Eight friends, one heart

"Eight friends, one heart”
SunStar Davao, January 4, 2021

Davao-based couples Rene and Sylvia Rieta; Vic and Fe Rosario; Joey and Joy Mempin; and Richard and Monique Villanueva’s Christmas project “Noche Buena Mo, Sagot Ko” is a tangible and palpable proof that, when God sees the heart of the Filipino, He will find a hero. 

“Early on in the pandemic, the eight of us were individually grappling with its many difficult realities - separation from family members, businesses, and professions that ground to a halt because of quarantine restrictions, and all the uncertainties that come with a deadly illness that has yet no cure,” says Monique.

 

By April, Richard appealed to the other three couples to come together in prayer, as they were slipping into depression, denial, and other unhealthy mindsets just to get through the day. 

 

“Since then, every Monday to Friday at 830pm, through the wonders of cyber technology, we would meet for virtual prayer - for ourselves, our families, our city, our country, and our planet,” the mom-of-three shares.

 

Deluge of kindness

 

On the first Monday of Advent, alive, healthy, and Covid-free, the group felt a divine prodding to have a Christmas celebration that was bigger than themselves. A meaningful endeavor that would be personal, non-institutional, non-denominational, and all-inclusive. 

 

And so, with just their respective families, friends, and social media accounts, they launched “Noche Buena Mo, Sagot Ko” on December 4, 2020.

 

“Our initial target of 400 families in need, was a conservative estimate of what eight people could realistically achieve in two weeks. But when we reached this target within three days, we were already starting to suspect the beginnings of a miracle,” enthuses Monique.  

So, they pushed the dream further – 800 families. The deluge of contributions continued - from students, young professionals, businessmen, families - Filipinos helping Filipinos during one of the worst periods in the history of the world.

                     

                     

 

Multiplication of goodness

 

On December 11, the group officially ended the contribution phase of the project, as they had already generated funds for 1,360 Noche Buena packs. 

             

 

They chose to distribute the Noche Buena packs to all Gawad Kalinga Villages in Davao City, Samal, and Panabo, including the Ray of Hope Village in the Female Detention Center of Ma-a City Jail; two Matigsalug tribal communities; and selected Gawad Kalinga Villages in North Cotabato.

 

Twenty days. One thousand three hundred sixty gifts of a Noche Buena. 

“For the eight of us, this is our takeaway: miracles are the multiplication of goodness, divine and unexplainable. Before God performs the impossible, he first seeks out our faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these, He found in the Filipino heart,” ends Monique gratefully.

Onwards to “Noche Buena Mo, Sagot Ko 2021”!

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.