To mark the 15th year anniversary of its Segunda Mana donated goods program, Caritas Manila has lined up plans to open more Segunda Mana outlets nationwide as well as bring back its celebrity backed events.

Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual with Barry Camique, Program Head of Segunda Mana during the Expo at Fairview Terraces, Novaliches, Quezon City.

The year 2022 saw gross sales of P77 million signaling a comeback from a pre-pandemic high of P70 million. To better offer affordable pre-loved items to a greater number of people, Segunda Mana for 2023, is set to open an outlet in Cebu City and more kiosks such at the Catholic Women's League Parañaque and Archdiocese of Manila. There are also plans to open a 500-sqm outlet in Tondo, Manila and a future outlet in Davao City. Two celebrity bazaars are also set to launch this year.

Fr. Anton Pascual with shoppers at the Segunda Mana Expo at Fairview Terraces, Novaliches, Quezon City.

To date, there are 43 Segunda Mana outlets nationwide. The most popular stores are in Caritas Manila in Pandacan, Ayala Fairview Terraces, New Farmers Plaza, Ali Mall, Ayala Mall Marikina, Starmall EDSA, Riverbanks Mall in Marikina, Sta Lucia Mall in Cainta, Greenfield MRT in Mandaluyong, Isetann Recto in Manila, Feliz Ayala Malls in Pasig, 500 Shaw Zentrum in Mandaluyong, Victory Mall in Pasay, Sun Valley Drive in Sucat Parañaque, JBI Building in Iloilo, Victory Lacson Underpass in Quiapo, Victory Mall in Caloocan, Market Market, and Ayala Malls The 30th in Pasig. Other outlets are located in Greenbelt and Glorietta Malls in Makati, Shoppesville Greenhills in San Juan, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Laguna, Batangas, and Bulacan.

It was in 2008 when the then newly appointed Executive Director Fr. Anton C.T. Pascual was thinking of how to rebrand the name of what was internally known as Materials Donations Program. Even at that time, they were able to raise P3.8 million through rummage sales of donated items.

An array of quality goods is on display at the Segunda Mana Charity Outlet at New Farmers Plaza, Cubao, Quezon City.

Segunda Mana was officially launched in 2009. The auditorium in Caritas Manila's main office along Jesus Street in Pandacan was converted as the official Segunda Mana Charity Outlet. It is open to the public from Monday to Friday. The sales in 2009 more than doubled to P8.1 million compared to the previous year.

"Buying is the New Way of Giving" became the campaign slogan of Segunda Mana. The aim is to encourage the public to donate pre-loved items. Furniture and appliances, kitchen and dining accessories, clothes, bags and luggage, school items, toys, and books. Caritas Manila can pick up items from its donors for free.

Shoppers browse at Segunda Mana Charity Outlet at Harmony Village Mall, San Pedro, Laguna.

To reach more people, the first mall-based outlet was opened in Makati Cinema Square in 2010. Generous donors shouldered half of the cost of building a two-storey mega warehouse which was inaugurated in 2011. By 2012, there were 14 charity outlets. The carpool continues to add to its fleet of light trucks and vehicles to accommodate requests for donation pickup.

Shoppers go through the displays at the Segunda Mana Charity Outlet in Marymart Center, Iloilo City.

Segunda Mana mounted its own relief and rehabilitation operations when Typhoon Yolanda hit in 2013. Despite the reduction of performing outlets from 14 in 2012 to 11 in 2013, Segunda Mana still reached a total gross revenue of P20.7 million. In 2014, this reached P30.6 million.

By 2015, eight new charity outlets were opened in Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan, bringing the total outlets to 24 nationwide. The first Segunda Mana Grand Celebrity Bazaar was held in 2015 with then reigning Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach as the event ambassador. That event alone raised P2,060,203. In the same year, 26 outlets were operating, leading to a gross revenue of P42,494,941.

Segunda Mana opened three more outlets on its 10th year in 2018. The Iloilo outlet was inaugurated, the first outside of Luzon. Segunda Mana also started to make cost effective repairs and refurbishing of donated damaged items. The second Celebrity Bazaar was spearheaded by celebrity ambassador Heart Evangelista in October 2018. The gross revenue in the same year reached P62,536,647. By 2019, gross revenue reached P70 million.

Even with a robust P91 million in donations in 2020 and P115 million in 2021, gross revenues went down P39.15 million and P42.6 million. These are the years when the pandemic was in full swing.

According to Caritas Manila Executive Director Anton CT Pascual, "Segunda Mana has taught us how to part with material things we no longer need but still has value that can be used by others." It enables people to buy affordable quality items and the proceeds help fund our numerous projects. Always remember that buying is the new way of giving.

To know how you can donate and where to find the Segunda Mana outlet nearest you, call hotlines 8562-8556 or 8562-0020 (to 25) loc. 141 or 142, 0905-428- 5001 or 0929-834-3857. Log on to www.caritasmanila.org.ph, visit www.facebook.com/OfficialCaritasManila, Instagram @officialcaritasmanila and Twitter @CaritasManila.

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