Memory Project
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Fun Facts about the Philippines:• Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521, marking the start of the archipelago's colonization under Spanish rule: a 377-year period that lasted until 1898. The islands were dubbed "the Philippines" after King Philip II of Spain.
• The Philippines produces and exports more coconuts than any country in the world, shipping off about 19.5 million tons of the fruit (called “buko”) every year. • A national saying throughout the country is “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” A Filipino named Roberto del Rosario made the first karaoke machine in 1975, and the modern yo-yo takes its name from a word in the Philippine language Ilocano, yóyo. • The entire landmass of the Philippines is made up islands, making it the second-largest archipelago in the world. In fact, the Philippines has approximately 7,500 islands, with only 2,000 of them inhabited, and nearly 5,000 still unnamed on global maps. • Jeepneys are a unique form of transportation that many people in Manila and other places in the Philippines use every day. In fact, jeepneys were born from the thousands of army jeeps that the U.S. military left after World War II. Resourceful Filipinos extended the cabs to accommodate about 18 passengers for hot, bumpy and dusty rides through the streets. |
The Children who will Receive the Portraits:
Like every country, there are many children in the Philippines living healthy and stable lives with an abundance of love and care, while other children begin life with a great deal of struggle.
There are over 12 million people who live in extreme poverty in the Philippines today. Most live in rural areas and work in the agriculture sector, mainly in farming and fishing. Urban poverty, however, has been increasing in recent years. Migrants without jobs or with low-paying jobs are unable to afford decent housing. As a result, many cities in the Philippines have high proportions of informal settlers who are among the poorest of the poor. Moreover, poverty is severe in parts of the country with high levels of conflict. The Philippines’ 10 poorest provinces are considered either conflict-affected or vulnerable to conflict. The Filipino children who will receive these portraits have faced extreme poverty. The average wage their families earn is around $2 per day. Some of the families live and work near local city dumps where they scavenge for food and other items that they can repurpose and sell. Others make charcoal all day and return home at night covered in grime and soot. Our partner organization in the Philippines is working with these families to change their realities. They have helped to relocate many families away from the dumps to a more secure housing development. They are providing nutrition assistance to the children and ensuring that they receive at least one healthy meal each day. For all of them, receiving the portraits you create will be a very fun and meaningful event. Thank you for everything you’re doing to touch their lives with kindness through art. |