Mr. Carlos Chan, President, Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation

“Helping makes one happy”, is one of the traditional virtues of Chinese people. The Filipino Chinese gained good reputation in contribution to Philippine mainstream society not only due to their success in business, but also the philanthropic deeds, like thousands of barrio schools (school buildings) constructed, the courageous fire fighters volunteers, the medical mission troupes to far areas of rural and slum places.

Hence, the barrio schools, the fire fighters volunteer troupes and the medical missions, are considered as the “Three Treasures” of the Chinese community.The “Three Treasures” are ways that pave the way to the Philippine mainstream society.

The Chinese in Philippines are not just passersby, but they share great responsibility in nation building.They have the obligation to take part in meeting challenges, to contribute for the development of the country.However, helping the needy is presently the most urgent problem to work out. The purpose in helping the needy is to get rid of poverty.

Chinese Community’s elite group known as: the “Diamond Troupe” joint forces not to receive public recognition but to actively initiate actions in doing the essential things, expressing efficiency, emphasizing on contributions and aiming for welfare.

The society summons for love and care, it is the right time to unselfishly extend hands to the needy.Under the support and encouragement of Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, a philanthropic organization with the name Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation was launched on 16 of June, 2004.

Founded for one year and four months, it has practically and persistently done several good and charitable deeds for the community which eventually merited the approval and trust of different sectors of society.

The Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation is headed by: Dr. Lucio Tan as Honorary Chairman, Mr. Lu Ping (Vice President of China Welfare Institute and Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation) as Honorary President, Mr. Yao Eng Hue as the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Larry Villareal as the Founding President, Mr. Carlos Chan as the President, Mr. Chan Cuan as the Executive Vice President, and Ambassador Alfredo Yao, Dr. Alfonso Uygonco, Mrs. Yuk Yin T. Garcia, Mrs. Pilar L. Ongking, Mr. Henry Lim Bon Liong as Vice Presidents.

The Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation has 29 officers, and founded its Board of Directors on February 2, 2005.

The Foundationwas named to honor and commemorate one of the great women for international peace movement -- Madame Soong Ching Ling, and to further enhance and glorify her spirit of concern to women, children, and youth in relation to health, education, welfare and other aspects of living.

The Foundation simplified its other usual practices to be able to maximize the usage of funds in carrying out various projects for the needy.

As noted by Mr. Larry Villareal, the Founding President of the Foundation, said that the “Philippine Soong Ching Ling is looking forward in uniting the people from all walks of life, to awaken their natural virtue of care towards the needy, and encourage businessmen to exert more social responsibility for the betterment of our society.If only we attained economic progress and political stability then the people could achieved a decent standard of living. Progress in society is the most significant factor in business development. Hence, Mr. Villareal emphasizes, the Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation carries loads of challenges and difficulties, because there are many people in need.

Chairman Yao Eng Hue agreed that the love and care of Madame Soong Ching Ling has no geographical boundaries. During her life, she showed deep concern to women and children, her deeds had greatly been acclaimed internationally and have served as a good example throughout the world.

The Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation upholds the three meaningful words “Soong Ching Ling” as symbol and a name to be proud of. We should encourage and remind everybody to treasure and nurture love for the organization. Unite all compassionate hearts; make the loving heart narrowed the distance among people.

I strongly believed that the objective of Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation is to adhere the love and concern of Madame Soong Ching Ling towards women, children, and youth through education, welfare and benefit, health and various projects for the needy.

The Foundation invited Honorary Chairman, Overseas Honorary Director and Board Director, to intensify and unite more strong effort in promoting the concept of “Sowing Compassionate Seeds, Doing Good Deeds to the World”.

Although the Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation has been formed in just a short span of time, it has been known for its pursuits and has unexpectedly received affirmation from the community and people from other countries.

