“It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.” – Dalai Lama XIV
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Bayanihan Foundation Earns Platinum Level at Guidestar for Transparency
On My Way Home, November 21, 2013
Dear Friends:
This is one of the most important letters I have ever written. As you probably have read, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms in world history, has left the Philippines in dire condition.
We at Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide are humbled by the outpouring of community support. In less than two days, we received about $8,000 in unsolicited donations. As you read this note, I am embarking on a ten-day journey to the Philippines, to personally bring help to the areas that have been the hardest hit. In collaboration with Bayanihan’s two local partner organizations, we will distribute approximately 1,000 to 1,200 food packs purchased from the funds received. Each food pack will feed a family of 6 and provide a week’s supply of rice, sardines, noodles, and water.
This mission trip is especially poignant to us at the Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide: our Philippine liaison Evelyn Castillo, a public health nurse, lost her home and her daughter was swept away by the giant waves. In spite of her own circumstances, she unhesitatingly reached out to others. I spoke with Evelyn yesterday morning, in preparation for our meeting in Tacloban. To our relief, she had just learned that her daughter miraculously survived by hanging onto a fragment of a tin roof.
The Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide was established in 2010, with its mission “to enable Filipinos to improve their lives in empowering and sustaining ways.” Given the seriousness of the situation, I feel now is the time to broaden our constituency base to include Americans of all backgrounds, in order to continue making a difference in the lives of individuals affected by the work of Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide. During my trip, I plan to take photos of the relief efforts we are involved in, document personal stories, and to share observations online – raise further awareness of the plight of the Philippine typhoon survivors, and possible forecast.
The task ahead is daunting, but Bayanihan is committed to achieving humanitarian aims. With this goal in mind, I so appreciate any thoughts you may have on what would be particularly important for me to do on this trip.
I will be checking in from the road as much as possible, and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Dale Asis President and Founder Bayanihan Foundation Woldwide
Bayanihan Foundation Responds, Helps Flood Victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
Devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (USA Today Image Nov 11, 2013)
On Sunday morning November 10, 2013, I woke up with the devastating news of Typhoon Haiyan hitting the central islands in the Philippines, one of the worst typhoons in recorded history. Before long, I was inundated by phone calls, text messages and emails from friends, family and colleagues in Chicago and around the world asking if my family is safe and how they can help. I’m relieved that my extended relatives in the Philippines are all safe and that the four project areas in the Philippines where the Bayanihan Foundation works were not severely affected. The Bayanihan Foundation’s mission have always emphasized long-term partnerships and sustainable solutions to giving, rather than short-term disaster relief. However, by November 12, 2013, I’ve received an outpouring of emails, phone calls and text messages on colleagues on how they could help. I already received over $500 in unsolicited donations. So I felt the compelling need to help the thousands of disaster victims in Leyte, Samar and other islands in central Philippines.
I reached out to the Bayanihan Foundation Liaison, Ms. Evelyn Castillo, a registered public health nurse. Evelyn has decades of international nongovernmental organizational (NGO) work in the Philippines. She is also from Samar, one of the islands affected by the storm. The Bayanihan Foundation will coordinate relief efforts with two local grassroots community organizations on the ground: 1) Angiporlosanon in Samar; and 2) Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center in Cebu. This ensures that 100% of your donation will go towards disaster relief efforts and long-term sustainability solutions after the disaster. The foundation plans to send food packs that will help hundreds of flood victims in Samar, Leyte and Cebu islands in the Philippines.
- Donate $20 and you will be able to feed one family of six with rice, sardines, instant noodles and water for five to six days, OR
- Donate $50 and you will be able to feed three families for five to six days, OR
- Donate $100 and you will be able to feed six families for five to six days, OR
- Donate $1000 and you will be able to feed a small village of 100 families for five to six days
- Donate any amount that you can
100% of your donation will go towards disaster relief and long-term sustainable solutions to help the affected victims of typhoon Haiyan. Board member James Castillo is already planning youth disaster brigades to help with disaster relief and preparedness for the youth in Cebu. You can donate securely online by clicking HERE. You can also mail your check to Bayanihan Foundation, 2020 N. California Ave. Suite 7 Box 147, Chicago, IL 60647. All your donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law. The Bayanihan Foundation is a registered, tax exempt public charity in the US. The Bayanihan Foundation earned a Silver Star rating at Guidestar for transparency and governance.
