About Us

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

(based on an essay and interview by Ambassador Howard Q. Dee, November 23, 1930 – August 21, 2024) As the Assisi Development Foundation prepares to mark its golden anniversary in 2025, it is fitting to return to the moment of its birth—to remember the storm out of which this quiet force for justice and peace first emerged. The year was 1975. The Philippines was caught in a whirlwind of upheaval. Martial Law had just been declared. Civil liberties were curtailed. Political dis