Xavier Ecoville and Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) are ready to start building houses, rebuilding lives and creating a new community in Barangay Lumbia.
 
A day after completing the transfer of more than 500  households to its temporary shelters, Xavier Ecoville with HFHP had its ground blessing and padugo ritual for the permanent site on June 2.

Among the attendees were Xavier University President Fr Roberto Yap SJ, HFHP Regional Program Manager Leonilo Escalada, and Lumbia Barangay Captain Wilhem Valencia.

Workers from HFHP, composed of some Xavier Ecoville partner beneficiaries who were hired for the project, led the padugo ritual. Fr Yap then blessed the land while spectators sang Our Father. After which, the stakeholders shoveled cement into the foundation of the first house to be built.

Eduardo Tangonan III, leader of Xavier Ecoville’s Physical Development Team led the closing prayer. The occasion ended with a boodle fight,  which consisted among others of meat from the padugo ritual.