Habitat Presence

Finally, I was able to see, first hand, what Habitat for Humanity is all about. Last Thursday morning, together with Paul Garilao and Angel Tiong, we joined the NWA team for a house-building program at St. Hannibal Community in Pasay City.

Habitat was founded in 1976 by Milliard and Linda Fuller in Americus, Georgia. And in 1996, U.S. President Bill Clinton awarded the Fullers, the nation’s highest civilian honor, Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Clinton called Habitat the most successful continuous community service project in the history of the United States.

By 2005, Habitat had built its 200,000th house outside the United States.

In 2008 Habitat for Humanity celebrated the 25th annual building project with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter and called it The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Their hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

I remember a few years ago, even before our presence in Vietnam, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter had visited the Philippines to spread the word about Habitat. The former president had been involved with Habitat for many many years, after his presidency in the mid-70s. He had actually built houses.

Today, the St. Hannibal Community would benefit from the efforts of the volunteers.

Photos by Gil Velez