Global Humanitarian Group in NY Picks Filipino Ambassador, Helps Typhoon Victims

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Metro World Child is a global faith-based, humanitarian organization serving nearly 100,000 children each week with after school programs, Sunday School services, child sponsorship, special programs and personal home visits.

In 2001, Metro World Child began a work in Manila, Philippines. The goal was to reach children and families who were living in situations that were in most cases, beyond their control. Metro World Child went to some of the most needy areas such as Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Navotas, and other impoverished locations throughout the Philippines. Over a decade later, we now reach 20,000 children and their families on a weekly basis here in the Philippines alone. Metro World Child has grown to include other nations such as South Africa, Kenya, Romania, and India, and combined, now reach over 100,000 children around the world.

Top-ranked speaker and master trainer, Boris Joaquin was recently appointed the Philippine Ambassador for the Private Sector by the Metro World Child Foundation based in Brooklyn New York, USA.

Joaquin is delighted by this new appointed following his stints with World Vision and involvements with HOPE Foundation, Scholars for Jesus, World Teach and Bible League, his role to help connect Metro World Child’s programs for the street children with right partners and corporate donors. 

“This is timely…” Joaquin quips, “ ..After Typhoon Yolanda, children lost their families, families grieved for their children. Despite this, however, we still believe that there is something that even the strongest storm cannot take away from them.” 

With only a few days before the holiday season, you can assure these children and families that the Christmas spirit will not be lost. A small gift of love from you can make a big difference in their lives this year. It is in times like this that we are called to give what we can, and we believe that our gifts can serve as the light they very much need in their lives today. We can hope that these presents will bring the love they need from God in these trying times, given through us.

Boris continues, “We are working right now putting together shipping containers filled with desperately needed relief supplies. They are being prepared as we speak. Metro World Child reaches close to 20,000 children a week in the Philippines. We are determined to do “whatever it takes” to get this aid as well as the Gospel to those who need it most. Please help us.” 

Metro World Child has program called Operation Holiday Hope, which gives Noche Buena grocery packs and Christmas gifts to these affected children. With the private sectors help this Christmas, Metro World Child can reach over 20,000 children in the Manila area. For P1000, you can provide one child and their family with a Noche Buena, Christmas dinner. Or for just P500, you can provide a child with a Christmas gift. 

To be part of Operation Holiday Hope, please contact 846 0083 or 0915 709 3386.

You can also email us at friends@metroworldchild.org.

For online donations, go to www.metroworldchild.org.ph and on the 

upper right corner, click “GIVE” button.

Click “Donate Now!” button then select campaign 

Operation Holiday Hope: Christmas Basket / Toy

Conjoined twins sisters Angelica and Angelina Sabuco set to go home

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Angelina Sabuco, at left, is held by her mother Ginady Sabuco and twin sister Angelica, is held by aunt Marita Sabuco, at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 in Stanford, Calif. The twin sisters, who were born joined in the chest an abdomen, are preparing to go home after an intricate surgery by a group of Lucile Packard doctors to separate them. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)



Twin sisters Angelica and Angelina Sabuco have been recovering at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, United States, since their November 1 operation. Twin sisters who had been joined at the chest are preparing to leave the hospital two weeks after surgery - each in their own car seat.

Angelina and Angelica were born in the Philippines and live in the United States.

"They are recovering very, very well," said lead surgeon Dr Gary Hartman. "Our goal is to return as many children as we can to happy, healthy lives."

Hartman said the girls are off pain medications and their livers are functioning normally. He will continue seeing the girls for weekly outpatient therapy, and they will see a plastic surgeon, Dr Peter Lorenz, for follow-up procedures. Lorenz said the girls' chest walls have a bit of an abnormal shape but it can be molded as they grow.

The sisters made their post-surgery debut during a news conference at the hospital on Monday.

Wearing bright red dresses with bows in their hair and held by their mother and aunt, the girls appeared at ease with the all the attention. Their mother, Ginady Sabuco, smiled and laughed and urged her daughters to wave and say hello as they approached reporters.

"We're so excited now to go home and see them sitting in their own car seats," she said. "We cannot wait to see them playing, walking and running."

The girls are sleeping in separate beds, their appetites are growing and they are learning how to walk again. Remarkably, even as they were joined at the chest, the girls had learned to walk but would move sideways. They are now learning to go forward and backward.

"Balance is the biggest challenge," said Amy Weisman, physical therapist. "They are now taking steps with support."

The girls' nearly 10-hour surgery, paid for by the family's health insurance, was the second such successful operation at the children's hospital in Palo Alto.

A team of more than 40 doctors, nurses and hospital staff took part in the case. Within 72 hours of the surgery, both girls were breathing on her own. Within a week, they had moved from intensive care to a regular hospital room. 

Ginady Sabuco said when the girls woke up after surgery they looked around and called out "mama." At that moment, she said, "all the hardships went away."