Dianna Jean Callejo Cruz is an NVC volunteer and champion Mingo advocate who so lovingly and valiantly brings Mingo where and when it is most difficult to do so. For two weekends now, she has spent what would have been quality time with her daughter in the midst of those who fled the war in Marawi.
Here is Part 2 of Mingo for Marawi story of NVC volunteer and Mingo advocate Dian, in her own words and photos. See Part 1
To be in an evacuation center with children and adults both needing something to eat, you just know that God has brought you to the right place to feed His people. You feed them not only with a cup of Mingo, but a cup of love from partners, donors, and volunteers who have been supporting the Mingo for Marawi mission in Lanao, Mindanao.
Saguiaran is the most proximate area to Marawi City, so it has the most number of evacuation centers in Mindanao. At the break of the seige, most of the people walked about two hours from Marawi to this small town to take refuge. It’s a small municipality that has to deal with the sudden, large influx of people. There’s less food supply here. Donations from other places have a hard time getting to the area due to the distance (it’s very far from Iligan City and the airport) and its proximity to the fighting.
There are almost 300 kids staying in the Saguiaran covered court. After their psychosocial session to help them deal with the trauma of the war and displacement, we served–as a reward for paying attention–Mingo with cereal, candy sprinkles, and a chocolate wafer stick.
DSWD Personnel and Fondation Suisse de Deminage (FSD) assisted in the feeding of Mingo among the children. Rise Against Hunger representatives Johaima Pandi and Shalimar Pangandaman together with NVC representatives prepared the Mingo meal.
God must have known that especially in evacuation centers, I long to witness the goodness of those who are most affected by the Marawi siege. It was an answered prayer when we came across Minsuari Sumangan, 38 years old and a family man. He is one of the evacuees at Saguiaran. When we came, I noticed him because he gave us a kind smile despite his situation.
While preparing Mingo, he quietly watched us and after a while, he asked me if we needed help. And I said yes. He hardly spoke, keeping himself busy with the Mingo preparation. He stayed with us all throughout the Mingo Mission.
I was waiting for him to ask me a favor for anything he might need in exchange for his voluntary help to us. But he did not ask. So I took it upon myself to give him extra Mingo packs. He smiled and said he would give it to his hungry children.
It is in times such as this that we become even more thankful because there are individuals like Manong Minsuari who would overcome their situation and instead choose to be of help to his fellow evacuees. Now, this is Mingo Love!
Let us not stop giving. They need our love. Please help these children and their families now. Let us feed them with our generosity. No amount is too small for the evacuation centers sheltering our brothers and sisters from Marawi. Let us reach out and share our blessings to the children of Marawi. Let us refill these empty cups with more love, with more giving.
NVC will continue the Mingo for Marawi drive while the conflict is ongoing and evacuees remain displaced.
Make a secure online donation to send Mingo for Marawi
Account name: Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc.
BPI
Peso Account: 1320011147
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Metrobank
Peso Current Account: 5467546007398
Dollar Savings Account: 5462546008937
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM
Do advise us when you’ve made the transaction. Please provide the amount and the branch where you made the deposit so that we can earmark the donation in your name.
For more information, email [email protected] or call/message mobile number +63 917-300-0342 for more information.
