Results: FAMFI has accomplished a lot since I started the non-profit in September of 2006. We began by sending clothing and school supplies, then provided meals and temporary shelter. With the help of many generous benefactors, we have expanded our purpose and we are currently working on several important projects, which will help many more people.
Cebu City Mayor, Tomas Osmena, started a project called Cebu City Frontline Cluster (CCFC.) Under the direction of Dr. Alice Utlang, (who is a our Philippine Board OIC), CCFC is composed of different city government agencies which travel to the remote and mountainous areas of Cebu. They provide free medical, dental, legal - even garbage pickup - to families who have never experienced these basic services.
Since August of 2007, FAMFI has supported this project by supplying medicine and vitamins. Our contribution to CCFC has already helped thousands of needy people.
I had been working for months with the World Medical Relief (WMR) for the donation of medical and dental equipment. WMR finally approved our request, and close to one million dollars worth of medical equipment and supplies, (including an ambulance), is ready for shipment from Detroit, Michigan to the Philippines. We have been trying hard to gather donations for the very expensive cost of shipping - ( $12K each!)
On my trip to Cebu last April 2008, I met with Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Lt. Gen. Victor S. Ibrado, the former Commanding General of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We made an agreement that FAMFI will donate medical equipment and supplies to CCMC or Cebu City Medical Center, and to the military hospital, in exchange for the use of their facilities for the free monthly surgeries we offer. Gen. Ibrado also offered us the use of military doctors and dentists for our Medical Mission. Retired Lt. Col. Nicolas C. Pongos Jr., Vice President of FAMFI Philippines, is a very good friend of Gen. Ibrado (now the Commanding General of the Philippine Army/ Chief of Staff), and will oversee our Medical Mission with the military.
I have also met with a group of surgeons, headed by Dr. Manuel Villamor of Cebu Doctors' Hospital, who volunteered to donate their time to give at least five free surgeries per month to our indigent beneficiaries. Our agreement is that FAMFI will provide the hospital and medicine, which we have already arranged with the CCMC and the military hospital. The two recipient hospitals are also the possible venues for two groups of US surgeons, doctors and nurses, who have agreed to help our mission by coming annually to Cebu to provide free services to the indigent. In our agreement, they will shoulder the medical supplies, provided that FAMFI will make available the location and accommodation of the Medical Mission. The Foundation is eager for these projects to swing into action. Once the shipping is paid for, everything else will fall into place.
Target demographics: Our main purpose is to bring help, healing and hope to neglected children and their families in Third World Countries, currently the Philippines and Brazil.
