VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in 1995 that engages local and international volunteers in development, education, and solidarity initiatives. It offers various livelihood and scholarship programs to support young people and families. It also organizes medical missions, youth activities, and community projects focused on rights, sustainability and disaster relief.

1. VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc. is a duly-registered
non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization (NGO) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is licensed and accredited
by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for its
community-based programs.
Established by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) in the
Philippines in 1995, it is an organization of local and international
volunteers engaged in various development, education, and solidarity
initiatives for the young people, mothers and their families.
Its development projects include hog-raising, goat-raising, sewing
machine, and microcredit. Under the education services, it offers
scholarships, educational assistance, ALS program, Busina Mo, Dunong Ko
mobile education project, values formation, advocacy on children’s rights,
environmental sustainability, networking, and health and hygiene. Its
solidarity initiatives include relief operations, quarterly medical missions
and annual mission camps.
VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc.
3500 V. Mapa Ext., Sta. Mesa, Manila 1016
Philippines
Telefax:: (02) 715-6740
E-mail: videspinoy@gmail.com
April-December
2017 Newsletter
VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc.

2. 01 26

3. June 10-11, 2017 – VIDES Philippines
Volunteers Foundation, Inc. organized
its first Youth Encounter in Cavite
which was held at the VIDES Livelihood
and Development Center for Women
and their Families (VLDCWF) at Brgy.
Santiago in Gen. Trias.
Aside from the VIDES volunteers and
staff, past Busina Mo, Dunong Ko
(BMDK) leaders also graced the event
as speakers. Postulant Myra Sapico
shared her journey since she entered
the FMA convent 3 years ago and
Marian Belarmino who discussed with
the youth leaders her journey from
being a BMDK kid to being the
representative of VIDES to the United
Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The
two of them gave inspiration and
motivation not just to the youth
leaders but also to the volunteers and
staff present during the 2-day activity.
Until the next VIDES Philippines youth
encounter!
25 02

4. Through the Civil Society Coalition on the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC Coalition), two (2) VIDES
Youth Leaders, who are also members of the Children Talk
to Children (C2C) Network, were invited to attend a small
group dialogue with Marta Santos Pais, the Special
Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General
on Violence Against Children. Angelo Alisna and
Ma. Ericka Quilos, both from Brgy. San Roque in Quezon
City, attended the event with VIDES Social Worker and
staff, Sarah Aguilar and Ma. Riza Velasco.
The dialogue which was organized by the Child Rights
Coalition Asia (CRC Asia) was held at Manila Hotel on June
6, 2017.
VIDES Staff had there Advent Recollection in the
morning of December 18, 2017. VIDES
Chairperson, Sr. Josefina “Jojo” Carrasco, FMA
was the one who facilitated the recollection
which was held at St. Augustine Major Seminary
(SASMA). After the recollection the group went
straight the Divine Word Seminary for the
Eucharistic Celebration presided by Rev. Fr.
Elmer Flores, SVD.
After the morning recollection, Sr. Jojo
surprised the staff as she distributed her
Christmas presents to all of them. The staff had
their bonding moment which was also their
Christmas getaway, as they visited the Sky
Ranch, an amusement park, also located in
Tagaytay.
03 24

5. June 2-3, 2017 – VIDES Philippines Volunteers
Foundation, Inc. beneficiaries under the
Solidarity at a Distance Scholarship Program
have received their school supplies for this
academic year.
Scholars from Trece Martires, Cavite; Delpan,
Binondo; Recto and Sta. Mesa, Manila; South
Triangle, San Roque and NIA Road in Quezon
City are grateful for the continuous support
given by their sponsors through the school
supplies being provided to them every school
year.
Last December 16, 2017, FMA sisters, faculty, former
and current students and volunteers from Don Bosco
School (DBS) Manila visited a VIDES community at Brgy.
Hugo Perez in Trece Martires, Cavite.
The activity, which the group organizes yearly, is called
“Handog Puso”, wherein the DBS group interacts with
the community through fun games and activities. The
DBS group was welcomed by more or less 250 children
and parents from the area. Both the children and the
volunteers enjoyed every game. The community was
surprised with lots of game prizes. At the end, all
present during the event were treated to a delicious
lunch, which the visitors also brought.
23 04

