Monday, March 30, 2009

Making a Difference to Poverty in the Philippines


Last year, my parents and my son attended a family reunion in a small island called Negros in the Visayan region of the Philippines. While the experience was a celebration of family, it was also a first hand view of the need to find ways to aid and support people in a third world country.

They encountered a group of poverty-stricken blind children, some of whom were orphans, who are being supervised by one of my aunts. This group needs constant care, education and love - all of which requires some form of financial support. 

Last Christmas, my parents extended family of eight brothers and sisters and twenty-one nieces and nephews decided to replace the annual Kris Kringle arrangements to make a collective cash donation to this worthy cause.
I relate this personal story not to boast about our generosity but to highlight the need for initiatives - no matter how small in nature - to the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves.

One such initiative is being led by Jasmin Tragas, who until the end of June 2009, is raising funds for an Opportunity International Filipino Trust Bank to assist a group of entrepreneurial poor in the Philippines. If you feel compelled to do so, donations can be made on http://wonderwebby.chipin.com. A special mention must also go to Incentive House, who is also making a sizable contribution.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I can not tell you how happy I am to read this blog post. I moved to the Philippines from Sydney in 2006, launching my newest company www.desiremesh.com - we are here to innovate and create rather than do BPO. I believe that whatever a man can dream he can do. Let us enable. I live and work here and its good to see other people doing rather than just talking about it. Keep it up.