Amid the harsh realities of hunger, there exist stories of resilience and hope. In the heart of communities facing adversity, initiatives like the “Baking Nanay” program, a part of Globe’s campaign against hunger dubbed Hapag Movement, are lighting the way for individuals seeking empowerment and self-sufficiency.

Through the experiences of beneficiaries such as Puralyn Hora and Angelita Ortiaga, one can witness not only the challenges they have overcome but also the opportunities they’ve seized to transform their lives and those of their families.

Thirty-six-year-old Hora, a resident of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila, joined the Baking Nanay program during the challenging times of 2021. Her decision to engage with the Hapag Movement stemmed from a deep desire to improve her family’s circumstances.

“Nagsimula po ako sumali noong pandemic, taong 2021. Noong 2022, nagtuloy din po ako sumali sa Virlanie Foundation sa mga family strengthening at livelihood projects ng Hapag,” Hora recalls, referring to one of Hapag’s partners, a private, non-profit and non-sectarian organization that helps marginalized families overcome inter-generational poverty.

“Unang rason po ng pagsali ko sa Virlanie Foundation at Hapag ay maihahalintulad sa program din ng 4Ps na nakakatulong sa aming pamilya,”

As a parent, navigating the complexities of raising a child can be daunting. Hora emphasized the invaluable guidance and insights provided by the seminars offered through the program.

“Bilang magulang, marami din po akong gustong matutunan dahil mahirap magpalaki ng anak. May mga seminar po silang binibigay para makatulong ito. Maliban dito, malaking tulong din po ang mga relief goods para sa pang-araw araw po namin (As a parent, I also want to learn a lot because raising a child is difficult. They give seminars to help with this. Apart from this, the relief goods are also a big help for our daily life),” she says.

Through her participation, Hora discovered a path to self-reliance by investing in her baking enterprise. With the program’s assistance, she acquired essential baking equipment, allowing her to expand her business and support her family’s needs.

“Nakapagpundar po ako ng gamit ko sa pagbe-bake, printer, at cellphone ng anak ko. Nagpapasalamat ako na nagbigyan po ako ng oportunidad at kakayahan upang matuto sa maraming bagay (I was able to acquire my baking equipment, printer and a cellphone for my child. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity and ability to learn many things),” says Hora.

Learning to earn

Reflecting on the onset of the pandemic, Ortiaga, 48, another beneficiary of Baking Nanay program, remembers how the weekly food distribution sustained her family for three months.

Ortiaga, also a resident of Parola Tondo Compound, highlighted various circumstances that led her to join the program, including family needs, the desire to help others, and the opportunity to share her knowledge.

“Malaking tulong po ang food relief sa amin lalo na nung pandemic dahil wala po kaming trabaho nun malaking kabawasan sa mga gastusin yung mga nakukuha naming pagkain sa kanila. Naturuan din po kaming kumita dahil sa mga livelihood programs (The food relief is a big help to us especially during the pandemic because we don’t have a job so the food we get from them is a big reduction in expenses. We were also taught to earn because of the livelihood programs),” Ortiaga says.

“Dahil sa Virlanie Foundation at Hapag project, natuto ako gumawa ng mga kakanin. Nakatulong ako sa asawa ko para sa mga pangangailangan namin sa bahay. Kung mahina ang kita niya, nagagamit ko ang mga natutunan ko para tulungan siya — gumagawa ako ng mga puto, kutsinta, at nilalako ko ito (Because of the Virlanie Foundation and Hapag project, I learned to cook. I helped my husband with our household needs. If his income is low, I can use what I have learned to help him — I bake puto, kutsinta, and sell them),” she adds.

As Hora and Ortiaga continue their journey, they hope to serve as inspirations to others facing similar challenges, demonstrating the power of resilience and determination in overcoming adversity.

Hapag Movement: Empowering communities through sustainable livelihood

Globe, together with Ayala Foundation, is actively helping address hunger or food insecurity in the Philippines through the Hapag Movement, a program that also seeks to empower communities with sustainable income opportunities.

With ground partners like Virlanie Foundation, another batch of livelihood program graduates, mostly mothers from Tondo who completed 12 weeks of training in baking, was recognized. They were given certificates for their mastery of valuable skills for the local job market.

From being individual competitors, this group of women bakers eventually helped each other by working together and agreeing to standardize product quality as they formed cooperatives within the communities.

Through Ayala Foundation, Globe continues to reach out to partners and stakeholders through the Hapag Movement.