Bayaning Samahang Pilipino 2016-17

Institution Category

Psoriasis Philippines Online Community, Inc. (Winner)

• Mandaluyong City
• NCR

Having someone share your burden somehow makes it a little more bearable.  This is why the Psoriasis Philippines Online Community, Inc. was established for people with the skin disease psoriasis.

PsorPhil, an organization in Mandaluyong City, has conducted various events to cater to the needs of their members.  They also have dedicated activities to non-members.  Working alongside the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Dermatological Society, and with the Philippine Rheumatological Association (PRA), they have provided free laboratory tests, consultations, and even free medicine for psoriasis, among many others.

The most important task that PsorPhil has undertaken is one with the objective to save the lives of the people suffering from psoriasis.  Studies have shown that people diagnosed with this skin disease have high suicidal tendencies.  PsorPhil aims to eradicate the same that people with psoriasis fee.  With proper education about the disease, psoriasis patients are taught how to better handle their situation and manage their illness.

PsorPhil member volunteers, most of whom have Psoriasis themselves, conduct one-on-one counseling to other Psoriasis patients, known as the PsorCoach program.  Knowing what it feels like to be left out, this program helps patients deal with depression and also help them find strength within themselves.  To date, this program was able to help more than 300 Psoriasis patients all over the country.

Bakhita Send One Poor to School Credit Cooperative (Finalist)

• San Jose Nueva, Ecija
• Region 3

More than a decade ago, four women health workers strived for a better life.  They underwent trainings in microfinance and were able to start their own business and founded Bakhita Send One Poor to School Credit Cooperative.

Members of the credit cooperative come from farming families.  Just a few years after they started, the cooperative has grown and was able to extend help and branch out to other municipalities within Nueva Ecija, such as in Carranglan, Pantabangan, and Nampicuan.

Through the funds acquired from their small credit cooperative, they have successfully helped 30 college students finish their Bachelor’s Degree.  Although having to work with limited resources, they were also able to give financial assistance to members of the community who are ill.  With now more than 100 members, BSOPS-CC continues to share their blessings within Nueva Ecija.

Loboc Youth Education Association, Inc.

• Loboc, Bohol
• Region 7

If there’s a will there’s a way and it is their strong will that paved the way to the formation of Loboc Youth Education Association, Incorporated.  This organization from Bohol was established to address issues of poverty, gender development, environmental degradation, and the declining cultural heritage in the community.

Using music to achieve their goals, LYEA scouts for students and trains them to play musical instruments.  This training enabled them to acquire college scholarships as well as the opportunity to be part of a band that travels across the globe.

Aside from preserving and enhancing Loboc’s rich musical heritage, their hard work allowed them to put up a cooperative, sponsor 500 college students, build a 3-storey dormitory, and revive Loboc’s title as the center of brass band & orchestra in Bohol.  A clear example that greater things can be achieved when we work hand in hand.