Filinvest brings cheer to kids of Hospicio de San Jose

MANILA, Philippines - The spirit of Christmas was truly alive at the Hospicio de San Jose when employees and officials of Filinvest Land, Inc. one of the country’s leading property developers, visited the institution for a memorable holiday celebration on Nov. 26.

Since it was founded in 1778, Hospicio de San Jose has provided care and shelter to poor, sick, handicapped and abandoned children in Manila. Kids who used to beg for alms in the streets of Manila, and those with special needs, have found in this welfare institution a caring home. Now, more than 100 kids live in the hospice, and they all joined in the special party prepared by Filinvest employees. The young ones not only had a grand time playing fun games and enjoying the food brought by Filinvest, but also excitedly received gifts from their generous guests.

Reaching out to the young residents of Hospicio de San Jose is an activity that the employees and officials of Filinvest are happy to participate in. This charitable tradition saw members of the Filinvest family readily giving their time and resources to make the Christmas party for the hospice children an unforgettable one.

This year is made even more special because Filinvest was able to raise P100,000 for Hospicio de San Jose. Filinvest gave gifts such as slippers, milk products, clothing and toiletries to the institution’s young wards.

 “This day truly is another memorable day, not just for the kids but for us at Filinvest,” shared FLI VP for human resources Danny Salonga. “Spending time with the children and being able to bring them the joys was truly an exhilarating experience for all of us.”

The Christmas party at Hospicio de San Jose was just one of Filinvest’s many outreach projects. The company has been very active in providing educational opportunities to economically disadvantaged families.

For over 35 years now, Filinvest has been a major supporter of the Educational Research and Development Assistance Foundation (ERDA), a non-profit organization that strives to empower disadvantaged children, youth and women.

By way of annual contributions, construction of pre-school learning centers in Muntinlupa City, and fundraisers such as the Filinvest Run for a Child, the company continues to support ERDA’s advocacy of education as a gift of hope.

Under the Andrew Gotianun Foundation, financial support amounting to P2.6 million since 2003 has been donated to the Sandiganan sa Pagpapalambo sa Kabataan (SAPAK) Experimental Farm in Compostela, Cebu, to help boys and girls victimized by poverty and neglect.

In 2010, FLI donated P500,000 to the scholarship fund of the Bethlehem Day Care Center (BDCC) Foundation in Cebu. The donation will cover the schooling and other related expenses of pre-school children.

Staying true to its vision of fulfilling the Filipino dream, Filinvest not only aims to provide homes for Filipino families but to provide assistance and opportunities for them to improve and nurture their lives.