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. 

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

Indigent Support

AWH’s neighbor indigent village “Camp Hope” visited AWH and received bundles of firewood for cooking Taho (Tofu), which is their livelihood in selling them.

AWH also shared ‘Rambutan’ fruits that are in harvesting season and eggplants from its garden with the people in Camp Hope and the other two indigent villages.

Update on October 16, 2020

Continued indigent support for Camp Hope residents with provision of firewood bundles.

Update on November 5, 2020

Firewood to cook taho (tofu) is essential for their livelihood. Camp Hope residents received another bundles donated by AWH.

Update on November 14, 2020

Another contribution of firewood logs to Camp Hope residents.

Update on November 26, 2020

Another donation of firewoods to taho (tofu) vendors in the nearby indigent squatter Camp Hope.

AWH also shared ube ginataan for their children made from our homegrown ube yams.

Update on December 12, 2020

It requires constant support in donation of firewoods especially in Pandemic time.

Update on December 28, 2020

Another donation of firewood bundles to the taho vendors from Camp Hope.

2020 Taal Volcano Evacuation (Updated)

In the late afternoon of Sunday January 12, 2020, Taal Volcano, located on a small island in the middle of Taal Lake, erupted in a 10-15 km (6.2-9.3 mi) high steam-laden ash column, along with lightning and thunder caused by the interaction of the ash particles. Within a short time the low-lying areas surrounding the lake were covered with largely wet ash which inundated villages there as well as smothered the crops. No human lives were lost, but death and suffering of livestock and wildlife was evident everywhere. For example, on Volcano Island itself, a tourist spot for many years despite the history of earlier violent eruptions, only 300 of the approximately 3,000 donkeys were able to be rescued while the remainder died a slow and agonizing death.

Immediately after the vertical ash column eruption, the Alert Level was raised from then already 3 to 4 which means that an immediate explosive eruption may be imminent. This triggered immediate evacuation in the next couple of days in excess of 100,000 people for a distance of 14 km from the volcano’s epicenter, and may be raised to 17km if such an outbreak occurs. As indicated on the map Taal Volcano and Vicinity, which can be used as a reference guide, AWH is located within the 14 – 17 km zone and the Aguinaldo Highway Ridge Road through Tagaytay that provides access from Manila is located within the 14 km zone.

The 14 km circular evacuation zone is based on base surges, their buffer zones and on ballistic projectiles gleaned from updated information of historical eruptions of 1754, 1911, and 1964. Base surges are clouds of hot gases, ash, and rocks traveling horizontally at speeds in excess of 80 km per hour. Ballistic projectiles are large volcanic fragments thrown from the vents during explosions. Since a major portion of the municipality of Laurel in the province of Batangas is located within the most affected watersheds leading downslope to the ocean, their base surge buffer zones extended up to 14 km and were part of the “lock-down” evacuation that occurred in these areas. Unlike the eruptions on the Big Island of Hawaii, fissures caused by earthquakes related to volcanic activity are not expended to produce lava flows.

AWH was fortunate as it only received a very light but fertile ash layer because of the prevailing SW winds, the afternoon upslope winds, as well as the high elevation winds which blew the upper vertical ash column easterly towards Manila. The main concern for those affected by the ash but not living around or downslope of the lake was the unhealthy ash and sulfur dioxide-laden air, and breathing masks were in high demand.

At AWH the power was cut by the next day with the power outage lasting four days while most of the stores in the area also shut down during that time. With AWH depending on its oversized generator, it was able to provide water from its well along with the water delivery from the local Fire Department to its village residents and evacuees. It also served as a cell phone recharging station.

