Philippines

Many cultures have contributed to the Filipino population, creating a mosaic that reflects both Eastern and Western influences. Most Filipinos are an ethnic mix of Malay and some Chinese, Indian, Spanish, and American ancestry. While there are more than 160 dialects, Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English are the official languages.

Filipinos have extremely close family ties. Your sponsored child’s home may include grandparents, aunts, and uncles. It is common for a child to continue living with his or her parents even after getting married. In some cases, two or three families may live in one household.

Many people live in rural fishing and farming communities. Food production is minimal and usually just enough to keep children fed. Mothers will often sew as a way to contribute to their family’s income.

Though primary education is free as well as compulsory, and schools are available throughout the nation, the quality of education is poor in rural areas. In their search for opportunities, many families move to big cities like Manila, where homelessness and drug addiction are serious problems among children. Child sponsorship is helping families find alternate sources of income so they can stay in their own communities and improve the quality of life for their children.

More than 7,000 islands comprise the Philippines, a country tied to three cultural worlds: Asia, the Pacific, and the West. The country’s overall land area is roughly equivalent to that of Arizona. Its largest and most densely populated island is Luzon, home of the active volcano, Mount Pinatubo. The climate is tropical, with temperatures averaging 80 degrees. Much of the country receives more than 70 inches of rain annually.

Rice and corn are the staple food crops. Commercial crops include coconuts, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, tobacco, coffee, and cotton. The processing of these products accounts for almost half of all industry. Fishing, forestry, and tourism are also important.

Poverty affects both urban and rural communities. Access to health care is extremely poor in rural villages, while urban dwellers face high unemployment. Your child sponsorship offers families opportunities for improved health and a better quality of life.

Though most Filipinos are literate, the country’s economic hardships mean that many children lack opportunities for a quality education. Child sponsorship is helping to break the cycle of poverty and provide boys and girls with basic necessities and the hope of a brighter future.

• Pray that your sponsored child might be open to God’s love and grace.
• Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
• Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.