Latest Posts
-
Tucuma Residents Live in Poverty and Hope – Rebuilding their lives one ditch at a Time
Last February 2010, my friend Benjie Velasco invited me to visit the other side of Paranaque, Metro Manila. We visited a squatter area, Tucuma that sits right in the middle of a leafy, middle class suburb. It was one… Continue reading
-
10. Philippines’ GDP increased (yay!) and so does poverty (huh?) and Nine Other Interesting Facts
Last February 2010, I’ve met Jeremiah Opiniano, Executive Director of the Institute for Migration and Development Institute, a nonprofit think tank in the Philippines devoted to policy research, data banking and development journalism on Filipinos’ international migration and its development… Continue reading
-
Filipino Medical Heroes – Saving One Patient At a Time
It was only 7:30 AM and hundreds of patients were already lining up to be seen at the surgical mission put together by the World Surgical Foundation in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines last February 2010. I had the privilege… Continue reading
-
Visiting the Water Well Project – Taking A Sip of Clean Water
I always take it for granted – water. I open my faucet and there it is. However, my whole perspective on water changed when on February 2010 I visited the water well project that the Rotary Club of Iligan South… Continue reading
-
Philippine Reflections: Taal Volcano’s Majestic View – But Beauty is Skin Deep
On February 2010, I went to the Philippines and I met a lot of people to network and potentially collaborate with to increase giving to the Philippines. I also joined several medical and surgical missions there. I have tracked down… Continue reading
-
Asian Americans Giving to Haiti – Charity Knows No Bounds
The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti moved many people to action and to give a helping hand. I was one of them. I was deeply moved by the tragedy that killed hundreds of thousands in Haiti. So I joined my… Continue reading
-
The Gift of Clean Water – Iligan City, Mindanao Island, Philippines
I’m happy to share that the local Rotary club that I belong, the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North recently donated funds to build a new water well outside Iligan City in Mindanao Island, Philippines. My Uncle Vic and his… Continue reading
-
Welcome to America! My cousin Sionie finally arrives after a 26 year wait for her visa
Welcome to America! My cousin, Sionie Sales finally arrived in the US after a 26 year wait for her visa! She was finally reunited with her brother, Peter Aldeza in Chicago last November 2009. Peter, a US born citizen, petitioned… Continue reading
-
Supporting social entrepreneurs
Late August 2009, Mr. Sonesh Shah, one of the founders of Ekya, invited me to a late summer picnic in Skokie, IL with some of the group’s supporters and friends. I enjoyed watching people play volleyball, enjoyed Indian sweets and… Continue reading
-
Devastating Floods in the Philippines and Outpouring of Help from Abroad
On September 30, I was supposed to travel to the Philippines to check on my own development projects in Iligan City, Philippines and to connect with Filipino nongovernmental groups that work with the Global Coalition for Humanitarian Efforts-Philippines. Unfortunately, several… Continue reading