Overseas Filipinos

It is a challenge to serve the Sarmiento Heritage Foundation, Inc. and to help fulfill our family's charitable cause.

I am an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). I have been a seaman for almost two decades now after graduating from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA). As a chief engineer, I travelled and visited different countries. I could relate the plight of some Filipinos working abroad.

I gathered some information about self-directed groups and charitable Filipino families worldwide. The following overseas groups are helping their fellow countrymen and the less fortunate in the Philippines:

UNITED STATES

Philippine-American Association of North Carolina, Inc. The PAANC provide outreach medical and dental services and educational assistance to the poor in the Philippines by initiating a medical/dental mission (Carolina Medical Mission). The group of North Carolina (USA) based Filipino-American medical staff has volunteered to provide free medical/dental services. In 2004, the Carolina Medical Mission will serve the people of Batac, Ilocos Norte; Agno, Pangasinan; and Puerto Princesa City.



A group of OFWs in Hongkong led by Adelfa Papillera (left).

Katipunan USA. Founded by Ernie Delfin, Katipunan-USA of Fountain Valley, California, is helping charity groups and individuals in the Philippines. Katipunan-USA initiated several fundraising projects such as the Hip Hop Expo, book drive and auction of donated items to undertake their charity projects like the Save Nene, Mayon Volcano, Justice for Filipino American Veterans, Entrepreneural Development for Social Action Scholar (EDSA) Project.

Pangasinan Brotherhood In America. The Pangasinan Brotherhood organization was formed in 1978 composing of 16 Pangasinan town associations to promote ancestral heritage, unity and camaraderie. The organization has provided financial assistance to deserving students in each of the six districts in Pangasinan. It has also funded some projects in Bolinao and Dagupan City.

SAUDI ARABIA

Institute of Computer Engineers-Riyadh. ICE-Riyadh is a non-profit organization headed by Ariel Gaan, an engineer working in Riyadh. ICE-Riyadh initiated some charity fundraising projects such as Hulog Mo Tulong Mo, Tulong Para sa Kabataan, and Rampa, a fashion show sponsored by Bossini Clothing Corp.

Prime Note Ensemble. This is an all-male singing group serenading the community to raise charity funds with Original Pilipino Music (OPM), folk songs and kundiman. The original 17-member Filipino choir has performed at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh on June 14, 2003, and at the Philippine School in Dammam recently. PNE was founded in Al- Khobar, Saudi Arabia in October 2001.

Entablado Filipino. It was formed in 1999 by the group of Filipino theatre artists in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia who performed a stage play entitled A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (by Nick Joaquin) at British Aerospace in 1998. To date, Entablado Filipino is staging its one-act plays in Dhahran, Ras Tanura, Abqaiq and Udhailiyah.