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WakaWaka Stories of Hope
Stories from the field written by CFSI staffs | December 21, 2017
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“We were forced to eat our dinner as early as possible because we have no source of light. But now, we can enjoy our meal and able to eat whatever time we want since we have now owned a WakaWaka. We are no longer depending on the tapped solar light from our neighbor. Also, it is easier for me to do my tasks, like; when going to the comfort room at night; when eating dinner and since it is a solar I find it easier to charge it.” – Cayamora Dilabacun, 71 years old, Internally Displaced Person from Perez, Banggolo, Marawi City to Brgy. Daguan, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur.
Ramla Dimaampao an IDP staying in Upper Igabay Evacuation Center, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur. Her family came all the way from Barrio Naga, Marawi City. She shares, “The WakaWaka greatly helped my lactating daughters every night when they are preparing their children’s milk. My grandchildren can now go to comfort rooms on their own since they have a handy WakaWaka unit.”
“My WakaWaka unit helped me a lot in doing my household chores. We can now charge our phone for free unlike before, we pay 10 pesos per charge. My children can even play freely at night without worrying that they might be hurt. We also used the unit overnight to lessen our children’s fear in the dark every night.” – Minang, a mother, 47 years old from Mahad Division Evacuation Center, Malabang, Lanao del Sur.
The provision of solar lights, WakaWaka, helped IDPs in various quarters across evacuation centers especially when children cannot sleep due to absence of electricity. In addition, the solar powered light charger also helps them especially when their phone drains where they pay 10 pesos to charge for just 1 hour enough to charge a cellular phone for at least 50 to 80 percent.
“This help is a souvenir that we will bring with us when we return to Marawi City soon. The siege is unforgettable experience and nightmare,” commented Mujahid Ampuan, 29 years old, a responsible father of 3 and a hardworking provider.
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What started as an idea passed around among team members ultimately led to an afternoon of discovering the sport of Dragon boating. Facilitated by Christian Ian Sy and participated by members of the Cebu Pink Paddlers team, nineteen (19) RAFI employees underwent a basic orientation on Dragon boating at the Plenary Hall of the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center last December 4, 2017.
An international team paddling sport that started in 1976, Dragon boating has now increasingly gained popularity and following in Luzon and now in the Visayas region.
By organizing the orientation, RAFI employees led by Integrated Development Unit-Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness & Response (IDU-HDPR) Supervisor Christopher Estallo and Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) Team Leader Ronald Delos Reyes, hoped to engender strong interest and participation that would ultimately lead to establishing a dragon boat team for RAFI.
Coach Chris of Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon boat Team and the Philippine Accessibility Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) Adaptive Dragon boat Racing Team discussed the history and organization of a dragon boat as well as oriented employees on the proper handling of a paddle.
The orientation also highlighted testimonials from members of the award-winning Cebu Pink Paddlers, composed of a team of women cancer survivors, and coach Chris himself, who shared videos of the team’s winning performances in a recent competition in Taiwan. They also answered various queries and shared their personal experiences to further inspire RAFInians.
At the end of the session, employee-attendees pledged their participation in the proposed training sessions leading to the formal establishment of a RAFI dragon boat club set to begin in 2018.
RAFI also sees this new initiative as an opportunity to promote personal wellness, camaraderie and team work amongst Dragon boating enthusiasts and as well as to serve pride as the official representative of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. to the sport.
Today, “BUGSAI TA BAI!” will now cease to be just an expression, RAFInians will have the chance to learn and live by it.
RAFI Dragon boat Team also plans to compete in the Cebu Dragon Boat Festival in April 13 to 15, 2018.