Decent housing and education: TMP Foundation changes lives one step at a time

"We were taught to dream from the heart (Itinuro sa amin na mangarap mula sa puso)," Bessie Ocariza, 45, a resident of Toyota-City of Santa Rosa-Gawad Kalinga Village since 2014, said near the end of the 80-minute interview where she sat quietly listening to the stories of a neighbor.

- BY PINKY CONCHA COLMENARES

An overseas Filipino worker on-and-off for six years, there was no shyness when it was her turn to tell her story, outpouring gratefulness to Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) for giving her family a house. From "owning nothing to owning things-house appliances and two motorcycles," she gushed. And more than that, valuable lessons on life and community.

"Itinuro sa amin na mangarap mula sa puso na balang araw, magkakaroon kami ng mas maginhawa at masayang buhay, makakaalis kami sa Gawad Kalinga Village, at maipapasa namin ang aming bahay sa pamilyang tunay na nangangailangan at walang matirhan (We were taught to dream from the heart, that someday, our lives will be better and we can leave the Gawad Kalinga Village, and pass on our house to a family who truly needs shelter and a home)."

Above the deafening sounds of heavy downpour and thunder, Bessie's statement was the proverbial showstopper. It defined not only the life-changing effect of being awarded a house but also teaching a sense of community responsibility to pass this on to a family in need of shelter.

"Pinasigla kami ng Toyota GK na mangarap na hindi habambuhay ganito ang kahirapan namin, at kaya naming pagandahin ang aming buhay, (Toyota GK inspired us to dream, that we will not be poor like this forever; that we can improve our lives)," Bessie emphasized over and over again, the smile all over her face now, her eyes turning teary.

To work hard to have a better life; to get out of the village where one learns the meaning of dignity; to pass on one's house to someone poorer than you those were the values that shone from the inspiring stories we heard that rainy afternoon. It told of the impact that TMP Foundation's community development and education programs have made on the lives of many people. In a nutshell, it presented how Toyota's CSR programs to "give back to the community" had been successfully transferred from board room plans to people.