“Kampo Para sa mga Iso” (Iso is a kamayo term of children), having the vision of helping and assisting special children socialize with he community and to become independent. It aims to open the eyes of the participating volunteers for heartwarming service and to make them understand the different situations and the feelings of the special children.

It has been the Loving Presence Foundation’s tradition in coordination wtih the different government offices and the Bislig Committee for the Welfare of Special Persons to organize a summer camp for special children.

For this year and for the 6th time around this Summer Camp was once again conducted. Having the theme: “Summer Kamp ParaISO ang tinuod nga paraISO para sa mga batang adunay kapansanan (Summer Camp the true paradise for special children). By this time, 50 children with special needs able to make their summer vacation a paradise. Lots of activities were done (art making, theatre plays, talent’s night, parlor games and a lot more) which had been a huge help for the kids in developing and enhancing their talents, self-esteem and somehow taught them of how to be independent.

It was such a tiresome, week-longed activity for us organizers but looking the faces of special children having their big smiles somehow eases the exhaustion. They might not be able to tell, for they don’t know how to say it, but we knew these special children had been very thankful and grateful to us.

The activity will never be this successful without the help of our partner organizations and our special thanks to the Stitching Liliane Fond through Liliane Foundation Philippines.

winners

Winners of disabled friendly websites with Ms. Gigi Ruiz of NCDA and Jojo Esposa of PWAG

The officials and evaluating team of the Philippine Web Accessibility Group together with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), awarded the Official Website of Liliane Foundation Philippines given last July 10, 2009 Friday at the Asian Institute of Management in Paseo De Roxas Avenue, Makati City. Sis. Agnetia Naval, LFP National Coordinator received the plaque of recognition.

The LFP website was designed by Kerwin Tamanu, a deaf alumnus of MCCID College of Technology. The short awarding program is part of the Web Design Conference initiated by the newly-formed Philippine Web Design Organization with which PWAG is one of its partners. The plaques of recognition were donated by the National Council on Disability Affairs.

Aside from the LFP site, other websites that received the awards were:

• www.philcecnet.ph – Official E-center Community Portal of the National Computer Center represented by Ms. Cuchie Echeverria
• www.blinding-light.com – Personal Website of Ms.Miko Reznor (Anna Monica Esguerra)
• webstandards.raquedan.com - Standard Web Standards Website of Regnard Kreisler Raquedan

NCDA is the government agency tasked to lead and monitor programs and policies related to Persons with Disabilities in the Philippines. Recognizing websites that are “Disabled Friendly” has been part of the government’s initiative in encouraging other government agencies as well as private individuals and groups in designing their websites which are accessible to all including those with physical disabilities. NCDA’s Executive Director Geraldine Ruiz presented the plaques.

They called for an ambulance and he was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately a new group of Neurosurgeons had just set up an office in Tagbilaran City, headed by Dr. Isagoni Delos Santos, a protégé of Rotarian Doctor Wyben Briones, a Neurosurgeon from Cebu. A CT scan was ordered, revealing a life threatening blood clot that was killing the young man.

The patient, John Rey Dordas , age 17 is the oldest child of Armando and Alona Dordas, who live on a small share cropper farm, with his siblings Carlo age 16, Joyce13, Jane 8 Armando Jr.7 and Joseph 6. Armando in a effort to earn enough money to feed his family, found a job in Manila as a night guard. John Ray was left in charge of the farm.

On October 6th, Doctor Delos Santos had to remove a portion of John Rays’ skull to operate on the massive blood clot. Upon closing, Dr. Delos Santos discovered that the aquaducts that drain the brain had become plugged and now Hydrocephalus threatened John Rey’s life. He remained comatose.

The family already exhausted their meager savings on the first operation and now were desperately looking for help to save the life of their oldest son. Providentially, on October 4th, a meeting of District 3860 Presidents was held at Casino Espanol hosted by Rotary Club of Cebu North. During the meeting, Rotary Club of Paranaque (RCP) President Jose “Lito” Ramos announced the launching of Free Cranial Shunts for Hydrocephalus patients in the southern part of the Philippines. The meeting was attended by the RC Paranaque delegates PDG Gov. Herman T. Gamboa, PP Fidel Yuboco, PE Dan San Pedro, and Director Mark Mamauag.

