Making Ways To Save Lives
Charity begins with us
News and Events
The Beginning
Way Maker Foundation Inc recently extended financial assistance for its first batch of beneficiaries, as part of its soft opening, last January 30, 2021. The beneficiaries, who are currently undergoing dialysis sessions in one of the centers in Alabang, Muntinlupa...
A Beacon of Hope
Way Maker Foundation Inc. will be officially launching its first donation campaign by way of a "Dinner for a Cause", the details of which will be duly announced and posted in the foundation website, Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and Whattsup.
Lead The Way
As part of its start-up operations, and in support of its Mission and Vision, Way Maker Foundation Inc is currently finalizing partnerships and tie-ups with various individuals, companies and corporations, both locally and internationally. Please continue to watch up...
Joseph Alcazar
I am Joseph Alcazar, 43 years old and currently residing in Bacoor, Cavite. I had been a dialysis patient for more than ten years now. Honestly, I had encountered extreme difficulties when I started with my dialysis sessions, including the problems that I had to go through physically, financially, and even morally. For me and for many other people who suffer the same medical condition as mine, this is truly very trying and very difficult as we will have to suffer for the rest of our lives. We easily get exhausted, oftentimes we suffer from extreme headache and we find it hard to breathe. The simple task of walking is always challenging because of the presence of too much water in our blood system. And the expenses are extremely high, we have to pay for our regular dialysis sessions, including expenses for medications and instruments that are being used for our dialysis like dialyzers. The expenses are really taxing and challenging, particularly starting last year when COVID-19 started. Lockdowns were imposed in major cities of the Philippines and I was one of those who lost our jobs. I lost my job sometime in April 2020 and I was having a hard time looking for another employment due to my medical condition. Having been introduced to Way Maker Foundation recently had been a big help to me and to my co-dialysis patients, particularly for our dialysis expenses. It is very expensive to undergo dialysis and, in my case, I go to my dialysis sessions thrice a week. Financial expenses are a heavy burden even to those who have the finances. For people like us who do not have the finances, it is really very difficult, especially since I am currently not gainfully employed. Way Maker has really been helping me big-time with my dialysis expenses. I am very thankful that Way Maker is here to help us dialysis patients and I hope that Way Maker can continue to support and help us dialysis patients. Thank you very much and God bless us all.
Joan Ilao
I am Joan Ilao, 35 years old. I hail from Batangas and I am currently residing in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. I am the only female in our family and the only breadwinner. I was the only one who had finished my education and I was a working student. Unfortunately, I had been diagnosed with kidney failure and I had to undergo dialysis as per the diagnosis of my doctor. Before that, I suddenly lost my sight and because of this, I begin to lose hope, I was very depressed. I felt so helpless and there was nothing I can do but cry endlessly until one day, I prayed to the Lord and asked for a sign that I can be given new hope because I am all alone and I have to take care of myself for my medication and I had to continue working so I can support myself in my dialysis. And I received the new hope when I received a call from Ma’am Lea and she introduced to me Way Maker Foundation. I was extremely happy and I cried with joy because I know that this is the sign that I had been praying for from our Lord, that I may receive help and I know that the Lord will not abandon and forsake me. I am knocking at your hearts so that you may be able to help us who are suffering through dialysis. There are a lot of us who need help and it is really very difficult to undergo dialysis, particularly due to lack of financial assistance. The assistance that we had been receiving from PHILHEALTH for our dialysis sessions is not enough, we have to spend our money since PHILHEALTH pays for 90 sessions a year only, which only lasts up to September of each year. I am appealing and I am hoping that you can continue helping us and we pray that this foundation will continue to grow stronger. A lot of us are relying on the foundation’s help for our dialysis sessions. Thank you.
Ericson Sales
Ever since I started undergoing dialysis sessions, a lot has changed in my life. It was really hard for me to accept my situation but my family and friends have helped me in my fight against my disease. I am the sole breadwinner in our family and have to support not only myself and my medication, but I also have to support and provide my family with our daily needs and expenses. I am very thankful that there is a charitable foundation that is giving hope to dialysis patients like me in our continuous struggles and fight on behalf of our families and friends. The support and financial assistance that we had been getting from PHILHEALTH and other government agencies are not enough to tide us over for our needs and I am extremely grateful that Way Maker Foundation is here.