Private and public donations, largely from Manila, poured in uninterrupted on a continuous basis to the public and private evacuation centers and not only caused occasional traffic jams but also an almost unmanageable stockpile of clothing similar to what was witnessed during the Nov. 3, 2013 Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) at Caritas in Manila. At the same time Rotary International Multinational Manila (RIMM) and District 3810 Rotarians, as requested by DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), provided additional immediate needed supplies such as hygiene kits inclusive of 130 water buckets (two to each classroom housing ten families), sleeping blankets, underwear, plastic plates, etc., for the Alfonso evacuation center, local evacuees at private homes, and the Laurel Evacuation Center at Splendido, and expanded such support as needed such as toys and school supplies for the children and youth at the Laurel Evacuation Center, located at the edge of the 14 km evacuation zone. It housed about 491 evacuees including 160 children and youth in the indoor basketball court. While it is only a drop in the bucket compared to the overall needs, it perhaps made life easier and eased the suffering and pain of those that were and are being affected.

AWH and RIMM will continue to assist the community with its long-range planning efforts in permanently relocating residents from areas that have become inhabitable. After the 1754 major eruption, most villages and towns were relocated away from the lake shores. However, new villages were then reestablished because of population pressure to make a livelihood on the fertile volcanic ash soil, from fishing and fish cages in the lake as well as from almost year-round tourist arrivals from nearby Manila because of its scenic location.

While the initial confusion and panic has somewhat dissipated more than 10 days after the eruption and the News Media has now clarified the most important needs for the many evacuation centers, politics and science are still battling with the immediate needs of people. There is still a total lockdown in the most affected areas and residents that refused to evacuate and were/are hiding to protect their homes and livestock are hunted and force-evacuated in handcuffs if necessary. In borderline evacuation areas such as the Tagaytay Ridge where the country’s government had ordered a total shutdown of all commercial business inclusive of markets and restaurants, many have reopened in violation of the orders as the local governor and former mayor of Tagaytay insists that it is required for the survival of the businesses and the remaining residents.

Overall, evacuation was able to proceed safely because the eruption occurred during the dry and cool season. Little rain if any fell in the affected areas for 12 days after the initial eruption, followed by light rains on the 13th and 14th. Based on the reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions and a reduction in earthquakes, the possibility of an imminent violent eruption was reduced to 30% but sulfur dioxide emissions and earthquakes vary day by day. If evacuation lingers into the hot and wet season with Alert 4 Level in effect, some of the overcrowded public and private evacuation areas may become unbearable as presently operated. The best scenario would perhaps be a short and non-violent eruption in the near future with earthquakes, ash and sulfur dioxide emissions largely subsiding thereafter and Alert Level 4 being reconsidered for downgrading. While this would not preclude a future violent and destructive eruption in the near future based on historic eruption evidence, it would provide a window of opportunity for local and regional governments to rezone affected areas and even relocate villages and towns out of high risk areas as had already been done after the 1754 violent and long-lasting eruption.


Updates on Sunday, January 26, 2020

Despite the apparent opposition of some scientists because of the continued venting off ash and toxic fumes from Taal Volcano but with the support of elected officials, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Sunday morning downgraded Taal Volcano to Alert Level 3 from Alert Level 4 “marking a decreased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

The Batangas provincial government immediately lifted lockdowns it earlier imposed on 12 cities and municipalities, or on their portions that lie within the volcano’s danger zone. Residents of these places are now given the option to return to their homes although they are still welcome to stay in evacuation centers.

The following are the cities and towns where lockdowns are lifted: Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Lemery, Lipa City, Malvar, Mataasnakahoy, San Nicolas, Sta Teresita, Taal, Talisay, Tanauan City.

However, the following areas remain on lockdown as they lie within the 7-8 kilometer radius of the volcano’s main crater. This means people are still prohibited from entering these places: Taal Volcano Island (permanet lockdown), Agoncillo, Laurel.

The provincial governments stressed that although residents of areas where the lockdown is lifted may already return, Taal Volcano may still erupt. They must be constantly alert and ready to evacuate within one hour of notice, in case Taal Volcano’s activity escalates again and the status is raised to Alert Level 4.

