First Things First
In the Summer of 2003, 34 Pilipino American participants of Tagalog on Site started a fund to provide physical therapy for the children of Madapdap in the Philippines. As toxic waste victims, these children suffer from conditions including congenital heart disease, leukemia and cerebral palsy.

Prior to the physical therapy sessions these children have never received regular medical attention.

It is Kamay at Puso’s goal to support and empower the Madapdap community by providing medical assistance and financial support for their community in the Philippines, while educating people about their struggle throughout the United States and beyond.

Collaboration
In addition to these central functions, Kamay at Puso is also playing a supporting role with the development of a social entreprenuership program for the children’s parents. Through the gracious leadership of Susan Quimpo, George Chiu and Gaiya Beyer, this “livelihood project” has been instrumental in educating the Madapdap mothers in creating originally cultivated products from the Philippines. Examples include beautiful pieces of jewelry that can be distributed in the marketplace, creating revenues that will help the center be self-sustaining.

The members of kamay at puso have created this site to help spread awareness and to keep Friends of Kamay at Puso updated for upcoming events. If you are interested in supporting a good cause we would love to add you as a Friend of Kamay at Puso.

History
When Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, it left the surrounding towns uninhabitable and covered in lahar (ash). As a solution, the Philippines government relocated the town’s communities to a former United States military base. They were placed in CABCOM, a former motor pool and site of toxic waste dumping. As a result of this dumping, the water supply system of CABCOM was contaminated with deadly toxins. These toxins were an everyday reality for the people of CABCOM, who had no choice but to consume it with their drinking water. These toxins went on to cause serious birth defects, still-births, leukemia, skin diseases, and mental disabilities. In response, the Philippine government has moved this community out of CABCOM and into a local town of Madapdap.

Despite the move, the people of Madapdap, especially the children, continue to suffer. While neither the U.S. nor the Philippine governments are willing to take responsibility for the effects of these toxins, they continue to spread into the water systems of neighboring towns, including Madapdap.

Accomplishments
After three years of work, Kamay at Puso has received public recognition. In August 2006, Kamay at Puso received a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles City Council President, Eric Garcetti. KAP was also recognized for the 2006 Gerald L. Phillippe Award, General Electric Company’s most prestigious public service award given every two years.