1. When was Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc. established?
Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc. (or simply Tanging Yaman) was registered as a non-profit Philippine organization in 1996.
2. What prompted the establishment of Tanging Yaman then?
In 1992, Fr. Manoling--or Fr. Mano, as he is fondly called--performed his liturgical compositions with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, various artists and choirs. Their first beneficiary was the Alagad ni Maria Youth Center, Infanta, Quezon. Since then, Fr. Mano would stage similar yearly concerts and donate the proceeds to a selected beneficiary. To facilitate the work of raising funds through such concerts, Tanging Yaman was established.
3. Who were some of the beneficiaries then?
Major concerts were staged almost yearly until Fr. Mano left for graduate studies in the USA in 2000. Aside from the Alagad ni Maria, some of the beneficiaries were:
- Sibol Hesus of Mr. Onofre Pagsanghan
- Ateneo de Manila University Scholarship Fund
- Holy Spirit Alumnae Association
- School of Living Tradition, Baguio City
- St. Joseph’s Mission, Kiangan, Ifugao
- Christian Life Community
4. What has happened since then?
Tanging Yaman was inactive from 2000-05 while Fr. Mano pursued graduate studies in the USA. Upon returning to the Philippines in 2005, he gathered several of his friends to re-launch the Tanging Yaman.
In December 2004, four consecutive major typhoons hit the Philippines, devastating Quezon Province and the Bikol Region, among others. Fr. Manoling emailed as many of his friends in the USA to send their donations for Bikol and Infanta through him. While he hoped to raise 2000-3000 USD, to his surprise, so many people responded to his email appeal that his volunteers of Filipino graduate students in Boston and he were able to send more than 750K PhP to Bikol and Infanta.
Most donations were of small denominations--$10, $20, $50. Fr. Mano realized that there is so much goodwill among Pinoys in the US, which has not been tapped yet. So many people in the US want to help Pinoys back home but do not know how to help and how to send their help.
Fr. Mano organized a group of Filipino consultants across the US to help him jumpstart the new Tanging Yaman. Upon returning to the Philippines in 2005, he gathered several friends to help reactivate Tanging Yaman and pursue its new thrust.
5. What is the new thrust of Tanging Yaman?
- To help create a culture of giving.
- One need not be a millionaire to be able to help others. Everyone can do a little to help others in greater need.
- To bridge those who are willing to give with those in need.
- Tanging Yaman is a conduit organization that links donors with beneficiaries (NGOs, parishes, schools, etc.).
- To encourage people...
a. to give according to their capacity
A family can pledge perhaps P500/mo. or a fresh graduate P200/mo.
b. to choose their beneficiary
Tanging Yaman will link with as many NGOs, parishes, schools as possible, which have worthwhile projects that others might want to support. A prayer group might want to support a seminarian; a mountaineers’ club a reforestation project; a group of elementary school children an endangered species.
c. to choose their mode of payment or support
Tanging Yaman will provide all the mechanisms available so donors can send their donations in whatever mode they are most comfortable with--cash, check, credit card, text, internet, etc.
5. Do Tanging Yaman projects have a more specific coverage?
We have five areas of concern:
Children’s Basic Needs
Education and Formation
Environment and Livelihood
Relief and Rehabilitation
Care for the Elderly and Infirm
7. Who are some of our beneficiaries?
a. Children’s Basic Needs
Children in Payatas Feeding Center
Children in SPED-Cainta Elementary School
Students in Miarayon Elementary School, Bukidnon (indigenous children)
Students in Apu Palamguwan, Bukidnon (indigenous children)
Public school children in Camarines Sur
b. Education and Formation
Scholars in almost every region of the country
c. Environment and Livelihood
Mangrove planting in Naga, Camarines Sur
Reforestation in Placer, Surigao del Norte
Fishing Boats for 40 families in Legazpi, Albay
Farming Capital for 40 families in Legazpi, Albay
d. Relief and Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of 200+ houses in Sabang, Naga and Buhi, Camarines Sur, and in Legazpi and Camalig, Albay
Rehabilitation of 5 chapels in Camarines Sur
Housing and Chapel Rehabilitation in Iling Island, Occidental Mindoro
e. Care for the Elderly and Infirm
Chindunan and Alulad communities in Culion, Palawan
8. How can people help Tanging Yaman?
Our volunteers are called Christotokoi or Christ-bearers. They bring Jesus to others through:
a. Monetary donations (via cash, checks, credit cards, Internet, and cell. phones)
b. Volunteer work (accounting, marketing, organizing, etc.)
c. Networking (promoting Tanging Yaman among friends, hosting fund-raising affairs among contacts)
d. Providing their professional services (as doctors, lawyers, etc.)
9. What are the future plans and hopes of Tanging Yaman?
To expand our network of donors and beneficiaries in the Philippines
To set up networks of donors among Filipinos in the USA, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, etc.