Rice Provision to The Indigent Camp with Japanese Visitors

In November 2022, a renowned Japanese physical practitioner, Ken Yamamoto visited AWH with his follower sports doctor Iwai and performed voluntary treatments to the local Filipinos who had suffered with physical body pains and abnormalities in two consecutive days.

Many lined up for such an opportunity that costs nothing to them, but were limited to about 40 due to the time constraints.

 Generally, everyone was really amazed how they removed the body pain.

After the treatments, we visited the nearby indigent camp and provided 100 kg of rice which to be divided to 5 kg to each family.

Supporting An Indigent Family

On March 9, 2022, a Municipal Councilor of Alfonso, Carol invited AWH to visit an indigent single mother of 6 children residing in Marahan 1, Alfonso, Cavite.
Merly Montealto, 39 years old is renting a shanty near the creek at PHP500 (approx. $10)/month. She makes a meager income as a manicurist. She said that sometimes there is no income at all in a day. She has an unpaid rental balance of about P2,500 due to the pandemic.   
AWH donated a bag of rice and assorted canned goods.
Four of her children reside with her who are in elementary and high school. The other 2 children are staying with her sister.
She has a 4 months old baby from her boyfriend who occasionally drops by her shanty. She did not have enough money to pay for a contraceptive measure and she got pregnant. 
She has agreed to undergo ligation to prevent further unwanted pregnancy. At the moment she is taking an injectable costing P250 per shot where its effect will expire sometime in May. 
Councilor Carol will coordinate with Dr. Sargento about her ligation. 
Despite their living conditions she has kept her place clean and is trying her best to keep her children healthy and observe good hygiene. 
Her children opened up their toys sent through the recent Balikbayan box from AWH members with such excitement. 
Several germicidal bath soaps were also given which were donated by Elai Arevalo. 

Local Council for The Protection of Children

A Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) meeting was held on March 7, 2022 at the Sangguniang Bayan Hall, Municipal Building, Alfonso, Cavite. It was the first meeting after 2 years of COVID-19 pandemic with the occasional strictest Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) declared since March 2020. 
The agenda covered the following:

  1. Presentation of LCPC plan for Children for 2022
  2. Updates on Activities for Children (Survival, Development, Protection and Participation)
  3. Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)/LCPC Functionality Assessment to conduct this March 2022 

During the meeting Gina Vedan of DSWD relayed her gratitude to AWH for the donation of the double deck bed and bed foams for the Children In Conflict with the Law (CICL).
The CICL children are being taught skills such as sewing and welding among others while their cases are ongoing in the Court.

Christmas Giving Events

The Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH), working hands-in-hands with Rotary International Multinational Manila (RIMM), conducted Christmas giving events over a  two day span on December 28 and 29, 2021, for indigent families in 4 barangays (villages) in Alfonso, Cavite, having purchased vitally needed food supplies at a cost of P165,000.

In addition, two (2) large Balikbayan boxes filled with good quality used clothing donated by AWH ‘s Japanese guests before the pandemic were also distributed to Barangay Kaysuyo and Barangay Pajo to the most in need.

RIMM conducted  “Responsible Parenthood” events during the Christmas giving events as part of its family planning programs.

We herewith gratefully acknowledge the support of our funding member Dr. Miki Kanaji, who personally donated P60,000 for the events.

There were more than 332 indigent families registered in the master lists of the 4 barangays that attended the 2-days event. More than 637 bags of rice and assorted canned products (corned beef, pork meatloaf, beef meatloaf, sausage and tuna) were distributed to the indigent families. 

Each family with more than 8 children received as much as 6 bags of rice. They said rice is an important food supply to have in the house even without the canned goods. Rice is the primary staple food in the Philippines.  

In addition there were 4 minors under the “Children In Conflict with the Law” (CICL) program who also received sacks of rice and assorted canned goods. These minors are under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and with our assistance, are looking to better themselves. 

Indigent communities in “Squatter camps” such as Usting 1, Usting 2, C-5 in Barangay Luksuhin Ibaba and Camp Hope in Barangay Sicat are supported by RIMM and AWH not only during the yearly Christmas giving activities but also year-round. The young children of the 4 camps again joyfully participated in several children Christmas party games hosted by Honorary RIMM Member Jun Baurile who distributed P20 bills along with stuffed toys donated by past president Betty Vicedo of RIMM. Their parents mainly sell “balot” (a steamed fertilized duck egg and “taho” (a classic sweet snack in the Philippines made with silken tofu, sago or tapioca pearls, and a simple brown sugar syrup) as their primary source of income. The families of these 4 camps migrated from the Samar province in the Visayas to look for better opportunities for their families. 

Home for the 100th Sheep Christmas Event and Feeding Support

As being done every year, our financial support was funded to a charity organization, Home for the 100th Sheep (an indigent community in Dasmarinas, Cavite consists of former street families in Manila relocated) run by a dedicating couple, Kaloi and Edna for their X’mas event. This year, AWH member Dr. Kanaji provided additional fund donation to support them further with their daily needs after the holiday season.

