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Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Espinoza: Anti-Drug Walk-for-a-cause
By Fred C. Espinoza
CRUCIAL TASK. This coming Saturday, the House of Hope will hold an Anti-Drug Walk-for-a-cause campaign. The significant event will give us an idea of how committed the people of Cebu are to the crucial task of pursuing the campaign against drug addiction to a higher level—the rehabilitation of drug dependents.
Last Friday, I tried to contact one of the prominent leaders in the business community to determine his response to the idea being espoused by the executives of the House of Hope, a charitable Christian ministry, duly registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission.
It didn’t take me long to get the support of Rhine Marketing president Hernando Streegan despite his busy schedule. Before we parted, he asked his secretary to prepare his donation, and to forward the amount to the ministry anytime this week.
I’m sure Mr. Streegan’s associates at the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry would welcome any opportunity to be of service to the community.
The idea has even caught the attention of a businessman from France, Patrick Tsesemeli, who lauded the institution for coming up with a project that would serve as an effective means of mobilizing all sectors in Metro Cebu and the province against the drug crisis in this part of the country.
According to Kent Limosnero, assistant director for operations, the participants will be composed of students and personnel of universities, colleges and universities, secondary schools; personnel of private companies and government agencies, and Christian churches.
Offering envelopes will be distributed to each of the participating groups.
The participants will assemble at the Fuente Osmeña Circle and then head for the Cebu City Sports Complex along Jones Ave. where a short program will follow. Some of the House of Hope brothers will share their testimonies on how they have been freed from drug addiction. Raffle prizes will be drawn to conclude this half-day event.
AWARENESS. The first objective of the project is to promote awareness in the community that an intensified information campaign and drug rehabilitation are more effective than arresting drug pushers and raiding clandestine laboratories if the demand for prohibited substances is drastically reduced.
The House of Hope is an accredited residential treatment and rehabilitation center of the Dangerous Drugs Board.
More importantly, the institution provides a one-year residential program for “voluntary” drug addicts who come from all over the Philippines. The program is divided into components, namely spiritual work, physical and social therapy—giving more emphasis on spiritual therapy, “believing in the power of the gospel to change lives,” Limosnero said in his letter.
House of Hope is renting a 6,000-square-meter land offered by a generous Christian in Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City. Through this event, we can spread the good news of hope to those still imprisoned in the vicious cycle of drug abuse, he said. The House seeks to raise funds for the expansion program of the ministry.
It cannot accommodate additional residents due largely to a lack of facilities. Moreover, since the ministry is only asking a nominal “love gift” from its residents (monthly amount depends on what the family can afford), “we need to look for other ways to support our substantial expenses, Limosnero said.
(October 7, 2003 issue)
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