Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide
Filipinos Abroad Helping Filipinos at Home
Category: Philippines
-
April 23, Both a Joyous and Tragic Day for US Immigration
April 23, 2010 would be marked as both a joyous and tragic day for US immigration. In Washington, DC, President Barack Obama presided on a happy occasion honoring immigrant service members of the US armed forces as they became US citizens. In Phoenix, Arizona, Gov. Janet Brewer signed the most draconian immigration law that the…
-
What I did with $100 US dollars from my tax refund
What did I do with $100 US dollars from my tax refund? I recently completed my taxes for 2009. I was elated when I found out that I have a small refund coming my way and that I might have $100 US dollars to spare. So what would I do with an extra $100 bucks?…
-
New Revealing Report on Filipinos in the US and how it relates to my own family
The Migration Policy Institute , a nonpartisan political think tank in Washington DC, recently released a revealing report on Filipino immigrants in the United States. The report both confirmed my personal assumptions about Filipino immigrants and it also revealed some surprises. I would like to share their five major findings and relate them to my…
-
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 of the emotional highlights of my trip as I learned about the struggles of the…
-
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 impact to the Philippines. Jeremiah was a virtually walking encyclopedia on the latest facts and…
-
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 to join my first surgical mission and I saw with my own eyes the despair…
-
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 put together in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North. The site of…
-
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 over 21 medical and surgical missions from the US, New Zealand and other countries with…