NEXTGEN Film Screening “Amigo” and Discussion
“Amigo” a 2010 film by John Sayles about the Philippine-American War in 1900
Free Film Screening of “Amigo” and panel discussion
THURSDAY, FEB 21ST, 2013
7:30 PM
STUDENT CENTER, ROOM 120
DePAUL UNIVERSITY LINCOLN PARK CAMPUS
2250 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago
Refreshments will be served
RSVP required
by email dale@fdnbayanihan.org or by phone (773) 273-9793
The Bayanihan Foundation’s NEXTGEN Project is inviting you to join a free film screening of “Amigo” a 2010 American-Filipino drama film written and directed by John Sayles. The film takes place in the Philippines in 1900 during the Philippine-American War. It is one of only a small handful of films directed by an American to address the war. Please join us on a lively discussion about this almost forgotten part of American history to encourage young Filipino Americans to learn more about their heritage and history. The foundation’s NEXTGEN Project encourages young Filipino Americans to learn more about their heritage, to become involved and eventually donate and help back to their homeland.
The panel discussion includes:
Camilla Fojas, Professor and Director of Latin American and Latino Studies at DePaul University, whose work has focused on the construction and representation of race and national borders in film and popular culture. Author of Cosmopolitanism in the Americas, Border Bandits: Hollywood on the Southern Frontier, and Mixed Race Hollywood (co-edited with Mary Beltran)
James Castillo, first generation filmmaker, with VMPRDC (Visayas Mindanao Peoples Resource Development Center) from Los Angeles, CA, who works with youth using film to spread awareness about the need for environmental action.
Dale Asis, Executive Director of Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide and CAAAELLI (Coalition of African, Asian, Arab, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois)
Jerry Clarito, Filipino war veterans rights activist and Executive Director, AFIRE (Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment)
Sponsored by
ACE (Asian Cultural Exchange) Student Organization of DePaul University
The Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide NEXTGEN Project, promoting young Filipino Americans to be connected back to their homeland
&
Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE)
A special thanks to Prof. Maria Ferrera, Bayanihan Foundation board member and professor at DePaul University for putting this event together.
Posted in Philippines, Youth leadership development
Tagged history, Philippines, US immigration
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Return to Paradise: Bayanihan Foundation board member James Castillo Conducts Youth workshop, plants thousands of mangrove trees
(standing second from right): James Castillo, foundation board member, leads youth participants in planting mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
- Youth participants plant mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
(standing far right) James Castillo leads youth workshop in environmental conservation and renewal and in planting mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
On January 2013, Bayanihan Foundation board member James Castillo went to Cebu, Philippines led a youth workshop and planted thousands of mangrove trees as part of the foundation’s projects for environmental renewal and sustainability. He wrote this brief essay and reflection detailing his recent successful trip there.
Return to Paradise, Paying it Forward
On my way to the Philippines, I’ve met a Filipino American who was traveling back to his hometown to the Ilocos Region in northern Luzon, Philippines to visit his family. He lives in Seattle, WA. We’ve talked about my work in information technology (IT) and his work in a security firm there. I told him about the reason for my trip to the Philippines which included the Pagbabalik (Coming Home) workshop as well as my plans of shooting an environmental documentary film. I also told him about my volunteer work in Los Angeles helping Filipino and Latino immigrant families. He asked me a question. “Why do I do the things I do?”
I wasn’t able to give him a straight answer. That question haunted me throughout my trip. Why do some people do things that help our fellowmen? Why do some people do things that harm them? Why do some people act to save the environment? Why do some people make decisions that harm it? I don’t want to make a philosophical statement. I want to use this opportunity to share what I met while I was in the Philippines. The people who are in the forefront on saving our environment and fighting for the rights of the people. This is just a peek into some of the wonderful things that is happening in the Philippines that deserves the support of the international community and of Filipinos in the diaspora.
