Grant Made to Manila Seminary Project
Diocesan Press Service. November 10, 1975 [75401]
MANILA, The Philippines -- Saint Andrew's Theological Seminary in Manila has a piggery-poultry-rabbitry program that is expected to develop into a substantial means of support for the school owned by the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Philippines. With the increase in the rate of inflation because of the oil crisis, the school decided to use its land and labor to grow and sell animals and fowls and to cultivate vegetable and flower gardens to help support the theological education program.
In mid-1974 the Bayanihan Program was born. "The name," according to Bonifacio Somebang, chairman of the program, "extends back to older days when a farmer would invite his neighbors and other friends to work in his fields for a day or two, to plow and harrow or to transfer a house. Those who came to work would not be paid," he said, "but would of course be well fed. "
The Bayanihan Program of St. Andrew's is a cooperative project, but student participants are paid a small sum which is applied to seminary fees.
The goal of the program, Mr. Somebang said, is to have a piggery of three buildings; two poultry buildings for broilers and for chicken and quail layers; and one rabbitry building. To date about two-thirds of the building program has been completed, he said, funded by diocesan money, contributions from the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, the Diocese of Virginia, and others.
Lower classmen are assigned the task of maintaining the dormitories, serving and dishwashing, cleaning the buildings and grounds, while the upper classmen take care of the pigs, chickens, rabbits, quail, the gardens and the kangkong. "Those who have artistic talents," Mr. Somebang said, "are assigned to 'Operation T-Shirt,'" a silk screening project.
Each student works at least one hour daily for which he is credited one peso on his room and board charges. There are two full-time employees supervising the piggery and poultry projects and a professional veterinary consultant.
In October the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief approved a grant of $4,457 for the Bayanthan Program.