The Foundation mainly worked out on the following thirteen major areas of concern:

• Care for the young and elderly: Successive visitation to nearly 30 orphanage, home for the aged, day care centers, hospitals, schools for the crippled, to provide their daily needs.
• Helped the Needy and Medical Mission: conducted joint projects with Caloocan Fil-Chi Charity Clinic, and Manila Chinatown Charity Foundation, Inc. Rendered four huge medical missions which benefited more than five thousands patients. The outreach program include free medical and dental check up and treatment, acupuncture, eye check-up and giving of free eyeglasses and medicines.
• Care for the less fortunate children: Joined activity with Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, Inc., conducted “Care for the Less Fortunate Children” photo exhibits in 22 schools, and organized “Soong Ching Ling Award Student Theme Writing Competition”.The objective of the activity is to boost the love, care and compassionate heart of the students to the less fortunate families.
• Helped the Poor Farmers: Donated ten tons of SL-8H Hybrid rice seedlings to the government in support for the country’s “food self-sufficiency” project.
• Donated School Buildings and Gawad Kalinga Houses: Donated 3 school buildings through Federation of Fil-Chi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.Donated 128 units Gawad Kalinga (GK) houses through Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc. These provide the less fortunate students and families basic needs of shelter and education.
• Helping Out Thru Media: Signed with ABS-CBN Bantay Bata 163 TV memorandum of agreement for long term cooperation in helping the less fortunate families’ educational scholarships, supply of vitamins, recreational activities, regular daily needs, medical missions, and other welfare projects.
• Donation of Medical Equipment: Donated one sets imported high technology dental chair to the Manila Chinatown Charity Foundation Inc.
• Livelihood Program: Joint programs with Philippine women organizations in opening up livelihood technology courses such as reflexology and cosmetology classes for the unemployed housewives to acquire knowledge and skills and be able to earn additional income.
• Relief Projects:Distributed relief goods to victims of typhoon and other calamities.
• Cultural Exchanges: The Foundation invited the Philippine Folk Dance Troupe of Philippine Chiang Kai Shek College to participate in the 4th Shanghai International Children Cultural and Art, enhance cultural exchanges between Filipino and Chinese children. Organized China Inner Mongolia Folk Song Festival and Dance Troupe to perform programs for the less fortunate families and shared valuable moments with them. Last February 25, 2005 the internationally well known China Welfare Little Companion Art Troupe and the Loboc Children’s Choir held grand performance at Meralco Theater, in celebration of Philippine-China 30 years of diplomatic ties and followed by the performances of the Loboc Children’s Choir to Shanghai and Hangzhou last July. All the presentation had received outstanding appreciation. These activities propagate Philippine China cultural exchanges by advocating the concept “Philippine China Friendship Starts from Children”.
• Promotion of Business, Charity & Culture: Encourage Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs to donate their products, and extend their assistance to the needy thru the Foundation.Hence, established the philanthropic image and promote goodwill between races.
• Introduce Philippines: Helped the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Tourism in introducing the Philippines to China by organizing symposium and media exposure, showing the Philippine culture and tourist spots, and opened doors of opportunities for deeper understanding and friendship between two countries.
• Promote the spirit of Madame Soong Ching Ling Foundation: Provide the local Chinese newspapers novels of “Soong Ching Ling”, for the readers to know better her great spirit of love and learn to put into practice.

The Foundation doesn’t publicize exaggeratedly, it only reports what have been accomplished, and still doing their best to possibly make the compassionate deeds reach out to the mainstream society.

An increasing number of supporter and sponsors commit themselves and willing to implement joint projects with Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation in different and extremely significant activities and services of the foundation.

So many the changes it brought about, the Foundation charmed the community, thus, the Chinese people uplifted their image because Soong Ching Ling originated from a Chinese name.

Philippine Soong Ching Ling humbly sows the seeds of love to the Philippine archipelago. The importance of its role in the fulfillment of the foundations mission and objectives is to make good deeds known to the people all over the world.

We are very willing to learn from different Soong Ching Ling Foundations around the world, and very eager as well to devote our time, effort and assistance for the common good and spiritual welfare. Together let us build a more beautiful, peaceful and joyful world that will continuously inspire everyone to overcome all kinds of hindrances. Together let us lay down our lives for a noble cause.