On December 10th, 2021, 108 children from Malaking-Bahay, Paliparan III, SaMada, Paliparan III and Sta. Cruz -1 were served with spaghetti, fried chicken and drinks. 18 volunteer mothers cooked the meal.

Kaloi and Edna responded to us :
We will utilize the rest of the fund on our usual children’s daily feeding from Monday to Friday all year round and normally we serve special feeding on Fridays.
Thank you! May the LORD our GOD bless each of you at Academy of World Healing Foundation.
A Blessed Merry Christmas and a Joyous Prosperous New Year!

Firewood for Camp Hope

The women and children of Camp Hope (nearby indigent squatter camp) came to the AWH site on December 6, 2021 to pick up chunks of firewood which will be used for cooking soybeans to make “taho” (tofu) to be sold outside. It is their mean of livelihood.
They joyfully carried the large chunks of firewood into the tricycle. Others hand-carried their pieces of firewood back to their camp nearby.

Update on March 14, 2022

AWH made another donation of firewood to the residents of Camp Hope on March 14, 2022. The firewood will be utilized to make “taho”.
They said their sales on “taho” are getting better as compared to 2 years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic started.  Firewood bundles are always appreciated by them as livelihood means.

National Children’s Day 2021

As a member of the the Local Council for Protection of Children (LCPC), Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH) represented by Raymund  Balicha attended the annual National Children’s Month celebration on November 29, 2021 at the covered basketball court in front of the Alfonso municipal hall.
The theme was “New normal na Walang Iwanan: Karapatan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan!”. (Translation: “Unity under the New Normal. We must uphold the rights of every child!”.)
Alfonso LCPC invited selected local indigent children with their mothers for the gift giving of hygiene kits and Jollibee meals at the venue site.   

Mayor Randy Salamat also awarded the barangays who met the criteria as the most “Child Friendly Barangay and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Responsiveness”.
The other following activities were also awarded:

  1. Educational assistance for selected indigent children with disabilities
  2. Kid Tiktok Dance Challenge, Draw and Tell, Poster Making and Slogan Contest

Since mas gathering of children under the pandemic is not allowed, LCPC members later distributed hygiene kits and Jollibee meals separately for the following barangays:

  • Amuyong
  • Kaysuyo
  • Pajo
  • Marahan 1
  • Luksuhin Ibaba
  • Sikat
  • Taywanak Ibaba
  • Poblacion 4
  • Poblacion 5

Providing Free Wi-Fi Access to An Indigent Student

AWH has granted Carlos Alcobendas, one of the students from Camp Hope (nearby squatter camp) who is also supported by RIMM (Rotary International Multinational-Manila), two weeks of free Wi-Fi usage at the Annex building for his online class on Monday to Thursday (1PM – 4PM).
He is in Grade 11 at the Luksuhin National High School taking up a Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL) course major in Baking. His father is a taho (tofu) vendor and unable to sufficiently support his study needs.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic students are taking module and online classes since last year. He said that it is essential to complete the class.

Indigent Support

On December 15, 2020, AWH distributed 17 sacks filled with 272 pieces of  brown coconuts and homegrown ube yams to the three nearby indigent camps (Usting 1, 2 and Camp Hope).
The indigent settlers said that they will utilize the coconut milk to make popular Filipino rice desserts and other meals this coming Christmas and New Year season. 
They said that the cost of coconut milk increases during the holiday season due to high demand and this provision was highly appreciated.

Update on January 14, 2021

AWH delivered sacks of brown coconuts and bananas to Usting 1 & 2 in Alfonso. 
The indigent residents said they enjoy the tasty coconut milk which is added to their rice and vegetables meals. 
AWH harvested another bunch of bananas and decided to share them to the 2 camps. 
The children also enjoyed the bread we brought.

Update on January 29, 2021

Several chunks of logs were picked up by 3 residents from nearby indigent camp who are selling taho (tofu) for their livelihood. The firewood will be used to cook taho as their primary source of income to sustain the needs of their families. 

Update on March 5, 2021

AWH assisted the taho (tofu) vendors in Camp Hope with firewoods. 
The pieces of logs they picked up on March 5, 2021 are perfectly dried firewood logs were picked up to cook soybeans for taho making. 
It was much appreciated especially during the Covid-10 pandemic.

Update on May 14, 2021

Three residents of Camp Hope (nearby indigent settlers) visited again and picked up bundles of large firewood.
The firewood will be used for cooking soybean to make taho (tofu). In this pandemic they use firewood even for cooking their meals since the LPG gas cost has soared.
Their activities for work were limited when the strictest Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status was declared last month and made no income.

Home For The 100th Sheep Christmas Party

Because of the community quarantine restrictions in pandemic time, AWH funded Home for the 100th Sheep foundation by wire remittance this year.
On December 4, 2020, a Christmas feeding program for its indigent pupils was held in the migrated squatter area. Pasta and fried chicken were cooked by 33 volunteers and the total of 191 children were served.

Kaloi and Edna were very grateful for the continued support of AWH even during the Covid-19 pandemic.