ALKFI founder Gina Lopez, managing director Susan Afan, CFO Lita Lara, Bantay Bata 163 operations manager Jacel Paguio and Suzuki Philippines officials with one of the donated vehiclesSuzuki Philippines recently donated a Super Carry van and four motorcycles to be used as service vehicles at Children’s Village in Bulacan, the halfway home of Bantay Bata 163.

Children’s Village, where rescued children are temporarily housed to help them recover from their traumatic past, will resume operations this December. The van will be used to procure supplies and other needs of the children. It will also be utilized as a service vehicle for the children who are going to school.

“To run a village like our Children’s Village is really a huge…task. Bantay Bata 163 and ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. could not do it alone. We need more partners and more friends to get the village going, to serve our children better and to provide them protection and a safe environment as they heal... We all believe in Bantay Bata that it takes a village to raise a child and, in that village, we are so happy to have Suzuki Philippines with us,” said Jacel Paguio, operations manager of Bantay Bata 163.

The first ABS-CBN Ball held on September 29 also aimed to raise funds for Bantay Bata 163 programs, including the relaunch of Children’s Village.(Story/Photos by: Anne Therese Arceo)