Hirahayon 3.0 builds 25 houses for the homeless

Hirahayon is a Bicol term that means to fix or to rebuild. It is the response of the Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus to alleviate the suffering of families whose houses were damaged during typhoons. In the last quarter of the year 2020, while the communities were still struggling with the effects of Covid19 outbreaks, three storms came weeks apart.

It left significant damages to properties and livelihood, rendering more than a hundred families homeless in the mission areas of the parish.

The provision of labor support, food for work and construction materials were locally available and facilitated the repair of houses within a given time frame and strict health protocols.

This assistance supplemented the government response and ensured the fast recovery of the affected families.

With the Hirahayon project, donors got interested in supporting the initiative. The Ladies of Charity (AIC Philippines, Mother Seton Hospital Unit, Association Internationale des Charite-Brussels and Vincentian Family Homeless Alliance, New York) pooled their resources to build a 14, 25 sqm typhoon- resistant houses.

The Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, through its parish priest, Fr. Francis Tordilla, collaborated with the City of Naga LGU) to allocate a site to construct the 14 duplex-type units intended for families who are living in vulnerable areas.

The Naga City government awarded each family on the creek side of Monte Cielo a 50sqm lot allotment certificate in 2021.

Immediate after the construction, near Christmas of 2021, the 14 units were ready for occupancy.

The lot will be amortized monthly by the families in a socialites and reasonable way.

On June 28, the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus celebrated its 25th Foundation Anniversary.

(This article first appeared in the St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Bulletin: Mandylion Special 2022 Issue)