Indigenous peoples’ rights advocate wins 2015 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award

MANILA, Philippines - AY Foundation, the philantrophic arm of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, together with the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila, recently bestowed the 2015 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award (BTCA) to indigenous peoples’ rights advocate Divina Fabra.

Present at the ceremony were AY Foundation founder Amb. Alfonso Yuchengco, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chairperson Helen Yuchengco Dee,  Ay Foundation executive vice president  Michele Marie Dee, and JCI Manila BTCA search committee chairman Jeremiah Jimenez.

A missionary with over 27 years of experience, Fabra has devoted her life to helping the poor communities of the Calamain Tagbanua in Coron, Palawan and the Aetas in Zambales. She has been fully immersing herself in their culture and even learning their languages since 1994. 

Fabra has successfully implemented numerous welfare and livelihood programs with the generosity of friends from the church, and government agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment  in her humanitarian work. Her most notable works include the development of banana plantations to serve as the Aeta community’s source of income, and the facilitation of medical missions in the local populace.

“I value my work as a Christian missionary for it gives me the opportunity to serve our Lord through helping others, especially indigenous communities who are often marginalized in society. As it says in John 3:16, God has so much love for the world, for all human beings, that He made the greatest sacrifice of all for the good of the world: His only beloved Son, I consider our hardships as missionaries are small in comparison, and are necessary for the good of the needy,” she said.

Fabra was selected among numerous candidates from different parts of the country as recipient of the BTCA award. As part of her recognition, she received P1 million from the AY Foundation and JCI Manila as additional fund for her initiatives.