TVIRD brings a famous Bee to the mountains

A day to remember for children of a remote IP village

Every organization has its own way of celebrating Christmas. Many companies consider this occasion as an opportunity to help, and share their blessings to, the less fortunate among their stakeholders.

For TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., (TVIRD) it has become a tradition to host a Christmas party for children residing in or around the Company’s gold and copper project at Sitio Canatuan – ancestral homeland of the Subanon indigenous people (IP) – in remote Barangay Tabayo in Siocon Zamboanga del Norte every December since 2004.

Last December, TVIRD again held a Christmas Party, this time for some 4,000 children and their parents, at 5th Avenue in Sitio Malusok of adjacent Barangay Tabayo in Baliguian Municipality. They came mostly from villages and public schools within the Company’s impact communities.

The little party guests were visibly thrilled by the games they played, the food they ate, and the gifts they received from TVIRD’s Community Relations and Development Office (CReDO) personnel. The proud parents, meanwhile, had fun watching their kids show off their singing and dancing talents during the program. But what made the party more memorable was the presence of Jollibee – hands down the most famous mascot in the Philippines, the rallying figure of the fastfood chain of the same name whose phenomenal rise is primarily attributed to its affinity with the Filipino palate.

Interestingly, it was the first time for a majority of the children – and many of their parents – to see the Jollibee mascot in person, a ubiquitous urban pop culture icon in these islands. As expected, the mascot was hugged, kissed, mobbed, mainly adored by its throng of fans in these mountains, most of whom had seen the famous bee only on television or on the hamburger joint’s merchandising items.

For Irene Pangilisan, 8 years old and Grade II student of Canatuan Elementary School, and for other participants, it was indeed a day to remember: “Dili matakib ang akong kalipay kay sa mang higayon akong nakita ang Jollibee mascot. (I cannot describe the happiness I feel because for the first time I saw the Jollibee mascot),” she said in Visayan, the local dialect.

Irene’s sentiment was echoed by Jahren Combi, also 8: “Dako ang akong kalipay kay may Jollibee. (I am so happy because I saw Jollibee).”

Older children like Abegail Balingit, 10; and Shiela Comisas, 13, were equally happy, but for a different reason: “Nalipay jud ko kay may pinaskuhan ako. (I am very happy because they gave me Christmas gifts.),” said Abegail. “Makalingaw ug nalipay kayo ako sa Christmas Party ug nakadawat pa jud ko mga pinaskuhan nga akong laruan ug magamit sa pag-eskwela. (I really enjoyed the Christmas Party. I received gifts like toys and school supplies),” Shiela averred.

For the management and staff of TVI Canatuan led by General Manager Magellan Bagayao and CReDO Officer Elvira Asuan, these words were enough to make them forget the difficulties they went through in organizing and hosting such a huge party, and in bringing a well-loved bee high up in these mountain areas. (Jose Dagala)