BALAY SAMARITANO

Mr. Antonio Florendo, Jr., Provincial Head, Gawad Kalinga – Cebu, Mr. Cristopert Ocanada, Mr. Mark, Coordinator, Zero Hunger Assembly, officers and members of Gawad Kalinga—Luzon and Visayas, our esteemed sharers, LGU representatives, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Balay Samaritano (meaning "House of Good Samaritan"), is a program of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation – Integrated Development Center, Inc., located at 32 Mabini St, Cebu City. The shelter was established on September 8, 2009 as a result of many years of street experience and initiative of the members of the Society of the Divine Word or popularly known as SVD missionaries, particularly Fr. Heinz Kulueke, SVD. Due to the increased number of children and elderly living in the streets in Cebu City--hungry and abandoned, there was a felt need to provide at least one meal a day. That is how Balay Samaritano was conceived with the help of a private donor who committed to support this endeavor of Father Heinz and his companions. The shelter was built and is supported by some local donors/benefactors, private individual volunteers, Holy Spirit Sisters-SSpS, SVD

Primarily, Balay Samaritano was established as a drop-in shelter for elderly street dwellers and children living on the streets. Its particular focus was to provide a shelter for the "Rugby Boys" so that they may be given support in their daily struggle for survival and provide a place where their basic needs would be met. During this process, the shelter aims to provide a "homelike" atmosphere to its clientele. Therefore, its basic services were the provision of food, a place to rest for the day, and a place to do laundry and to take a bath.

All the beneficiaries of the Shelter were treated to a beach outing in Lapu-lapu on November 18, 2023 with free transportation, food, goodies and prizes to winners of the games. All expenses were borne by the family of one of the Dutch volunteers of Balay Samaritano.

If JPIC-IDC has its ways, Balay Samaritano would love to provide three full meals and shelter to all the hungry and abandoned children and elderly in street situations in Cebu. Unfortunately, we have our limitations and we can only afford to offer a meal per day. In fact, if not for our generous sponsors and benefactors, Balay Samaritano could not provide what it has provided so far to our less fortunate brothers and sisters on the streets.

It is worthy to note though that the number of individuals who gave donations in kind to Balay Samaritano have grown in the past years or so. We are hopeful that there will be more local people to help us in this endeavor.

JPIC-IDC, Inc. believed that education is a way to uplift the condition of the families, thereby, alleviate hunger. Thus, for the last three or so years, JPIC-IDC significantly focused on its Education Program by providing sponsorship and scholarship to children of beneficiaries in its housing and partner communities. We funded 1,954 sponsored children and scholars from the 23 partner communities in Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-lapu, Talisay and Compostela in Schoolyear 2023-2024. And per our strategic plan, we target to have, at least, 2,000 sponsored children and scholars this Schoolyear 2024-2025.

As we strive to alleviate hunger, let us remember that every small act of kindness can make a difference. Together, we can nourish not only bodies but also hearts, creating a world where no one goes to bed hungry.

I would like to end my sharing with quotes from Mahatma Gandhi and Buzz Aldrin and I quote…. "There's enough on this planet for everyone's needs but not for everyone's greed." So "If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger."

Thank you.

Carmencita M. Alviola
Executive Director, JPIC-IDC Inc.
2025 - Present