Habitat for Humanity Philippines launches Christmas campaign, inspires Filipinos to help build homes for every Juan

 

Habitat for Humanity Philippines encourages each Juan to enjoy a meaningful holiday and inspire hope by assisting in the construction of quality, affordable, and disaster-resistant homes and enhancing lives.

With the launch of its "Pasko sa Bahay ni Juan" Christmas campaign, Habitat Philippines implores Filipinos to establish a custom of charitable giving and support initiatives for housing, community development, disaster response, hygiene promotion, and youth and volunteer engagement in order to help create resilient, sustainable communities.

Habitat Philippines has consistently held the view that there is strength in numbers when it comes to constructing houses, communities, and hope. We hope that "Pasko sa Bahay ni Juan" would serve as a platform for each person to start a tradition of offering limitless opportunities for less fortunate families by contributing to the construction of a quality home. Every Juan has the potential to have an effect.

The holiday season is a time when giving is especially prevalent, but the difference we can make and the hope we can inspire in a family in need of a decent home goes far beyond this time of year. Everyone's contributions and efforts are the basis for everything. when more people are inspired to give, together, we can transform more lives,” said Habitat Philippines CEO Mardi Mapa- Suplido.

As part of its Christmas campaign, Habitat Philippines forms alliances with numerous businesses and places that the general public frequents during the holiday season. This comprises businesses, shopping centers, hotels, BPO companies, and other enterprises with the aim of increasing public awareness of the need for housing and enticing people to donate, assisting less fortunate Filipino families with improving their access to safe, adequate housing.

Habitat Philippines has thoughtfully selected its annual Christmas catalog, which includes donation vouchers equal to materials that can help build a home, Christmas baskets for families, a "Gift of Hope" Certificate in honor of a loved one, and gift items that will help improve the livelihood of homeowners in Habitat communities, in order to make giving gifts more meaningful and extra-special.

Nicole Borromeo, a 2022 candidate for Binibining Pilipinas International, and young businessman Jardin Wong support the Pasko sa Bahay ni Juan Christmas campaign by promoting their own causes and personal experiences.

Borromeo recalled her community immersion experience at the Humanity Ville community in Calauan, Laguna, where she participated in volunteer activities in September to assist with home repairs. "I felt quite fulfilled after visiting the Habitat community in Calauan, Laguna. Not only did I get to assist with gardening, playground improvements, and even hall upgrades, but I also got to see firsthand how the neighborhood came together as a result of everyone realizing the importance of taking pride in and good care of the place they call home. I have come to appreciate commitment greatly. When people band together, especially for a worthy cause, we can have a real, positive impact on people's lives.

Wong, who on September 3 raised almost Php2 million for charity during his birthday, also urged people to support the cause. "The Christmas season celebrations elicit vim and excitement that echo across the nation. Families in the Philippines have continued to mark this day by upholding the culture of compassion and giving. The "Pasko sa Bahay ni Juan" campaign by Habitat Philippines highlights this long-standing tradition and elaborates on the idea of the ideal gift, one that is rooted in the hope that every Filipino household will have access to safe and decent housing.

Empowering families, mobilizing donors, and volunteers for every Juan

A decent home provides safety and security for a family. For Charlito Rasonable, one of the 80 homeowners in the recently completed Paknaan Housing Project in Mandaue City, Cebu, having their own home has been his lifelong dream. Before the relocation, his family lived along the river in Subangdaku. As informal settlers, they experienced multiple demolitions and forced evictions, transferring from one inadequate house to another and fearing for their safety. So, when the Paknaan Housing Project came to fruition, Rasonable was overjoyed that he would finally have a decent home in a safe community – a treasure he could give his daughter.

“When you have a house like this, you have peace of mind. Even though I’m at work and my child is at home, I am relieved that she is safe and secure, unlike when we used to live in a danger zone. I would get anxious whenever I heard the fire truck’s siren from my workplace. I was worried about the fire because my daughter was alone. Here, I am assured that she’s safe,” said Rasonable, adding, “It is every parent’s dream to have a decent home for the family. I came from a difficult life with nothing, so I aspired and strived for it. This is it! My dream became possible!”

Rasonable is just one of over 150,000 families that Habitat Philippines has supported through its housing and community development programs, which the “Bahay ni Juan” campaign aims to sustain further. “Bahay ni Juan” is Habitat Philippines’ individual giving campaign launched in July. It recognizes the capacity of individual donors to contribute to the sustainability of its Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Empowered (RISE) Communities Program, which uses a holistic, comprehensive approach to uplift the lives of Filipino families through decent housing.

Drawing inspiration from “Bahay ni Juan,” the Christmas campaign aims to engage more people to be part of the #JuanCrew – a community of givers that support, advocate, and contribute to helping build decent homes and sustainable communities for less privileged Filipino families.

To empower its current donors and encourage their network to create a lasting impact, Habitat Philippines will soon roll out a donor-incentive scheme that includes merchandise and referral rewards, among others, as tokens of appreciation for their contribution to the campaign. Donors will also get an opportunity to be part of volunteer engagement activities and immerse with the homeowners in Habitat communities.

Building a legacy through Bahay ni Juan

Inspired by Habitat Philippines’ call to build a legacy by helping provide a livable home for every Juan, architect and entrepreneur Charm de Leon pledged to support the Bahay ni Juan campaign and encouraged her followers to do the same. In her social media post, Charm explained to her supporters how to donate and what their donation could do to help build a home.

While grateful for their own home, Millennial Couple reminds their followers that not every Filipino has the privilege of having decent shelter. For their anniversary this year, Franchezka and Kenneth de Guzman also pledged to help fund the construction of homes for low-income families.

This holiday season, give the gift of hope and make a lasting impact. Be part of the #JuanCrew by helping build safe, decent homes for Filipino families. Donate to Habitat Philippines’ Bahay ni Juan campaign today: https://www.habitat.org.ph/bahaynijuan/