The Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) is holding a Soup Kitchen for the Poor on Saturday, March 23, as its participation in the 25th anniversary celebration of the Santisima Trinidad Parish Church in Malate, Manila.
The activity is part of the CMMA’s yearlong celebration of its 40th founding anniversary. The awards-giving body was established by the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin in 1978 as the means by which the Archdiocese of Manila honors communicators “who serve God through the mass media.”
Located on the corner of Estrada and Dian Streets in the working-class district of Malate, Santisima Trinidad Parish Church is one of a growing number of Philippine parishes devoted to the Holy Trinity. Its main altar image is unique for veering away from the common Trinitarian image of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit by combining a Marian image of the Coronation of the Virgin by the Holy Trinity.
The 25th anniversary celebration is led by Fr. Joselito Buenafe, parish priest, and the different lay organizations serving in the church. The CMMA’s participation is spearheaded by D. Edgard A. Cabangon, acting chairman and trustee.
The CMMA Soup Kitchen will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the parish church compound. Officers and members of the CMMA Secretariat will distribute lugaw with lechon kawali, a popular snack at the Circuit Mall in Makati featuring rice porridge served with roast pork.
The CMMA and the organizers of the Soup Kitchen, including church workers, expect to serve some 500 parishioners and residents of nearby places.
Aside from feeding the community, the CMMA will also distribute gift packs containing grocery items like rice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, canned goods, instant noodles and champorado (chocolate rice porridge).
To be included in the gift packs are items donated by friends of the CMMA in the business community, including loaf breads, dairy products, coffee, soft drinks, bottled water and medicines.
Funding for the CMMA Soup Kitchen came from the proceeds of its 40th anniversary benefit event, “Dinner with the Cardinal: Share a Moment of Grace,” on February 4 at Citystate Tower Hotel in Ermita, Manila.
Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., CMMA executive director, expressed happiness that the CMMA received great support for the project from friends of the CMMA who provided resources for it.
“We offer up prayers of thanks to the Almighty that He has blessed with success our efforts to make our 40th anniversary of the CMMA fulfilling and meaningful by sharing with the poor among us,” Sescon said.