Manila archdiocese marked the seventh anniversary of its anti-poverty movement dubbed “Pondo ng Pinoy” (Filipino Fund) today with several activities, including the launch of a website to boost its presence online. “Pondo ng Pinoy, the movement started by Archbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, which is now a community foundation, is marking its seventh year with a focus on a deeper transformation of Pondo ng Pinoy givers and receivers,” the archdiocese said in a statement today. “The principle behind Pondo ng Pinoy is that small acts of goodness done frequently, regularly and consistently will lead the person doing it to heaven,” it said. The program urges people to save at least 25 centavos (about half a US cent) every day as an expression of kindness for the poor. “This small act, when pooled together becomes an important instrument for helping the poor,” the statement added. The website launched today contains information about the foundation, including it programs, projects and beneficiaries. Other activities yesterday included an audio-visual presentation, a photo exhibit, a poster-making contest, a certificate program on community development, a partnership program with Pastoral Care for Children and an award for the best Pondo ng Pinoy acts by parishes and schools. Some 7,000 people were expected to attend the celebrations led by Cardinal Rosales. In June 2010, “Pondo ng Pinoy” collections exceeded 200 million pesos, and helped fund 1,081 projects.