The Pagbabalik (Coming Home) workshop that included mangrove reforestation, theatre and film was held in a small town in Cebu, Philippines. The area where we spent two days at a small fishing village called Barangay Calero in the Municipality of Liloan. Most of the population depend on the sea for survival. The fishermen formed a self-help organization called PAKAMA (Pakigbisug sa Kabus nga Mananagat / Poor Fishermen’s Struggle). The youth organization of PAKAMA is YND (Youth for Nationalism and Democracy) Liloan chapter. A lot of the members of YND are fishermen themselves and young workers. Participants of the workshop included members of YND from the area and college and high school students from Cebu City.
I interviewed some of the members of the youth leaders that participated in the youth workshop. The fisher folk decided to form a self-help organization was due to the imminent threat of converting the mangrove forests into commercial resorts and buildings. It is illegal to cut mangrove trees in the Philippines. Currently anyone get a business license from the local government to cut down any way you want the precious mangrove trees that is holding up the island’s fragile ecosystem. The fisher folk understand that the mangrove forests serve as an important part of their survival. The mangroves serve as a nesting ground for marine life. The fishermen know that if the mangrove forest disappear, their livelihood will also eventually disappear. The fishermen face many challenges. They don’t have a lot of resources to fight big commercial developers and corporations who want to convert the forest into urban development. Some of the people who live on the island do not care if the mangroves get chopped down just because they do not directly depend on fishing as a means of livelihood. Some of the local politicians do not care if the mangroves get converted to commercial properties. Unfortunately, the local fisher folk organization do not have strong allies and do not solid financial support.
Despite the problems that the organization continuously face, they fisher folk and the youth have managed to organize and grow as an organization. They have stopped any attempt to bulldozed the mangrove forests. On the eve of the Pagababalik (Coming Home) workshop, local politicians and civic leaders attended the evening reception and expressed their support. The organization had performances from community members. They had food and music; they exchanged gifts with one another. It was a wonderful night to remember. As a representative of the Bayanihan Foundation, I expressed my support to their organization and for their brave work in protecting their livelihood and the environment. One local politician also mentioned the environmental work that the organization is doing and expressed support for the local organizing they are doing to protect the mangrove forest.
The fisher folk and their families hosted and welcomed the youth participants into their homes even though some of the families don’t have electricity, running water or bathrooms to offer, these very basic needs that we in America take for granted. Yet these fisher folk are hard at work in protecting our environment but they have no access to basic human needs. It breaks my heart to see that these struggling fisher folk community should receive stronger support and recognition from the Filipinos in the diaspora for their struggles and hard work in protecting the environment. For the environmental work that they are doing, we are all benefiting by reducing carbon dioxide released in the air and by planting mangrove trees to replace the depleted and denuded areas. Let us support the local fisher folk and youth in Cebu that are creating concrete change. Filipinos in the diaspora, Americans and other fellow human beings should join us in this environmental challenge as well as providing basic human needs like running water, electricity and bathrooms.
Youth participants plant mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
The mangroves that were planted a year ago have grown and are showing plenty of leaves but still far from becoming trees. Mangrove trees grow slowly and takes years to mature. Planting mangroves is also not easy. I had to leave my shoes behind because the sea-shore where we were planting was very muddy. It was a great experience. We have a long way to go before we can really recover the now denuded areas. Despite all our hard work, our entire efforts will go to waste if the government decides to give the land to investors who do not care about sustainable development. Can we do something to declare these areas as permanent mangrove forests for environmental sustainability?
So why do I do what I do? One answer is that we all CAN DO SOMETHING to create positive social and environmental change. It may not show big changes but every effort will go a long way. It is like the movie “Pay It Forward”. A social science homework that became a global movement in the movies can really be a reality. The idea of paying it forward was to help three people and in turn those three that you helped should also help another three. The idea is that the person that you help must pass it on, they must help another three as a condition. In the same spirit, Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide is calling on Filipinos in every corner of the globe to join hands in helping the Philippines. We are also calling on people from other ethnic groups to join us in this global movement of environmental sustainability and social change. We cannot wait for another super typhoon to come like what hit Mindanao, Manila, New York or New Orléans. Ms. Nida Cabrera, an environmental legislator in Cebu City said during her visit during the Pagbabalik (Coming Home) workshop, ” It is time we start looking at preventing environmental disasters before it destroys lives and property.”
I wanted to thank the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center (VMPRDC), Sining Dilaab Cultural Group, PAKAMA, the local fisher folk organization, Municipality of Liloan and volunteers from the local youth group, YND for making the 2013 Pagbabalik workshop a success.
