The photographs on this site are generously taken by various photographers interested in supporting the mission and vision of WE International Philippines Inc. Contributing photographers: Marlon Hacia, Francis Gaerlan, Inna Ella
USC Troy Phi’s 4th annual Mabuhay Festival aids WE international Philippines
Posted By abee on 12.01.2010 • (0) 
Saturday, Nov. 13th, USC TROY PHILIPPINES held its 4th annual Mabuhay Festival at the USC McCarthy Quad. This year the benefit concert raised money for WE International Philippines.
Tagged As: Mabuhay Festival, Smokey Mountain, USC, USC Troy, WE International Philippines, WE Philippines
Posted In: Fundraiser, News
WE meets with CNN Hero Efren Penaflorida for LOVE2LEARN Project
Posted By abee on 07.30.2010 • (0)
On Monday, July 5, 2010 the WE Team, with members of our partner organization Young Focus, went to Cavite to meet with 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida. Efren works with Dynamic Teen Company – known most for their “KARITON CLASSROOM” concept. Efren and his mentor, KB Manalaysay of Club8586,joined the team and a discussion regarding a possible collaboration for WE-YF’s LOVE2LEARN Project.
It was an honor for the team to meet with Efren and KB, as the HSBC-funded LOVE2LEARN grant that Young Focus and WE recently received was inspired by the Kariton Classroom concept and the work of these humble heroes. Together we discussed our plans for our current High School and College Sponsored Students, in cooperation with WE and YF volunteers, to be trained and then participate in teaching basic functional literacy to 3-12 years old children in the Smokey Mt Dumpsite Area who do not have access to learn Functional and Basic Learning Skills. Efren and KB were happy to share the curriculum and model they have developed and honed over the years, which is already being used and replicated in many other places, including Africa.
It was a truly inspiring, informative meeting and it was inspirational to hear how Club8586 and Dynamic Teen Company started and to hear of their trials and triumphs. In the end WE were extremely humbled and grateful for their willingness to help us with the LOVE2LEARN Project. In sharing the Kariton Classroom curriculum they painstakingly developed after many years of trial and error, their hard work and willingness to share will now lead to positive change in the Smokey Mountain community as we launch the LOVE2LEARN Project!
Tagged As: CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Penaflorida, Geni Psinakis, Love2Learn, Manuel Manarang, Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Trina Santos, WE, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
WE Care Continues!
Posted By abee on 07.05.2010 • (0)
WE Care is the medical program launched in February of this year with the vision of providing and helping ensure long-term health care support for all our sponsored students as well as the infants and toddlers in the child care center and out-patient feeding program. Part of the WE Care program is a weekly clinic held every Saturday, with a doctor and nurse team. The doctor leading WE Care is pediatrician Dr. Tonyboy Faraon. Also involved are pediatric pulmonologist, Dr. Bong Rivera and Department of Health (DOH) Board Member and Chairman of the Board of Chiropractic, Dr. Martin Camara.
In the middle of May, one of WE’s graduating high school students complained of pains in his body during consultation in the WE Care clinic and after further examination and tests, was recommended for surgery. The successful surgery was made possible by Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, Surgery Department Chairman, Dr. Federico Sanchez and surgeon, Dr. Rafael Fernandez, who donated their full services to our sponsored student. Additionally, WE Care has also incorporated workshops tailored for our students, parents, and childcare staff. The workshops aim to provide additional on-going heath education and preventive health practices.
Tagged As: Medical, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, WE Care, WE International, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
German European School Visits Smokey Mountain
Posted By abee on 05.05.2010 • (0)
In October 2009, Dominic Eberle, an 8th Grade student from the GERMAN EUROPEAN SCHOOL, visited and witnessed the conditions the children in Smokey Mountain live in. He continued to accompany his father Chris, one of the main proponents of WE CARE, on several more trips to the area and the Child Care Center in the Tondo dumpsit; and rallied his classmates to come up with a plan to help the child care.
On April 28, 2010, Dominic brought his classmates led by Ms. Sybille Brendle to visit the Smokey Mountain dumpsite to share his experience with them and to give them a better appreciation of the community they will be helping; they had a full morning, touring the community and helping feed and play with the babies in the child care center.
The next week, the Grade 8 class eagerly fulfilled the Social Project they had come up with to raise funds to buy and donate supplies for the child care center: they made and sold fruit shakes in school raised P12,000.00 (including donations collected from teachers and friends) and were able to donate diapers, baby formula (milk) and rice for the Smokey Mountain child care center.
At present Dominic’s Grade 8 class is scheduling another visit to Smokey Mountain – this time to interact with the WE High School Sponsored Students!
Tagged As: German European School, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, WE Care, WE International, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
Summer Training for WE College Sponsored Students by ExcelAsia
Posted By abee on 05.04.2010 • (0)
ExcelAsia kindly provided our student sponsorship program college students the opportunity to participate in its 10-day extensive training geared towards helping job-seekers gain the confidence and skills needed to find employment. Training was conducted by Jamie Wilson, a well-known and well-respected person in the Philippine music and theatre industries. The training was initially geared towards helping jobseekers gain employment but is also designed the training to be as “life-skills-oriented” as it was employment-centered: his approach was to inspire each participant to be a support resource for their fellow trainees.
