“Kumilos Kaibigan”: The Spirit of the Madeline Delp Advocacy

“Kumilos Kaibigan” is the spirit behind Wheelchair Foundation Grant 2019 to Rotary International District 7670 USA – District 3810 Philippines with the support of Live Boundless Foundation

PDG William “Bill” Biddle is the GSE Team Leader 2009-10 from RID 7670 who developed a 10-year long friendship with his counterpart PP Raymond Ciriaco the GSE Team Leader from RID 3810 that led to his “I shall return to the Philippines” promise which he fulfilled 9 times. The year that he was District Governor, RY 2017-2018, he was unable to visit so he invited PP Raymond Ciriaco to be a speaker in his District Conference 2018. In this conference, he also invited as keynote speaker. Ms. Wheelchair USA 2017 Madeline Delp who is also from Asheville, North Carolina. In that conference, after her inspiring message Ms. Madeline Delp sat next to PP Raymond Ciriaco who asked her, “Have you been to the Philippines?” and her reply to him was, “No, but I would love to!” and this led Bill Biddle and Madeline through her own foundation, “Live Boundless”.

Since the Group Study Exchange of RY 2009-2010, Bill Biddle found every reason for his return:

Became Honorary Member of RC Pasay Cyber City, District 3810, Metro Manila in June 2010.

Returned to District 3810 in March 2011. Participated in Feeding Project in Manila and a Feeding Project at Akap Bata in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Wheelchair Distribution Team Member to District 3820 in Laguna Province, District 3800 in San Juan West, and District 3790 in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines, May 2012. During this distribution, our team delivered wheelchairs to residents of Smokey Mountain which is the large city dump in Manila.

Team Leader, Wheelchair Distribution, District 3780, RC Cubao West and District 3820, RC Lucena South, August and September 2013. Following wheelchair distribution, interfaced with RC Manila South and participated in Feeding Projects and Dental Education Clinics to children of indigent communities in Metro Manila.

Team Leader, Rotary Friendship Exchange to District 3810, Metro Manila, Philippines, March, 2014. Following the Friendship Exchange, traveled to Tacloban, Leyte and Cebu to assess need for wheelchairs. Visited a total of five municipalities and Tacloban in Leyte. In Cebu, met with DG Ed Chongbion, District 3860, and President Tess Beltran Chan, Cebu Chamber of Commerce to assess wheelchair need for Bantayan Island.

Partnered with RC Cabuyao Circle, District 3820 to supply new shoes for elementary school students in Sta. Rosa, Laguna Province, Philippines.

Provided annual financial support to 5 children in Antimonan, Quezon Province, Philippines who lost their father many years ago. Contributed funds necessary for the children to receive their education.

Funded a Literacy Project to an elementary school in Iligan Bay. Purchased text books for Academic Year 2013 for students in the 8th grade. Total of 53 books purchased. Worked with Rtn Mercy S Gomez, Teacher and member of RC Iligan Bay, District 3870.

Contribute annually to LYN Charities, Manila. This program provides food to street children in Metro Manila, Philippines. Non-Rotary Project.

Team Leader, Wheelchair Distribution to District 3820, February 2016, in Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, Lipa, LucenaCity, Sariaya, Tayabas, Atimonan, Naga and Daet.

Joint Service Project with Rotary Club of Pasay Cyber City, District 3810, Philippines to benefit indigent children. Books and Literacy.

After his term as District Governor, PDG Bill Biddle with Lady Joanne Biddle returned last year 2018 to stand as principal sponsor to the wedding of GSE 2010 team member Rtn. Jacqueline Corpuz-Cloma which makes him “Kapuso, Kapatid, Kapamilya at Kumpare” to PP Raymond Ciriaco.

Upon consulting with all his local counterparts from other districts who received wheelchairs from PDG Bill Biddle’s efforts, PP Rayms determined that the cost of just bringing in a 40-foot high cube container of about 300 wheelchairs after duties and taxes even after it’s been paid for is a whooping P450,000. Discouraged, he had to tell PDG Bill that “it’s too much” for which he replied, “I’ve given to 8 out of the 10 districts in the Philippines and I will make this happen for 3810”.

PDG Bill Biddle and District 7670 raised $16,750 from among its generous rotarians and Live Boundless Foundation fundraiser raised the other $16,500 which was matched by The Wheelchair Foundation grant who gave $21,000 for a total of $54,250. The Wheelchair Grant team 2019 led by PDG Bill Biddle included DGE G. Davit Waecther also from District 7670, Live Boundless Foundation COO Ms Madeline Delp together with Drew Lace and Matt Reese.

The Wheelchair Grant 2019 team arrived October 5 and will leave on October 19 after their distribution missions in Manila, Pasay, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro. The 100-year old Rotary Club of Manila, the first and biggest in Asia, invited Ms. Madeline Delp to be their speaker on October 10, 2019 through the efforts of PP Alvin Lacambacal and PP Romy Nones.