PNA QUICK UPDATE 10 AUGUST 2021

"Thanks to PNA we have not gone hungry in the covid pandemic" said Stephanie recently.
Stephanie is a PNA scholar from Payatas. Another scholar wrote the following "During the past
few months, the crisis became tougher and worse. My family and I are indeed grateful for PNA's
initiative to be a visible sign of God's love and a channel of that love through helping us to
survive the pandemic by constantly giving us foods." In 2020 Tens of thousands of families in
Payatas were seriously affected by the Community Quarantines that were imposed to try to
control the COVID Pandemic. In response to this situation PNA initiated a massive food relief
program. Between March 17 and November 9, 2020 PNA distributed 130,000 relief food packs
to around 14,000 families in Payatas helping to prevent or relieve hunger for tens of thousands of
people. PNA also cooked around 50,000 meals for people in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.

In January 2021 PNA shifted its main focus in Payatas from relief work back to human, spiritual
and community development work, though continuing with relief food distribution on a smaller
scale. Education remains a major focus in PNA’s present work. It has increased its number of
scholars to more than 120, provides internet access for online studies, continues its program for
out of school youth (two of whom have just won scholarships with Toyota) and continues its
intensive one-year program for Grade 12 graduates to prepare them for further education. This
intensive program has enabled Payatas youth to study at top universities such as the University
of Sto Thomas and La Salle Araneta University. Our two UST Scholars were Dean's Listers as
was one of our Benilde scholars. PNA also aims to expand its education work and, among other
things, to develop its tutoring program, in this respect PNA is in discussion with Ateneo de
Manila University about a possible partnership. It is also developing its livelihood work. In
partnership with ANCOP and DMCI more than 20 unemployed men have finished a carpentry
course and are now having paid On the Job Training. As long as they do well in this training they
will be ensured of employment with DMCI. Another such course is due to start and we are
intending to expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training for men and women. We
are partnering the Ateneo Center for Education Development to provide scholarships for call
center training. PNA has also started a small urban gardening initiative to foster sustainable food
development. It is discussing a partnership to help people in small groups to save finances with a
view to buying land and enabling people to own their own homes.

PNA has also started a Sunday Mass which is live-streamed and intends to live-stream prayer
services daily. We also have young people meeting in small groups for prayer and spiritual
growth. Prayer and spiritual formation are at the very heart of PNA’s vision and mission.

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However, with Enhanced Community Quarantine being recently reestablished many more people
in Payatas once again find themselves with no work and no savings. PNA has therefore needed
to increase relief food distribution, even as it seeks to focus on development work. In the first
five days of April alone PNA distributed small rations of food to more than five thousand
families. It has also partnered with the Walang Iwanan Alliance to set up a Food Bank at the
PNA Center.

PNA has now started inviting people to become PNA Friends. PNA friends commit themselves
to do at least one of three things: 1) to pray for PNA and its work 2) to support PNA through
financial donations and/or gifts in kind 3) To volunteer and somehow serve in the work of PNA.
PNA will send regular newsletters, updates, spiritual writings and prayer requests to PNA
Friends.

SOME LINKS TO PNA IN NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS

From the inquirer. PNA is number 5. "Bring out the special china for the table spread, and
include a family in Payatas." https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/361690/10-acts-of-kindness-amid-the-
pandemic/#ixzz6Kzqhpa2B

From the Manila Times,

About 7 paragraphs in the last section, "Bring God's Love to the Poor", are about PNA.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/10/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/let-the-father-dwelling-
in-us-do-his-mercy-work/723904/

From the Manila Times,

The fifth paragraph from the end is about PNA. PNA is also mentioned in the penultimate
paragraph. https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/07/opinion/columnists/many-of-the-poor-dont-
get-aid-heres-how-they-can/723133/

From the Manila Times. The penultimate section is about the work of Fr. Paul in PNA.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/06/13/opinion/columns/know-the-love-of-christ-that-god-
may-fill-you/1803011