LIGHT + LOVE + HOPE + MedicalMissions

Chicago, Il. – The Philippine American Cultural Foundation’s 2015 humanitarian missions in the Philippines brought some love and hope to the people of Occidental Mindoro during the month of February. This year, PACF partnered with the Samasama Project and the League Of Volunteer for Relief Expeditions (LOVE) project of the Illinois Philippine Recovery Operations (IL-PRO) in support of their medical and dental missions headed by Project Directors Doctor Ariel Tolentino, Baron and Louella Cabalona. The dates and areas of services are – Jan 28 in Bukidnon, Feb 1 in Lipa, Batangas, Feb 3 in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro and February 20-22 in Devils Mountain, Alaminos, San Jose, Mindoro.
PACF also supported the Watts of Love organization founded and headed by 2014 Fil-Am Hall of Famer Nancy Economou. Nancy and her brother Kevin Kuster, Watts of Love’s Creative Director and photographer, returned to the Philippines with a travel team of compassionate and concerned supporters who took part in the organization’s first-ever group distribution trip to Ilin Island in Occidental Mindoro, just South of San Jose, deemed Project HOPE (Health, Opportunity, Power and Education). Once there, the Project HOPE team distributed1,000 solar LED lanterns, which allowed recipients to charge small electronic devices like cell phones, tablets and radios, enabling them to begin their own solar micro-business charging others’ devices for a profit. They also carried headlamps onto the island which they distributed to midwives and school teachers and trained each recipient individually as to the proper operation and maintenance of their units.

The Watts Of Love Project Hope team together with the PACF, Samasama Project and the Illinois Philippine Recovery Operations Project HOPE team delivered light, medical mission, LOVE and HOPE to two other sites in the Philippines in addition to the Ilin Island. Together, the two teams hiked and climbed their way up to what used to be referred to as the Devil’s Mountain near San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Feb 21-22 and to what used to be referred to as the Smokey Mountain in Manila on Feb 23. Project HOPE delivered more solar lights and Project LOVE provided basic medical checkup and support and distributed basic medicines and prescriptions to the Mangyan villages in Mindoro and to the poor families making a living in the waste dumpsite in Manila. It was truly a blessing to have the support of volunteers and donors from the United States to be able to help the poor people of our country the Philippines.
THANK YOU very much to the Watts of Love organization headed by Nancy Economou. Check out this amazing front-page feature of the work the Watts of Love do and the people they serve that was published in the Daily Herald on March 23, 2015! http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150323/news/150329893/ THANK YOU too to the League Of Volunteers Expeditions (LOVE) led by Dr. Ariel Tolentino, Baron and Lou Cabalona for organizing and executing the medical and dental missions. Last but not the least, we also want to thank our hosts, the government and church groups, the security forces, and the many volunteers in the Philippines who helped and supported our missions for without them, we will not be able to reach out to the people who are really in need. Together, we are able to bring smiles, love and some hope and relief to the needy and the poorest of the poor.
Founded in 1996 as a Not-For-Profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization, PACF is highly dependent on the goodwill and generosity of its supporters, its volunteers and friends like you. We need your assistance in our fundraising activities to
promote our Filipino culture to Filipinos and Non-Filipinos in Illinois thru music, dance & exhibits; sponsor our youth PACF Performing Arts Group; co-sponsor cultural projects such as Philippine Fests (Piyesta Pinoy) in Bolingbrook & Navy Pier locations; recognize FAHM Outstanding Filipino American Seniors; showcase the Philippines in Asian & International Fest; expand its educational/cultural/social services programs and intensify its humanitarian efforts; collaborate with various cultural groups and community organizations in several cultural and humanitarian projects.
Your participation and support are always valuable and critical to the survival of PACF and its programs. Your help in any capacity is greatly appreciated. To donate to PACF and to get more information on Piyesta Pinoy, the humanitarian missions and all other PACF events and to join next year’s Piyesta Pinoy celebration, please visit the newly designed Philippine American Cultural Foundation website – http://pacfmidwest.org/. Sharing our pictures from the Mangyan villages in San Jose Mindoro with the Watts of Love’s Project Hope and the League Of Volunteers for Relief Expeditons (LOVE), PACF and SamaSama Project’s Medical Mission