Tanging Yaman Foundation’s work in relief operations and educational formation is a testament to how generosity grows with each act of giving.

IN THE outskirts of the Ateneo campus, one would find Iggy’s Food Hub and Iggy’s Talipapa—a mini palengke selling fresh and affordable produce on campus. Unbeknownst to some, these entities are supported by the Tanging Yaman Foundation Inc. (TYF), a non-profit organization that has been tirelessly engaging in relief operations, rehabilitation projects, scholarships, and more.

Since its inception in 1992, one thing has remained constant for TYF—its dedication to the Ignatian values of being persons for and with others—as embodied in their community.

Hidden gem

Sebastian Ang (3 BS PSY) is a certified Iggy’s suki (regular customer), so much so that he has memorized the delivery schedule in Talipapa. According to him, Mondays are when the produce is restocked, Tuesdays are for eggs, Wednesdays are for green onions, and Thursdays are for carrots.

As a dormer, Ang was in search of healthy and affordable food. “In Talipapa, I spend around four to five kilos of vegetables worth Php 600, which lasts for a week,” Ang shares.

Ang considers Iggy’s as one of his favorite spots on campus because, aside from its prices, he gets to support local farmers through his patronage. More than anything, he keeps coming back for the people. He recalls the time he celebrated his birthday in the Food Hub with the employees warmly greeting him.

Yuan Placides (BS CH ‘24), a recipient of TYF’s Evelyn Ang Memorial Scholarship, attests to the kindness of the staff, also remembering a moment when he felt their genuine concern.

“It was raining hard when a truck delivered supplies for the Talipapa. The driver asked me whether I was a dormer, before suggesting that he drop me to my dorm,” Placides recounts.

Apart from Iggy’s, TYF extends its work to rehabilitation, relief efforts, and helping disadvantaged students.

A culture of giving

Senior Manager for Programs and Communications Herold Pelonio has been working with TYF for seven years after falling in love with its mission of “bridging God’s mercy and compassion to people in need.”

Pelonio explains that the Talipapa’s humble origins began during the pandemic, even before community pantries emerged. Back then, farmers were unable to send their surplus harvest to the market, prompting TYF to create a system that would connect these farmers, as well as fisherfolk, to the Ateneo. 

Rescue buying excess produce from farmers also enabled TYF to include vegetables and dried fish in the food packs, so beneficiaries were not limited to eating processed food. At the same time, to feed the volunteers from Barangka and Marikina, the Food Hub was born.

After the lockdowns, TYF has also expanded the mobile Talipapa to the Mary The Queen Parish in San Juan City, allowing more people to benefit from its services. During the aftermath of Typhoon Carina, TYF, along with volunteers, initiated relief operations. Pelonio says the support from the Ateneo community alone was enough for them to mobilize.

Apart from relief and rehabilitation, education and formation are also a part of TYF’s five cluster programs. TYF provides various scholarships to students all over the country. They focus on students with families who lost their livelihood, those who could not afford college, and students who were orphaned. The “Huwag Kang Mangamba Scholarship Program” also provides financial assistance to students from elementary to college. They are also expanding their scholarships to bereaved students of extrajudicial killing victims.

According to Placides, his scholarship relieved his family of the burden to pay for his full tuition throughout college. “[I’m] very grateful [and] honored to be given the scholarship, and that TYF is helping me on top of their many responsibilities and initiatives,” he shares. Receiving this gift of education also has inspired him to give back to the community in any way he can.

These scholarships are primarily sourced from the generosity of donors. Pelonio says they value each donation, no matter how small. TYF continues to provide transparency reports for each, even for donations that cost Php 10. They make sure every donor is honored this way because for them, “a little from many becomes much.”

Life’s real treasures

For Pelonio, TYF’s work, rooted in bayanihan (communal unity), is a testament to how God moves. In one parish, he heard that families divided the food packs into two, so two families could benefit from one food pack. This story reminded him of a Biblical reference: the multiplication of the bread.

Another memorable encounter was when a beneficiary donated the squash they received from TYF to their neighbor. “These people are in need and hungry, yet they are also the ones willing to sacrifice the blessings they receive,” Pelonio shares in a mix of English and Filipino.

Amid the exhaustion that comes with social work, experiences like these drive Pelonio to keep pushing. From relief operations to providing scholarships, TYF’s works embody Ignatian values in everyday life, shared for and with others.

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Resources:

If you are interested in supporting Tanging Yaman Foundation’s #KristinePh Relief Operations, you may send your cash donations through the following channels indicated below. Send a photo or screenshot of the transaction and the name of the donor to tangingyamanprograms@gmail.com.

• GCash: 0947 565 9544
• BPI: 3081-1213-45
• Metrobank: 448-7-44801314-2
• QR Code for Maya and US-based donors can be obtained here.