Carlo's Bakeshop and Cafe honors mothers on its 30th anniversary

Carlo’s Bakeshop and Café celebrates its 30^th anniversary and kicks off its year-long celebration by teaming up with the Iloilo City Government Task Force on Iloilo Street Children in the search for the Buluwanon na Nanay 2017.

Bulawanon na Nanay was started in 2009 by the Iloilo City Government Task Force on Street Children where LGU, NGOs, Commission on Human Rights, and the private sector all got together to plan a fitting activity for mother’s day.  For the past eight years, it has been searching for deserving mothers who underwent hardships and sacrifices to raise their children, protecting their rights and developing them to be good members of the community.

Paolo Trenas, Carlo’s Marketing Director (far right) joins 2nd Runner Up Susan Paloma, 1st Runner Up Nemia Casabuena and Bulawan na Nanay Benliro Andrea Andraje.

This awarding ceremony derived its name from gold (or Bulawanon in Ilonggo).  In an analogy of what mothers go through, it compares mothers to gold, which goes under fire, melted and then molded to come out as a beautiful piece of jewelry or accessory.  It is just like mothers who undergo hardships and sacrifices to fulfilling all their dreams for their family.

The candidates are searched all over Iloilo from different barangays.  They are chosen based on intensive interviews and screening on parenting and home management, aside from their community involvement. All of these mothers have heart-warming stories to tell.

(left to right) CSWDO Alfredo Villanueva, Blogger Antoine Greg Flores, First Lady Marivic Mabilog, the winners, Paolo Treñas and the organizers.

“Kami sa Carlo’s, saludo gid kami sa mga sacripisyo at malasakit sang mga nanay para sa edukasyon kag maayo na pangabuhi ang mga bata. When we see good or successful children, we always say, maayo gid ini nanay niya magpadako sang bata. Maayo gid na pagdala nya sa iya pamilya. Ang work daan sang isa ka iloy, hindi ya 8 hours, hindi lang from 9 to 5. On the contrary, a mother’s job is a 24/7 full time job. Their only reward is having good responsible productive morally upright children, who can contribute to the growth of the community,” said Paolo Trenas, Carlo’s Marketing Director, in his speech. Treñas came on behalf of his mother Rosalie Sarabia Treñas who is the chairperson of the Task Force on Street Children.

Carlo’s worked with the organizers of Bulawanon na Nanay of Iloilo City these past few weeks, and listened to the stories. It also gave out additional prizes to the winners on top of the prizes (cash and in kind) that the city government is giving.

Shamel Ricablanca serenades the fourteen 'bulawananon' mothers.

The City Government gave P10,000 to the winner, P7,500 to the first runner up and P5,000 cash to the second runner up. For the Bulawanon winner, who automatically becomes Top Carlo’s Mom, as well as the first and second runners up, Carlo’s is giving away free trip to Boracay for two, all expenses paid.

The Carlo’s Top Mom and Bulawanon na Nanay 2017 winner is Benliro Andrea Andraje from Urban Poor, Villa Tabuc Suba, Jaro with seven ( 7) children. Her answers impressed the judges on what she has done to augment their income, make ends meet and ensure that her children finish school.

The search’s first runner up is Nemia Casabuena from Zone VI Calumpang Molo who also has seven children, and the second runner up is Susan Paloma from Zone II, Bgy. San Juan Molo with five children.