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As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Assisi Development Foundation, we do so with both joy and a profound sense of loss. With deep gratitude, we remember the visionary leadership and boundless compassion of our beloved founder and chairman, the late Ambassador Howard Q. Dee. His name is woven into the very soul of Assisi Development Foundation. A man of unwavering faith, immense love, and relentless action, Amb. Dee dedicated his life to serving the poor and disadvanta

In July 1975, nearly three years after the declaration of Martial Law, the government’s promise of a progressive new society remained unfulfilled. It was in this climate of uncertainty that Howard Q. Dee (HQD) and Fr. Fritz Araneta founded the Assisi Development Foundation (ADF) to pursue development programs focused on the poor. Over the past five decades, ADF has implemented a wide range of initiatives, which includes sustainable agriculture, educational assistance, child n

I first learned about Assisi when my late father, Rolando Lumibao, worked during the Tabang Mindanao period as a lead man in the installation of community water systems. As a fresh graduate in civil engineering, I asked him if I could join the team as an apprentice—simply to experience what it was like to work in this field. That experience changed my life. Initially, I aspired to build structures like buildings, bridges, and roads—just as most engineers do. However, working

What has drawn and motivated me to work with Assisi all these years is its sincere commitment to achieving just and lasting peace through concrete development initiatives in poor and disadvantaged communities across the country. My first exposure to Assisi’s mission was through Ambassador Howard Dee, one of our mentors at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). Ambassador Dee consistently emphasized the deep connection between peace and developmen

One of my most memorable experiences in social development work was my direct involvement in Assisi’s Hapag-Asa  feeding program. While I enjoyed finance, HR, and administrative work—particularly development finance—the fulfillment of serving undernourished children was different. Knowing that, in some small way, I made a difference in their lives gave me an extraordinary spiritual high, as it allowed me to follow Jesus’ command to feed the hungry. My journey with Assisi bega

Working at ADF for 21 years is far from ordinary—it is both demanding and deeply meaningful. Being one of the program coordinators for Indigenous Program, I carry significant responsibilities and face countless challenges. Providing communities with access to clean water for drinking and agriculture. My journey with Assisi taught me that true transformation goes beyond resources—it requires collaboration, trust, and shared commitment.  This work is not always smooth sailing.

As we celebrate the 50th year of the Assisi Development Foundation , we are invited to reflect with profound gratitude, humility, and renewed resolve for service. Assisi was born not merely as an organization, but as a shared mission between two friends—Fr. Francis Araneta, SJ and Ambassador Howard Q. Dee—who, in the turmoil of the 1970s and under Martial Law, made a bold, faith-rooted response against poverty and inequality in the Philippines. What started as a partnership g

As Assisi Development Foundation (ADF) marks its 50th year, the organization finds itself at a threshold moment—a time to honor its legacy of loving service while preparing to meet the demands of an uncertain but promising future. Over the past five decades, ADF has faithfully stood alongside the poor, the marginalized, and the excluded, responding with compassion, creativity, and a steadfast spirit of solidarity. Yet today’s world presents shifting social patterns, new forms

On the breezy morning of November 16, 2022, I found myself back in the Ayta Community of Maguisguis, Botolan, Zambales. Our work with Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines began here after the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the century. Now, more than three decades later, after expanding our work to the Visayas and Mindanao, we have returned to Zambales. While we are supporting new barangays, the challenges remain the same—land insecur

Amazing! Who would have thought that I would be part of the Assisi family for almost 33 years? It all began on December 18, 1992, when the management and staff of Bahay Maria were invited to Assisi’s Annual Thanksgiving Party. At the time, I was volunteering at Bahay Maria, and I felt fortunate to be part of the celebration.  By January 1993, I was invited by Ms. Vicky Borres, Assisi’s Office Administrator, to work with the foundation as a member  of the finance team. Being p

