Adversity often bears fruit, and this is exactly how the humble beginnings of the Philippine Hearts and Hopes Society (PHHOSO) came to be. The organization, now with big dreams and an even bigger vision of rallying round Filipino American communities around the globe, morphed from one woman’s anguish into a prolific organization aimed at lending a hand to less fortunate people in the Philippines.

           Founded in February and was formally launched in July 2004 by Nena L. Kaufman, a Filipina immigrant of New York, New York, the society’s existence is traced to the untimely death of Ms. Kaufman’s mother. Dear mother’s life could have been saved had an emergency vehicle been provided to transport her to the nearest hospital. It took an hour on board a motorcycle darting on a rough road to transport her ailing mother to a neighboring hospital instead of utilizing the comfort of an ambulance which could have probably administered the patient with an emergency medical aid appropriate for a heart ailment while on board. The same fate was suffered by Nena’s only brother who died at the age of 66 and later by her neighbor.

           The string of similar tragedies brought forth also the idea of putting a foundation sometime in February in honor of Ms. Kaufman’s brother, Ernesto, the Ernesto Corvera Lozada Foundation, Inc. (ECL Foundation, Inc.) after PHHOSO was formed. An initial fund of P 1,000,000.00 pesos was thereafter readily made available by Ms. Kaufman as a legal financial requirement for said foundation aimed at making it as a conduit for the charity works of PHHOSO in the Philippines. This was a pledge she made good during her brother's burial and to the people of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, a little known town in Southern Mindanao, Philippines – a relentless effort in helping her community via a provision of transportation for medical emergencies.

           The commitment of PHHOSO did not end with a mere P 1,000,000.00 pesos for the ECL Foundation. It organized its first fund raising activity by bringing ten (10) Phil-Am philanthropists and other guests who doled out a total of more or less $7,000 in one night which thereafter reached an aggregate of more or less $16,000 pledges. This helped PHHOSO to purchase the much needed emergency response vehicle and providing  10 scholars to the town of San Agustin surigao Del sur.

           PHHOSO and the ECL foundation do not stop here. It finds purpose wherever poverty is pervasive, where medical care is impossible, where education is not sustainable. It continues to grow in places where help is not an option, but an obligation. Thank you for your continued support!