Purok leader uplifts community

A 55-year-old mother has her hands full as she convenes more than 200 households that compose the purok she heads—Purok Upper Tawog—in barangay Valladolid, Carcar City.

Surrounded by parents of different ages, mostly young mothers carrying their children, Julieta Gomera opens the floor for discussions on how to further improve their community, stopping once in a while to listen to suggestions.

During the purok’s general clean-up activity every Saturday, Gomera calls out to members and signals the start of their initiative. Because of her soft voice, she uses a mega phone. Minutes later, members come out of their houses bringing brooms, bolos and other gardening tools.

Gomera proves that actions speak louder than words in leadership. As a purok leader, this mother of eleven is on duty for her purok round-the-clock, addressing concerns of members that range from minor squabbles to financial problems.

She resolved troubles between couples and offered financial assistance—P100 or P150—out of her own pocket to members in need.

Her willingness to help was borne out by her kind parents who used to invite people and give them free meals.

“My parents taught me how important to help people in need. And help does not only come in the form of money, but also time and effort,” she said in Cebuano.

Gomera has been serving for 12 years as school officer, choir member, a Couples for Christ member, and president of Kalipi, a women organization in her barangay.

When Purok Upper Tawog was established in May, majority of the household members elected Gomera to lead them because of her experience in community service.

“It is God’s grace to be a full-time mother and a purok leader, among others. As long as I am alive, I want to continue dedicating my time to my family and to the community. Through these acts, I could fully say, I have lived a worthy life,” she said.

Gomera does not receive any honoraria or salary for her being purok president.

The purok system is part of the initiative of the expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures Our Cebu Program, the joint development program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and the Province of Cebu that aims to make Cebu a more liveable place.

Purok is a smallest unit of governance composed of 20 to 50 or more households as members. Given the mandate through local ordinances enacted by barangay or municipal/city sanggunian, a purok can perform government functions with the coordination and supervision of the local officials.

The Purok Upper Tawog is divided into five groups wherein every group is assigned to clean everyday their purok. Every Saturday, they have a general clean-up while every Sunday, husbands dedicate their time constructing their purok center.

“The people are now well-disciplined. I don’t need to shout at them because they already know their responsibilities,” she added, recalling how households used to be passive about the trash left scattered in their area before the creation of their purok.

Members now collect plastic bottles and sell them to the barangay in exchange for school bags for every five kilos of plastics.

“This is already a big help for parents who could not afford to buy a school bag for their children,” Gomera said.

Every last Sunday of the month, purok members gather together in the chapel to hold their monthly general meeting. Included in the agenda are issues on parenthood, rights of the children, environmental issues, and plans for the purok.

Members also created a vegetable garden where onions, ginger, cabbage, lemon grass, and malunggay grow abundantly.

“The neighborhood no longer needs to buy vegetables from the market. We could harvest them from our small garden,” she said.

Gomera recalled that the biggest challenge she experienced was when their first purok center was forcibly demolished by the landowner. She said the center was almost done and it only needed finishing touches when the demolition took place.

“I was not sad for the materials and money wasted. I was disappointed because I saw how the husbands worked very hard to build our purok center,” she said.

A good neighbor, Junina Bargayo, donated a new parcel of land for their new purok center. The construction of the second purok center showcases the bayanihan spirit of the members. It will be finished next month.

“The materials used in the construction of the center came from the voluntary contributions of the members. Some donated nipa huts, hollow blocks, kawayan (bamboo), and any amount of monetary contribution,” she said.

She personally cooks mongo, five kilos of corn, and dried fish to be served to the workers of the center. Purok members contributed their harvested bananas and kamote during mealtime.

“Even husbands and children now help in our daily activities. We not only improved our purok but our attitude towards one another,” she added.

She plans to have a tabo (small market fair) in their purok where harvested vegetables in the garden will be sold to near sitios or barangays. The profit will be used to fund future development projects in the purok.

“I dream that someday our purok will win an award. It is a satisfying feeling that people appreciate the improvements that we have. But now, I am content with our progress,” she said.

Gomera admitted that many people questioned her goodness and active community service. Some were running rumors that she will run for office.

“God knows my purpose for helping others. I am not doing this for my own good but for the good of the many. In time, they will know how a small kind act can help a person in need,” she explained.

Her husband works as a furniture sample maker in Saudi Arabia. To add income to her husband’s salary, she makes and sells bibingka (rice cake) in the area.

With seven kids to raise, she makes sure that before leaving the house, meals are already served and concerns of her children are addressed.

“Though the concerns of our household are a priority, we can always extend help in every way we can to others and the community at large,” she said. /By Chrisley Ann Hinayas/Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.