Testimonies from Staff

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.

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