LEAD Christian School, Aplaya, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

This school is a run by a husband and wife team, dedicated to the ideal that " Quality Education is for the masses and not just for the elite."

The demographic of Sta. Rosa City in Laguna consists of 14,000 people (as per the 2010 census conducted by the NSCB) and has steadily grown to accommodate the growth of the Technology Parks.

Santa Rosa was mainly known for the Coca-Cola and Toyota manufacturing plants in its industrial estates. More recently it has also become famous for being the site of Enchanted Kingdom, a local theme park, as well as several housing developments. Santa Rosa is also the exit travellers take along the South Luzon Expressway to go to Tagaytay and Taal Volcano. This city contains the 3rd largest complex in Laguna, Paseo de Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9264, which was ratified by the citizens on July 10, 2004. (the description was taken and can be read as linked)

The main issue of this school is the funding.

Majority of the 80 students are from the more impoverished demographic, and the admissions are handled by the couple who had the dream of running the school for the poor in the first place. That is, their heart is for the education of all the kids. So much so, that some of these kids are actually being educated free of charge.

Now, there is no such thing as "free". You see, the cost is carried by Pastor Jessie and Pastor Annie.

The dilemma is that its operation and expansion is not equal the income. When that occurs, our only solution is to either increase the income, decrease the operation, stop the expansion or a combination of both.

My dream is to build a school to benefit those who are too poor to afford education, impact the kids by giving them the skills for the "real world" and not just in the Philippines. I also want to impact their parents by giving them the opportunity to re-train in trades that they can obtain gainful employment from. The main aim for this charity is to give the poor a chance to know Jesus by helping them improve the quality of their lives.

I unashamedly want to glorify His Name by getting the lower middle class and poor families Hope again.

So what do we need the money for?

Utilities
Communication (phone and internet)
Education Permit
Printing Fees
Stationery
Insurance
General Maintenance
Facilities for Rent
Teacher's Salary


All that aside, it is for the children.

All kids like colouring, it seems

How can one, in good conscience, refuse to educate a child who is willing and yearning to learn? A four year old who just wants to be a nurse, because she wants to help other people... a little boy whose father works for less than $10 a day, but he wants to be a teacher so he can give other kids a better future...can you refuse them?

Please forgive this post, as this will be a dynamic document. I will modify the contents and re-advertise.

I am sorry that I am not as animated with my post as before. My situations at work and charity has detrimentally changed.

I will post more later.

Mentality - it's all in your head

The more I do research, the more I am convinced that it is the mentality of the Filipinos that write their own demise.

My Lolo Amante was right. It is the change of heart that will radically change the country for the better.

Damaging Colonial Mentality is seen when  Nouveau Riche  jokers act like they are Americans (from the United States, of course!) and old money act like they are long-suffering Spaniards; all the while the Filipino is struggling to cope with the idea of a self-confident persona.

Long Story Short, I cannot help this generation of Pinoys. I echo the words of President McKinley from a book: "...we cannot leave them to themselves - they were unfit for self-government - and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain's was..."(p22)

A blogger from "Get Real, Philippines!" - Benign0 says:"And that is what the Philippines is. A country inherently unable to honour its many many commitments, both to its own people and to the many foreign governments that have invested in it over the last century. It is a poverty that is worse than an immediate lack of money (which, itself, is a long worn-out excuse)."

There are so many things that needs to change, I often feel like just picking up the students and moving them away... FAR FAR AWAY from the current environment that they are currently in. I also feel inept in the expression of what I want done for these kids using the blog medium. I think it is more because the reasons were tackled previously before.

Attitude, Aptitude, Confidence, Budgeting Skills, Self-Control... these sound like "normal" things for any one, specifically if you can see that there is hope in the future as you toil for a better tomorrow.

Can you imagine the despondent nature of our third world brethren when what faces them is worse than what their parents had?

There are many commentaries on what the Philippines is, how the Filipinos act, what's wrong with our demo-feudal-o-cracy system of politics...

Put a sock in it, pull your sleeves up... pick up a bucket and start helping.

Stepping out in Faith

My biggest hurdle in this time would be procrastination. I thought, if this thing could just be done with by hiring the right people, it is going to be a snap! Unfortunately I actually have to do work (SHOCK!!)

As I have intimated, the premise of a free school for the underprivileged is just the tip of the iceberg.

Preface the following statements with this: 

"I am a Christian. I am devoted to the Lord Jesus. I am NOT in this for the sole purpose of social justice, as I believe this is just going to put a band-aid on a tumor. I am NOT in this for the sole purpose of charity, as I believe that empowerment, enterprise and education are basic human rights, not just for the well-to-do. I will be making money from this, but only after the first 5 years, and after I have invested a HUGE amount of resources (read: time and money) into the project. I believe that generating income from such an endeavor is NOT SINFUL and finally I believe that the Lord's Will is for everyone to know Him and to share the Good News to everyone."