What was meant to be a temporary leave of absence from Assumption-Iloilo, turned into an unexpected yet deeply fulfilling journey with the Assisi Development Foundation, Inc. It all began on April 16, 1986. I started as a volunteer, distributing Ave Maria  magazines alongside Fr. Prass, OMI, who was then assigned at San Lazaro Hospital. Together with Amalia, our longtime housekeeper, we went door-to-door promoting the magazine. In my head, I could hear the famous Electrolux  

The friendship of Ambassador Howard Dee and Edgardo “Gado” Jalandoni began in the early 1980s during the sugar crisis in Negros Occidental. With the Assisi Development Foundation (ADFI), the Chito Foundation, and the Canadian Mission Administered Fund, they launched PLOW (Planters in Land Ownership with Workers), an innovative program granting sugar workers access to land ownership. Gado’s generosity was remarkable—he turned over his entire 450-hectare farm in La Castellana t

The National Retreat for Priests (NRP 2023) was held on November 7–9, 2023, in Cebu City with the theme, “Priesthood: A Call to Holiness.”  It was a collaborative effort of Marian Solidarity, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Clergy, the Archdiocese of Cebu, and CHARIS Philippines. Through the initiatives of Marian Solidarity, represented by Carmela and Victoria Borres, Sister Briege McKenna, OSC, and Fr. Pablo de Romani were invited to facilitate the retreat. The CBCP Epi

Milo Abellano’s journey from adversity to independence is a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of second chances. Hailing from Sula, Bacay, Albay, Milo’s story began in Cavite, where he worked as a factory laborer and later as an air conditioning technician at the Manila Peninsula. Despite his hard work and high school education, Milo struggled to achieve financial stability, earning just 200 pesos a day. In 2021, Milo’s life took an unexpect

As the Assisi Development Foundation (ADF) celebrates 50 years of dedicated service to Filipino society, we honor our impactful four-year partnership with Kalipay Negrense Foundation, Inc., which began in 2021. This collaboration emerged at a critical time during the pandemic when Kalipay faced dwindling sponsorships and donations. ADF’s support ensured that Kalipay could continue its mission—welcoming abused, abandoned, and neglected children and providing them with essentia

Bahay Maria, Inc. has evolved over 42 years, but its foundation remains rooted in the Assisi Program, named by founder Amb. Howard Q. Dee. In 1990, Carmela and Vicky Borres took residence in the "Home of Mary" at 95 Amapola St., Bel-Air 3, Makati City, marking a significant chapter in its mission. In 1983, following Ninoy Aquino’s death, Howard Dee and the Rosary Movement, led by His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, proposed to the CBCP a Marian Year (1984-1985). Bahay Maria serv

In 2021, Assisi Development Foundation (ADF) was introduced to us through an orientation meeting with our local chief executive, department heads, and local partners. During the meeting, we learned that ADF is a social development organization focused on supporting poor and vulnerable communities, especially Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Before ADF’s involvement, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Madalag did not have any specific programs or projects for IP communities, and the

After nearly four years with the Assisi Development Foundation (ADF), I have witnessed firsthand its profound impact on the growth of indigenous leaders and their communities in Himamaylan City. As a Community Facilitator for the Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples (PIP) Program, a collaboration between ADF and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Himamaylan, I have seen remarkable transformation in the lives of many community members. Before the PIP Program, many indigenous l

The Local Government Unit of Botolan wholeheartedly recognizes and appreciates the invaluable contributions of the Assisi Development Foundation, Inc. (ADFI) to our municipality, particularly in advancing land and livelihood (L&L) initiatives in the eastern barangays. Every program has been carefully tailored to address the specific needs and aspirations of our communities. This inclusive approach, built on extensive consultations and dialogues with diverse tribal clans and f

As a former Assisi scholar and now a partner in implementing Assisi Development Foundation Inc. (ADFI) programs at the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk (AVT), I am deeply grateful for this remarkable institution. My journey reminds me of the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “You should never praise anyone until you see how he turns out in the end.” ADFI’s scholarship support during its partnership with the International Association for Transformation (IAT) played a crucial role in