Mother Candida execs to visit Filipino communities in Europe, Canada, USA
Sister Sandra C. Alejo with
Jonavin Villaalva
A team from Mother Candida EQ Center for Children of the Iloilo Mercy Foundation for the Handicapped, Inc. (IMFHI) will visit several Filipino communities in Europe, the United States of America (USA), and Canada tentatively in April this year for a series of meetings with members of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Spain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
Sister Sandra C. Alejo, F.I, IMFHI executive director, in letter to Liliane Foundation Netherlands board member Netty Van Alphen dated February 14, 2008, said the team "wished to be on time to greet Ms. Brekelmans-Gronert on her birthday."
Gronert established on March 14, 1980 the Liliane Foundation, a special foundation for children with disabilities in developing countries based in The Netherlands.
"We believe that it is our Lord Himself who wants us to go and make these trips as our countrymen and women working as OFW blessed by the Lord and are successful in their works may share their blessings to our poor, handicapped children, youth and elderly have better chances of brighter future," read Alejo's letter.
"It is time for Filipinos to help this way their fellow Filipinos, especially the poor, handicapped childen."
Alejo echoed Gronert's principle that "statistics on children disabilities from different studies worldwide are interpreted differently, resulting in no exact figures."
"What is clear is that millions of disabled children in developing countries are deprived of their need for rehabilitation. This enormous figure is permanent 'hidden catastrophe' that internationally barely receives the attention it deserves," Alejo quoted Gronert as saying.
Alejo also disclosed that all the activities related to the trip will be documented by journalist Alex P. Vidal.
Those confirmed to take part in the tour are Alejo, former Iloilo City councilor and IMFHI president and chairperson Erlinda Liberiaga, and broadcast journalist Jonavin V. Villalva.
"We will announce the other members of the delegation soon," Alejo said.
IMFHI is headed as honorary president by Julita C. Benedicto and the Board of Directors are composed of Liberiaga as chairperson, Atty. Felipe Macahilig (1st vice president for internal affairs), Elizabeth Lacson (2nd vice president for external affairs), Dr. Theresa F.P. Muyco as secretary.