DeSales University in the Philippines

Missionaries of Charity Home for Abandoned/Neglected Elderly

2011-07-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

"The DeSales University group conducted various acts of mercy at the home for the abandoned and neglected elderly at Tayuman, Manila. The home is managed by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, an organization which was founded by the Blessed Mother Theresa of India. The center at Tayuman also includes novitiates on training".

fr. charles said...
I never gave a thought of spending half a day (on my birthday!) in a home for the abandoned elderly. It was not in my sched but these guys from De Sales brought me there. True, nothing happens by chance! For the gift of life...and people who care, thank God!

danielle k said...
This was an amazing experience. To see people with such devotion and faith is often rare to find. I hope I can visit here again in the future.

BUKID KABATAAN CENTER for Abused Children & The GOOD SHEPHERD SISTERS

2011-05-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

About the BUKID KABATAAN (CHILDREN'S FARM) CENTER: "Since the 1970’s, the number of children living in the streets of Manila and other cities of the Philippines has greatly increased. The problems of internal migration of families from the rural communities to the big urban centers and high unemployment have contributed to make it extremely difficult for poor family members to meet their basic needs. Thousands of children began to roam the streets in search of food and shelter. They were also prey for the numerous traffickers of children and were often physically or sexually abused. Many end up in prostitution dens. In response to this growing social problem, the Good Shepherd Sisters opened a small shelter for street girls in 1983 under the auspices of Caritas, Manila, and located in Pandacan, Manila. In 1989, also on the instigation of the Good Shepherd Sisters, a recovery and healing center for boys was opened by Caritas in General Trias, Cavite. The residential center was built on a 6-hectare land donated by Msgr. Francisco Tantoco, then Executive Director of Caritas, Manila. The center became known as Bukid Kabataan (Children’s Farm)."

"Go after the lost sheep without any rest other than the cross, no consolation other than work, no thirst other than for justice".
- St. Mary Euphrasia
Good Shepherd Sisters

DAYCARE CENTER at the Slums, Quezon City

2011-01-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

The slum area near the Philippine CONGRESS at Quezon City.

The DeSales group painting the daycare center inside the slum area. The daycare was set up by a local charity group.

Some of the children who use the daycare center.

TULOY SA DON BOSCO: Support Center for Street Children

2010-10-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Mission of Tuloy sa Don Bosco.

DeSales students and the children at the center playing volleyball.

The impressive Chapel inside the center complex.

What is POVERTY?

2010-09-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

According to the United Nations: "Poverty: a human condition characterized by the sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights."

Furthermore, the No.1 goal of the UN Millineum Development Goals is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Ati or Aeta Woman: Philippines Aborigines

2010-07-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

Fr. Joe:
"We visited the Ati, the aborigines of the Philippines, who were sequestered in a ghetto on Boracay Island. The Daughters of Charity, a religious order founded by St. Vincent de Paul, friend of Francis de Sales, minister to these people. The Ati are called the “black people;” their skin tone is dark and their hair extremely wooly. They are classified as Philippine Negritos, first settled the Philippines, and were at one time a nomadic group of hunter-gatherers roaming freely in the wild without clothes. Modern society forced them in clothes as well as ghettos both of which are socially traumatic for the Ati., who now depend on charitable donations for subsistence. The Daughters of Charity have been their only advocates with the government and in the words of one sister “I will wear out my sandals walking to the local government to petition for these lovely people and to protest the expropriation of their land.” They now live on land belonging to the relatives of the Casa Pilar owners, our hotel on Boracay.

The children are attractive and charming. They learn the basics in a kindergarten that was opened the second day of our visit. We learned that it would be an insult to help them with any physical labor such as picking up trash and beautifying their areas. Francis de Sales and the spirituality of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales reminds us to respect people where they are and to treat them with dignity. Since food was a great need, we decided to purchase rice and other staples for the families. The Daughters supervised us as we respectfully distributed the food to the families. We also gave plantains (small bananas) to the children in the kindergarten and interacted with the teacher and the students".

"A full-grown Ati woman. I actually think she is attractive. She's definitely cute in a child-like way anyway. Note the classical woolly hair of the Philippine Negritos. This is not the same hair as the kinky hair of US Blacks. Other Negritos in the Andaman Islands have peppercorn hair like the Bushmen of Africa".

President-Elect BARACK OBAMA

2008-11-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

President-Elect Barack Obama will be the 44th USA President. For more on Obama, check his newest website, WWW.CHANGE.GOV.

DSU Students at the McCain & Palin Political Rally, (Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA)

2008-10-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

...me wonders who are the two gentlemen at the back... :-)

..."My friends, ...................."

Mccain & Palin at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA (October 8, 2008). Guess who attended the rally.... :-)

Lunch at the Mama Nina Foccacheria

2008-09-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

We recently met Kerri (who now works at Moravian College) for lunch at Mama Nina in Bethlehem, PA. The food was terrific, authentic Italian dishes. The weather was still nice, not too chilly so we decided to eat outside the restaurant. As usual, we reminisce on our Philippine experience. The group wants to have a grand reunion 5 years from now back in the Philippines.

