Groundbreaking Ceremony 
of Divine Mercy Home for the Elderly

A one-hectare lot, located at the back of the airport of Silay City which used to be a sugar plantation before, was donated to the Carmelite Missionaries, by the late Ms. Isabelita Montinola, our Tita Betty, to be the site of the Divine Mercy Home for the Elderly.  The inspiration to build this Home started with our interaction and charitable service to the poor and elderly at St. Mary´s Home for the aged, at Alangilan, Bacolod City. To continue our passion for the care of the elderly, this `project was conceived with the collaboration of our generous benefactors.

Last July 28, 2023, at 9:00 AM, we had the groundbreaking ceremony of the Divine Mercy Home for the Elderly, at Brgy. Bagtic, Silay City. Fr. Richel Tabanyag blessed the underground site for the capsule, where the plans, images, newspaper, and letters were kept. The priest also blessed the bunk house, the water pump, and the nipa hut where the two Lolos will temporarily live until the  completion of the Dormitory. We enjoyed the sharing of the simple food prepared by our benefactors. We thank the Mayor and Vice Mayor, and City officials of Silay, and the Barangay officials of Bagtic, for their presence and all-out support for this project. Likewise, the Carmelite Missionaries Secular were very active and supportive during the preparation days and on the day proper. We thank our numerous benefactors our “Titas", for the support, logistics, and donations that are flowing.

With grateful hearts, we thank the LORD for this GIFT, a home for the poor and the elderly, where love, compassion, and service to our Beloved is concretely expressed. The construction is scheduled to start in August with the building permit already approved. We entrust everything to St. Joseph and Blessed Francisco Palau, our father and model in reaching out to the peripheries.

By: Sr. Guia Navallasca, CM