Visiting an Orphanage with Overseas Guests

The home of the House with no Steps Foundation along Aguinaldo Highway in Alfonso largely houses 12 permanently incapacitated adults, most of which had been abandoned by their relatives at an early age because they were afflicted with incurable diseases such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and polio. The foundation is only able to support each patient with P1,200/month.

Ever since DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development) introduced this foundation AWH has supported these handicapped orphans in years. Instead of funneling such donations through AWH account, AWH, for the sake of full transparency and greater involvement of overseas guests, decided to assist guests with purchase of rice and food and cash donations presented directly to the orphanages.

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LCPC Meeting at AWH

On January 11, 2016, LCPC (Local Council for Protection of Children) Alfonso used AWH function room for their first meeting in 2016 as AWH has committed to voluntarily provide its venue at no cost for local government. The budgeting plan for 2016 and its each prospective projects were discussed including TB, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, etc.

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Barangay Christmas 2015

On December 21, 2015, Christmas feeding event for children was held this year as well at barangay Sicat, Alfonso, Cavite. Barangay councilor April coordinated the event. AWH provided financial assistance for pasta and ice cream. About 200 children gathered bringing their own plates and forks and became happy with their stomach filled. DSCF7035 (Medium) DSCF7047 (Medium) DSCF7052 (Medium) DSCF7056 (Medium) DSCF7060 (Medium) DSCF7067 (Medium)

LCPC Meeting at AWH

AWH has decided to provide its facility for LCPC (Local Council for Protection of Children) of Alfonso municipality as their venue for monthly meetings. The first meeting in the venue was attended by 15 members including municipal councilor Carolina, Dr. Manzo of municipal health office, Gina of local DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development), local police officers, pastor Nestor, Tess of Civil Register Office, Staff from Municipal mayors, some other dedicating non-profit organizations and selected students.

It is one of AWH goals to help the community and provide its venue free of charge to the local government.

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Indian Mango Sharing with Indigents

In the property of AWH (Academy of World Healing Foundation), there are many Indian mango trees bearing plentiful of their fruits. AWH usually shares them with neighbor indigents so that they can sell them in the market. On top of it, however, AWH provided some sacks of Indian mangos to barangay Mangas II residents, most of whom are re-settlers from Samar island. They seemed to be happy to grab the mango and shared among themselves.

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Alfonso Women’s Month Celebration

March 24, 2015

The LCPC (Local Council of Protection of Children (, Women & Eldery)) of Alfonso held an event for national women’s month, attended by the Cavite provincial councilor, the municipal mayor, vice mayor, municipal councilors and some male barangay captains in lady’s costume.
AWH staff, DSWD Alfonso, a pastor and municipal health officer also attended as members of the LCPC.
It was confirmed that women’s position in the society must be raised and women shall be more empowered in the current men dominated lifestyle in the Philippines.DSCF6200 (Medium) DSCF6201 (Medium) DSCF6202 (Medium) DSCF6204 (Medium) DSCF6206 (Medium) DSCF6208 (Medium) DSCF6211 (Medium) DSCF6213 (Medium) DSCF6216 (Medium) DSCF6221 (Medium)

Local Council for The Protection of Children (LCPC)

The members of LCPC consist of councilors from the municipality of Alfonso, Cavite, DSWD Alfonso, municipal health official, municipal planning department, local national statistics office, local police officers, NGO’s, students and pastors, had a monthly meeting on March 9th, 2015. AWH joined LCPC in January 2015.20150309_144540 (Large)DSWD and NSO recognized AWH efforts of helping indigents in barangay Mangas II residents procure birth certificates in the previous month, as well as repairing the roof of and donation of a steel bunk bed to the youth counseling center.Roof repair of Alfonso Post Office & Police StationSince protection of LCPC extends to women and elderlies, it was discussed to set the date for “Women’s Empowerment Day” to be on March 24th and preparation for it.

AWH which supported national polio/measles/rubella vaccination campaign in September 2014 with Alfonso health officials expressed its health concern against TB (tuberculosis) and willingness to support the municipal health office (MHO) for prevention of its spreading.
Dr. Manzo mentioned that DOH (Department of Health) provides the tuberculin test supplies and medicines. However the problem is not so many residents visit the health office to receive the test so the MHO plans to visit each barangay to conduct the test month by month. Since the funds run out sometimes Dr. Manzo mentioned that it would be a big help if AWH supports this TB activities.