The training included modules on how to handle job-interviews -- preparing the job-seeker with exercises on how to answer commonly-asked questions during interviews, and simulating different kinds of interviews; including those that involve 'difficult' interviewers: and how to best handle them; how best to answer difficult questions. Also included were debates and critical-thinking exercises as well as modules on how to effectively communicate.
Joi, the Coordinator for College Student Sponsorship, noticed that “when we first entered the training room, the students were apprehensive and nervous, especially after the first activity where they had to introduce themselves is English. They were shy and nervous. Two of the students actually cried because they were so nervous and scared, but after the first activity they were okay. It really helped that Kuya Jaime shared with them, and encouraged the students. At the end of the training, the change in the girls who had cried on their first day was unbelievably positive – they were so much more confident, and they had even developed the confidence to argue in English!”
WE would like to deeply thank Rita Ugarte, Luz Gonzales, Jamie Wilson and the whole ExcelAsia Team; as well as Chukri Prieto of RACKS, Maria Aguila, Annie Lim, Gisela Tiongson-Velasco of Jollibee Foundation, Diana Tan of Deli France, and Martin Garcia for sponsoring the meals for the students throughout the training. This event has had a tremendously positive impact on our students!
Tagged As: ExcelAsia, Nonprofit, Philippines, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, Sponsored Students, WE International, WE International Philippines, Youth
Posted In: News
WE Builds Smokey Mountain Basketball Court
Posted By abee on 04.23.2010 • (0)
WE International Philippines, in collaboration with Young Focus, Scotty Mackinnon, Dominic Uy and Mighty Sports, built the Nathan Dasilva Basketball Court that was inaugurated on Saturday, 13 February 2010.
It was an emotional inauguration as the basketball court was constructed in memory of Mr. Mackinnon’s best friend – an avid basketball player who passed away in his senior year of high school. Mr. Alex Compton of WE International Philippines hosted the event that turned lively as soon as sponsored students and finalists of last year’s Amazing Dance challenge performed for the community and all of the friends and partners of WE that were in attendance.
Immediately following the unveiling of the basketball hoops that officially marked the Nathan Dasilva basketball court open for the Smokey Mountain community, a shoot-out activity led by Philippine Basketball Association veteran player Will Antonio from Coca Cola in the PBA, and a Dunk exhibition was put on by PBA Import Jason Forte - a real treat for the Smokey Mountain Community!
The Dasilva family, who live in Canada, helped tremendously in making the construction of the court possible through the generous financial contribution they made to WE. The Smokey Mountain Athletic Commission (SMAC) was also instrumental in helping the project come to fruition, and they will play an instrumental role in the maintenance of the court and the organization of upcoming basketball tournaments. The basketball hoops were generously donated by the Uy family and Mighty Sports.
In the works are upcoming basketball clinics for both our sponsored students and the community as a whole. Thanks again to everyone who helped make this day possible!
Tagged As: Basketball, Nathan Dasilva, Philippines, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, WE International Philippines, WE Philippines, Young Focus
Posted In: News
WE International Philippines Launches WE Care – A Medical Care Program
Posted By abee on 03.10.2010 • (0)
On 21 February 2010, WE International Philippines, in collaboration with Young Focus, Mr. Chris Eberle, Dr. Martin Camara of Intercare and medical doctors from Makati Medical Center (MMC) led by pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Bong Rivera, launched the medical care program, “WE CARE”.
A total of fifteen doctors, including pediatricians, dermatologists, a chiropractic team, and nurses from MMC and St. Luke’s Hospital set up consultation booths in the Gawad Kalinga center in Tondo, Manila to conduct needs assessment, medical-history documentation and thorough medical check-up/assessment to over 200 of WE and Young Focus’ Sponsored Students in the Elementary, High School and University levels, as well as the Out-Of-School Youth group and some 65 in- and out- patients from the Child Center feeding program located on the Smokey Mountain dumpsite.
Private donors from abroad, through Chris Eberle funded and sourced for all medicines and clinical supplies from multi-vitamins and antibacterial medication to various specialized pediatric and adult medicines; which were dispensed immediately, based on the doctors’ prescriptions.
Intercare’s crucial involvement in WE CARE also enabled the identification of early signs of possible physical problems in most of the very young students. WE will now be able to monitor them and hopefully be able to help prevent commonly occurring problems through educational seminars and preventive care from Inetrcare’s chiropractic team.
By April, as a follow through of the initial medical assessment, WE CARE aims to setup a simple medical clinic inside the student center that will be manned by a doctor/nurse team at least one day per week thus ensuring a long-term healthcare support of the Young Focus students and babies and toddlers from the Child Center feeding program.
WE is deeply grateful to all who participated in this very important initiative, and helped make the opening of WE CARE an overwhelming success!
This is only the beginning what will be an ongoing program. WE plan to maintain regular WE CARE Medical Missions throughout the year, and deeply appreciate the willingness of so many to give of their time and donations – in cash, and in kind (medicines and medical supplies). Please let us know if you would like to support upcoming WE CARE events.
