In the shadow of Manila’s skyline, along the coast where sea meets city, lies Navotas—where dreams often struggle against poverty’s tides. Here, in narrow alleys and modest homes, a quiet revolution unfolds. It arrives not with fanfare, but with the gentle hum of a small machine and the soft clink of a single peso coin.
This is the story of how Pure Bayanihan’s Piso Wi-Fi project is not just connecting people to the internet, but creating hope, opportunity, and resilience for some of Navotas’ most vulnerable residents.
A Brief “Piso” Context
“Piso” means one peso coin in Philippine currency. Piso Wi-Fi is a unique vending machine where users can access the internet by inserting coins into it, typically paying just one peso for a few minutes of connection time. While the term refers to one peso coin, users can also insert five-, ten-, or 20-peso coins, depending on what amounts the machine recognizes.
Digital Divide in Urban Poverty
Navotas is a city of contrasts. As Pastor Henry Arnaiz, a local community leader, explains, “The houses in front might look nice, but behind them are makeshift homes where people have nothing to eat.” Behind the facade of progress, many families struggle to make ends meet, with about 40% surviving on less than seven dollars a day.
Meet our beneficiaries: Ana, a grandmother who performs odd jobs like traditional healing to support her grandchildren; Christopher, a father of seven who collects scrap to feed his family; and Rochelle, a 14-year-old daughter whose education was interrupted by family circumstances.
Their stories reflect the daily struggle against poverty.
In today’s digital world, lack of internet access further widens the opportunity gap, making it harder for these families to break the cycle of poverty.
A Digital Lifeline
In collaboration with Pastor Henry, the community asked for support to provide livelihoods to these indigent residents through the Piso Wi-Fi project. Pure Bayanihan helped them acquire Wi-fi vending machines and their first few months of internet subscription to help them kickstart this small business.
“Pure Bayanihan’s help means so much to us because people like us who are struggling don’t often receive this kind of support,” Rochelle explains.
Not only is this type of livelihood easy to manage from home, it also meets a crucial need in their community. Students can now complete their homework and research without the burden of expensive data charges. Job seekers have access to online opportunities, and small business owners can expand their reach.
This low-maintenance business model is perfect for beneficiaries like Ana, who can now supplement her income without compromising her health or caregiving responsibilities. For Christopher, it means a steady income stream to support his family, reducing their daily struggle for basic needs. As Pastor Henry explains,
“The best part is this doesn’t need constant supervision. You don’t have to keep checking on it all the time. This is especially helpful since many of our beneficiaries are elderly, sick, or still in school.”
For Rochelle, this affordable access is also a game-changer. Not only will this new livelihood provide their family a new source of income, but she will also have access to internet that she will need as she plans to enroll again. “Our Piso Wi-Fi and internet connection will be helpful because the school opening is near, and I’ll be able to do research for my schoolwork.” she says, her eyes bright with renewed hope for her academic future.
A Call to Action
As we look to the future, we’re reminded of Christopher’s simple yet profound aspiration:
“I’ve got just one dream for my family – to lift them out of poverty and see them truly happy.”
With initiatives like the Piso Wi-Fi project and the continued support of compassionate individuals like you, we can turn these dreams into reality, one peso at a time.
Join us in building a future where every community has the tools and opportunities to thrive. Together, we can create waves of positive change that will ripple through generations to come.