The meeting was also attended by the Village Aide Program, Build Team lead by PDG Bill Little, of Sydney and the Village Aide Program, Medical Mission Team lead by Australian Chairman Derek Pyrah and Philippine Chairman David Collins. In the meeting, President Lito Ramos explained that under the project (to be launched jointly with RC Cebu North) RCP and its partner in service LILIANE FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES will provide the costly and hi-tech medical appliance called Peritoneal Shunts that allows the brain fluid to drain from the brain and into the abdominal area. Participating clubs are expected to look for indigent patients, administer the program, and contribute medical services or minimal amounts to help defray the cost of the operation.

Mr. and Mrs. Dordas’, son was still comatose when the hydrocephalus was discovered, and unless a second operation to attach the Peritoneal Shunt was performed, he would die. A friend, suggested that they contact the Village Aide Program (VAP) located in Tagbilaran City. VAP is a Rotary Australia World Community Service program (RAWCS) which has sponsored programs in D3860 for the past 8 years, that benefit the poor.

Thanks to Rotary Club of Paranaque and LILIANE FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES, Rotary Club of Cebu North and the Village Aide Program, a free shunt and P50,000 was provided to the Dordas family to defray the cost of the shunt operation. Neurosurgeon Dr. Isagani Delos Santos volunteered his services, free of charge, to install the shunt. The surgery was performed in Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Twenty four hours after the operation John Ray came out of his coma, and has continued to make steady progress. He can now carry on a conversation and eat soft food. He is scheduled to go home on November 12th.

Rotary Clubs from District 3860, who wish to participate in this program should contact members of RC Cebu North.

To be the answer to a family’s prayer is the ultimate privilege.

Thank you Rotary Club of Paranaque and LILIANE FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES for your nationwide initiative.

Thank you Doctor Isagani Delos Santos and the surgical team of Gallares for saving the Life of John Rey.

Thank you Australian Rotarians who financed the operation.

Thank you all who made this shunt program possible.

This is Rotary’s and Liliane Foundation Philippines’ Finest Hour.

NOTE: As of July 1, 2009, John Rey Dordas is already doing light chores on their farm. He is expected to tend their farm again before the end of 2009.

Jessie Gervacio

Jessie Gervacio is one of the beneficiaries of Liliane Foundation through ATRIEV

 In 2007, atriev, the only school for the blind in the Philippines that specializes in information and communications technology,  qualified as one of Liliane’s growing partners.   

To Date, there are over 80 ATRIEV students who are direct beneficiaries from Liliane Foundation’s support. Aside from assistance for the students’ tuition fee, transportation and meal subsidy and assistive devices, Liliane Foundation’s support expanded up to students’ monthly dormitory fee, school miscellaneous fee, medical assistance, and their reader/guide honorarium.

 Just this previously concluded school year 2008-2009, one of ATRIEV’s scholars and also a Liliane Foundation direct beneficiary, Jessie Gervacio, recently graduated from an Internet Technology course in AMA Computer Learning Center in Paco, one of the leading computer schools in the Philippines. Jessie was one of ATRIEV’s outstanding students who completed ATRIEV’s Access Technology in Popular Applications for Low Vision course in 2007. He then went on to qualify for a scholarship in AMA Computer Learning Center thus becoming a pioneering integrated visually impaired student in the said school.  His tuition fee was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Paco while his transportation cost and other miscellaneous expenses were sponsored by Liliane Foundation Philippines.  Jessie has also served as a volunteer trainor of ATRIEV’s summer class for visually impaired children as part of sharing the benefits he earned with his fellow blind students. Jessie is set to participate in a three-day personality awareness and leadership seminar sponsored by PowerSpeak, a leading personality development institution, to prepare him for the challenges of employment.

Truly the partnership between ATRIEV, Liliane Foundation Philippines and other sympathetic institutions have turned the small hopes of visually impaired people to big dreams.

In 2008 (December 2007- November 2008) Liliane Foundation Philippines (LFP) generously contributed Pesos 250,000 for direct financial assistance towards the various needs of children we encounter in our clinics as well as those referred to us by our contacts in the municipalities. 

In our report of November 2008 (spanning 12 months), 57 children were assisted (24 old and 33 new). Epilepsy remains to be a big problem for parents of children with this condition, and will continue to be so as this condition is most often a lifetime one.  Although LFP cannot attempt to comprehensively solve this problem, i.e. provide for the needs of all those afflicted, we have continued to help those whose parents and local governments have contributed towards a proportion of the costs of anti-epileptic medications.  Twenty eight (20 old and 8 new) of the total number of children helped in this report have Epilepsy.  They have all been assessed properly by a pediatrician or a neurologist and given appropriate prescriptions.  Recently, BAHATALA has made an agreement with a national drugstore chain (Mercury) to ensure supply of drugs.  It is significant to point out that in rural areas these drugs are often not available.  Hence not only are we able to pay for the crucial drugs (the absence or withdrawal of which can have grave consequences), but we are also ensuring procurement (something that is usually taken for granted in the urban areas).  

