1 Editorial Advisors Content Contributors: Rommel V. Fuerte National Director Lanie Carillo, Evangeline Caseres, Cecile Xenia Legaspi Corvera, Crislyn Felisilda, Kevin Gaitan, Operations Director Lara Gonzales, Nina Gavino, Mong Jimenez, Vanessa G. Retuerma Joy Maluyo, Jan Therese Queyquep, Laila Strategy Management and Quality Assurance Director Soliven, Phim Soriano, Vanessa Retuerma, Cherry Anne Valencia, Yheleen Veso Jun N. Godornes Resource Development Director Socorro S. Acedera Finance and Administration OIC Director Genesis Jeff D. Lamigo Art Direction and Layout: Public Relations and Communications Manager Paulane Altoberos, Dexter Gamboa, Yancey Eloquiña, Jhaztin Namit, John Jovert Ruedas, Margaux Tan © World Vision Development Foundation 2017 All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except for brief excerpts in reviews, without prior permission of the publisher. About the cover: Ten yearl old Kristal delighted learning she can now safely walk over a newly constructed bridge to get to school in Zamboanga (see story on Education). 2 is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Its 46,000 staff members in nearly 100 countries are committed to working with the world’s most vulnerable people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. 3 Table of Contents 5 How We Improved Lives in 2017 6 Message from the Chairperson 7 Message from the Executive Director 8 History 10 Where We Serve 11 Education 12 Child Protection 13 Health & Nutrition 14 Economic Development 15 Disaster Risk Reduction & Management 16 Spiritual Nurture for Children 17 A Voice for the Youth and Children 18 Engaging the Public 19 Corporate Partnerships 20 Grants and Non-Sponsorship Projects 21 Where Our Funds Go 22 Board of Trustees 23 Leadership Team 4 24 Partners and Affiations HOW WE IMPROVED LIVES in 2017 5 Message from the Chairperson Greetings! World Vision Philippines has reached 60 years of committed work for Filipino children. We are grateful to the Lord for faithfully journeying with World Vision through the years. We are grateful as well to all who have journeyed with us along the way. All the challenges our organization has overcome, all the lessons it has learned, and all the milestones it has achieved are blessings from our Creator and Provider. ATTY. LIWAYWAY VINZONS-CHATO All glory be to God! Chairperson, Board of Trustees World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. The anniversary, timely themed “Caring for Children, The same question lingers to this day, where the harsh Building Sustainable Communities” was graced with realities of violence against children persist; young the presence of Marilee Pierce-Dunker, the daughter girls and boys being abused and exploited online, little of the late World Vision founder Rev. Bob Pierce. We hands and feet being subjected to hazardous labor, and were awed when, in commemorating the special event thousands being neglected and denied of their rights with us, she passionately shared stories about her as children. What are we going to do about it? father; how he pioneered the ministry amidst a crisis geared with nothing but the love of the Lord, a few In the book of James, it says: “If a brother or sister is dollars in his pocket, and an audacious faith. poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and flled,’ I recall the “piercing” question thrown to him by a without giving them the things needed for the body, missionary friend when he encountered and embraced what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not a suffering child in Korea: “What are you going to do have works, is dead.” about it?” It was the question that prompted him to take action and make the bold decision to support as As you browse through our 2017 report, may you many children as they could. It paved the way for the continue to contemplate on how our faith can be birthing of the global organization World Vision now lived better; how it can be expressed through actions serving over 200 million children worldwide, including and love for the least in society, the poor and the the Philippines. vulnerable. In the next pages, you will witness the many ways our World Vision staff, sponsors, donors, and so many like-minded partners have done so much for the children. Indeed, together we can be 6 #OneforChildren. Message from the Executive Director 2017 marked the 60th year of our work here in the Philippines. With the anniversary theme “Caring for Children, Building Sustainable Communities,” we had all the reasons to celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness to World Vision and its journey through the years. ROMMEL FUERTE Executive Director From our humble beginnings of assisting 300 Filipino World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. orphans in 1957, we are now reaching more than 2 million children through our emergency relief, Spiritual Nurture for Children, increasing access to community-based development programs and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) advocacies