Alleviating poverty through Project Sampaguita

Project Sampaguita is a yearly dinner benefit program with its proceeds going to the scholarship program of the Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD) and the Banilad Study Center (BSC). It is an umbrella project of the Kalinangan Youth Foundation Inc. (Kalfi) in Cebu. Kalfi is a non-stock, nonprofit foundation aimed at “providing holistic formation of high school and university students and young professional women through Study Centers in key locations.”

Kalfi has named its project “Sampaguita” because the sampaguita garland, notably in Metro Manila, “has become a symbol of the reality of poverty in our country. At the same time, it is a symbol of how the gap between the poor and the rich may be bridged—the sampaguita vendor reaches out with her garland, and the passerby responds with an act of generosity.”

This year’s Project Sampaguita had its dinner benefit show with the Koro Madrigal (composed of alumni of the UP Madrigal singers) at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, a venue very fitting because it was here that Blessed Alvaro del Portillo inspired the local community to come up with the BCPD. It was here in Cebu that he exclaimed: “I have seen enormous wealth and enormous poverty!”

Blessed Alvaro, the first successor of Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, “emphasized that education represents a big help in alleviation of poverty… that poverty can be lifted not through short-term solutions but through a deep work of education.”

According to Elizabeth Lopez, BCPD director, the BSC was established in 1982 to “help women rediscover the true Christian values of womanhood, feminity, and work done well in a spirit of service in the Filipino Society. The activities here are for preparing women to become responsible citizens and future leaders. BCPD, on the other hand, was established in 1992 as a technical vocational institution registered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). It now has a standalone senior high school under its K to 12 program.”

BCPD basically offers technical vocational livelihood programs for young women. Approved by Tesda is its Dualized Training Program under the Hospitality and Tourism industry. The spiritual and doctrinal formation that goes with the BCPD programs are entrusted to Opus Dei. To date, BCPD has graduated more than 2,000 students, most of whom were scholars of BCPD benefactors.

This year’s Project Sampaguita had for its theme “The Music of Mercy, The Fragrance of Family.” Its guest speaker was Annabelle P. Brown, chairman of the Development Advocacy for Women Volunteerism Inc. It was a hugely successful affair and will ensure the continued service of Kalfi, the BSC and BCPD.