Love in Action
The Philippines

A Trip to Deliver Master’s Gratitude and Love to the Filipino People

Compiled from SMTV News and the Formosa News Group’s Report
(Originally in English)

In December, on behalf of Master, representatives of Supreme Master Ching Hai visited the Philippines to deliver contributions and to express Her gratitude to the beautiful people and organizations who have been rendering unconditional love and help to others.

 
Madam Cecile Alvarez received the US$50,000 contribution to Earthsaver’s Dream Ensemble.   Receipt from Earthsaver’s Movement

On December 15, in a conference room at the Astor Hotel, Association representatives presented US$50,000 to Earthsaver’s Dream Ensemble. Madam Cecile Alvarez received the check and said she would make use of the grant to help people in need through the arts.

Mr. and Mrs. Barry Gusi, a coordinating secretary of the Gusi Foundation and Mr. Morato, president of the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, were present to receive the check of US$50,000 presented to their organization. Mr. Gusi said that he was very touched by Master’s generosity, and that he and the foundation would use the money to personally help the people affected by the most recent typhoons.


Mr. Gusi (right) received the US$50,000
contribution to Gusi Peace Prize Foundation


  Receipt from the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation

Later, together with Mr. Morato, in Mr. Ramos’s office another US$50,000 was presented to his Peace and Development Foundation. Mr. Ramos expressed that he would use this grant to continue his plan for fighting poverty and to bring peace to the world.

 
US$50,000 was presented to the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation   His Excellency Fidel V. Ramos, Former President of the Philippines was awarded the “Shining World Leadership Award”

His Excellency Fidel V. Ramos, Former President of the Philippines was also awarded the “Shining World Leadership Award” for humanitarian leadership. The award was presented to him by the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, to honor his benevolent role in statesmanship and for assisting the Aulacese refugees.
Receipt from the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation

In 1995, due to loss of funding from the UNHCR, the Aulacese refugees were threatened with “forced repatriation” and would be sent back to Au Lac. This put the refugees under unbearable pressure. President Ramos became aware of their plight and compassionately allowed them to stay indefinitely in the Philippines, under the supervision of the Catholic Church. He also issued an order granting permanent residence to 5,000 Aulacese who had entered the country before 1979. (For a detailed report of his benevolent actions, please refer to News #175 “Series of Shining World Leadership” section.)

On December 16, another four contributions were presented.

The US$50,000 contribution to St. Paul University in Quezon City was received by the Sister Lucilla Baldado, president of the university.
 
Receipt and Appreciation letters from St. Paul University in Quezon City

There was a warm, welcoming party at St. Paul University in Quezon City to express gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai for sharing Her love and financial support. The choir of university students sang a song about the happy upcoming Christmas. Then a 12 minute brief biography of our Master and Her relief efforts in Philippines was played. Everyone was so touched; some even shed tears by what Master had said and done and Her dream. The atmosphere was very uplifting. Then US$50,000 was presented to St. Paul University, Quezon City, and US$50,000 to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Bishop Cortez received the US$50,000 contribution to Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.   Certificate of Appreciation from St. Paul University, Quezon City, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

The president of St. Paul University, Sister Lucilla Baldado said in her speech that Supreme Master Ching Hai’s help would really benefit their various institutional programs, such as their scholarship grants for the poor but deserving students, as well as the humanitarian activities for community extension. Master Ching Hai hopes that US$15,000 of the US$50,000 contributed to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines would be given to the retiring Bishops to take care of them for having served God and helping people.

In this ceremony, the “Shining World Leadership Award” was also presented to Bishop Angel Lagdameo, in recognition of the Catholic Church’s outstanding efforts in providing the much needed support and care for the Aulacese refugees throughout their plight in the Philippines, and for inspiring love and compassion in others. (For their loving actions, please refer to News #175 “Series of Shining World Leadership” section.)
Father James Reuter received the “Shining World Leadership Award” and Master’s Award Letter on behalf of Bishop Ladgameo.

The 82-year-old Father James Reuter received the Award and Master’s Award Letter on behalf of Bishop Ladgameo. He also told a story about the Aulacese refugees. He said they were very good people, they loved peace and worked hard, and no one would regret taking them and allowing them to settle in the Philippines. It was also a very moving moment.

For helping the poor and needy students, US$30,000 was given to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Santa Maria. The Municipal Mayor, Jesus Ato R. Matel received the contribution. The ceremony at the Polytechnic University, with an audience of almost 1,000 students, was magnificent.
Santa Maria’s Municipal Mayor (in white) received the US$30,000 contribution for the needy students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines   Appreciation plague and receipt from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Supreme Master Ching Hai also supported Mr. Joe Lad Santos with a contribution of US$40,000 for his plan to develop a series of educational programs, such as setting up computers and related equipment to help the poor and uneducated in the country. This check was c/o Filipino Institute of Komiks Arts and Sciences. An additional US$10,000 was given to The Commission on the Filipino Language to encourage continuing developing a noble idea of life to beautify the whole world. Mr. Joe Lad Santos received the contribution and recited one of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poems that had been translated into the Filipino language.
Mr. Joe Lad Santos received the US$40,000 contribution for the Filipino Institute of Komiks Arts and Sciences and US$10,000 for The Commission on the Filipino Language   Receipts from Filipino Institute of Komiks Arts and Sciences and The Commission on the Filipino Language

On Sunday December 18, a TV interview was held on Madam Cecile Alvarez’s program “Culture Awakening”. The children who perform on her program are all disadvantaged, such as orphans, abandon children, street kids, handicapped, etc. She and her organization (Earthsaver’s Dream Ensemble) train them to become artists, in order to be self-sufficient.

The TV interview on Madam Cecile Alvarez’s program “Culture Awakening” (From left) Madam Cecile Alvarez, the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare & Development and representatives of Master Ching Hai

“Supreme Master Ching Hai is an early Santa Claus,” Madam Cecile Alvarez told her audience on the “Culture Awakening” program which was pre-taping for Christmas Eve.

The show invited the secretary of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare & Development) and representatives of Master Ching Hai to be guests on the program. The interview focused on how the DSWD assist people and appealed to the public to help the Mayon disaster victims. The Secretary of DSWD expressed her appreciation to Supreme Master Ching Hai for theUS$100,000 contribution and for the assistance from Her relief team.

During the interview Master’s contribution (US$330,000 in total) to some peace-making organizations, to the Catholic Church and to some universities to help the poor students was also mentioned.