Did you know that you do not have to go all the way to Baguio for Good Shepherd products? Just a two to three-hour road trip to Tagaytay will lead you to Good Shepherd Sisters' Bahay Pastulan Tagaytay.
The sisters and workers of Bahay Pastulan are struggling economically as they are going through two consecutive recent events: the Taal Volcano eruption in January 2020 and the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. According to Elias Jayson Tolentino, it's been almost five months since Bahay Pastulan Tagaytay's store closed, with most products remain unsold. While the sisters of the convent aim to help the workers, who are mostly single mothers, women from large families, and women survivors of abuse and exploitation, they are currently on a no-work, no-pay scheme setting right now.
Thankfully, Tolentino, who also founded start-up social enterprise SPEW Organics, is helping the sisters bring their famous, well-loved products to Metro Manila. This initiative will in turn help the workers from Bahay Pastulan Tagaytay.
SPEW Organics is accepting pre-orders of Good Shepherd products like Ube Jam (P220/550 grams, P280/900 grams) and Ube Dimples (P160) on a weekly basis:
Aside from ube products, they also have Gourmet Tawilis (P205), Gourmet Tuyo (P220), and snacks like Peanut Cluster (P180), Cashew Brittle (P240), and Banana Chips (P80).
To order, just message their Facebook page, wait for confirmation of your order, and pay via BPI bank transfer or GCash. Make sure to send a screenshot or photo of the transaction.
The next delivery date is on May 18 and the cut-off for orders is on May 15, 11:59 p.m. According to SPEW Organics, they are delivering these Good Shepherd products via Mr. Speedy, coming from Bel-Air, Makati.
These efforts led by SPEW Organics will help the women workers of Good Shepherd Bahay Pastulan Tagaytay and a portion of it will go to the sister's anti-human trafficking fund. Elias shares, "Since last week, they [Good Shepherd Sisters Bahay Pastulan Tagaytay] decided to ask some workers to come to operate the production. The plan is to let many women come back gradually depending on the sales."
For more information, log on to SPEW Organics's Facebook page.
this strange new world.