Church to intensify Pondo ng Pinoy

By Paula Ariola

Archdiocese of Manila said that there is a need to strengthen the information campaign for Pondo ng Pinoy (PnP) in the 8^th anniversary celebration of the Catholic Church-based community foundation last September 2.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said, in the celebration held at the University of Santo  Tomas’ Quadri-centennial Pavillion, that Pondo ng Pinoy collection drops by P5 million.

 “In the past eight years, Pondo ng Pinoy collection increased. But this year, a little but significant decrease were noticed,” Bishop Pabillo said in an interview.

Pabillo said that although the decrease was relatively small and imposed no negative implications to the church’s poverty-alleviation programs, they are worried that the collection might continue to drop.

There were speculations that the decline in the collection was prompted by the retirement of its founder, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

“I don’t know if the decrease [in the Pondo ng Pinoy collection] was related [to Cardinal Rosales’ retirement] or it was just a mere coincidence,” Pabillo added.

The Manila prelate said on earlier reports that it is possible that the public might have thought that the community foundation has already ended following the retirement of its founder.

Pondo ng Pinoy is a community foundation launched in 2004 by the former Manila Archbishop Rosales to fund different Church-run programs for the poor, such as the ‘Hapag-asa’- feeding programs for children below six years old; education and housing projects. The funds were generated from 25-centavo coins donated by the parishioners.

Rosales retired last December and was succeeded by Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.

“PnP is not just the program of Cardinal Rosales but of the whole archdiocese. And Archbishop Tagle was part of the program since its launching,” Pabillo added.

He added that the enemy of PnP was the people’s “Ningas-Cogon” habit. They were interested to support the program at its initial stage but as the program progresses, their energy and enthusiasm diminished.

“That’s why there are promotional programs, as well as educational programs, so as not to make the PnP a fad that will soon be forgotten by the faithful,” he said.

Mercado said that their campaign to intensify their catechism is to regain the public’s support in PnP.

Pabillo also clarified that “[Pondo ng Pinoy] is not a fund-raising. It builds character and teaches the value of generosity. It’s a continuous process.”