As we’ve mentioned before, Cebu gives a lot to its visitors. Sometimes, a few of those visitors like to give a back.
For the past three years, Lynn Gilmartin has been sponsoring a Cebuano child through Kadasig Aid & Development Inc (KAID). Gilmartin’s sponsor child, Bret Manigos, 14, has a new home and has been able to stay in school thanks to Gilmartin and KAID.
Gilmartin first heard of KAID during her first visit to APPT Cebu. A friend of hers was in Cebu a week before Gilmartin and told the hostess about the charity. Gilmartin was motivated to donate after seeing some of the poverty on the island first-hand. While Cebu is home to some beautiful beaches and luxury resorts, it also has a poverty incidence of 27 percent.
“After seeing the poverty here and how much of a difference $250 makes I decided to do it,” Gilmartin said.
Gilmartin’s first donation was enough to sponsor Bret for a full year. While school is free in Cebu, several children find themselves dropping out to help support their family.
Bret was about to do the same.
“His mom is a single mother. She sells cake and juice to support Bret and his little sister,” Gilmartin said. “Bret was going to quit to help, but the charity stepped in and offered him free lunch to stay in school.”
Lunch was enough to make the difference. Bret was able to stay in school and avoid the cycle of poverty caused by lack of education. The money also helps kids enjoy other activities the school has to offer. While basic schooling is free, summer camps and extracurricular activities aren’t.
“Bret loves to play basketball, and now he can,” Gilmartin said. “He’s a cool little leader.”
Not only is Bret the captain of his basketball team, he’s also part of a leadership program the charity offers. As part of the program, Bret goes to other villages and speaks to his peers and elders about human trafficking in the Philippines. Gilmartin says she’s noticed Bret’s increased confidence in the way he acts and looks.
“He’s a stylish little guy now too,” Gilmartin added. “He wears cool clothes and styles his hair. Last time I came he was just a boy.”
Gilmartin first met Bret two years ago when he was shy, 12-year-old boy in the town of Langub. While the two had been writing to each other for a year, Gilmartin felt a bit worried about their first encounter.
“I knew their town was going to be very different from the Shangri-La,” Gilmartin said. “I was so scared that I would be riddled with guilt when I returned to this five-star resort.
But the Manigos made the Aussie hostess feel quite the opposite.
“They invited me into their hut and gave me bananas and a coconut. It was the first time I’d ever drank out of a real coconut. Now I’m hooked,” Gilmartin said. “I was so inspired by the people in Bret’s village, and the connectedness they have. They are much richer than us in so many ways.”
But when it came to money, the Manigos were far from rich.
The Manigos were in the process of acquiring a new house but construction had stopped when it was almost complete. The house had no flooring and Bret’s mother couldn’t afford to pay for this final step. The cost was $70.
Gilmartin gave them the money to finish their house and got to see it for the first time yesterday. The house was no bigger than a room, but it’s impact on Gilmartin was huge.
“They had all the pictures from my last visit on their main wall,” Gilmartin said. “It brought tears to my eyes.”
While Gilmartin has always been a big animal supporter and donated to charities before, nothing has ever made an impact like this.
“You’re not just giving away money. You’re watching it help people directly,” Gilmartin said.
After her experience with the Manigos, Gilmartin is hooked on more than just coconuts. She wants more children.
“I’m going to Mexico next month with Angel,” Gilmartin said, referring to her boyfriend, Team PokerStars Pro Angel Guillen. “And we’re going to find a child in Mexico City to sponsor.”
As Gilmartin’s list of sponsored children will keep growing, so will they.
“I’ve seen Bret grow heaps. He even told me he’s really excited about summer camp because there are girls going,” Gilmartin said. “He says he doesn’t have a girlfriend and he’s focused on his studies, but he totally does, with that groovy hair of his.”
Watch out Angel.
For more information about Kadasig Aid & Development Inc, visit their homepage.
For live updates on APPT7 Cebu, put your mouse here and click.
Alexander Villegas is a freelance contributor to the PokerStars Blog.
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