“BREAD ONSErvice” is the organization’s theme project for the year 2009 in celebration of its 11th founding anniversary thus emphasizing on its name the letters O-N-S-E. The project is strongly founded on the advocacy of being always ON SERVICE, that is to serve and not expecting to be served in return.
“BREAD ONSErvice” is a project and an advocacy in one that dreams of seeing every Filipino and every citizens of the world, aiming every day of their lives to partake in genuine service to fellowmen. Could this be possible?
This has become a reality to the members of BREAD Society and to constantly growing number of ONSErvice volunteers through the following public services in this project:
• Labing-isang Libreng Serbisyo Para sa Ika-labing Isang Anibersaryo,
• Isang Araw Para sa Katutubo (Aeta Community in Florida, Pampanga)
• Brigada Eskwela
• Community Cleanup Projects in Bicol, and Visayas
• LiBREAD Print (free printing service)
• BREAD Binalot (free covering of books)
• FREE Xerox in top Universities in Metro Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, Davao
• Isang Araw Para sa Kalikasan
Members in Metro Manila Division and nearby provinces recognized that service is not all about directly helping others. They realized that saving nature has a bigger impact; hence, they came up with the project titled Isang Araw Para sa Kalikasan. This project was inspired by the Isang Araw Lang Campaign of Kuya Daniel Razon, famed UNTV 37 broadcaster. It aimed to help the local government of Caloocan City to clean Sapang-alat River, which is among the thirty dirtiest rivers in the world. The event was able to mobilize 1,300 youth to face the challenge of going out under the heat of the sun and enduring the stink they had to remove from the river. The number of volunteers was beyond what was expected considering that the task was not really inviting. The group was able to gather a mountainous amount of garbage from the river on that day – an accomplishment for which the residents near the river are very grateful.
Humbly, BREAD Society is celebrating through a unified strength of human involvement and concern for others; through the genuine value of self-sacrifice; through the devotion to serve; and through a fervent spirit of volunteerism. With all these essentials of celebrating, the organization feels within an unexplainable happiness and satisfaction to serve.
Project Beneficiaries:
Project ONSErvice had an impact not only to those people being served but also to the people who served. Looking on a different perspective, the volunteers themselves from which majority were members of BREAD Society, testified that the projects made them feel a deep sense of purpose and accomplishment. Being able to give significant contribution to several communities, they learned the virtues of self-sacrifice, love, patience, long-suffering and civility. They said that the project made them aware of the conditions of the deprived communities thus making them realized to voluntarily be responsible in the community they live that moved to them to act. The lives of the volunteers have been transformed from being liabilities into assets of the society. They were trained to be leaders, learning to manage their time to be able to address all their responsibilities in school, church, work, community and organization. In addition, through the symposia, bible studies and guidance counseling conducted under this project had influence a lot of its members to turn away from their vices and had helped in resolving some of the conflicts between children and their parents.
The project had benefited thousands of people from various communities which include the people living in the vicinity of Sapang Alat River where in more than 1000 young volunteers had been mobilized to clean up the river. Medical missions conducted in under the ONSErvice project helped by providing free medicines and checkup to poor communities who are incapable of availing these services which include the 100 individuals or 40-50 families of Native Aetas from Floridablanca Guagua, Pampanga. Food and bible donations were also given to this community. Students from various schools in Nueva Ecija such as the University Science and Technology, Araullo University, Sto Domingo Trade School and Juan R.Liwag Memorial HighSchool benefitted from the free services provided by BREAD Society such as medical services, symposia and bible studies. Once a week Free Xerox Activity which is part of ONSErvice project conducted by BREAD Society members in UP Diliman, helped students lessen the expenses they have to pay especially those who only depends on their scanty allowance or from the salary they earn from their part time jobs. In this case, the money they saved for photocopying is allotted to their other needs.
BREAD ONSErvice is a continuing project, a yeoman’s service to humanity that seeks not only to help but also to develop civility and spirit of volunteerism in every individual.
The climax of this project for this year was the YCONCON 2: Youth Convention and Concert held in Araneta Coliseum last August 17. The proceeds of this event were used to fund the Free College project built by UNTV 37. This is actually a sequel of the organization’s previous YCONCON, a record-breaking concert-for-a-cause held also in Araneta Coliseum last year. The proceeds of this event was directed to help Bahay Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.
The organization believes that service is a commitment for a lifetime. Ever since, the organization started, even without recognition, even if it lacked resources, it continually helped fellow men, especially the youth, as its conviction to follow Biblical teachings. There is no reason to stop helping others. The spirit of ONSErvice is with the organization for as long as it exists.
