International Care Ministries Raises P81 Million to Help the Ultra-Impoverished

With a population of more or less 110 million people, the Philippines ranks 13th in the most populous countries in the world. However, despite the steady economic growth throughout recent years, approximately 25 million Filipinos continue to live in extreme poverty. And then there are those of us who have to grapple with “ultra-poverty,” at the very bottom of the food chain, struggling to survive on a measly $0.50 dollars per day. These families face a range of deprivations, like overcrowded and unsafe homes, unclean water, lack of nutritional meals, and frequent illness, to name a few.

Designed to help families build capacity for sustainable progress out of ultra-poverty, faith-based non-profit International Care Ministries (ICM) invests in health, livelihood, and education programs across 13 regional bases within Visayas and Mindanao: Palawan, Kalibo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Cebu, Bohol, Tacloban, Dipolog, Koronadal, General Santos, Davao, and Butuan.

“I never cease to be amazed every time I look back to 1992 in Bacolod City when and where a group of Filipino pastors began their vision-quest that is ICM today," said Atty. Karlo Estavillo, CFO and COO of Shangri-La Properties.

Manny and Denise Minana.

Photo by ICM.

Daphne Kuok and Irma Linao.

Photo by ICM.

Charlie Rufino, Carlos Rufino, Catherine Rufino, Popi Pineda, Janice Choa, and Dennis Choa.

Photo by ICM.

Marissa and Ian Fenton.

Photo by ICM.

ICM channels their poverty-reduction efforts through local churches, with more than 16,000 local pastors who host weekly, hands-on training sessions. This includes livelihood training which curriculum covers learning small business skills, forming self-governed savings groups, and establishing community-led enterprises as funds and commune develop.

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A Night of Hope: A Charity Auction Raises Almost P81 Million For Ultrapoor Filipinos

On their 30th Anniversary Banquet held on October 28th of this year at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, the organization raised $1.6 million, which translates to about P81 million. One particularly remarkable donor is Alan Uyenco, Pastor for Outreach at Fil-Am International Church, who decided to give all of his inheritance to ICM. Well over one million dollars. This is one of the largest donations ever in the organization’s storied history.

Yvette Fernandez, Daphne Kuok, Dely Fernandez, and Irma Linao.

Photo by ICM.

Bryle B. Suralta, Daphne Kuok, and Len Cabili.

Photo by ICM.

Len Cabili, Patricia Openshaw, Yvette Fernandez, Angela Panlilio, Timothy Chuidian, and Barbie Chuidian.

Photo by ICM.

Timothy Chuidian, Barbie Chuidian, Dinggay Villanueva, Brian Villanueva, Camille Genuino, Victor Genuino, Al Panlilio, Angela Panlilio, Bonnie Santos, Patricia Openshaw, and Rick Santos.

Photo by ICM.

The night also witnessed an auction of 126 items, including a sought-after piece by Harry Harrison in Hong Kong, which collectively raised more than HK $150,000. Subsequently, 102 Hopee stuffed toys were bought, raising HK $13,000 to fight malnutrition. Finally, the attendees all pledged HK $50,000 towards the medical mercy fund in order to get ultra-impoverished children life-saving treatments.

In his letter, ICM’s CEO, David Sutherland, expressed gratitude to every individual—staff, partners, pastors, and community volunteers—who has played a part in actualizing the non-profit’s mission to deliver tangible hope to the poor, not only in the Philippines but now in Uganda and Guatemala as well.