Greetings to everyone as we start on  a new year.

We apologize for  our website, we were informed that our page was hacked by a group originating from Russia. We have already addressed the problem and rest assured our webpage is now safe and protected!

We are undergoing full restoration of our contents as well as posting new events and announcements! PLEASE BEAR WITH US.

A Blessed New Year to all of us!

Robert Tiangco.

Have you ever felt that you have a guardian angel watching over you, keeping you safe and guiding your way? Here in Damascus , we have proven it to be true!

Back in June one of our biggest worry ,is that the ceiling in one of our classrooms was starting to fall piece by piece by piece due to termite infestation. And that it might just fall completely on the children while having classes. We did not have enough funds to support all the students, let alone have the ceiling fixed.

But, from out of the blue , an engineer came and told us he was told to look at the school and see what needs to be fixed. Then a month later a small army of workers came with all the materials needed to fix the ceiling.

They worked through the night and over the weekend , we now have a new sturdy termite proof ceiling , making it safe again for our children to learn and grow.

Thank You Mam Cynthia  Rodriguez and all your staff and workers !

Our Angels who God sent to watch over us and our children.

Batch 2011-2012 kids for Damascus Learning Center’s Feeding and Learning Program. The fresh new minds will be nurtured and cared for by the DLC staff for a whole school year . Two hot meals a day, vitamins, health monitoring and basic reading and writing, in preparation for the future formal education . Thank you for people who are sponsoring some of the children, but we still need more kindhearted people to sponsor the other children.

Last April 28, we got a visit from some people who wanted to celebrate a birthday party with the community of Damascus. they brought with them lots of food and treats for our residents and kids. It was such a blessing to Us and the community to be chosen as the venue for the Birthday of a stranger, looking for a place to help. So far away for the city and virtually unheard of, these Angels found Us . But then again our faith tells us,  it was just God’s answer to our prayers and everything that happens is according to his plan.

It was a truly happy day for the children to have a summer treat !

Thanks to Mam Cynthia Rodriguez and her wonderful staff for answering God’s call  to be instruments of his love for the poor.

May he always guide you and keep you in his light.

We hope to see you again!

For the last 14 years Damascus has made it our tradition to host an Easter celebration for the children in the neighborhood.

We had several parlor games for the children and their families. This year we had a relay race of shooting  bean bags in to a goal and then to the ladder ball. It gave the kids a chance to work in teams. From fun games , dance numbers, and a delicious lunch  made the Easter celebration a fun filled event. The final activity was the much awaited easter egg hunt,  we hid over a hundred eggs for the children to search and collect. Of course everyone got a prize!

But of course it was not all games, we explained to them the reason why we celebrate Easter and how we should be thankful for all the blessing God has been giving us.

Thanks to our friends from (WOS) Wings of Support  who donated toys we gave as prizes!

Hope we can continue this tradition and give the kids the opportunity experience the true meaning of Easter!

On March 25, the 4th batch of children of Damascus Learning Center had their graduation   rites. It was a fun filled day and you could feel the excitement not only from the kids that were about to graduate, but more so of their parents. The children prepared several dance and song numbers before the commencement exercise, not to be out done the parents also had a dance medley of cha cha and modern hip-hop. When it came time for the graduation march , everyone was a buzz,  as cameras and cellphones start clicking.

One by one the children’s names were called and they receive their certificates and awards. After the program, the children each planted a tree to symbolize their growth in Damascus and their commitment to do their share in saving the environment.

As we bid them farewell, we are now starting to screen new applicants for the next batch of children to be in our feeding and learning program. A new set of faces, dreams and hopes await a starting push to get them going…..

Damascus has been privileged to work with several different individuals, groups, institutions and organizations through out our 14 years of operation.

Stitching Filibata – Filibata is the name of a small foundation from the Netherlands. “Fili” comes from ‘Filippijnen’, the Dutch word for Philippines.“Bata” is the Tagalog word for children.  http://www.filibata.nl/

AIESEC (De La Salle University) –

AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-led organisation, active in over 1700 universities in 107 countries. Our core activities are focused on facilitating a global exchange scheme that provides challenging, cultural work internships for students and recent graduates. Damascus has been a partner of Aiesec DLSU for the past 11 years and have had close to 30 trainees stay with us and volunteer in our mission hohttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/aiesec-dlsu-aiesec-dlsu/22/890/579me.