James Castillo
Bayanihan Foundation Board Member
Independent Filmmaker with Cinemagago2013
Thanksgiving Day 2012 – Bayanihan Foundation thanks its donors, supporters and volunteers
On November 22, 2012, many celebrated the national holiday, Thanksgiving Day with friends and families. In the US, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November and has its historical roots in religious traditions of giving thanks and celebrating the harvest of the year.
As I celebrated a sumptuous feast with my family on Thanksgiving Day, I also want to be thankful to the hundreds of donors of the Bayanihan Foundation. In 2012, many supporters have been generous with their time, money and moral support as the foundation continues to help back in the Philippines.
I want to acknowledge these 22 supporters who have shared their financial support, ability and/ or time to help the foundation thrive. These supporters and volunteers show the ‘Bayanihan’ (community giving) spirit that the foundation values (in alphabetical order):
1) Jay Althouse and 2) Carol Cory
(pictured left to right: Jay Althouse and Carol Cory photo, November 2012)
Both Jay Althouse and Carol Cory are members of the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North and have traveled with me to the Philippines in January 2012 and visited the joint projects of the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North and the Bayanihan Foundation. Carol and Jay, spearheaded the efforts and sponsored a series of peace building workshops in Iligan City, Philippines. Carol and Jay are both retired clergy and had extensive experience in peace and reconciliation efforts in the past.
Volunteer staff: 3) Myrla Baldonado and 4) Evelyn Castillo
(pictured left to right: Barbara Dix, Myrla Baldonado (center) and Juanita Burris at Bayanihan Foundation fundraiser May 2012)
(pictured left to right: Evelyn Castillo and Dale Asis planting mangrove trees, Cebu City, Philippines January 2012)
Both Myrla and Evelyn have shared their decades of nonprofit, philanthropy and community organizing experience to established and stabilized the foundation during the last two years.
Volunteer staff: 5) Pio Candelaria and 6) Mauricio Roman
(pictured far right: Pio Candelaria sharing food with friends, Chicago January 2012)
Pio Candelaria have shared his extensive graphic design expertise with the foundation. He also have donated some of his paintings for auction.
(pictured: Mauricio Roman at the Bayanihan Foundation fundraiser May 2012)
Since 2010, Mauricio Roman has donated extensive amount of his time in marketing, communications and development for the foundation.
7) James Castillo
(pictured: James Castillo visiting Chicago July 2012)
Bayanihan Foundation board member, James Castillo have donated his time and money in leading the foundation in youth leadership development efforts with the NEXTGEN project and planting mangrove trees and environmental sustainability in Cebu, Philippines. In 2013, James plans to join the foundation’s next ‘Pagbabalik’ (Coming Home) workshop and will hold a film project and fundraiser for the foundation as well.
8) Cesar Conde
(pictured left to right: Cesar Conde and Dale Asis, Cesar Conde’s art exhibit August 2012)
Filipino American artist Cesar Conde donated partial proceeds of his closing exhibit to the Bayanihan Foundation last August 2012. His generous donation will support more mangrove tree planting and youth leadership development in Cebu, Philippines.
9) Barbara Dix
(pictured left to right: Shirley Pintado and Barbara Dix, Bayanihan Foundation fundraiser May 2012)
Since its start in 2008, Barbara Dix has been sponsoring generously the projects of the Bayanihan Foundation. In May 2012, Barbara joined the fundraising celebration of the foundation in Chicago.
10) Will Dix
(pictured left to right: Dale Asis and Will Dix, November 2012)
Since 2008, my partner Will Dix have supported the efforts of the Bayanihan Foundation and is planning to join the ‘Pagbabalik’ (Coming Home) workshop in Cebu, Philippines in January 2013.
11) Heman Ezra and 12) Ruth Ezra
(pictured left to right: Ruth Ezra, Isa Ezra and Heman Ezra at Heman’s 50th birthday celebration November 2012)
On October 2012, Heman Ezra celebrated his 50th birthday celebration and invited his friends and family to celebrate his birthday. In lieu of gifts to himself, he encouraged everyone to donate to the Bayanihan Foundation. Proceeds will go towards planting mangrove trees and youth leadership development in Cebu, Philippines. Ruth and Heman Ezra will also be joining the foundation’s board.
