Hope Through Nourishment

Since 2009, Risen Savior Missions has had the privilege of working alongside Ambassador Howard Q. Dee and Benjie Abadiano of the Assisi Development Foundation. Through Hapag-Asa, our collaboration has provided over 150 million Feed My Starving Children meals to malnourished and starving children across the Philippines. These meals have been nothing short of life-saving miracles, restoring children’s health, enabling them to attend school, graduate, and lead productive lives. Families have been empowered to start businesses, uplift others, and share God’s love with their children. These transformative outcomes are just a few of the hallmarks of our enduring partnership with Assisi.

One of our most significant joint initiatives was the MARINEL (Marinduque Integrated Nutrition, Education, and Livelihood) program on the island of Marinduque. In partnership with the Most Rev. Marcelino Antonio M. Maralit Jr. of the Diocese of Boac, we reduced malnutrition rates from 26% to just 1.75% in only five years—saving over 73,000 people from the devastating effects of malnutrition.

This is just one example of the many impactful projects made possible through our collaboration with Hapag-Asa and the Assisi Development Foundation. Whether responding to natural disasters like typhoons and mudslides or nurturing faith formation in children hearing about Jesus for the first time, Assisi has been a vital force in our holistic mission.

Our work together brings to mind these words from Scripture: “Amen, amen, I say to you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and indeed will do even greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12, New Catholic Bible)

On this momentous occasion, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ambassador Howard Q. Dee, Benjie Abadiano, and the entire Assisi Development Foundation family on your 50th anniversary. Your unwavering commitment to serving the poor has been a profound blessing to Risen Savior Missions. We look forward to continuing this partnership and witnessing the even greater works that lie ahead.