Typhoon Frank (Feng Shen) Hit the Philippines

2008-08-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

I went back to the Philippines this summer of 2008, only to experience a major typhoon on June 21, three days after I landed in Manila. I eventually went to the island of Panay, that was possibly the worst hit of the 7,100 islands that comprise the country. The satellite photo below shows the storm over the Philippines, and Panay Island is the triangular island in the center of the storm.

The devastation brought by the typhoon to villages near the rivers were severe and historic. Some villages (e.g, Barangay Bogo and Bagumbayan in the town of San Remigio in Antique) have almost disappeared from the map because they were wiped out by the flash floods. We participated in disaster relief operations that included national and international agencies such as the Red Cross and the UN. The photos below may not capture the extent of the devastation because these were taken a few days after the storm. The land looks bare, because the native homes and farms where people toiled for their livelihood were washed away by the flood.

Fr. Joe at NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL, Wilmington, DE

2008-07-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Last summer, the Philippines group held a "despedida" or going away party for Fr. Joe who was moving to Delaware to become the Principal of the Nativity Preparatory School. He is a bit far from DeSales University now, and we will miss seeing him on a more regular basis. Best of luck, Fr. Joe!

Presentation to the DeSales Community

2008-04-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

In early April the group shared the work done in the Philippines. Faculty, administrators, and students listened to the groups enthusiastic stories and enjoyed of the vivid pictures. At the end we answered questions and added some of the funny stories we still talk about from our trip.

The Library put together a poster with some of the pictures and a map of the Philippines for the audience to see. (picture above)

Ospital ng Makati: Health Care for the Urban Poor

2008-02-11T19:06:00.001-08:00

The Makati Health Programme (MHP) was designed to provide residents of the city of Makati with monthly incomes not exceeding PhP8,000 (US$156) access to quality health care. The cost of health care in Philippine urban centers is so prohibitive that it is beyond the reach of citizens belonging to this income bracket. Also included, as programme beneficiaries are the elderly and city government employees including public school teachers, policemen and firemen. Makati is one of the few cities in the Philippines that provide subsidized quality health care to its constituents.

The local government of Makati has as its private sector partner the Makati Medical Centre. The programme has two non-governmental organization (NGO) partners: the Ospital ng Makati Foundation and Bagong Ina ng Bayan.

The program has given beneficiaries the opportunity to avail of services such as major surgeries in one of the best private hospitals in the Philippines. In 2000, 50,042 cardholders were treated at the Makati Medical Center, with total billings of PhP170 million (US$3.3 million). Under the terms of the expenses sharing scheme, the city government of Makati shouldered PhP96 million (US$1.9 million), and Makati Medical Center, P74 million (US$1.4 million).

The DeSales group helped the staff at the hospital tend to their patients.

Chinese NEW YEAR Party: EAST Meets WEST

2008-02-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

The DeSales team celebrated the Chinese New Year with Chinese friends here in the US. A fun New Year party, new friends, and a continuing effort for global understanding. The folks come from many places: Mainland China, Taiwan, Hongkong, Dominican Republic, Philippines, and the US.

Happy CHINESE NEW YEAR! At DELICIOUS Restaurant, Chinatown, MANILA

2008-02-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! February 7, 2008. The YEAR of the RAT!
Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries, which predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) we use at the present day which goes back only some 425 years. Current year is Year 4705 by the Chinese calendar. Since 2008 is the Year of the Rat, any one who was born in the Year of the Rat is now either 1 or 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 or 97 years old.

We went around Chinatown to experience one of Manila's oldest district. The place is indeed a feast to the senses, all sounds, colors, and smell are all there! Quite a stimulating place.

Jeepneys line the street across the DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. We decided to have lunch at this restaurant which is considered to be one of the old establishments in the area. The place is casual and unpretentious, and food was most satisfying.

BORACAY: Exploring the Island

2008-02-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Lovely FLOWERS in the PHILIPPINES

2008-02-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

Lovely tropical flowers in the Philippines. These blooms are found practically anywhere in the islands.

Happy Feast Day! ST. JOHN (DON) BOSCO!

2008-01-31T14:23:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the DeSales University! We are one family in Christ.

Ferry Ride: From Makati to Boracay

2008-01-30T18:23:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, January 6th we embarked on an eighteen-hour journey from Makati to Boracay. The picture on the above shows the bus stop in Makati. It was very crowded and a lot of merchants make a living by selling their products to travelers. We didn’t know what to expect, but we did know it was going to be an adventure. And it was!

The group traveled on a passenger’s bus and Ferry. The buses go on the Ferry and for the passengers’ convenience we did not have to unload our luggage. During the bus ride, the driver makes a few stops and picks up merchants. These merchants give passengers a sample of what they are selling and then walk back selling the product. One of us purchased coconut candy. This is a great business idea because it benefits the seller and the passengers on the bus.