I believe it is pertinent that you acknowledge the context of what I am about to declare.

Basic Business Plan:

Step 1: Obtain permission to build a school (or a pre-existing one)

• Free to the underprivileged (poor to lower middle class), with a voluntary contribution fee per annum (quite like the NSW  Public School System)
• Focusing on NSW standards of education, and hopefully a recognition of learning transferable to AUS
• Scripture classes are going to be part of the curriculum as well as a voluntary attendance to church/ Sunday School/ Youth groups but is NON-Mandatory

Step 2: Once school is built and pupils start learning, main focus on re-training their parents with a stipend. Skills such as basic trade to advanced trade (basic construction all the way up to an electrician's license)

• More study is needed on this, yet I do believe re-training, or reinforcing training to an Australian International standard is the go just to make sure that there is future income rather than making a minimum wage earner return to their level of poverty.
• Initially the candidates are either set up with their own mentors to apprentice them into basic skills. Favorable candidates will be sent over to TAFE NSW for further training.
• As the Foundation progresses, this will need to be more of a training centre, focused on International Standard Trade training.
• Instill in each participant the importance of paying forward, thus each employed/earning participant will be encouraged to sponsor/support students of the School besides their own kin.
• Fostering a sense of Community, this group of participants will be encouraged to attend Church/ Couples Ministry/ Sunday School/ Bible Study, but it is NON-Mandatory

Step 3: Once parents are sufficiently trained, they will be encouraged to form their own consulting / contracting businesses, otherwise assistance will be given for them to obtain employment.

• A percentage of their takings will be forwarded to the running costs of the school
• An active arm of the foundation will be needed to source contracts for the skilled to obtain and do.
• Profits will be solely the proprietors. (that is any funds left after the expenses, including salaries and proceeds for the Foundation)

Step 4: Re-create the process and move to another location

• Hopefully this formulae can be extended to match other countries such as Myanmar or Cambodia

I know it seems simplistic, but the basic gist is the same. A self-funding charity that perpetuates Free Enterprise.

Let me know what you guys think!!!! I am keen to hone this bad boy to a pointy stick so I can poke out the eyes of oppression and poverty.

The Phoenix Foundation, Philippines - 24th Feb 2014

MacGyver was employed by such an organization, back in the late 80's when his mullet style haircut and Swiss army knife can solve all things...


Lor (my wife, a.k.a. the love of my life) and I have always had this idea of a Phoenix rising from the ashes. It is a great metaphor for what we are trying to do in the Philippines.

So far, I am leaving for the Philippines on the 24th Feb 2014. Now how is this different from the other times I am going? This time, I will be spending time helping typhoon survivors and investigating the establishment of a school that will focus on helping the poor. I will only have time to visit my relatives for a day, day and a half if I am lucky.

The kicker? I misread the instructions of association with the Global Aid Network and thought that the due date is the 8th of Feb, wherein the 14th Jan was the initial payment. Notch that one up to me being bad at instructions.

I was given an extension to pay the $1500 for another 7 days, so this truly is going to be a leap of faith.

What took me so long?

I had faith that the Lord wanted me to do this but I have two kids, bills and debts to pay, and ridiculously high ambitions for grandeur.

I had faith that this is my calling, yet my comfortable middle class lifestyle has really called me to minister to my computer keyboard and the netizens of Facebook and Twitter.

I had faith that my Filipino brethren are in dire need of this School but truthfully, I was doubtful that our Lord is able to provide.

Do not get me wrong, I still doubt but I am now going to step in Faith.

Faith that the first $1500 will be provided within this week, faith that the full $5000 I am hoping to raise will be capitalized before the 8th Feb, Faith that this mission trip to Tacloban will open my eyes to the suffering of my Filipino bretheren, Faith that this School is the mission the Lord has given my life.

To that extent, I will be committing myself to another blog (yes, as if this one gets enough hits or views or updates for that matter) in a more visceral manner... a Video Blog!!   This will hold myself accountable to the sponsors that have pledged their finances and prayers for this trip.

23rd Feb, this should be up for your viewing pleasure.

What I do ask, my dear reader(s) is for your prayer. Not for me, but for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people before me. As I provide relief from their physical and social needs, pray that the Spirit move in them that they realize their need for the Good News of Salvation.

What moved me from inaction into motion?

Lolo Amante. Typhoon Yolanda 

I love it when atheists ask: "Where is your god when disaster hits?"

I always answer, "He is in the heart of every one of those helping."

This time, I am glad to say, "He is in my heart, urging me to move."