Tara! Kape Tayo 2026

Project Yakap, launched on August 26, 2024, is a DEI service project aimed at supporting the basic and immediate needs of the Mangyan Tribe, particularly those residing in Barangay Balite, Arangin, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. One of the concerns in the area is the lack of livelihood. The Rotary Club of Upper Eastside Antipolo (RCUESA) had donated one hundred (100) coffee tree seedlings which the community will take care of and propagate. At harvest time, RCUESA undertook to buy all the produce and sell them through the RCUESA Mercato. All net proceeds of the sale shall go back to the community.

On December 16, 2025, RCUESA went back for a bigger mission in Barangay Balite.  When its club officers and members finally arrived at the Mangyan community in Barangay Balite, their eyes could not  believe the beautiful landscape that greeted them, with said donated coffee seedlings planted in between the old coffee trees in the area. The club's “Tara Kape tayo 2026” project resulted in the successful planting of one thousand (1,000) Liberica coffee seedlings in the 1 hectare farm lot of the Mangyan farmers. The 20 organized farmers present will form the core group that will tender the farm.

Moving forward, the plan is for the club to visit the farm once every two (2) weeks in the next two (2) months, and then monthly afterwards until the harvest season. RCUESA's partner representative, Pastora Glenda Monton Rio of the Christian Help Center, will likewise visit monthly.  RCUESA has committed to not only visit the coffee farm but also conduct regular quarterly talks with the farmers and Barangay Captain Jose Palagayan.  Another visit is scheduled for a meeting with representatives of the Department of Agriculture and DOST Mimaropa for the needed training of and workshops for the coffee farmers to ensure the success and sustainability of the project. 

After completing the visit to the farm, the RCUESA members proceeded to the Barangay Hall where a group of fifty (50) children with their parents were waiting. PP Laine Montines and RCC Hope President Liza Sacro led the program and had a book reading of the RCUESA comic book entitled, “Si Anina at ang Lihim ng Tubig-bukal”, an original story that tackles Rotary's Area of Focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene or WASH. (Incidentally, the book's author is RCUESA member Rtn. Jomel Aramil, and the book will be published by RCUESA too. Prizes of End Polio Now bears from DGN Sheryll Khoshiking and toys donated by LtG. Jojo Flores were distributed as well, giving simple joys to the children. It was also a sight to see them running in the open field as they all played with the plastic badminton sets given.

As a continuing project on Rotary’s Area Of Focus on Maternal and Child Health, the distributed maternal kits to expectant mothers and newly-born babies. Each kit contained cotton swabs, cotton buds, alcohol, hand washing liquid soap produced by RCUESA Mercato, baby blankets, and 2 pieces of Katcha diapers. Everyone received Christmas gifts. A bag of groceries and a packed snack of pancit, puto, biningka, and fruit juice was served during the occasion.

This service project which started with a visit to a remote area in the province in 2024 is now a continuing  undertaking for a longer and more sustainable and beneficial relationship with the beneficiaries. RCUESA hopes to make better life-changing experiences and and conduct more impactful projects as its starts its mission towards sustainability.

Written by: Good President Victoria B. Solis, Rotary Club of Upper Eastside Antipolo