Construction progress as of May 14, 2012. Target completion for Summer 2012.

ABOVE: View of the rear side of the construction with column ready to be poured.

This elevation is facing Maginoo St. or the Front Side of the building. Two footings and two columns already poured. Also shown is the top of Septic Tank (with blue drums on top) completely concreted.

A view of the rear side showing installed concrete hollow blocks wall to prevent erosion of the adjacent property.

This picture shows an interior column and another one at rear side ready for concreting.

Another shot at the rear side showing the compelted Cistern Tank, the raised CHB wall and the concreted columns.

This is another shot along the Front Side showing the two completed columns and the top of Cistern Tank.

JDVSF board members Lizelle Salvador and Hugo Banziger visited the St. Martin de Porres home for children (SMDP) and the site of the half-way house in Tondo, Manila.

The village continues to grow and received its 97^th child last month. They were happy to see that the children are making good progress – three of the children graduated from high school the week before their arrival. Two more graduated the week after from Don Bosco, where they received vocational training in engineering.

When they arrived, fish harvesting was in full swing. The Pangasius, a local Dori fish, is being sold to local markets. A small truck comes to the children’s village regularly to pick them up. Going forward, they will breed Tilapia, which fetch a higher price. The first Tilapias were put into two of the four fishponds.

In Tondo, they met Engineers Onie and Rey and saw that all drilling and piling work has been successfully completed. The deep piles will make the building safe from earthquakes. In addition, construction work has begun with the building of the first of two cesspools. While the very wet season has delayed some work, completion is still on schedule and expected for October or November.

Children perform for board members after lunch

Engineer Onie, Board member Lizelle, Engineer Reynaldo Faminial and Board member Hugo Banziger in front of the finished pile in Tondo.

The future visitors center

Preparing banana leaves, which serve as plates, for the children's lunch

JDVSF founder Lizelle Salvador with two SMDP children

The finished pile at the Tondo site

During the recent board visit in March, fish harvesting was in full swing. The Pangasius, a local Dori fish, is being sold to local markets. A small truck comes to the children’s village regularly to pick them up. Going forward, they will breed Tilapia, which fetch a higher price. The first Tilapias were put into two of the four fishponds.

Construction site for the halfway home

Drilling work has begun for building the half-way house in Tondo, Manila, which will support graduates of SMDP who are pursuing education and work opportunities in the city. “This is another exciting step closer to realizing our vision, and I’m looking forward to seeing the construction progress during my visit this spring,” says JDVSF chair Lizelle Salvador.

Construction workers preparing for drilling

The children are enjoying a nutritious diet thanks to the expanded pig farm, which is now a regular source of meat for them. Of the 40 young pigs in May 2011, SMDP kept 10 females and the litter of one of them. The rest were butchered and a few pigs were sold to the market. A pig usually provides meat for three days for children and adult helpers.

In addition, the four students sponsored by JDSF are all making good progress. Two passed their entrance exams, one is already in his second year of accounting at college and the last is working on his English to pass the entrance exam in spring 2012.

The SMDP guesthouse “Basco” and the last of the six cottages have been built (painted bright pink). Basco can accommodate up to 14 guests, and currently houses students from the Netherlands and Australia who are doing their practical field work at SMDP.

“We are excited at accomplishing so much at the beginning of the new year,” says JDVSF chair Lizelle Salvador. “I can’t wait to see how our wonderful progress will help our children succeed in 2012.”

The children perform the Christmas story

A group of girls danced to “Feliz Navidad,” while the youngest boys performed a break dancing routine in oversized white baseball hats. There was also a choir who sang “Silent Night” and a play that recreated the shepherds on the holy night when they found Jesus. The light in the big dining hall Comedor was switched off, and kids marked the moving morning star with torchlights. Boys wearing Arab headgear played the shepherds and the youngest acting as the holy child clapped his hands in the crib when the shepherds arrived.

The fabulous festivities were followed by a delicious Christmas meal and a movie for the older children – the younger had to go to bed after dinner.

The boys performance

Dancing

Board Members Sign for First Down Payment

JDVSF Board Members Sign for First Down Payment

The Tondo Site Cleared and Ready for Construction

St. Martin de Porres children have happily returned to school. JDVSF’s partnership with Angelicum College in the Philippines will allow them to finish their formal education.

The children are participating in Angelicum College’s home-study based Re-entry Education Alternatives for the Poor (REAP) Program. While older students are provided with printed study materials, younger ones who can’t read are instructed by a teacher whose salary is funded by JDVSF. Volunteer facilitators from the college are assigned to administer achievement tests to ensure quality learning, to conduct consultation with the students if they have difficulty in the lesson, and to facilitate the learning of the difficult parts of the lessons.