For those who want to help us who are in need, we are knocking at your hearts, please continue to support Way Maker Foundation so that they can continue to give help and support for those who are in need and are going dialysis like me. It is extremely difficult to be sick, while I can handle all the emotional and physical stress that goes with my sickness, but the financial strain is the most difficult to handle because not only I am suffering, my family is also going through difficulties. Thank you.
Lea P. Arujado
Lea has been in international staffing for two (2) decades, where she earned the moniker “The Pied Piper of the International Staffing Industry”. The foundation counts on her network of business associates, colleagues and friends. She is the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. A “Go, Go, Go ” type of person, Lea is the living testimony of the “ Never Say No, Never Say Die ” attitude.
Kitz S. Gutierrez
A BS Civil Engineering degree holder, Kitz brings with him more than Thirty-Two (32) years of business experience and has held key management and directorial position with leading human resource companies, particularly international recruitment and staffing companies over the last two decades as part-owner and member of the management team. Kitz is currently in charge of general administrative support and human resource functions for the foundation and generally provides overall direction and management expertise. A successful businessman, Kitz hopes to bring with him his wealth of experience and network in extending tie-ups and partnerships with various local and international sponsorships. Kitz’ two elder sisters have also been dialysis patients who passed away one after the other due to kidney complications. He is drawing inspiration from his personal experience of watching his siblings suffer and eventually, say goodbye. At the twilight of his working career and having been successful in his own ways, he considers his being a part of this noble undertaking as the “Icing in the Cake” and, together with his foundation partners, he considers this opportunity as a blessing, a “Payback Time for All Graces That Our Creator Has given Him”. Kitz is the Vice President and Corporate Secretary and concurrently heads the support services group of the foundation.
Atty. Ophelia N. Almenario, BSMT, CPA, LLB
Atty Ophelia is the most accomplished member of the Way Maker Foundation team. She has served the Philippine government for 33 years in various capacities throughout her professional career most of which were devoted to providing support assistance and welfare services to overseas Filipino workers as Legal Officer at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head office. In 2009, she was deployed as Welfare Officer to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She honed her government accounting skills as Regional Accountant of DENR Regional Office 08 for 5 years after which she transferred to OWWA Regional Welfare Office 08 for which she served as Regional Accountant for another 5 years.
After passing the Bar in 1998, she moved to the OWWA Head Office where she served as Legal Officer for 10 years. She was involved in the management of resolution of disputes and assisted Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) resolve their complaints against their Philippine recruitment agencies through conciliation proceedings and by providing legal advice whenever necessary. She likewise conducted legal research and issued legal opinions on matters concerning rights and obligations of OFWs and their dependents. Previous to these, she had engaged in the limited practice of Law as reviewer of law subjects and as law professor at the Arellano Law School and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay for 8 years in the field of taxation and commercial law.
After 20 years of working with the OWWA, she transferred to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and was appointed Labor Attache II in July 2014. She was deployed to Abu Dhabi as Head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office from August 2014 to November 2018. Her mandate was to provide the assistance and services needed by our overseas Filipino workers to protect their rights and promote their welfare. Towards this end, she focused on the following key areas: employment protection and facilitation, provision of welfare services, skills enhancement and other training programs, employment promotion and market development and establish linkages with the host government, relevant foreign embassies/consulates, international organizations, non-government institutions and the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi.
She is currently the Legal Consultant of the foundation.
Laila Q. Alsaeed
Laila, one of the younger members of the foundation’s original incorporators, is a successful Pilot with ETIHAD Airways, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She finished her Aviation Science degree from Abu Dhabi University in 2016. A self-motivated professional, Layla possesses excellent organizational and time-management skills and counts her excellent communication skills as one of her greatest assets. Born to a Filipina mother and an Emirati father, Laila is a representation of the rich combination of diversified cultures. She is chiefly responsible for bridging the foundation’s networks internationally, mainly United Arab Emirates and is the Executive Vice President for International Relations. Layla brings with her the enthusiasm and positive aura of the youth and with her innovative way of thinking, she is being counted upon to help the foundation reach greater heights.
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