Tagged As: Medical Assistance, Medical Mission, Poverty, Smokey Mountain, Tondo, WE Care, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
Smokey Mountain Scholars Fly to Boracay
Posted By abee on 02.25.2010 • (0)
WE saw this experience as an opportunity for the students to experience activities that they have never before dreamed would be possible. As they took time out to reflect on their thoughts and feelings about their experiences on this trip, the students expressed joy and gratitude for this opportunity, and awe at the beauty of nature and the goodness of God. WE expresses many thanks to our kind friends and partners that helped to make this team-building adventure a reality. This trip helped build the students self esteem, and allowed them to realize that with consistent hard work, great things can indeed happen. They have since returned to the Smokey Mountain community and have served to encourage their other fellow students to continue to work hard as well. Our students are beginning to have the hope to dream.
It was the first time for the students to fly in a plane, and their initial anxiety about flying was quickly replaced by excitement. On arrival in Boracay, the students were treated to new swimwear, beach games, a sunset sail on a paraw, paddle-surfing lessons and meals sponsored by supportive local business owners. On White Beach, the students met with Karen Cabrera and some members of Boracay’s Frisbee team, the Boracay Dragons, who volunteered to host a frisbee clinic for the students. Fire Dancers also entertained the students at dusk and they were in awe of the wealth of activities available to them on the island, including live music. Fireworks topped off the night which represented an unexpected exclamation to our weekend filled with ‘firsts’!
This trip helped build the students self esteem, and allowed them to realize that with consistent hard work, great things can indeed happen. They have since returned to the Smokey Mountain community and have served to encourage their other fellow students to continue to work hard as well. Our students self-confidence is growing right before our very eyes and it is a pleasure to see them dare to dream.
Tagged As: Boracay, Nami, Nothing But Water, Poverty, SEAAIR, Smokey Mountain, TOMS, WE International, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
WE International Philippines & CROCS Philippines takes students to Manila Ocean Park
Posted By abee on 12.13.2009 • (0)
On Saturday, December 12, 2009, CROCS Philippines’ Franco and Kitty Limjuco, along with their adorable daughters treated twenty Elementary sponsored students, including Abegail Ofiaza, a 4th grade student their family is sponsoring through school, to an unforgettable trip under the sea at Manila Ocean Park. Complete with the special and extensive display of various jellyfish from around the world, and a magical Mermaids show!
It was an incredibly fun and educational day for the students from Smokey Mountain, topped off by an early-Christmas party-like merienda of spaghetti showered with gifts: backpacks, school supplies and new CROCS shoes for all the children and a big bucket of Noche Buena groceries for their families!
The student coordinators were almost in crisis figuring out how to help carry all the gifts as the children could not carry them all! It was such a memorable day for our kids who were overwhelmingly happy.
Thank you so much again to CROCS Philippines for bringing so much joy to the children of Smokey Mountain!
Tagged As: crocs, Manila Ocean Park, Smokey Mountain, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
WE International Philippines Relief Operations
Posted By abee on 10.15.2009 • (0)
Two major typhoons hit the Philippines within the last three (3) weeks. The first one, Ketsana (Ondoy), dumped three (3) times more rain in Metro Manila than Hurricane Katrina in just six (6) hours causing devastating and fatal floods. And Parma (Pepeng), occurring just days after Ketsana, caused deadly landslides in the northern part of the country swallowing up to 80% of Pangasinan, the 3rd largest rice-producing province in the country, rendering major thoroughfares impassable and leaving areas like Baguio and Benguet – where Igorot tribes still reside in mountains – completely cut-off without power, fuel and unable to receive relief goods, medicines and assistance.
In response to the sudden and great need that resulted from the damage and destruction caused by Ketsana and Parma, members of our team coordinated with and participated in relief operations throughout the metropolis. Thanks to the generosity of our friends from all over the world, we were able to buy much needed water and food to donate. The team also organized a unique and environmentally conscious relief operation wherein relief goods were packed in reusable blankets, pillow-cases, towels and bed sheets. The relief bags were distributed to Marikina, Paranaque, Pasig, San Juan, and, with the help of LBC in Rizal – even as some of these areas remained flooded.
Despite the damage, grief and sorrow typhoons Ketsana and Parma caused, they also brought out such awe-inspiring selflessness and generosity in everyone – friends, family and strangers from within the Philippines and abroad. Amongst the most inspiring, WE International Philippines’ sponsored students and out-of-school youth from Smokey Mountain voiced out their desire to help and joined the WE team in packing and distributing relief bags to the victims of the typhoons as well.
* On Friday, 16 October, South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), will be doing a missionary flight with the WE International Philippines Team at 6am to Baguio to bring medicines and relief goods: flashlights/batteries, candles/matches, soap, blankets, clothes/underwear, rice, cooking/eating utensils, water purification tablets. WE will be hiking up to parts of Baguio and Benguet to bring relief and first aid to the people who have been and remain unreachable.
Tagged As: Baguio, Ketsana, Manila, Ondoy, Parma, Pepeng, Relief, Smokey Mountain, WE International, WE International Philippines
Posted In: News
