100 ‘bahay kubo’ homes for Pilar

Banking on the generous hearts of returning Filipinos, this year’s Balik Cebu program for the Sinulog will be raising funds to build the “bahay kubo” as shelters for 100 families in Pilar town in the Camotes Islands.

“We are answering the call for aid for survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda,” said Tetta Baad, head of the Balik Cebu committee which announced its new campaign yesterday.

Every January for the past 12 years, Balik Cebu mounts a welcome party for balikbayans coming for the Sinulog and opens a booth at Ayala Center where tickets to various events can be purchased.

Baad said several balikbayans had already been sending their donations for typhoon victims to the Cebu City Tourism Commission, which prompted the committee to decide to channel assistance to a shelter program.

The committe, which is run by volunteers, identified barangay Esperanza in Pilar town as the beneficiary of the first 50 native houses for families who lost their homes, based on the recommendation of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, a Balik Cebu member.

The islet town was devastated in the storm but has been overlooked by relief organizations because of its remote location.

Each nipa hut or “payag” in Cebuano can be built for P35,000 each.

Cebu Holdings Inc. president Francis Monera yesterday pledged funds for 10 houses. TheDepartment of Tourism Central Visayas and Miss Cebu Charities pledged one house each, while Balik Cebu volunteers pledged one house.

In choosing the type of shelter, Baad, who is a CCTC commissioner, said the committee turned to “our rich cultural traditions” to provide something more than a shack of plywood and GI sheet roofing.

The organic and indigenous raw materials for a bahay kubo are readily available in the area like bamboo, coco lumber and nipa.

Donations will go to buying materials while Pilar families will build the houses with neighbors in the spirit of “bayanihan”.

“The bahay kubo has been in the Philippines for centuries. It has survived strong winds, and is earthquake-proof to some extent with its system of posts that allows it to sway freely. It is also flood proof. It provides excellent shelter against tropical heat and flooding with the structure raised on stilts,” said Baad.

If built well, the bahay kubo can last for 12 to 15 years, she said, quoting Cebu architect Melva Java.

Each payag will occupy 15 square meters with a nine-square meter area for the main room, a three meter porch and a three-meter “batalan” for cooking and washing.

Donations are welcome from everyone.

“They can give their donations to our Balik Cebu Booth where we are also selling BalikBalay T-shirts. The proceeds of the shirts will all go as fund for the campaign,” she said.

The year-long campaign will be launched on January 16 during the annual Balik Cebu welcome dinner at The Terraces. Tickets at P300 are available at the booth.

Two batches of 50 bahay kubo will be built. As more donations come in, Baad said this will support a livelihood program for families in Pilar as well.

Balik Cebu member and former DOT regional director Dawnie Roa said residents of Esperanza rely on fishing and growing coconuts, but most of their bancas were ruined in the storm.

“Esperanza means hope and through this campaign, we are bringing hope for the people there,” she said.

The Camotes islands with its white sand beaches are an emerging tourist destination. The place was spotlighted by the first Suroy Sugbo program in 2005 launched by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Balik Cebu, said CCTC member Alice Queblatin.

About 500 people are expected in the welcome dinner. Cebu Daily News publisher Eileen Mangubat said a model of the “payag” will be shown to encourage the balikbayans and others to suport the BalikBalay campaign.

In the press conference, Cebu City Michael Rama recalled that Balik Cebu was a consistent supporter of the Sinulog since the group was formed in 2001 to do something “special” for balikbayans. He said he has a “long memory” about this because he discused this with CHI’s president at the time, Rene Almendras, and other Ayala executives. /Aileen Garcia-Yap, Reporter