A New Year of Hope for Newborns and Families

(Project Tatap and Grains of Joy)

By Maria Solita Zaldivar-Guzman

KALIBO, Aklan- The Movement of Gratitude continues to touch lives through Project Tatap, an initiative dedicated to supporting mothers and newborns by providing essential newborn kits to babies born at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH).

What began as a simple act of care in 2021 has grown into a movement that has positively impacted countless mothers and babies across Aklan. As 2026 began, Project Tatap welcomed another meaningful chapter of giving. Inspired by the movement’s impact, a young and compassionate couple chose to become part of a cause that uplifts families during one of the most vulnerable yet joyful moments of their lives.

On January 4, the couple donated twenty newborn kits filled with essential mother-and-baby items to infants admitted to DRSTMH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These kits provided comfort, support, and reassurance to parents whose newborns required specialized care. Their thoughtfulness did not stop there. In the same spirit of compassion, they also distributed twenty loot bags to children admitted to the Pediatric Department, bringing smiles and moments of joy to young patients and their families during their hospital stay.

This meaningful act of service was made possible through Grains of Joy, represented by Gerrely F. Reposar, RN, MAN, Clinical Coordinator and Instructor at Aklan Catholic College, together with her husband, Jay S. Reposar, RN, entrepreneur and co-manager of Gerry Rice – Estancia Kalibo Branch.

As proud sponsors of Project Tatap, they embody the values of service, empathy, and community care that the Movement stands for. Project Tatap continues to reach and inspire generous givers who share the same heart for service. Through the kindness of individuals, families, and partners, the Movement has become a bridge connecting compassion to action, reminding everyone that even the smallest acts of love can make a lasting difference.

With every newborn kit distributed and every smile shared, Project Tatap affirms a simple but powerful truth that when lived out through service, compassion has the power to change lives.