KMBI celebrated 36 years of God’s faithfulness in serving the poor last Friday, November 25, 2022. With the theme, “Faith Grows at KMBI”, the celebration tackled the present issue of hunger and how it impacts the world after the economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On top of world hunger, the celebration also probed into the topic of spiritual hunger, emphasizing the significance of faith amidst the troubles that the world is facing. Ms. Victoria Esperanza (Perry) Z. Cartera, KMBI Trustee who also serves as the General Secretary of the Philippine Bible Society, expounded on this theme by discussing ways by which people can remain spiritually fed. She stressed the importance of continually reading, meditating on, and obeying God’s Word.

One of the highlights of the activity is the kickoff of organization-wide urban gardening efforts, which aims to encourage staff to initiate organic food production in their homes or at the office. It also aims to promote food security within their communities by making food source more accessible and available. This affirms KMBI’s commitment to join the fight against world hunger and poverty.

In partnership with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), KMBI spearheaded its urban gardening efforts at the KMBI Panay Office in Quezon City. The BPI donated seeds and plants to KMBI and conducted a seminar on Basic Urban Gardening last November 21, which was echoed virtually to all staff nationwide during the celebration on November 25.

KMBI branches also conducted local urban gardening activities within their respective localities. Branch staff purchased seeds and sought ideal locations to grow food-producing plants.

This year, KMBI launched Talentadong Sentro, a multi-talent contest for KMBI Program Members which revolved around the theme, “Faith Grows at KMBI”. Participants recorded videos of themselves showcasing their broad range of talents—from grooving to various hits to performing interpretative dance and inspiring skits.

KMBI’s monthly photo contest, KMBI Photo of the Month, picked three (3) winners who drew inspiration from greens and alluded their image to their interpretation of the word “growth.”

This year’s anniversary celebration shows KMBI’s commitment to help eliminate hunger and establish hunger-proof households and communities.