PROJECT BIBO (“Bring In the LOVE, Bring Out the SMILE”)

“This project is indeed a huge blessing to all of us, especially since we relied on God’s grace, He will make a way and surely will grant our prayers... Like yesterday, there were heavy rains and then we prayed for better weather. Look at the weather now, it’s sunny. It’s really a blessing from Him. To God be the Glory!”

This was the heartfelt statement from teary-eyed Good President Angeli Pinky Ancheta when she was interviewed during the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong West’s “kick-off” Project BIBO, at the Mataas na Paaralang Neptali Gonzales for the benefit of two hundred (200) learners with special education needs (LSEN) of Nueve de Febrero Elementary School on 04 July 2025. Aside from the 16 Rotarians in attendance, there were also 14 volunteers and 12 SNED teachers present.

The purpose of this service project is to emphasize the importance of being “bibo” in the lives of the beneficiaries. The club conceptualized this project to help “bibo kids” or smart children, which literally means kids who are active, happy, and bright. Good President Angeli also added that the main goal of BIBO Project is to give importance to LSENs and let them feel that they are being loved by good people arounf them, like what Rotarians are doing for them. Moreover, this project is part of the club’s year-long activities in celebration of its Golden Anniversary.

With Project BIBO, RC Mandaluyong West implemented sixteen (16) different activities covering Rotary’s seven (7) Causes :

For Promoting Peace, one (1) talk on the topic, “Peace is Jesus” for LSEN, and two (2) story telling sessions on “Peace” were conducted.

For Fighting Disease, the club’s Rotaractors took the vital signs of LSENs & their parents.

For Providing Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, the club partnered with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and Healthy & Pure to accomplish an oral hygiene talk for selected LSENs, distributed three hundred (300) purified drinking bottled waters for all attendees, distributed dental kits, and spearheaded the application of fluoride to some LSENs.

For Saving Mothers and Children, the club offered job opportunities to the mothers of LSENs present and initial interviews for this purpose were conducted by its project partner - Prestige Alliance MPC (ServPro) - a local manpower supplier in the Philippines, conducted talks for selected parents on the topic, “How to Take Care of their Children with Special Needs”, and distributed clothes to the parents as a symbol of appreciation for their participation.

For Supporting Education, the club also undertook the following: distribute three hundred (300) Peace books sponsored by OMF Literature, turned over a 50” television set as well as a computer set sponsored, distributed coloring books for the LSENs, and turned over volleyballs & basketballs with the special participation of project partner, Olympic Village for the improvement of the children’s locomotor skills.

For Growing Local Economies, a few sacks of cloth and threads for their “Basahan Livelihood Project” were donated, so that the basic needs of the LSENs can be augmented through the sale of rags and potholders.

And finally, for the Rotary Cause of Protecting the Environment, the club turned over biodegradable garbage bags and distributed one hundred fifty (150) pieces of tumblers sponsored by High Pointe.

These sixteen (16) Project BIBO activites of RC Mandaluyong West were accomplished in just one day. That is why the LSEN beneficiaries and their parents shouted for joy with all their might, “Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo Rotary!”

Truly, the Rotarians brought their LOVE to LSENs, which resulted in their priceless SMILE and the genuine HAPPINESS in their EYES.

“We have United for Good, to Bring In the LOVE so that we can Bring Out the SMILE. Together we can. To God be the glory!”, concluded by Good President Angeli, with tears of joy in her eyes.