“We did it!” – SILP E-CHAMP

“We did it!” San Isidro Labrador Parish election volunteers exclaimed. Exhausted and sleepless, yet, more than 100 parishioners took part in monitoring, securing, and praying for the 2016 national and local polls in Barangay Catalunan Grande of the District 1 of Davao City even before and during the whole day of May 9.

Young and old, students, mothers, employees, retirees joined together as volunteers of the Archdiocese of Davao PPCRV – E–CHAMP as poll watchers, voters’ assistants, mobile communications and logistics staff. The Knights of Columbus Council 9573 led by Grand Knight Douglas “BomBom” Diez manned the security of the volunteers and of the venue. The different Parish Center Organizations and Ministries were prayer warriors doing round the clock vigil in the adoration chapel. The Pink Sisters of the Holy Spirit Convent had also vouched as prayer warriors as members of the Parish and voters of this community. Eleven students of the Holy Cross of Davao College opted to serve with the SILP for E–CHAMP.

Fr. Joel “Joca” C. Caasi, SILP Parish Priest, coordinated with Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) as tasked by Archbishop Romulo Valles to head the Election that is Clean Honest Accurate Meaningful and Peaceful (E–CHAMP) for the Region; in partnership with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) in the National Level. Fr. Joca, with the Parish Social Action Ministry (PSAM) formed the Core Group for E–CHAMP with Dina S. Caballero Dr. Minda G. Rodriguez, Arlyn Batal, Adolf Q. Alonsagay, Bien Luigi P. Ibanez, Ruffa D. Banal, Leah P. Ibanez, as Parish E–CHAMP Coordinator.

The volunteers went through Trainings, Orientations, Conferences, Team Building, Recollection, Oath Taking and Commissioning activities in the Parish and in the Archdiocese that made them true to their pledge to protect and strengthen the election process. The SILP Volunteers have served the Catalunan Grande Elementary School and Jesus J. Soriano National High School with a total of 22 clustered precincts with around 17,000 registered voters.

Kayelah Briones, Voters’ Assistant sees an E–CHAMP volunteer should be of great pride and joy for having taken his or her part in the history of the country for having safeguard democratic processes and right to participate in political life of society.

Likewise, Fr. Joca said; “I thank all E–CHAMP volunteers who did their best to serve, battled the heat of the sun, politely catered the queries and complaints, cheerfully lead to and fro aged voters, faithfully watched each precinct, prayed ardently for the election, and everyone else who in one and many special ways have done his or her tasks. Our parish took a milestone in the mission of the Church to evangelize and promote the common good through good leaders (PCP II).” (Leah P. Ibanez)