Sitio Payong Kids Outreach 3.36

Sitio Payong is a small settlement composed of around __ families. It is located almost or within the boundary of the three cities of Marikina, Pasig, and Quezon but the place is currently associated with Area 4, Old Balara, Quezon City. The settlement is enclosed by the Marikina River and a band of elite populated subdivisions. To go in and out of the place is a struggle, since permission to use the private roads of these subdivisions is needed.
Categorically, the settlement can be closely related to a slum area since most if not all of the residents do not actually have ownership of the land where they are settled. Socio-economically, only few of the adults are gainfully employed. Children are mostly out of school due to poverty. Politically, the settlement receives very little support from the local government, if there are any. Some residents actually claim that they are being neglected by the local government as the LGU says they are not part of their jurisdiction.
The community is also profiled to be majority of Roman Catholics. However, it is sad to note that the degree of religiosity is weak. Hence, when our brethren discovered the place, it has been considered to be a battlefield worth fighting for.
Our crusade in Sitio Payong was started by our benevolent sister Lizel Asprec with her friends in the Christian faith. They started with Saturday conversations with mothers asking them if it was okay to pray with them and permit them to teach their children. It took a leap of faith to convince the parents that eventually became fruitful.
From the simple prayer time, our brothers and sisters were able to establish the initial Saturday Bible School. Slowly, our brethren made progress through the increased participation of the kids and youth in the community. Not long enough, concerned adults and parents lend a hand in keeping the Saturday classes and feeding program rolling.
For two consecutive years, our brethren were able to stage the usual Vacation Bible School as a culminating activity for the year.