Lighting Up Lives: Fr. John's Heartfelt Thanks for Our Solar Donation

After the solar installation was complete, we received this heartfelt letter from Fr. John:

Solar panels by Solar Bright Innovation

"I am amazed at how bright everything is. Last night we recalled our initial experiences here at the farm. We started out with oil lamps (storm lanterns). We gradually graduated to a 3W bulb using a small solar panel that charged a motorcycle battery. From the battery, we charged our phones and lit the 3W bulb at night for dinner. We also had a diesel generator that had to be cranked to start. The generator was in the room next to mine. The noise was deafening and the exhaust fumes made us all dizzy. We only used it about once a week.

For the rest of the time, when needed we had to send our phones and my laptop to Cabulihan to charge for a fee each. We bought a used solar panel that worked for a while until a storm came and the wind flipped it over and cracked it because my people did not batten it down when they put it on the roof of the porch. We installed it there and wrapped it in clear plastic. It worked but the condensation at night gradually killed it.  We finally graduated to the 50W round solar light above our dinning table until the solar system came last week!

The neighbors are coming by to see if we can make ice to sell them for their fishing boats. Currently, they have to go 4 hrs to Coron to buy ice to preserve the catch before going fishing. We are exploring the possibility of buying a freezer for this operation. We have to keep the freezer within the solar system range so that it does not over tax the system. I believe that we can save the money from the sale of ice to gradually buy enough materials to build a barbed wire fence around the property.

We are pumping water everyday for our consumption as well as to water the garden. We can do our farm work even during the dry season. Our water source is holding up quite nicely!

As such, the solar system not only gives us light but also opens up other possibilities! I hope you can sense how grateful we are for your generous gift!"

Fr. John's letter reminds us of the profound impact that even a single act of kindness can have on a community. His heartfelt gratitude and the transformative changes at the farm highlight the importance of our mission at WE Foundation. By providing essential resources like solar power, we not only light up lives but also open doors to new opportunities for growth and self-sufficiency. We are deeply moved by Fr. John's dedication and the positive changes in Culion, and we remain committed to supporting and empowering communities in need. Together, we can continue to make a lasting difference. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.