MIRIAM COLLEGE (National Service & Training Program Department)

For several years now, Damascus has been working with Miriam College as one of the sites for student deployment of the NSTP course. The program sends  freshmen students to marginalized communities for immersion and integration . The students come back on their second semester to implement projects they have planned after their initial immersion. This projects have helped us greatly in our center , from re-painting our dorm, chapel and school. to providing us recreational materials and kitchen utensils. But the most significant lesson learned by the students is the dangers of doing drugs and learning how our less privelaged brother and sister live.

http://www.slideshare.net/esambale/miriam-presentation

PUSONG PINOY – A FACEBOOK page that provides an opportunity for HEROES to help underprivileged kids in the Philippines. * Pusong Pinoy (Heart of a Filipino) . A group that started with family and friends wanting to make a difference, one book at a time.

http://www.facebook.com/PusongPinoy.org?sk=info

BETHLEHEM (House of Bread) – The Bethlehem House of Bread is located in Little Baguio, Baliwag, Bulacan. It is a children´s center that was founded by Father Boyet Conception and cares for over 400 needy children, providing food and medical assistance to the very poor and malnourished children, as well as education.

BAHAY AT YAMAN NI SAN MARTIN DE PORRES –
Based in the Philippines, the Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres works to establish programs to benefit children who, without the consistent care of loving parents, might fall victim to poverty, disability, and abuse.

EPHESUS –

Ephesus Charities JMJ Foundation Inc., formerly the Ephesus Loving Hands of Joseph and Mary Foundation, is a residential care institution for physically and sexually abused girls ages 4 to 17 years. The home provides a series of holistic activities to help the girls in their journey towards healing. These activities include art workshop, creative dance, sports, and spirituality. Ephesus provides a home atmosphere, encourages a family environment, and promotes education. Ephesus will soon be serving the aged and the children in conflict with the law. Established in 2001.

Damascus Foundation Inc. launched its first major livelihood project in the first quarter of 2010. Thanks to one of our benefactors Atty. Luciano Joson Jr. for donating a 21 stage water filtration system and to Filibata for donation funds for us to convert one of the old buildings to house the water refilling station.

The water refilling station is one of several projects Damascus wants to undertake to work at  self sustainability. It also compliments the goal of the feeding program to provide clean and safe drinking water for the children and residents of Damascus .

It gives us the opportunity to employ our deserving graduates from the rehabilitation program and give an extra source of income for parents who want to market and sell the purified water we produce .

We hope to be able to increase our sales to generate more funds to use for the operation and maintenance of our feeding and learning center.

Damascus celebrated its 14th year of Service and Love last January 23, 2011. The day was started with a Holy Mass in the morning by Rev Fr Kc Moraga of Emmaus and an afternoon mass by our Parish priest Rev Fr Egay De Jesus.

Our Residents, Students , Parents and Staff prepared dance numbers , songs and other fun activities.The parents were given lectures on “Environmental Awareness” by the volunteers from Miriam College and a talk on “Moral Values” by Mr. Wilfredo Vardeleon, while the children were having an arts and craft workshop.

We wanted to make this year’s anniversary celebration a meaningful one by raising the awareness of the citizens of Dona Remedios Trinidad on their role of preserving the environment and teaching them how to reduce and recycle their garbage.

A simple Lunch was served on eco-friendly packaging, instead of the usual styropor packaging , we used banana leaves and  craft paper. Again to promote the reduction of use of non-biodegradable materials.

It was a fun filled day of learning and sharing , as graduates from the rehab program came to attend , as well as friends we have made through the years of Damascus.

We would like to thank those who attended the anniversary and those who have deposited in our bank account. Our sincerest gratitude goes to you all and thank you for believing in Us and supporting the Mission.

God Bless Us All!!!!