6. May 24, 2017 – VIDES
Philippines’ staff and
local and international
volunteers attended
the Feast of Mary Help
of Christians held at
Don Bosco Technical
Institute (DBTI) in
Makati.
In celebration of the ASEAN at 50, VIDES
Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc.
was invited to attend the Mangrove Form
on International Relations which was held
at the Marriott Hotel in Manila last May
31, 2017. The theme for this year was
“Partnering for Change: The Role of the
People in ASEAN at 50 and Beyond”. This
forum was attended by VIDES social
workers, Amy Suzara and Sarah Aguilar.
Last December 2, 2017, a total of one
hundred and thirty-seven (137) volunteers
took their time out to be with the Aeta
community in Mabalacat, Pampanga as
VIDES conduct its early Christmas
celebration with the Ethnic group. Six (6)
doctors from the National Children’s
Hospital (NCH) were also present to provide
free medical consultations among the adults
and youth of the Aeta community.
Free medicines and vitamins were also
provided. Some of the volunteers gave free
haircuts to both children and adult. A short
learning session on Civil Rights and Vital
Statistics (CRVS) was also conducted by the
volunteers to the adult participants.
While the medical consultations were happening,
volunteers took charge in taking care of the
children and youth participants through their fun
games and prizes which they prepared for the
young ones. Finally, at the end of the celebration,
gifts of food, toys and clothes were distributed to
all who were present.
Thank you dear volunteers for sharing your time
and resources to the children and their families.
They surely felt Jesus’ love through your presence.
Maligayang Pasko!
05 22

7. Thank you Carrine Cuinet of VIDES France, Michelle
Donnely of VIDES Canada, Ilaria Canonigo of VIDES
Italy, Angela Mahoney of VIDES USA and Judith
Franken, Sara Lione and Veronika Lex of VIDES
Germany for serving the communities of VIDES
Philippines. Your presence is a gift and we are
grateful for that. May God continue to bless all of you
for your generosity! Until we meet again!
Last November 24 to 26, 2017, the Children
Talk to Children (C2C) Project Team
conducted its year-end meeting at the
Emiramona Garden Hotel in Tagaytay City.
The activity also coincides with the
celebration of the National Children’s
Month.
Youth leaders, Ma. Ericka Quilos and
Angelo Alisna of San Roque, Quezon City
represented the VIDES youth group. They
were accompanied by their adult
companion, Amy Suzara, VIDES Philippines’
registered social worker.
21 06

8. April 22-23, 2017 – Sixty (60) VIDES volunteers travelled from Don Bosco School in Sta. Mesa to Tahik, Brgy. Baruyan,
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro early in the morning of April 22, 2017 to take part of this year’s Mangrove Planting
activity. The mangrove sanctuary where the volunteers had fun planting one thousand (1,000) pieces of mangrove
seedlings is called the Baruyan Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project.
Father Andy Peter Lubi generously presided the Eucharistic celebration for all the volunteers on the 2nd
day, April 23.
Day 2 was also a day for the volunteers to get to know each other through the fun activities and games, which were also
prepared by some of the volunteers.
security guards of Don Bosco School (DBS) in Manila, technically everyone who works with DBS, inside and outside of
the school ground.
The CPP workshops happened on September 20 & 22 and October 2, 2017, held at the school’s Audio Visual Room
(AVR).
07 20

9. Having a Child Protection
Policy or CPP is a must in all
public and private schools in
the Philippines. As
practiced, VIDES Philippines,
through its social workers
and staff, regularly
facilitates the CPP
workshops of all the
students, teachers, FMA
sisters, faculty & staff,
transport, support staff and
19 08

10. Amy Suzara and Ronnel
Salvador, registered social
workers of VIDES Philippines
Volunteers Foundation, Inc.
attended the Seminar on
Gender Sensitivity and
Workshop on Referral
System on Anti-Violence
Against Women (AVAWC)
last November 8-9, 2017 at
Max’s Restaurant in Quezon
City Circle.
The seminar/workshop was
organized and facilitated by
SALIGAN or Sentro ng
Alternatibong Lingap
Panligal, a group of lawyers
who seeks to effect societal
change by working with
women, the basic sectors
and local communities for
their empowerment through
the creative use of the law
and legal resources.
The activity was attended by
more than 20 participants
from the Local Government
Units (barangay officials and
VAWC desk officers) and
NGOs of Malabon, Navotas,
Tondo, Rizal, North and
South Caloocan and Cavite.
09 18