The chance of a hazardous eruption remains, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) when it lowered Taal’s status to Alert Level 3 on Sunday morning. Phivolcs also warned of the likely occurrence of lahar or heavy mudflow coming from areas right beside Cavite province, and in elevated areas in Agoncillo and and Laurel towns in Batangas. Rain or volcanic tremors may disturb stored volcanic ash in these areas, and cause it to flow toward lowlands and waterways. Residents must take care when returning to areas heavily affected by ashfall. Unstable structures, slippery roads, fissures, and the lack of running water and electricity increase the risk of physical injuries (Rappler.com).

The mayor of Alfonso has ordered 30,000 3M N95 (medical grade) masks for its residents in case of a sudden eruption during which it would also be advisable to immediately shelter in place. It is also advisable that all returning evacuees be furnished with masks as continuous toxic fumes even without further eruptions could and will have long-term health effects.

2020 Taal Volcano Eruption

On January 12, 2020 around 4pm, Taal volcano erupted. The ashes were brought toward Manila areas due to wind direction at that time. Small seismic activities were observed frequently after the eruption. Manila airports were closed the next day long.

The electrical posts were affected by the frequent tremors along Aguinaldo Highway and power outage started the following day. AWH had 5 consecutive days of blackout and all the communication lines were cut.

All the guests who planned visiting for wellness program in January had to cancel due to this volcanic activities.

Because of this cancellation, AWH staff went immediately to assist evacuees from Talisay and  Laurel, Batangas province where volcanic activities were intense.

National Children’s Month Event

On November 26, 2019 the members of Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH) which is a member of LCPC (Local Council for Protection of Children) attended the National Children’s Month celebration at the events place in front of the Alfonso municipal hall.

AWH financially assisted for Hygiene kits that were given to 650 selected indigent elementary pupils in Alfonso, Cavite.

Mayor Randy Salamat and other officials gave a plaque of appreciation for the support of AWH in the implementation of various social services with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development) and being a sponsor of the event.

Solid Waste Management Meeting

On July 31, 2019 Brgy. Sicat Captain Arnel called a meeting to discuss about the collection of residual waste from the 13 commercial establishments in the area.

The barangay (village) will revive the residual waste collection again and the residual garbage will be picked up every Tuesday & Friday (at 7:30 AM) of each week starting on August 6, 2019.

At the end of each month the barangay will bill each commercial establishments based on volume of residual wastes collected.

The minimum garbage collection fee is P1,000 and it will be more depending on the volume of garbage collected.

The barangay is also planning to collect from households in the future.

The municipal dump truck is scheduled to pick up from the MRF shed, which was established by Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH) and Rotary Club of Multinational Manila which composes of many AWH staff, once a month.

Indigent Support

Another squatter camp was discovered in our own barangay (village) recently.  The residents consisting of 14 families are mostly from Samar Island, Philippines  and 35 persons including children out of 75 did not have birth certificate, which is a prerequisite for school graduation, application for Philhealth (national health insurance), etc.

In conjunction with RIMM (Rotary International Multinational Manila) since its core members are AWH volunteer staff and many of its general members are AWH guests as well,  AWH has provided support in obtaining birth certificates for those with none and living staples such as firewood for cooking, rice, etc. On March 9, twelve guests from Japan visited the site, initially providing an additional 15 kg of rice to each family along with goodies for the children as well as six sacks of firewood and 3 sacks of brown coconuts. They also bought and enjoyed the taste of the freshly made ‘taho’ (tofu with tapioca & syrup), which is their livelihood product. Firewood and coconuts are also provided on a continuing as available and needed basis.

Alfonso Day Event

On December 15, 2018 the Academy of World Healing Foundation (AWH) attended the Alfonso Skills Training with Job Assistance Under Sustainable Livelihood Program on Alfonso Day at its event center.

Engr. Tibayan of MENRO (Municipial Environment & Natural Resources Office) mentioned her office will coordinate with DSWD to find creative ways to turn trash in the garbage into cash for additional earnings of 4 P’s (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) members.

About 1,200 female members of the 4 P’s joined the event. AWH donated 25 bags of rice and P5,000 to the winner among the 4 P’s who deposited the most cash in their saving account derived from the recyclable trash sold to junk shops.

The municipality received a national budget of 3.4 million pesos for skills training which was announced at the event.