Greater Good Philippines tells the stories of social entrepreneurs, volunteers, philanthropists, and ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things for their community, in hopes of motivating and inspiring others to do the same.

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A call to all overseas Filipinos

July 31, 2008

By Harvey Keh - Inquirer.net Blogs

JUST a few weeks ago, I listened to a National Situationer report given by the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), the socio-political arm of the Jesuits here in the Philippines.

SLB is known to be one of the most credible institutions who can give an honest to goodness analysis of what is the real state of our country and in their report they emphasized the following:

a.) Yes, the country’s economy continues to grow and, in fact, we have one of the highest growth rates in Asia. However, despite the economic growth, more than 25 million Filipinos continue to languish in poverty.

b.) 62 percent of Filipinos actually die without even having the chance to be seen by a healthcare professional. To make things worse, medicine prices are 5 to 45 times higher here in our country compared to other countries in Asia like Thailand, Pakistan and India.

c.) 3.7 million families continue to be homeless in our country despite efforts being done by non-profit organizations, such as Gawad Kalinga.

d.) P1.2 trillion had been lost to corruption in the last 5 years.

e.) Out of 10 Filipino students who enter Grade 1, less than 2 will be able to finish College.

f.) The brain drain continues in our country as 121 Filipinos leave the country every hour. By the end of this year, we can expect that there will be approximately 8.5 million Filipinos abroad.

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Atty. Arnel Casanova - Founder of AvantChange, and general counsel at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)

July 29, 2008

 

We are about to give up our faith in ourselves, we are about to give up our faith in others, we may even come to a point that we’re going to give up our faith in God,” Atty. Arnel Casanova remarked. “But we should look at all these challenges, difficulties, and sacrifices as a way of tempering and strengthening our character, our soul and our spirit, at the end of the day we will succeed.”

Atty. Casanova, who sits as general counsel of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, knows what it takes to be able to push beyond despair. And it is in these lessons in his own life that he draws the drive to be of service to others.

In 2007, Atty. Casanova founded AvantChange to promote social entrepreneurship in Asia. He has also been teaching a course in this discipline at the Ateneo School of Government.

With faith and perseverance, he was able to break through poverty and use his own experiences to lift others off destitution.

In this interview, Atty. Casanova talks about his work for the government, particularly the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, and what it truly means to be a public servant. He shares with us his inspirations in being one for others, and the key personalities who have shaped his philosophies and principles.

All these and more only here on Greater Good Philippines.

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Charity village plan on track

July 28, 2008

By Begena Pradeep - Gulf Daily News 

WORK on the second Bahrain Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village in the Philippines is expected to be completed by the end of next year, it was revealed.

The first project was completed in December last year and included 40 houses to shelter 40 families, a medical clinic and basketball court.

The official handover took place on April 26 and work on the second village began three days later at Banban Tarlac, in the central Philippines.

GK is a Philippines-based movement that envisions building 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years.

The 777 project was formally launched on October 4, 2003, with October 4, 2010, as the target date for delivery.

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Atty. Arnel Casanova promotes social entrepreneurship

July 24, 2008

In this video, Atty. Arnel Casanova, founder of AvantChange and general counsel at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which spearheads developments in former military properties including Fort Bonifacio, Clark Airbase, and Camp John Hay, talks about social entreprenuership and encourages the public to be involved in social enterprising.

Coming soon:  Greater Good Philippines interview with Atty. Arnel Casanova

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Kid Abducted at Festival Mall in Alabang

July 23, 2008

Update from ABS-CBNNEWS.com Missing 3-yr-old boy reunited with family

Matthew David Samudio, the three-year-old boy who was reportedly abducted inside a video arcade at a mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, was reunited with his family Thursday.
A security guard found the boy walking around the Sta. Rosa Commercial Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
He was seen with the same girl who tagged him at the Festival Mall last Tuesday.
Jonathan Estema said when he and other security guards accosted the two, the girl ran away and left Samudio.
Estema said that Samudio was wearing a new set of clean clothes.

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