In May, the Covid-19 crisis was in full swing. Many families were starving, and it did not look like face-to-face classes would resume any time soon. So we asked the Spouses of Heads of Mission (SHOM) if we could convert a donation of theirs (meant to build classrooms) into a donation for Mingo Meals. Unfortunately, the rules of SHOM prevented them from accommodating our request so we went ahead and built the classrooms. Construction of the classrooms was finished in August. Since classes had not yet resumed, the classrooms were used as a community center.
Little did we know that Mme. Daniela Gaschen, the wife of Ambassador H.E. Alain Gaschen of Switzerland, could not ignore the thought of so many starving children. She racked her brains to come up with a plan that would raise funds for much-needed Mingo Meals. In September, she contacted NVC President Millie Kilayko to share her plan and even a prototype! Her plan involved selling miniature angel ornaments made out of upcycled Nespresso capsules. Proceeds from the sale of each angel would go into a fund for Mingo Meals. To make this project even more special, she added that for every angel sold, a light on a giant Christmas tree would be lit. She targeted 10,000 angels for 10,000 Mingo Meals.
Mme. Daniela had her son make an instructional video to teach our Artisans of Hope how to make these angels. In addition to that, she asked her husband to spearhead a solidarity project. Then she looked for other partners and sponsors. She talked Patrick Pesengco, the local distributor of Nespresso, to ensure that the 15,000 capsules we would need, would come on time. This project gave our Artisans of Hope the chance to work and earn well, and for months, they worked hard on the angels.
Above: Some of the 10,000 angels. Right: Mrs. Louie Locsin, chairperson of the International Bazaar Foundation, NVC Foundation Vice President Therese Ng the wonder woman Mme. Daniela Gaschen and Makati Mayor Hon Abigail Binay.
We prepared the 10,000 Mingo Meals and sent them on their way. On December 23, after a long and hard climb to the village of Mambago in the Kapalong Mountains in Davao del Norte, they Mingo Meals reached the children. It was a wonderful early Christmas present for the community.
In the photo, children hold up signs saying “Dakol No Salamat Lagboy Angels for Angels” (Many thanks and much love to Angels for Angels in the language of the Ata Manobo tribe which they belong to). Indeed, this early Christmas gift was possible due to so many angels, most especially Mde. Daniela <3
