A total of 121 senior citizens benefited the outreach program facilitated by Virtual Business Partners (VBP) in Talisay City last 11 December 2016. Virtual Business Partners (VBP), partnered with Invest Blue Australia, extended help to the community in its mission to help those who are in need this Christmas.

The outreach program took place at Barangay Tapul, Talisay City last week to help the elders of the said barangay carrying the theme, “As one VBP Family, let us celebrate Christmas with the joy of giving and sharing.” The event was initiated by the Caring Kangaroos, an interest group in VBP, with the sole purpose of giving back to the community as part of the corporate social responsibility program of the company. Attended by a hundred individuals, including the founders of VBP David Carney and David Deegan, this year’s outreach program was indeed a success. They have released 130 bags full of goods for the senior citizens and 40 plastic chairs for the barangay’s use. Part of the program to energize the participants was a dance competition.

See the Davids’ moves in this video.

Tapul Barangay Captain Mary Nolasco was delighted and grateful for the goods received from VBP and Invest Blue extended to her people. She further said that through this outreach program, they truly felt the spirit of Christmas.Citizens of the barangays also thanked the organizers of the event wishing to continue doing charity works to the community and most importantly for more years of business success for both VBP and Invest Blue.

At the end of the day, VBP always cares and continues to live one of its core values which is One World and Family Spirit, its promise to the world.

Reasons for Choosing the Beneficiaries

This year, Caring Kangaroos team planned to extend its scope in helping people the best way it possibly can. From catering kids to reaching out to the senior citizens in a remote barangay outside Cebu City is a big leap for the company’s corporate social responsibility.

The team decided to go out to look for possible beneficiaries for this outreach program. They have listed the following as the target beneficiaries:

1. Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City
2. Cancer Warriors Foundation – Cebu Chapter
3. Barangay Tapul, Talisay City

Followed by a team meeting, Caring Kangaroos’ members evaluated how much help each target beneficiary needs. They eliminated the cancer foundation for, more or less, they are currently being helped by external benefactors. Now, the game is to be played by the two remote barangays in Talisay City.

Last 12 November, the team conducted an ocular visit with the two barangays. There, they found out that the two target barangays have something in common and that is – they badly need help. The team looked for more reasons in choosing its sole beneficiary. They have travelled all the way to Barangay Tapul and they have witnessed the barangay’s situation. Decided collectively, the team selected Barangay Tapul to be the official beneficiary for the outreach program.

Some of the reasons for choosing Tapul are listed below:

1. It is one of the remote areas in Talisay City with a growing population.
2. Difficulties in everyday life:
a. Insufficient water supply
b. Only few modes of transportation
c. Suffering from the dumpsite’s pollution
3. Lacks source of good income – livelihood
4. Rough road/ away from the city
5. Poor health care, including its facilities
6. Few barangay facilities
7. Inadequate educational facilities (e.g. library and classrooms)
8. Lives in shanties and make shift houses 9. They earn a living through scrap buying (scavenger in dumpsites)

With a pure intention, VBP raised its bar in helping others through an outreach program conducted in Barangay Tapul, Talisay City last 11 December 2016, which was then partnered by Invest Blue Australia.

One of VBP’s core values is One World and Family Spirit. True to its meaning, VBP gave back to the beloved children of Asilo dela Milagrosa Community in celebration of the spirit of Christmas.

Held last December 20, 2015, the activity was organized by Saerry Mongaya, one of the company’s CSRs. Her inspiration came from growing up as a child without the presence of her biological father and the need to fill in that yearning. Her being a mother now, also fueled that inspiration, allowing her to lead in reaching out to these children.

The event was even more memorable because of the presence and support of the Management Team headed by Directors David Deegan (DD) and David Carney (DC). DC’s family also joined the team, as they arrived a couple of days earlier from Australia.

29 of the VBP staffs volunteered to be the ate’s and kuya’s by spending their Sunday with 54 orphaned children from ages 0-20. Music and laughter filled the activity as both the kids and the “ate’s/kuya’s” gave their heart out in the showcase of talents and the fun with games. Maddie Carney, DC’s 9-year old daughter, performed an exceptional dance number exclusively for the kids. Everybody gamely participated and had a good time. It ended with a hearty lunch and a smile plastered on everybody’s faces.

The Asilo de la Milagrosa Community of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul is a haven of hope for persons who are poor, rooted in the charity of Jesus Christ crucified. They aim to care, protect, develop and empower children and youth aged zero to 18 years who are orphaned, abandoned, voluntarily surrendered, neglected, abused and those in difficult situations.

As VBP started to participate in community service, the company chose to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with these cherished children. VBP shared a memorable Sunday with them, and they demonstrated the value of humility.

The activity is worth emulating and must be continued. Everyone showed the value of sharing and proved the goodness in each other’s hearts. Indeed, this is what family should be about!