Bulihan Center, Cavite

Bulihan is one of the densely populated area of Silang, Cavite. It is composed of a 10 Barangays to which most of the resettled residents come from different areas in Metro Manila. Majority of the residents are formerly squatters in different slum areas of the City. Most of the families are indigent who live below poverty line.

Food for the Hungry International (FHI) supports 350 children through Child Development Program(CDP) in Bulihan Center. FHI also conducts various training through seminars, counseling and workshops for parents. This is to strengthen their role in the life of the child. Water sealed toilets have constructed through assistance FHI. This has solved the problem on hygiene sanitation. .More then 100 water containers have distributed to families who have no supply of water.

Bulihan Center has accepted work campers from Hong Kong, Japan, United States every year. They helped constructing the community multi-purpose building, and improving pathways.

This year, Bulihan Center by God's grace was able to plant a new Christian church in the area. The new church was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission with the name " Jesus Christ the Rock and Hope Christian Church". To date, it has 80 adult and 50 children members, mostly FHI members who have known the Lord. God is at work continuously in this area of Bulihan as lives continue to change and be impacted by the word of God.

LOCATION

Dasmarinas is one of the towns of Cavite province. Bulihan is one of the communities covered by Dasmarinas. Bulihan is a resettlement area for urban slum squatters. The distance from Manila is approximately 45 kilometers accessible by all miscellaneous transportation.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

The area is composed of seven (7) communities (Barangays) - Phase 1 to Phase 6 and an Armed Forces of the Philippines Housing Project located in Old Bulihan . Each Barangay is headed by a Barangay Chairman and a councilor. The total population is approximately 42,000.

Each Barangay is sub-divided into blocks and headed by a Block Leader. Concrete paths were constructed to facilitate the daily movement of the families especially those living in the inner lots.

The houses are made of concrete, semi-concrete and light materials. Paths were constructed between blocks and roads were cemented. The residents in the area come from different urban slum communities of Metro Manila such as Smokey Mountain, Paranaque, Marikina and Tondo. The Community is divided into commercial and residential areas.

There are two public elementary schools, one public high school, one private high school run by the Catholic priests, and a day care center in every Barangay.

There are also Rural Health Units (RHU), Municipal extension and several Christian Churches in each Barangay. There is also a private clinic and CANOSSA Health Center (an NGO).

ETHNICITY AND LANGUAGE

Primary ethnic group : Visayan 40%

Primary local language/dialect : Tagalog, English

Trade or official language : Tagalog

Other ethnic groups in the area:

• Bicol - 35%

• Kapampangan - 5%

• Ilocano - 15%

• Tagalog - 5%

SITUATION OF COMMUNITY

SOCIAL SITUATION

The communities served by Food For The Hungry(FHI)/Philippines are categorized as economically depressed in terms of income received by family heads. Most people live below the poverty line. Resettled families initially had no light or water supply. It took several years before water and light were installed in their homes. Most roads were not cemented.

Family heads need to find employment outside the community. Most of the family heads work in Manila, Laguna or other communities of Cavite. They work as laborers, factory workers and construction workers. Most women are full time housewives. Unskilled men and those with low education have difficulty finding a job. They remain idle which often leads to their indulgence in various vices and unproductive activities.

Noted problems in the community include drug addiction, alcoholism and other vices mostly common among men (i.e. violence and promiscuity). In addition, high school drop-outs often marry very early, which causes more problems for their family.

The another problem is that in spite of the accessible health center, there are not enough medicines to support medical treatments for the residents. The malnutrition rate is also high, particularly

The parents organization in Child Development Program has initiated various community projects to meet some of the identified problems in the community such as pathway cementing, "Bayanihan" (unity project) and other small projects in collaboration with the Barangay officials.

SPIRITUAL SITUATION

Majority of the people in Bulihan are Roman Catholics. It has been a fact that Roman Catholics have denied Filipinos the right to read the Bible. This is the reason why most Filipinos have shallow understanding of what true Christianity is. Some people (adult and children) believed that they became a Christian because they were born to a Catholic family and received the religious rituals from the church (e.g. Baptism, Confirmation, etc.). Said truth would attest the need for many people to hear the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ. In survey conducted, only few families have a copy of Bible in their homes. There are people who do rituals and sacrifices during the Lenten season. Some still believes that Jesus dies every year and His resurrection always follows.

Out of the present children in Child Development Program(CDP), we have trained teachers for Bible study. They are now helping the CDP worker in teaching the Word of God to small children. Most people are open to receive teachings from the Bible. They believe it will not do any harm but this will be beneficial to them. The interest of the people to hear God's Word has encouraged the staff to established Bible study classes in the different areas. Cottage prayer meeting is also on going which is rotated to CDP houses every week.

SITUATION OF THE CHILD

Children are the most precious creation entrusted us by God. Sad to say, there are people in the community who disregarded their children as a precious gift from God. There are battered, neglected and abused children in the community to various degrees. Some children are not given rights to involve in family decisions. Some could not attend school because their parents are not capable to do so. With said circumstances, through Child Development Program we envisioned that the children of Bulihan would achieved their rights as an individual and will enjoy life as a precious child of God.

INTELLECTUAL/VOCATIONAL SITUATION

Education is wealth to most people. Some poor parents claimed that education is the only thing they can leave their children. This has been a dream to most parents. The high cost of education has been a hindrance for most parents to realize their dreams for their children. In survey, for every 100 children who entered grade 1 only 80 will graduate in elementary and out of the 80 who entered in secondary school, only 40 will graduate. Ten can enter college but only 4 can finish college.

The government school could not meet the needs of most poor children. The Government pays for the teacher's salary but school materials such as chalks, visual aids, desks and chairs could not be provided. Provision of other school needs has been a problem, which was passed on the parents to shoulder. This is the reason why even in a public school, parents has to pay for school contribution and other fees. For every classroom, the ratio is 1:50 (teacher to students). Classrooms are crowded and have poor ventilation.

Children in public high school also complain of the various school projects they need to comply per school calendar. Non compliance would be a big factor for them to received low grade. This has been a reason too why there are children who could not complete their secondary education. Most of them become out-of-school and indulging to unproductive activities (e.g. gangs, drug addiction, etc.)

Children have a lot of potential only if they will be developed and enhanced. Through Child Development Program, we hope to realize it.

SOCIAL/MORAL

Children are said to be naive, creative and talented. They learn from people around them and are influenced by their environment. Sad to say, there be children in the community who are expose at an early age to the social and moral problems in the community (e.g.. public drinking of alcohol, cigarette smoking, gambling, etc.). This has been contributing to their attitudes and behavior as individuals.

Most children are said to be rude, disrespectful and cruel to others. Their early exposure to media and television has been affecting their development as individuals. Through CDP, we hope to mold the young minds of our children to what the Lord has intended.