World Vision Philippines is celebrating its 65th anniversary by launching an inspiring book that features the stories of some of the child-aid organization’s sponsored children through the years.
The book ‘The Day My Life Changed’ is a compilation of inspiring stories of successful professionals who look back at how once being a sponsored child of World Vision helped improve and transform their lives. The book was formally launched on December 6 through a memorable and heart-warming gathering held at Robinsons’ Galleria in Quezon City.
Commodore Armand Balilo, a one-star General and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, is among those who shared inspiring stories through the book. He used to be a rice cake seller in his childhood days. “Years back, I was the one who needed to be saved and rescued. I grew up in a community where poverty and misery were a norm,” Commodore Balilo recalled.
From left to right: World Vision National Director Rommel Fuerte, Former World Vision sponsored child and Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo, and World Vision Resource Development Director Jun Godornes
“I was selling rice cakes to put food on the table and there were times when I would attend Sunday school shirtless. One day, a World Vision project staff approached me and that day changed my life. My wonderful sponsors gave me the opportunity to create a better life for myself and my family,” he added.
World Vision now help about 1.5 million vulnerable children—partly through the generous support of donors and former sponsored children who have already become successful professionals on their own.
“Thanks to our supporters, many of our children have been able to write their own life stories. I am passionate to see many more stories of transformation being written by our sponsors and their sponsored children,” said World Vision Philippines National Director Rommel Fuerte.
“We hope that through this book, we find reflected in these pages God’s wonderful plan for our lives, enclosed with a prayer for our hearts the will to make it so,” Fuerte added.
World Vision representatives and former sponsored children graced the book launch of ‘The Day My Life Changed’
Fuerte himself has been sponsoring children with World Vision for more than 25 years now. He revealed that he started with the ground programs of the organization. Now, as the group’s National Director he guides World Vision Philippines through leading strategies and emergency response efforts of the organization in 16 countries. He also serves as a member of some of World Vision International’s committees—including those targeting climate change that affects all children across the globe.
Award-winning broadcast journalist and World Vision sponsor Karen Davila wrote the book’s foreword, relating how her life also changed when she became a child sponsor and how she has been actively helping in the transformation of the organization to help more children from the most vulnerable local communities.
To know how to avail of the book, visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s social media pages (@worldvisionph).
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