focused on children. to help step up the ladder for our children. This year, it was a blessing to have hosted no less We also responded to at least 8 challenging disaster than Marilee Pierce-Dunker, World Vision’s global emergencies including local fres, foods, typhoons, ambassador and the daughter of our great founder and the massive internal displacement of people due Rev. Bob Pierce, who graciously joined us in revisiting to the armed confict in Marawi. Overall, we have the pioneer site of World Vision’s work in the Good reached 46,309 individuals through our emergency Shepherd’s Fold Orphanage in Guimaras. Tears of joy response including the Hope for Tacloban Children and hymns of praise overfowed when we met some Project in the Haiyan-stricken Leyte. of the frst sponsored children and their families! Indeed, the Lord has been with us all along, walking Our amazing story continues as we share our with us while we serve the vulnerable and help the latest milestones in this report. We have seen the least of our fellow people change their lives for the strengthening of partnerships with key groups including better and experience life to the full. the government, international and local NGOs, donor/ aid agencies, private sector, academe and faith-based Grateful to 2017, and more hopeful for the years to organizations joining us in tackling hard but relevant come. Moving forward, we are excited for our brand issues such as Online Sexual Exploitation of Children new campaign #OneforChildren, which aims to reach (OSEC), Children in Emergencies, Communication at least 3 million children by year 2020. To God be to Disaster-affected Communities, promoting all the glory! Breastfeeding and the upholding of the Milk Code, 7 American missionary Dr. Robert “Bob” visited local prisons to share God’s hope to the prisoners. 1947William Pierce travelled to China and Three years later, World Vision established the Mercyville Korea to document the massive suffering caused by the Orphanage in South Cotabato. war and minister to the people affected. An encounter with a child named White Jade became a turning point. World Vision saw its efforts in providing White Jade was a battered child under the care of a 1970s food relief and health assistance to local missionary. Moved by compassion to White Jade’s children caught in the confict in Mindanao. The support situation, Pierce offered his last fve dollars and pledged included resettlement and development projects. to send the same amount every month to provide for the child’s needs. Pierce knew in his heart that A new feld offce in Cebu assisted over there were many other children like White Jade who 1976100 families in the Visayas and Mindanao. needed help. This gave birth to Pierce’s idea of child World Vision launched the Development Assisting sponsorship as a way of helping thousands of children Center (DAC), a community-based approach that aims in the long term. to empower poor families by helping them to manage their own development. The interventions and strategies Inspired by his prayer, “Let my heart be broken by focused on children’s needs in health, nutrition, and the things that break the heart of God”, Dr. Pierce education, as well as livelihood for the parents. eventually led the founding of the child-focused agency World Vision in 1950, with Child Sponsorship as World Vision in the Philippines underwent its fagship program to respond to the thousands of 1987restructuring and halted its operations. orphans left by the Korean War. But the work on the ground continued with volunteer staff assisting in community projects and programs. Through the years, World Vision expanded its work for Projects were supervised by World Vision International – children all over Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle Asia Region Offce (ARO) in Manila under the leadership East and Eastern Europe. of ARO Regional Coordinator, Ruth Clay. Its operations started by assisting 1957 Good Shepherd’s Fold, an orphanage in the province of Guimaras, supporting 300 children. Alongside this, Olga Roberston or “Mommy Olga,” with the help of Bob Pierce started a prison ministry in the New Bilibid Prison in Manila. Olga was a young missionary supported by World Vision who regularly history World Vision re-opened in 1989 with former World Vision’s strong relationship with partners has helped Development Training Coordinator Elnora Avarientos implement education-related programs and interventions. as its frst Filipino Executive Director. The Tulong Aral Petron program, in partnership with Petron Foundation, aimed to provide basic school needs The Provincial Development Approach of children in both rural and urban areas of the country. 1990was piloted in the province of Cebu focusing on networking, capacity building, and With over 12 years of experience in managing grants partnerships with stakeholders, and envisioned to create and special projects, World Vision has delivered one impact at the provincial level.