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.
Home for the 100th Sheep – Christmas Giving
December 13, 2014
AWH staff proceeded with its van fully loaded with cut and bundled firewood to the 100th Sheep Resettlement Camp in Dasmarinas. After unloading the firewood which is much sought after for cooking, AWH staff then went Christmas shopping for the children of the Resettlement Camp, purchasing the needed items to feed 130 children from three local grammar schools during their Dec. 17th Christmas party.
Barangay Christmas Party 2014
A little Christmas event was held for children on December 20, 2014 at the barangay hall in Sicat, Alfonso, Cavite, where AWH is located. AWH provided pasta and ice cream for 100 children. Barangay captain also joined and greeted the children. He told us that the participated children were one third of the entire children population in Sicat. AWH talked with him about necessity of family planning, otherwise no bright future for these children growing in poverty, hunger and joblessness situation.
Nevertheless, all the children enjoyed the food. 10 gallons of ice cream went empty in about an hour.
Alfonso Children’s Day 2014
December 19, 2014 @ Municipality of Alfonso
The five poorest families from each of the 32 barangays (villages) in the municipality were chosen to receive gifts. The gifts consisted of a backpack with school materials inside. Mayor Varias and his Vice Mayor greeted everyone and the mayor gave out the gifts. We assisted with the gift giving.
The second part of the event consisted of gift-giving to the handicapped children (PWD: Persons With Disabilities). This consisted of the children, assisted by their parents, receiving the same backpack gift and their guardians receiving Php2,300 cash in an envelope handed out by the major. The cash represented the semester school support for the handicapped.
Raymund, Kimiyo and Klaus represented both AWH and Rotary and Klaus was requested to give a short talk on behalf of Rotary. It was a heart-warming event.
Visiting House with No Steps Foundation
Since DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development) Alfonso introduced AWH madam Luz in Bahay San Jose, Alfonso, Cavite 2 years ago, we have visited them often and brought our Japanese guests to her “Angels”.
Eleven of the residents are orphans (except the daughter of Ms. Luz) and severely handicapped due to polio, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.The House with No Steps Foundation owns the property and Ms. Luz volunteers there to take care of them.
AWH with its guests occasionally provides rice, clothes and financial assistance for their needs.
“I remind myself about them from time to time” says Casey Takayama, vice president of AWH, “we who fortunately have no physical defect are able to see, hear, talk and walk. Why not do our best to help others?”
Although these eleven “Angels” do not have any choice to do anything, it might give a meaning to their existence.
Visiting Mother Teresa Spinelli’s Treasure (Orphanage)
The local Alfonso DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development) introduced us its accredited orphanage in Tagaytay and AWH with its guests from Japan visited their facility in November 2014.
The orphanage is funded privately including oversea donors and well maintained. They accept abandoned children and on that particular day we visited, Alfonso DSWD brought an 1 year old orphan girl to the facility and asked for her acceptance.
The girl was found on a street in Alfonso right after her birth in malnourished condition and had been looked after by five foster parents. However, since all of the foster parents are indigent and could barely feed her as they have 7 or 8 of their own children already. After the evaluation, the facility accepted her and the last foster mother let her go in tears.
They explained that they are able to place children on a foreign adoption list that has a backlog of over 1,000 children to be adopted by foreign parents.
AWH and its guests donated rice, powdered milk and used clothes.