 

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Indigent Family Support with Overseas Guestss

Guests from overseas, largely Japan, had assisted donation of clothing, rice, food materials to the indigent families of the squatter village in barangay Mangas II, Alfonso, Cavite. Totally 5 days in different groups AWH staff took them to the site where clothing, rice, staples and baked goods were distributed as to the needs of the families.DSCF6144 (Medium) 20150216_144507 (Medium) 20150216_144943 (Medium) DSCF6137 (Medium) DSCF6016 (Large)An undernourished single mother at Gulug Mangas II, asked for assistance for her baby born in 2014 as it had a golfball-size swelling on her left arm. Pediatrician Dr. Nasu from Japan visited AWH and also the site and diagnosed the swelling as possible infantile venous hemangioma which usually shrinks naturally after 1 year from birth.

20150216_145729 (Medium)20150216_145902 (Medium)Another baby who was 10 days old at that time seemed all right but Dr. Nasu diagnosed as possible hyperbilirubinemia due to an indication of slight jaundice. It is however normal for some new born babies so just further observation was advised.DSCF6138 (Medium)DSCF6122 (Medium)

Giving Birth Certificates to Indigents

Philippine population is counted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and it is said to be 97 million as of 2013. In the meantime, according to CIA website of The World Factbook indicates it 107.7 million as July 2014 estimate. We always wonder from where this discrepancy comes.

Many of the new residents of Gulud, barangay Mangas squatter village in Alfonso, Cavite, consisting presently of about 47 families, migrated from Western Samar to Manila and also Bacoor, Cavite about 10 years ago. Children born during these wanderings, along with some of the adults, largely have no birth certificates, which are usually required to apply for Philhealth (national health insurance).
AWH had meetings with the indigents and a young leader stepped forward to put together a written survey (name, date of birth, where born, mother, father, etc. of everyone not having a birth certificate).

Later day AWH staff visited Gulud together with Gina of Alfonso DSWD, Dr. Manzo of Alfonso Municipal Health Center, and Tess of NSO, Barangay Mangas captain and a pastor of Born Again Christian and discussed about the procedure to apply for birth certificates of about 60 indigents.

20150127_101305 (Large) 20150127_104718 (Large)The NSO official stated that the requirements of delayed registration for birth certificates are as follows:
– NSO Negative Certification (certification of no birth certificate) P140/persons
– Baptismal
– Medical (immunization) Records
– School Records (Form 137)
– Barangay Certification
– Certificate of Indigence

(name of child, date and place of birth, name of parents)
– Voters Registration Certification
– Marriage Contract of Applicant
– Marriage Contract of Parents
– SSS Records
– Cenomar of Parents

20150202_100710 (Large)AWH delivered an additional van load of bundled firewood and pledged to assist NSO with payment for the NSO negative certification.

Local pastors volunteered to provide birth certificates for the Brgy. Mangas II indigents for free.20150202_093923 (Large)

Baptismal Certificate given by a chapel of Iglesia ni Christo (Large)20150202_095611 (Large)As part of NSO requirements, nine children ages 0-59 months that had not yet resided at the squatter village during the September 2014 mass immunization were immunized.

Immunization for children under five years old 04 Immunization team from Alfonso Municipal Health

Livelihood Support in Barangay Mangas, Alfonso, Cavite

DSWD had requested assistance for Gulud Mangas the “squatter” village created by destitute persons from other regions. 47 families were counted during our visit and each family pays Php250 monthly lease for a small housing pad within the agricultural property dotted with mango trees. The club bought two 25kilo sacks of rice and AWH bought another three sacks to provide 2.5 kg rice to each of 47 families. Biscuits and drinks for the children were provided by DSWD. The gift giving was combined with family planning education. Since most households lacked firewood for cooking AWH staff had donated and had made arrangement with the brgy. captain to pick up truck loads of chopped and bundled firewood prepared for this purpose. However, since the brgy truck had broken down Rotarians used the AWH van to deliver the bundled firewood the next two days as time was of the essence since the dirt road cannot be used by vehicles during rainy days. Clothing donated to the club from Japanese visitors as well as other incidentals were distributed also.

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