11. After they were relocated at
Trece Martires, Cavite in
2014, VIDES Philippines
reached out to the parents
and children of its previous
community in Pasay. This
time, VIDES does not only
assist them in terms of their
children’s education, but they
are also being provided with
projects and programs on
sustainability, including
livelihood trainings, which
can help add to the income of
the families and empower
women in their community.
On the occasion of World Mission Sunday, VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc. conducted a medical mission
to three hundred (300) patients from Delpan in Binondo last October 22, 2017. Twenty (20) VIDES volunteers and two
Pediatrician from the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) generously shared their time to be of service to the
community, most especially the children.
Aside from the free medical consultation, VIDES also provided the patients with free vitamins and medicines. Some of
the volunteers also gave free hair cutting services to the children.
17 10

12. A Call to Share (ACTS) Singapore or simply ACTS Singapore visited VIDES
Philippines’ community in Cavite last November 27-29, 2017. The 3-day
visit was filled with activities such as fun games and formative work-
shops. Four hundred forty (440) grade five (5) students of Hugo Perez
Elementary School (HPES) participated in the activities.
On their last day, ACTS volunteers organized a “fair” where in the
children learned how to make cotton candies among others and enjoyed
having their pictures taken with Santa Claus. ACTS also delighted the
children by inviting Jollibee at the fair. Gifts were distributed as they
ended their visit, not just to the students and teachers of HPES but also
to two hundred (200) active mothers of VIDES.
Thank you ACTS Singapore! Hanggang sa muli!
VIDES Philippines’ social workers, Amy
Suzara and Ronnel Salvador had their
initial consultation with the members of
the LGU at Brgy. Tanque in UN Avenue,
Manila last October 7, 2017 as possible
new community of VIDES for “Busina
Mo, Dunong Ko” (BMDK) mobile
education project. After the dialogue,
both VIDES and the LGU agreed to have
the community assessment and
interview a week after.
October 14, 2017, VIDES social workers and staff went back to the community to do the assessment and interview with the
members of the LGU and parents. The VIDES staff were able to gather around fifty (50) parents who are living in the
community.
11 16

13. The first batch of the Livelihood
beneficiaries from Trece Martires in
Cavite had their training from September
4 to 23, 2017. A total of twenty-two (22)
trainees/participants successfully finished
the required 40 hours of livelihood
training and seminar.
VIDES Philippines’ year will never be complete
without celebrating the month of the children. To
commemorate the National Children’s Month of
2017, VIDES Philippines had the whole day of
November 4, 2017 as its kick-off activity full of fun
animations and games for the children and
children-at-heart held at Hugo Perez in Trece
Martires, Cavite. Busina Mo, Dunong Ko (BMDK)
participants, both children and mothers were
full-force to celebrate the month of the child with
the rest of the VIDES volunteers on that day.
Sr. Maria Josefina “Jojo “Carrasco, FMA,
Chairperson of VIDES Philippines, was also present
to celebrate with the kids. Members of the
micro-credit livelihood program, mostly mothers,
assisted the staff and volunteers. VIDES youth
leaders were the ones who organized the
animations and games. It’s always heart-warming
and joyful to celebrate the life of every child.
Happy Children’s Month to all the children around
the world!
15 12

14. August 20, 2017, Sunday – VIDES Philippines Volunteers
Foundation, Inc. held its 2017 Mission Camp at the Mary
Help of Christians School (MHCS) in Tunghaan, Minglanilla,
Cebu. More than 60 volunteers have served a total of five
hundred (500) children and mothers from the oratory of the
FMA sisters in MHCS.
Aside from the free medical consultations provided by the
VIDES’ volunteer-doctors, the foundation also gave free
medicines and vitamins and free haircutting.
Volunteer-lawyers from VIDES’ partner organization,
SALIGAN, also conducted legal lit on Positive Discipline to
one hundred (100) mother-participants.
The children enjoyed the games and workshops facilitated
by the volunteers, while twenty (20) blessed recipient-
families were awarded piglets and goats as part of VIDES’
livelihood program.
Thank you dear volunteers! See you again in Palawan for
the 2018 Mission Camp!
13 14