January 2018, Mindoro, with LM. Our first activity as a married couple was to revisit a mountain in Mindoro where we first fell in love. On this trip, we met a community of Mangyans who live in the mountainous areas of Brgy. Malo, Bansud Mindoro Oriental. Children in this part of the province walk for hours to get to the nearest school. Through bayanihan, they were able to build a school at the foot of the mountains. 

The problem: there was not enough funds to buy school chairs. Classes were conducted with the children sitting on the floor. I posted their story on Facebook. And soon enough received pledges of support for the mangyan tribe. 

March 2018. I am amazed by the compassion of Filipinos from all over the world. We received donations from Canada, USA, Italy and the Philippines. All of them wanted to contribute in our school chair project. Gaano man sila kalayo, di man nila kilala ang mga bata ng Mindoro, lahat nagmalasakit para makatulong. 

Last weekend, we finally delivered the school chairs for the Mangyan children of Brgy Malo Mindoro Oriental. The students and teachers were so excited to finally have chairs for their classroom. It was an unforgettable day filled with love and compassion. 

Maraming salamat po sa inyong malasakit para sa mga katutubong Mangyan.

Salamat Project Malasakit Canada thru Zosimo Vergara; Good Samaritan Italy thru Eduardo Basakay Abrasaldo; Gigi Hobson from Texas, USA; my Chavacano friend Marie Molina; Mr. Francisco Chingcuanco; and my Trikings family Aiken Ainsley Ting and Tracy Austin Ting

Salamat din sa Starlite Ferries for transporting our donation Francis Cusi and Uratex Phils for the generous discount. 

Higit sa lahat, salamat kay Project Malasakit coordinator Marjorie Velasco Oriel at Konsehal Noli Otanes Irangan for your hard work. At kay LM Cancio sa pagiging bahagi ng malawak na misyon ng malasakit.