13) Maria Ferrera
(standing far left: Maria Ferrera spearheaded discussion and involvement of young Filipino Americans in helping back in the Philippines, July 2012)
Since 2011, Maria Ferrera had been involved in developing the participation of young Filipino Americans to be involved in giving back to the Philippines. In 2012, Maria led efforts and discussion on NEXTGEN, involving young Filipino Americans to give back to their homeland country.
14) Dorothy Friesen
(pictured in center: Dorothy Friesen joined the foundation’s ‘Pagbabalik’ (Coming Home) workshop in Clark, Philippines last January 2013)
Dorothy Friesen had generously sponsored Body Talk holistic activities in Clark and Subic, Philippines. The Bayanhan Foundation is sponsoring Body Talk holistic healing activities in the area, especially to victims of toxic wastes left behind from the former US military installations in the Philippines.
15) Susan Kirpach and 16) Ted Kirpach
(pictured: the late Susan Kirpach, former board member)
(pictured left to right: Ted Kirpach and Susan Kirpach with family and friends)
The late Susan Kirpach and Ted Kirpach have been one of the earliest supporters of the Bayanihan Foundation. Susan Kirpach have always been instrumental in the growth of the foundation and Ted Kirpach continues that legacy of involvement and support.
17) Edouard Pierre
(pictured left to right: Edouard Pierre and Dale Asis, Bayanihan Foundation workshop Clark Philippines, January 2012)
In January 2012, Edouard Pierre joined the Bayanihan Foundation’s workshop in the Philippines and took pictures of the foundation’s projects. In May 2012, he offered his place of work, RGB Lounge & Art Gallery, to host the foundation’s fundraising events. He had shared his professional photographs and creative eye as he took pictures of the foundation’s projects.
18) Shirley Pintado
Since 2008, my mom Shirley Pintado have been very supportive and encouraging of my efforts to help and donate back to the Philippines. She has contributed financially and cooked countless meals for the many house parties and fundraising events that the Bayanihan Foundation has hosted at her home.
19) Vincent Saavedra
(pictured from left to right: Dale Asis, Carminda Aldeza, Sionie Sales, Shirley Pintado, Delia Saavedra, David Aldeza, Will Dix and Vincent Saavedra, standing far right, Thanksgiving celebration November 2012).
Many of my family members have been generous and supportive of my efforts to help back in the Philippines but none more than my cousin, Vincent Saavedra. Since 2008, he had supported my early efforts to build homes and water wells in Iligan City, Philippines. In 2012, he generously contributed to help ship 10 Balikbayan boxes of books to Iligan City, Philippines.
20) Dr. Vicente Saavedra and 21) Luz Saavedra
(pictured left to right: Luz Saavedra, Dr. Vicente Saavedra, Francoise PIerre and Dale Asis, in Iligan City, Philippines, January 2012)
Dr. Vicente and Luz Saavedra have been instrumental in the success and completion of many projects that the Bayanihan Foundation has initiated in Iligan City, Philippines. They have ensured that the funds we sent to multiple projects there were completed and accounted for. Their transparency and accountability was helpful in getting early support and trust of many other donors to the foundation.
22) Zakat Foundation of America
From 2009 to 2012, the Zakat Foundation has generously supported the Bayanihan Foundation in its efforts to provide meals and emergency food supplies to tens of thousands of indigent Filipino Muslims in Iligan City, Philippines. Dr. Vicente Saavedra, Luz Saavedra and Imam Attorney Gandamra also had been instrumental in ensuring the completion of these feeding projects.
The Bayanihan Foundation thanks all its donors, supporters and volunteers for all their help in 2012. The foundation has a lot to be thankful for all the blessings and gifts so it could continue helping in the Philippines – Filipinos abroad helping Filipinos at home.
The Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide will like to thank Ruth & Heman Ezra for their kindness to the foundation. The Erza’s are putting an event together to celebrate Heman’s 50th Birthday. In lieu of gift, they have asked their guest to donate to Bayanihan for Mangrove planting in Cebu, Philippines.
Upcoming NEXTGEN Event
Passage To Home: A Dialogue
As 2nd, 3rd, -generation Filipino Americans, how can we give back to our home country?
