» 2,300 Families served in the Bicol Region after Typhoon Dante

Heavy off season rains brought about by Typhoon Dante caused massive flooding in the Bicol region. The GMA Kapuso Foundation distributed 1,034 relief goods to the families of the following barangays affected in the Municipality of Nabua in Camarines Sur last May 25:  133 families in Brgy. Salvacion de Gatos, 146 families in Brgy. San Roque Madawon, 275 families in Sta. Barbara, 475 families in Brgy. San Esteban and 5 families in Sta. Barbara.

 

Magallanes, Sorsogon was the next stop of the GMAKF Team’s relief operations. 1,266 relief goods for 5,064 individuals were distributed in four Barangays: 500 packs in Brgy. Osiao, 200 packs in Brgy. Hubo, 406 packs in Brgy. Siuton, and 160 packs in Brgy. Gingara.

 

In total, the GMAKF was able to give assistance to 2,300 families, equivalent to 9,200 individuals in the Bicol Region.

 

» The GMA Kapuso Foundation, first to respond in Manila fire incidents

The GMA Kapuso Foundation was the first to provide immediate assistance to fire victims in two separate fire incidents in Manila in the evening of April 17. 

In Madrig St., San Nicolas, Binondo, the blaze left 80 families or 320 individuals homeless. The Foundation provided relief goods and packs of clothing to those affected while they stayed in tents they built along the streets.

The fire that razed Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila, caught the residents unawares. Here, the Soup Kitchen of the Kapuso Foundation served a total of 160 residents. 136 families evacuated in Delpan Sports Complex also received packs of relief goods and clothing.

» GMAKF feeding program serving 433 children beneficiaries in Quezon City

In response to the mitigation of malnutrition in the country, the GMA Kapuso Foundation conducts its bi-annual 120- day Feeding Program entitled “Give-A-Gift: Feed a Child” project.

For this year, the GMA Kapuso Foundation in cooperation with the National Nutrition Council, chose to serve 3 Barangays in  Quezon City. The City ranked third in the consolidated 2008 Operation Timbang (OPT) results of the National Capital Region as having the 3^rd highest incidence of malnutrition found in children in the region. The launching of the Give-A-Gift: Feed A Child was held in a covered court in Barangay Gulod in Quezon City on the 26^th day of March 2009. 133 children beneficiaries in Brgy. Fairview, 100 children in Bry. Capri and another 200 children in Brgy. Gulod will be provided with the recommended high protein diet for the duration of the program. All 433 children beneficiaries will be monitored as they successfully attain the normal weight required for their age.

» Medical Mission in Indanan, Sulu despite recent abductions

The armed conflict between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), and the reported consecutive abductions in the municipality of Indanan, failed to prevent the GMA Kapuso Foundation from helping the Philippine Marine Corps in reaching out to the families of affected barangays in Sulu. The PMC itself conducted free medical mission with medicines supplied by GMA Kapuso Foundation last March 19 and 20, to address the medical health needs of the victims of armed conflict in the area. A total of 348 residents received free medical services while 18 individuals got free dental attention from Brgy. Poblacion, Sulu. Meanwhile, in Brgy. Batu-Bato, a total of 1, 155 residents underwent free medical checkup and 108 individuals were given free dental services.

» 1st Steps to 2009: Launching of the Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan

In response to the needs of public elementary school children across the country, the GMA Kapuso Foundation undertakes the Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan (UHSK), one of its more popular projects held annually at the beginning of class in June. It seeks to inspire Grade 1 students from depressed and remote areas to attend classes by providing them with basic school bags containing a set of school materials.

The Launching of UHSK took place last March 19, 2009 at the Ever Gotesco Malls in Ortigas. A former UHSK beneficiary, Edilberto Arboleda, now in second year high school, gave an inspirational message to some of our invited UHSK grade 1 beneficiaries from Capt. H. Francisco Elementary School in Pateros. Director Paul Soriano, Executive Director of the Adopt A School and Ms. Chit Singayan, OIC Assistant Chief of Special Education of the Department of Education also shared their messages on behalf of their respective departments.

For this year, the project aims to reach out to a total of 45,000 incoming Grade 1 students from public elementary schools nationwide.  Areas in NCR that GMAKF team will visit for this year are Malabon, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Quezon City, Pateros, Taguig,  Manila, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Paranaque, San Agustin, and San Juan. Provincial areas that will be covered are Dagupan, Abra, Apayao, Romblon, Sorsogon, and Camarines Norte, Cebu, Northern Samar, Negros Oriental, Antique, Masbate, Davao, Surigao del Norte, Sarangani, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu.

» GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Give A Gift: Hernia Surgical- conducted in La Union

As part Give-A-Gift project of the GMA Kapuso Foundation, children suffering from Hernia in the Northern part of the country, received free corrective surgery last March 14, 2009. The Hernia operations took place in Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City in La Union. A total of 28 children with hernia received our special gift. This project was made possible with the help of Philippine Society of Pediatric Surgeons, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, and La Union Diagnostics Center and Hospital.

» GMA Kapuso Foundation conducted Ngiting Kapuso on Oral Health Month

This project is conducted every February in line with the celebration of the Oral Health Month in the Philippines. The GMA Kapuso Foundation recently conducted its second ‘Ngiting Kapuso’ project in partnership with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). For this year, a total of 150 clients qualified as beneficiaries for the installation of free dentures. The said beneficiaries received their free dentures last February 13, 2009.

 

A special project under the foundation Health Program, Bisig Bayan, the project commenced with the phone registrations last February 3 and 5, enlisting a total of 350 prospective patients.

 

150 individuals qualified out of the 205 who registered by phone and who came during the screening day (Feb. 10) at the GMAKF office.  Finally, on February 13, 71 individuals received free removable partial dentures and 79 individuals received complete dentures.

» GMAKF, First to Respond in a Fire Incident in Pasay

In the early morning of February 23, 2009, the GMA Kapuso Foundation was the first to respond to a fire alarm which gutted down 50 houses in Pestanias St., Libertad, Pasay City, rendering 80 families homeless.

The victims who were gathered in an evacuation center in Cuenca St., received soup and relief goods consisting of emergency food rations and clothes.  

» Two Bloodletting Activities this Month of February

The GMA Kapuso Foundation in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross recently conducted two consecutive bloodletting activities this month of February. This project, known as “Sagip Dugtong Buhay,” aims to promote volunteerism among Filipinos by extending the lives of those who are in critical condition through blood donations.

The first bloodletting activity dubbed as “Kapuso Day” was held at the GMA Network Studios last February 12. GMA Network employees demonstrated Serbisyong Totoo not only by sharing their blessings through cash donations but most importantly by donating their own blood. The project was participated by a total of 251 individuals comprising GMA Network employees and talents, employees of GMA subsidiaries and service providers, RBMS, and RSWA Security. The Kapuso Day was able to generate 251 bags of blood equivalent to a total of 108,350 cc's of blood.

Meanwhile, in the second Sagip Dugtong Buhay activity, 799 blood donors were able to produce a total of 330,650 cc's of blood.  This second bloodletting activity was held at the Ever Gotesco Malls in Commonwealth last February 17. Blood donors included members from the Philippine Airforce, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Marines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Employees of Ever Gotesco Malls, Kapuso AABC ��“ Scholars, Bantay Bayan Foundation, Different Youth Organizations and walk-in individuals.

More blood donors participated in this year’s events. An indication that the bloodletting activities of the GMA Kapuso Foundation have indeed been successful.  Our heartfelt thanks to all who participated as well as to our sponsors who have supported this noble endeavor.