dignified living as a way to proclaim the kingdom of God in their midst.

Extra effort to improve the situation!

After the fire, the members of the St. Hannibal Homeowners’ Association, Phase 4 have asked for the assistance of the local government of Pasay City and some agencies of the government in order to resolve the issue. This resulted into a meeting together with all the members of the barangay officials. But it turned out to be a casting of blames. Instead of finding solutions to their problems, the barangay officials instead hailed their protest against the St. Hannibal members. Our leaders were not able to present their plans for the development of the area. Thus, it ended up negatively. Despite this, the St. Hannibal group is one in praying that one day God will show his hands for these adamant people. God is with the oppressed.

What a nightmare!

At 6:00 PM, while people were enjoying their supper, fire broke. It razed the whole barangay 157, Apelo, Pasay City. Around 700 families were left homeless. This tragedy has affected so much the lives of the poor people. Almost nothing was left. All their valuables were all eaten by the raging fire. After the sad event, some local officials do not want to improve their own conditions. They want to go back once more to their previous situation where there are no roads wide enough for fire trucks to pass by. They want to remain in their conjested situation to protect their own personal interest. This could have been the best chance to develop the area into something worth-living. The fire victims are still optimistic that God will intervene in their plight through the help of generous people. (March 14, 2007)

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Wow! Soap-makers!

The students of the Asian Social Institute, during their fieldwork, have organized the people in order to have their own income generating projects. One of the productive works they had was the making of soap. Indeed, the people are becoming more and more skillful. They need this in order to survive and save a certain amount for their monthly amortization in their housing program.

The future leaders of the country!!!

Looking at the past, the presidents of the St. Hannibal Christian Community (SHaCC) have come together to evaluate what they have done for all the members of the SHaCC. They could hardly believe that they have gone so far in organizing their own groups. They have indeed grown. Now, they are looking forward to making this year as the height of the implementation of their projects. They had their prayerful and joyful gathering in Pook ni Maria Makiling, Laguna. (March 11, 2007)

Justice should prevail!

Becoming more aware of the situation around, the different Religious Congregations have joined hands to share their vision in promoting justice. Among the groups which have attended are the members of the St. Hannibal Christian Community. They wish to join with other people in upholding justice especially in times of difficulties. Such activity was graced by His Excellency Broderick Pabillo, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila. (March 6, 2007)

Refreshing the youth!

The tender age of a person is very precious. In the depressed areas of Pasay, the youth are very promising. They want to realize so many things. For this, they are being assisted by the Rogationist Religious Brothers in order to have a bright future. Thus, during the Lenten Season, they are guided to make their own recollection with the help of Revs. Julius, Alfonso and Javier. (March 3, 2007)

Becoming more creative!!!

Volunteers, headed by Sis. Lency Roceles, have come over to share their skills in making rosaries out of beads. They have taught the people how to become more productive while staying in their own homes.

Strategic Planning!

The personnel of SHEC have come together to discuss what has been accomplished for the past year. Looking forward to the coming year, they want to improve more their manner of assisting the poor and to enhance their capacities in becoming efficacious workers of the vineyard. The energetic personnel are Gil, Susan, George, Rainier, Hernan, Mikko, Bench, Fr. Jigs and Fr. Dexter. This was held in St. Anthony’s Boys’ Village, Cavite. (February 25, 2007)

The Clergy of Daet – the Future of the Church!

The clergy of Daet has manifested their care and attention to the poor. They want to realize the vision of the Church in the Philippines which is to be the ‘the Church of the Poor.’ Because of this, they have made several pastoral programs in line with assisting the poor. One of the remarkable moves they have undertaken was to look into other ways of working with the poor. For this reason, they have invited Fr. Dexter Prudenciano to share his experiences in working with the urban poor of Manila. Fortunately, the priests have been very receptive duing the simple and brief sharing which departed from the ‘Third Look at Jesus’ as a way of life and from the inspiration of St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia.

Straight from the heart!

Gushing forth from the Heart of Jesus is endless love and mercy. The Men of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSHJ) extend the same love in the form of catechesis and food to the less fortunate brothers and sisters coming from the Mary Comforter of the Afflicted Parish, Maricaban, Pasay City. This group, MSHJ, is headed by Bro. Carlo Lopez. (Feb. 17, 2007)

Exploring Baseco, Tondo- the Future Abode!

Living simply with simple people makes one’s existence more meaningful. The house behind appears to be the future abode of the personnel from SHEC. Together with Fr. Dexter are friends from Korea and Spain. (February 9, 2007)

A continuous celebration!

The foundation celebration can not be complete without the presence of other volunteers and collaborators. They tirelessly extend their assistance to the beneficiaries of St. Hannibal Christian Community. What a joy to have them around! (Feb. 3, 2007)

What a joy! - 3rd Anniversary

As a manifestation of the joy that the people felt for the accompaniment of God along their journey of a constant struggle for a dignified living, they celebrated it with dancing and signing together with other collaborators.

A time of Blessing!

February 3, 2007 marks the 3rd anniversary of the St. Hannibal Christian Community (SHaCC) and the St. Hannibal Empowerment Center (SHEC). His Excellency Broderick Pabillo, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, graced the event. This started with the celebration the Holy Mass in San Juan Nepomuceno Parish, Malibay, Pasay City. It was concelebrated by Frs. Tony Navarette, the Parish Priest, Fr. Jun Abog and some other priests. After the mass, blessings poured out. Ambassador Tita Devilla announced that the Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation, Inc. has extended once again its support to the fire victims. Afterwards, the news came from Malacanang Palace arrived, through Hon. Fatima Valdez, the Undersecretary for Religious Affairs of the Office of the President. It stated that 2000 square meters would be allotted to the residents of the PAL Gate 1. These are blessings indeed. After the mass, the people continued their jubilation in the presence of some of the partners and volunteers of SHEC.

The Virgin of the Poor!

A seminary run by the Adorno Fathers in Daet, Bicol was inspired by their humble roots to go back to the poor as essential elements of their life as religious. Because of this, Fr. Jun Abog, the seminary rector, invited Fr. Dexter Prudenciano, rcj to share his insights about working with the poor. After the inputs on the Third Look at Jesus which was given to the seminarians of the Holy Trinity Seminary, there was the blessing of the statue of the Virgin of the Poor beside the seminary of the Adorno Fathers. This was also attended by some Diocesan Priests. Later on, His Excellency Almoneda followed. The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Poor are two important persons in their life. Blessed are the Adorno Fathers.