How can we learn more about “home”?
Are there opportunities to invest in the sustainable development of the Philippines?
Saturday, July 28, 2012
10:30 am – 1 pm
Lincoln Park Campus of DePaul University
Thomas P.Levan Center, Room 506
2322 N. Kenmore Avenue Ave. Chicago
(near Fullerton CTA Red Line Station)
Discussion to Follow
Light lunch will be served
RSVP to myrla@fdnbayanihan.org; (858) 382-4580
This event is a panel presentation of Filipino Americans youth (FilAms) engaged in the sustainable development of the Philippines. Jackie Corley, second generation Filipino American and current medical student of Rush Hospital, will share her experience joining a medical mission in Bohol. James Castillo, a first generation film student is working with a filmmakers’ collective in Los Angeles, CA called Cine Gang on a documentary, “Ugat (Roots)” about the history of the Philippines and of Filipino Americans. Learn from their experiences and participate in a dialogue on how you can become more involved with your home of origin.
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Pagbabalik 2012 Raffle Winners
From left: Bayanihan’s long-time supporter Shirley Pintado from Chicago and Organizing Director Myrla Baldonado reading the names of the winners during the second “Pagbabalik” (Coming Home) workshop last January 2012 at the Clark Museum, Clark Special Economic Zone, Pampanga, Philippines.
The Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide would like to congratulate and thank the Pagbabalik 2012 Raffle winners for winning these wonderful prizes while supporting Bayanihan’s mission and work. Thanks also to our numerous supporters from Illinois, California , Las Vegas, New York, Massachussets and Minnesotta who sold and purchased the tickets. The beneficiary of this year’s raffle draw were the United Philippine Amerasians (UPA) or “America’s forgotten children”. Proceeds went to a leadership training and consultative evaluation work.
First prize winner Bennie Cayongcong from El Centro, CA ( Ticket# 277445) won an economy round trip ticket to anywhere in the continental US; Second prize winner Hannah Flores . from Torrance, CA (Ticket # 277484) won a 32″ inch TV; Third prize winner Amara Vattanakul. (Ticket #277592) won an Apple Ipod.
Posted in Amerasians, Bases clean up, Diaspora Donors, Diaspora Giving, Disaster Relief, Education, Environmental conservation, Health, homelessness, Immigration, justice, Labor, philanthropy, Philippine poverty, Philippines, Poverty, Remittances, Uncategorized, Volunteerism, Youth leadership development
Tagged community involvement, diaspora, environmental conservation
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Bayanihan Foundation members visit Cebu, plant mangrove trees for environmental restoration
The next three blog entries will be about my recent trip with the Bayanihan Foundation visiting its partners in the Philippines.
(left to right): Evelyn Castillo and Dale Asis planting mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
Dale Asis (sitting, center) plants a mangrove tree with youth members of the Visayas Mindanao People's Resource Development Center (VMPRDC) looking on.
In January 2012, the Bayanihan Foundation visited its partner, the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center (VMPRDC), a grassroots community organization in Cebu, Philippines that helps local fisherfolk in protecting the fragile environment around the bay. James Castillo and the Bayanihan Foundation has supported the VMPRDC efforts in developing youth leadership and environmental sustainability.
In 2011, the foundation and James Castillo of Los Angeles, CA supported a series of youth leadership development workshops that led to the growth of their local youth group, Sining Dilaab Cultural Group.
During our visit last January 2012, I’ve met the Director, Normalyn Alonso and the youth leadership as well. I was pleasantly surprised of how well-developed the youth group has grown since its formation last year. I felt so proud that the Bayanihan Foundation’s small financial support have contributed to the growth of a thriving youth group that is aware and is protecting its fragile environment. The youth group also read an elaborate pledge and commitment to protect the environment. You can download their environmental pledge and commitment HERE.
Check out the extraordinary song and dance performance they have put together during our visit:
James Castillo recently created a short film promoting environmental conservation in the US, the Philippines and around the world:
Catalyst from iPic Theaters on Vimeo.
At the end of the visit, members of the Bayanihan Foundation and members of the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North planted mangrove trees for environmental restoration of the fragile environment in Cebu, Philippines. In 2012, the Bayanihan Foundation plans to plant 10,000 mangrove trees to help restore the fragile ecosystem.
