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Houses for the poorest of the poor
During a freezing cold night, when you are tucked comfortably in
your bed, with all the comforts of a cozy home, know that a little girl is
shivering in the cold. In the distant town of Isabela, sleeping in shanties
made of discarded wood nailed together, lying down on the cold floor with only
a thin piece of cardboard as their mattress are our poor brothers and sisters.
This rickety shanty is their home. A home whose sturdiness may collapse during
strong typhoons, while they become soaking wet when the rain gets harder,
sipping in through the nipa nut roof. A lot always get sick, and sometimes,
children die. These poor don’t just sit around and beg. They labor for the
whole day, under the scorching heat of the sun, toiling in vast haciendas.
Unexpectedly, a foreigner became that spark of hope for the poorest of the
poor.
Thirty of the first 500 houses,
the biggest private philanthropic act for this small town of Isabela, and
perhaps one of the biggest noble private donation in Negros, has already
begun! And its main driving force is a Dutchman, who loves the Philippines-
Kees Koelman, married to Isabelaña Portia Parcon. And now the couple is
currently planning for an additional 40 houses to be in completion soon. The
task becomes less daunting with the support of benefactors who see the
nobleness of this project.
CJ Dekeling, Congressman Iggy
Arroyo, and PAGCOR. His only daughter, singer, composer and model aliya parcs,
likewise donated 10 houses. “But that is just the beginning. I want this
village to be complete in everything---a small first aid clinic, piggery,
plant nursery and thriving business “plans the visionary, who named the
village, “ASENSO VILLAGE” which means progress. Asenso Village was born out of
a dream, a dream to help the homeless Filipinos have decent shelter, and a
home which they can call their own and whose sturdiness will withstand time.
The project started out with the proposal to develop the Giant Cross of
Isabela at the “Glory Hill” as a tourist destination, in which his
brother-in-law, the late councilor rudy parcon spearheaded.
However, DENR’s restriction due
to possible landslide prompted the koelman couple to focus on a more
meaningful task – a permanent home for those who could never afford to have
one. When the mayor of Isabela revealed with regret the miserable plight of
this poor constituents, the unbearable reality of their lives touched kees
koelman’s heart that he decided, right there and then to begin the project.
Thus, after non-stop construction and work, in a few months time, thirty
families belonging to the poorest of the poor of Isabela, especially the olds
ones who worked throughout their lifetime but still couldn’t afford to have a
decent home, were given their own dream houses!
You should have seen the joys in
their faces and feel the gratitude in their hearts. “I’m not interested in the
selection of beneficiaries. I don’t even know their names. But it’s a nice
feeling to be able to help” reveals Kees. Each of us have a purpose in this
world. My mission, I believe, is to finish the 500 houses. I came to the
Philippines for retirement. I fell in love with the country, and I fell in
love with Isabela , the town where my wife is from. Filipinos are very, very
nice people. It brings me joy and happiness to be able to help “says the
philanthropist. “This whole project comes straight from the heart. I’m not
expecting anything in return, just a big smile and a happy people. It’s
priceless!” he adds.
Kees Koelman grew up in a closely
knit and deeply religious catholic family. His family was extremely poor. He
was born 2 years after World War II, when Holland was bombed by the Germans
and in their house they have nothing. “We were even poorer than the poorest
here in Isabela” recalls the philanthropist. Unlike here in the Philippines
where there are only two seasons, back in Holland we have four seasons, and
come winter time, we shiver during extreme cold, and we need to look for wood
for fire to heat our home up. My father was a baker, working as a humble
employee for a bakeshop while my mom was a nurse during the war. But after the
war, she had to stop working in order to raise us, her six children. She is
still alive today at age 97, and even does her own shopping.
(Read
more)
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