Kapuso star Bianca Umali opted to do something unique and meaningful for her birthday this year by paying it forward through World Vision Philippines and the youth from Barangay Molinete in Laurel, Batangas.
With this experience, Bianca confessed, “Getting to spend time with them makes me happy. Wala akong nararamdamang pagod kahit pa napaka-init, kahit pa nasaan, kahit pa gaano kalayo (I didn’t feel tired though it was very hot, wherever it was, however far) it doesn’t matter because my only goal is for them to know me and for me to know their stories.”
She also shared, “Hindi po ito ang unang beses na ako po ay naka-experience na magtanim sa isang (It wasn’t my first time to plant in a) community. But this community is different because of what they’ve built here. They own it! And that is such a big factor for me. Nakakagana lalo kasi nakikita ko na masaya sila (It keeps me going especially because I see them happy). They’re self-sufficient, and personally ’yung (that) independence na ganun (like that) is very close to my heart because I am also such an independent person.”
Bianca’s unwavering commitment to the causes of World Vision did not go unnoticed as World Vision PH’s interim national director Jun Godornes expressed his gratitude to the actress: “Nakita namin kung paano siya lumago, paano siya naging (We saw how she grew and became a) powerful voice para sa mga kabataan (for the youth). We’re so proud of her and we’re so happy to have her as our ambassador.”
While she has partaken in various World Vision campaigns including community visits to Marawi and Cebu and participation in the Taal Volcano eruption relief operation, she continues to use her voice for children and women empowerment until they have enough to thrive in this world.
This time, her visit to the Molinete community helps address pressing issues of world hunger, malnutrition and food security. This puts the spotlight on World Vision’s ENOUGH Campaign, which aims to help rehabilitate at least 7,700 undernourished children with access to life-saving nutrition and provide more than 919,700 individuals with access to clean drinking water by 2026.
As she turns another year older, she couldn’t be more thankful for her beautiful journey with World Vision PH: “The reason why I am such a proud ambassador of World Vision ay dahil binigyan nila ako ng pagkakataon (is because they gave me the opportunity) not just to be an ate (big sister) to my little cousins at home, they also gave me an opportunity to become an ate to as many children that I can be an ate to. And that just makes me so happy.”