Monsanto Philippines recently partnered with the Catholic Women’s League-Immaculate Conception Parish of Los Baños to reach out to the abandoned elderly of Bahay ni Maria in Calamba, Laguna.
Monsanto employees, together with the officers and members of Catholic Women’s League, brought cheer to the elderly residents by giving love donations and serenading them with songs.
“We exert effort to reach out to marginalized groups such as abandoned elderly and people with disabilities because they are an integral part of our society,” Monsanto’s Corporate Engagement Lead Charina Ocampo said.
“We interact on a personal level and not just provide donations because they also have emotional and psychological needs,” she added.
The employees, together with the members of CWL-ICP, entertained the residents with a short program and shared a pleasant meal with them.
Monsanto also donated hygiene kits, pillows, and sacks of rice to the residents.
Sister Queenie, one of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima who have been taking care of the ‘Lolas’ at Bahay ni Maria, said: “We are indeed thankful to Monsanto Philippines and CWL-ICP for taking their time and effort to visit us and bring joy to our Lolas.”
The Catholic Women’s League is a Roman Catholic lay organization whose objectives are to be of moral and religious influence to society in general.
Millet Catedrilla, president of CWL-ICP Los Baños Chapter, also expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to partner with Monsanto Philippines for such a meaningful cause.
“It is our first time to do an outreach activity in partnership with a private company and we are very glad that we were able to extend assistance to the elderly residents of Bahay ni Maria with the help and initiative of Monsanto Philippines,” Catedrilla said.
Monsanto Philippines sells Bt corn which is a transgenic crop. It may be recalled that in 2009, a Vatican study endorsed transgenic crops.
The study stated “in light of eight years of experience with growing transgenic crops, many additional field trials, and many additional published research reports, the conference concluded that the scientific evidence is overwhelming that transgenic crops improve the lives of the poor and offer additional significant improvements in their lives in the years to come.”