While on the first Ferry ride we played cards and napped for the most part. At first I was afraid I would get seasick, but later realized the boat didn’t move too fast. We enjoyed taking pictures in the upper deck and admiring the breathtaking view at sunset. The Ferry ride was a cultural experience as well. It helped us understand the people of the Philippines by experiencing things that we normally in the United States.

On the second Ferry ride, four of us stayed outside on the prow for most of the time. It was nighttime and we wanted to see the stars. It was an amazing night; as soon as we sat down (on blankets we had brought with us) we saw a shooting star. Simple things make me happy … this is one perfect example. Eric and I listened to Irish music on my MP3 while looking at the blanket of stars above us. The night was clear and the stars seemed to be reachable by just extending our arms.

Night with Father Manny

2008-01-29T11:40:00.000-08:00

This was the pet monkey they had at the Don Bosco Parish in Makati. Liz and I had never seen a pet monkey! We wanted to take this little guy home!

BORACAY Island, Philippines

2008-01-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Boracay Island, affectionately called "Bora", is rated by many as one of the best tropical island/beach in the world. It is one of the 7,100 islands that compose the Philippines. The popularity of the island is attributed to the Europeans who "discovered" the idyllic beauty of the island in the early 70's. Today, people from all over the world visit the island to enjoy it's white sand beaches and relaxed social atmosphere.

The Ati of Boracay & The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

2008-01-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

The sisters of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul support a community of Atis, a group of indigenous people of the Philippines, who are considered as the original inhabitants of Boracay survive in the island.

I distinctly remember when we were visiting Boracay Island in the early 70's when Atis roamed around freely, and we recognized their virtual ownership of the place. We were just visitors in their beautiful island. Today, these original people of the Philippines are disenfranchised and their very survival as a people is threatened to extinction.

The DeSales group interacted with the Ati community, played with the shy but adorable children and shared with them our food including rice.

ms. johanna said...
Donating food to the Ati community meant a lot to me. The sisters helping the community survive are very perseverant and are doing an amazing job in looking out for the Ati's rights. I greatly enjoyed distributing fruits to the kids: I loved seeing them smile.
Together we can do more to help the Ati Community stand for their rights, let's do this!

SCUBA Diving in Boracay

2008-01-24T10:33:00.001-08:00

University of Santo Tomas (Est. 1611)

2008-01-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

The University of Santo Tomas or UST is officially known as the "Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines". The school was decreed "Pontifical" by Pope Leo XIII in 1902, "Royal" by King Charles III of Spain in 1785, and "The Catholic University of the Philippines" by Pope Pius XII in 1947.

It is the oldest university in Asia, having been founded in 1611, but such status is disputed by the University of San Carlos, another university in the Philippines apparently established in 1595.

UST is also one of the largest Catholic university currently with around 38,000 students. Its renowned Faculty of Medicine and Surgery was established in 1871.

San Agustin Church (Est.1586), Intramuros, Manila

2008-01-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

The Slums of Manila

2008-01-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

johanna c said...
It is amazing to see the how creativity can develop from need. The people living in the slums built their homes from practically anything. It amazed me how most people would always be smiling and willing to help others. There was a lot to learn from them. I think the picture with the young boy sitting next to a pile of wooden boxes, trash, buckets, and other stuff is very interesting... it says so much.

Chapel of Santo Nino de Paz, Greenbelt, Makati

2008-01-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

"Praying and giving thanks at the Chapel of Sto. Nino de Paz at Greenbelt, Makati".

BSA Tower at Greenbelt, Makati

2008-01-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

The group stayed at the BSA Tower across Greenbelt 5 in Makati. Here are some views from the condotel and of Greenbelt 5.

Fr. Charles of Don Bosco, Philippines

2008-01-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

"Fr. Charles of Don Bosco (wearing the green shirt) was exceedingly gracious in facilitating several of the group's activities".

fr. charles said...
These guys & gals from De Sales left me a unique impression of the American youth today: they're smart; they have a heart ready to serve the needy & underprivileged; and they have a good sense of humor. Indeed, we have a reason to hope ... because you are the future!
More power to you Ashley, Danielle, Joana, Liz, Eric & Jason!

Baywalk, Manila Bay, Manila

2008-01-19T18:15:00.001-08:00

..quite a pleasant evening at the Baywalk in Manila Bay.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila

2008-01-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

...where is my luggage?? where is Fr. Joe???????...now here's Fr. Joe in the taxi :-)

DeSales University Visits the Philippines

2008-01-19T17:26:00.001-08:00

...2008 started great with a service trip of students and staff from DeSales University. The group arrived in Manila on January 2, after spending the New Year's day aboard the plane from JFK....

Arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. From left to right: Eric, Jason, Kerri, Johana, Dannielle, Liz, and Ashley...hmmm...where's Fr. Joe???