The second largest group of children (13 new) in this report were those with various eye problems, some threatening permanent loss of vision if left untreated.  Most of these 14 children had corneal lacerations from all sorts of trauma to the eyes. Emergency operations by a qualified ophthalmologist were needed in most cases.   It must be pointed out that these children often came from far-flung areas and traveling to the capital (Puerto Princesa) was a huge undertaking in itself. Apart from eye trauma, there were also cases of congenital eye anomalies: juvenile cataract, cross-eyed, eye mole and other anomalies, all needing surgery.  

Another significant group of children were those born with other congenital anomalies, one with Hydrocephalus who needed to go to Manila, and 7 children born with Clubfeet who did not need to go to Manila because the services are right here in BAHATALA.  Clubfeet treatment is a long-term process, not needing surgery if seen at a very early age (our youngest was one day old).  BAHATALA has a resident orthopedic surgeon who has trained in the Ponsetti method of correcting clubfeet.  

Liliane Foundation does not help these students directly, but through projects that they help guide with appropriate funding and best practices.  In Bohol, one of these projects is managed by the International Deaf Education Association (IDEA), a residential school program for 360 deaf students ages 6 through 25, kindergarten through High School.  Liliane Foundation sponsors over 20 of these children—support which their parents and the government are unable to provide.  This sponsorship provides necessities such as food, dormitory care, books, transportation, and basic medical and dental care.  And of course—education.   Education for these children, not only means a way to access a wider world, but also a way to interact and become part of it too.   Without Liliane Foundation, these children would spend their life in mental isolation.

IDEA is grateful to Lilliane Foundation for the many years of cooperation and guidance they have shared with us and the deaf students of Bohol.  Without this partnership, many bright, capable children would have no access to their full potential.

LFP during the meeting with VCF and Rabobank

Sr. Agnetia and Leo of LFP meets Butch of VCF and Iris of Rabobank Netherlands for Persons with Disabilities Enterprise (PWDE) projects in the Philippines

Liliane Foundation Philippines (LFP) represented by the National Coordinator Sr. Agnetia Naval, SFIC and Job Developer Leo Bartolome, Visayas Cooperative Central Fund Federation (VCF) Manager Ma. Betta Socorro Salera, and the Rabobank Foundation – Programme Manager for Asia Iris Van der Velden meet-up last May 6, 2009 to discuss updates, issues and concerns about the Persons with Disabilities in Entrepreneurship (PWDE) program.

The said meeting was also an opportunity to talk about how to improve the project implementations, how it could cover and benefit more people and also devise tools, criteria and indicators that would measure the impact and success of the project to its intended beneficiaries.

The PWDE Program is a project that was designed to provide economic opportunities to PWDs and or their families through an equal access to micro-finance system. This sector will be given series of enterprise trainings and access to loan in order to operate and manage viable micro-enterprises.
 

Greetings of Peace and all good! Kumusta sa inyong lahat.

We would like to invite you or your permanent co -worker working with children with disabilities who are supported by Liliane Foundation to attend NCR meeting on June 2, 2009,  1:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon at  Liliane Foundation Office.

The following are the provisional agenda:

• Updates on Liliane’s development
• Updates / review of policy and procedure on reporting
• Liliane’s contribution to the UNCRDP and EO 437
• Other Matters

Kindly, confirm your attendance thru phone 726 5650, via SMS 09151153726 or through comment in this site.

Please come on time. Looking forward for your positive response.

The following Partners Organization are invited:

• St. Augustine School for the Deaf (SASD)
• St. Francis School – VSA Arts Philippines Inc (SFS-VSAP)
• Trichet Learning Center (Daughters of Wisdom)
• Birthright School
• Bahay Kalinga Child Development and Learning Center (BKCDC)
• Joseph Gualandi School for Hearing Impaired (Sisters of Little Mission for the Deaf)
•  Brothers of Charity
• Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired(ATRIEV)
• Resources for the Blind (RBI)
• Abiertas Radiance School
• Catholic Ministry for the Deaf People (CMDP)

Over 104 children and youth with disabilities around CARAGA Region availed of the programs and services of the foundation through grant from LFP. Justifications and progress reports were submitted to the LFP National Office twice a year. There were 15 orthopedically impaired children who received their customized wheelchairs with LFP counterpart. Another 23 cleft lip/palate and children with burned contracture availed the reconstructive and corrective surgery. 27 special children were referred and checked by the partner Physiatrist Dr. RJ Villanueva for further diagnosis. 6 youth with disability were supported with their tertiary educations, 1 already graduated last march 2008 while 17 special children were assisted with their daily fare expenses going to and from the school.

Summer Camp participants

Palo Ambassador choir and orchestra prepares for parade.

The summer camp were attended by a total of 150 participants composed of 70 CWDs, 20 non disabled children, 25 camp counsellors, 4 NCO staff, 4 Mediators, 4 co-workers and 27 guests from LGUs.

The activity was lasted for three days and two nights. The CWDs campers came from 4 POs of Liliane Foundation that includes Pahinog Costa in Palapag Northern Samar, St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog Samar, Current Foundation in Calbiga Samar and Hingyap CBR in Palo Leyte.

It was such an extra ordinary feeling for those children who attended the camp for the first time especially those from Pahinog Costa in Palapag and Current Foundation in Calbiga.

It was also a very memorable experience for the nursing student of UP-Manila School of Health Sciences in Palo, Leyte to accept the responsibility as camp counsellors for those children who acted as Ate’s and Kuya’s for three days. It was their first time to handle and be with children with disabilities.

The camp was opened thru a Eucharistic celebration officiated by our Mediator Fr. James Roa, MI of  Order of St. Camillus, followed by the blessings of the camping sites and tents.

Sister Agnetia rendered her welcome address by congratulating all the member of the committee and Mediators for their effort to give time to bring the children in Palo, Leyte. She also commented on continues support and commitment of the Mediators and co-workers to monitor the development of these children.

The three days camp was full of various experiential activities that inspired the campers to show their abilities in dancing, singing, drawing, arts and crafts, sports and parlor games.

The campers and camp counsellors were divided into 8 groups with their respective group names and yell in relation with the theme” you are right, we have rights”

From early morning at 6:00am the campers was oblige to wake up to start the day with a bang up to 9:00 o’clock in the evening it will end up with so much fun and laughter. There was no vacant time, every minute has full of activities.

The activities conducted were as follows:

• Poster making
  

  Campers and Camp Counsellors ready to go!!!

  Campers and Camp Counsellors with their respective group lined up in preparation for the parade

   

   

   

• Arts and crafts
  

  Arts and craft picture frames

  Picture frames were made by children with disabilities using cartons and shells

   

   

   

• Disco
  

  Disco time

  Disco is part of socialization of Campers and Camp Counsellors on their first day

   

   

   

• Parade at the vicinity  

• Cultural nights held at the town plaza
  

  Cultural night in Palo Plaza

  Picture taking after bon fire and cultural shows of each group

   

   

   

• Bon fire
  

  Bonfire in plaza with campers and camp counsellors

  Camp participants and facilitators goes around the Bonfire in Plaza before the performances start.

   

   

• Sports (track and field, standing long jump)
• Parlor games

 To make the campers more attentive and participative there are prices in every tasked they finished as a reward for their group effort. The groups should have a team effort and unity so that they will win.

During the cultural nights each group presented their best concept on how to advocates for the rights of CWDs. To make it more effective the program was held at the town plaza so that the community can have a chance to witness the talents of the campers.

One thing that makes the camp more lively was the presence of the Palo Ambassador Choir, Ensemble and Orchestra. The group was composed of young people who were trained to play different musical instrument. The group were also beneficiaries and assisted by Hingyap Foundation. They are non disabled.

During the closing ceremony the committee gave award to the following:

·         Best Camp Counselor ( Ate and Kuya)

·         Best Camper

·         Most Active Camper

·         Most Helpful Camper

·         Best Group Leader

·         Best Group

·         Best in Arts and Crafts

The camping was supported by the LGUs of Palo, PNP who takes care for the security, UP-Manila SHS, DPWH Region 8, Palo Ambassador and the community.

During the evaluation the camp group appeal to continue the activity. The proposed date will be in 2010 since it entails big preparation and resources in terms of logistic and finance.

The NCO was the one conceptualized the activity. The aim is to give them an idea on how to facilitate a camp.