Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, Inc. is a private, non-profit child and family welfare organization duly licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and certified as a donee institution by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification.
The organization’s name, Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, stands for oneness within the family and meaningful life for the children it serves.
KBF’s VisionEvery Child Deserves |
KBF’s MissionFamily Preservation |
Objectives:1. Ensure that a family is given the chance to remain whole and is able to keep their children. 2. Promote the return of the child to the birth family. 3. Advocate for the nurturance and protection of children and for them to have a family of their own. 4. Provide professional social services for the development of children, women, families and community. 5. Develop dynamic and productive partnerships in the field of child, family and community welfare and development with government and non-government agencies. |
KBF History
Kaisahang Buhay Foundation Inc. (KBF) came into being in 1975 as a branch of Holt International Children’s Services, Inc.
Holt International was founded in 1955 by Harry and Bertha Holt in Eugene, Oregon, USA as a child welfare organization whose mission is Christian-inspired service – reaching out to different countries where children need help. Harry Holt institutionalized Holt’s vision: “Every child deserves a permanent loving family of his/her own.”
In 1976, Holt International Children’s Services Philippines was renamed Family and Child Services of the Philippines.
KBF’s identity – In 1977, the name Kaisahang Buhay Foundation was adopted to give the organization a Filipino identity. KBF became operational as an associate agency of Holt in the Philippines on December 10, 1977.
In 1979, the Foundation was licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a social welfare agency.
Founders – The members of the original Board of Trustees were Ms. Juana S. Silverio (Chairperson), Judge Leonor-Ines Luciano, Prof. Josefina D. Pineda, Ms. Teresita L. Silva and Mr. Emmet K. Turner. Mr. Turner also served as the first Executive Director.
Executive Directors – In 1977, Mr. Emmet Turner returned to Holt’s General Headquarters in Oregon, and Ms. Ester Gajo took over the Executive Director position. In 1988, Mrs. Gloria Gonzalez Lim assumed the position of Executive Director which she held until May 1999, when she was succeeded by the current Executive Director, Mrs. Rosario B. dela Rosa who served as Executive Director from 1999 to 2016.
Program Directors – Mrs. Minnie Dacanay served as KBF’s Program Director from 1976 to 1986, when she was recruited by Holt USA to serve as Program Director for the Philippines and later for Thailand, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
Mrs. Gloria Gonzalez Lim served concurrently as KBF’s Program Director during her term as Executive Director from 1988 to 1999.
KBF Offices – Originally located in a rented office in the Cardinal Bldg., Pedro Gil St., Malate, Manila, KBF transferred to its present headquarters on 10th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City on February 11, 1984. This building is fully owned by the Foundation, and underwent a major renovation in July to October 2015.
History of KBF’s Services
[For full details of each service, please visit Our Services section]
In 1979, the Foundation was licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as a social welfare agency. On December 12, 1983, it was accredited as a Child Placing Agency—making KBF the first non-government organization in the Philippines to be licensed to implement Domestic Adoption. In 1990, KBF spearheaded the formation of the Adoptive Parents Support Group (APSG) among families who had adopted children through the Foundation. Later called the Adoptive Families Foundation (AFF). The group became increasingly active in conducting talks on adoption-related issues, hosting social events for adoptive families, and even participating in the formulation of the Domestic Adoption Act of 1998.
In 1984, third to DSWD and CRIBS, KBF started its Foster Care Service. This was inspired by KBF’s belief that foster care—with its individualized care in a family environment—is far more beneficial for a child than institutional care.
Also beginning in 1984 to the present, KBF has served as the conduit for Holt International Children’s Services, Inc. Sponsorship Program in the Philippines. The Foundation coordinates with government and non-government child caring agencies which are beneficiaries of monthly grants from Holt to help improve the quality of service to children in their care.
KBF’s Service for Single Mothers began in 1987 with the opening of “Bahay ni Maria,” a home for single mothers, which was housed in a rented residence on Montreal St., Cubao, Quezon City. In 1991, the home transferred to its permanent address owned by the Foundation in Project 4, Quezon City, and was renamed Nazareth Home. A Birthing Program at Nazareth Home was set up in 2006 by Jo Ann de Larrazabal (volunteer childbirth educator) and Bernadette Nolasco (mid-wife) to provide the pregnant mothers with an option to birth their babies in a caring, safe and nurturing home environment. In the seven years (2006-2013) it was operational, 130 babies were safely delivered in the Home. Using the Upright and Active method, the home birth experience empowered mothers and gave babies the best start in life.
KBF’s Day Care Service also began in 1987 with a center housed in its Cubao office. In 1995, KBF transferred its Day Care Center to Barangay Escopa 3, Project 4, Quezon City with funding assistance from Les Amis des Enfants du Monde (AEM) of France and Wereldkinderen of the Netherlands. Since then, KBF has opened additional Day Care Centers in Barangay Escopa 2 (1998) under the sponsorship of Holt International Children’s Services; in Barangay Milagrosa (1999) under Wereldkinderen, eventually taken over by the barangay council; a second center in Barangay Escopa 3 (2000), in Barangay Escopa 1 (2002) with initial funding from Rotary Club Murphy, later taken on by AEM; in Barangay Duyan-Duyan in Project 3, Quezon City (2006), sponsored by Wereldkinderen; and in Barangay Industrial Valley Complex, Marikina City (2007).
From 1988 to 1996, KBF operated two cottages in the Boys Town Complex in Marikina City, giving support to 40 boys for their board and lodging and sending them to school.
This experience led to the establishment of KBF’s Independent Living and Educational Assistance (ILEA) service in 2000. The ILEA seeks to address the special situation of youths in institutions who have no prospects of being adopted, and therefore need to be prepared for independent living as adults.
In 1999, KBF initiated the Family and Community Outreach Service in five barangays in Quezon City, namely, Escopa 1, 2, 3, 4 and Milagrosa. This service organizes seminars on effective parenting and values education, skills training, and income generating projects for parents of KBF’s day care children and other disadvantaged parents in these areas.
FOUNDING ORGANIZATION & MAJOR SPONSOR AGENCY:
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HOLT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S SERVICESHolt International is a Christian organization committed to expressing God’s compassion for children. While always upholding the highest ethical standards, we:
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AFFILIATE AGENCIES:
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Les Amis de Enfants du MondeAs a non-profit non-political and nonreligious association, the function of the AEM is to provide long-term help to children in need either through local action in the area, or by looking for a French foster family for those who no longer have a future in their own country.
Created in 1970 by Mrs Minnie Gallozzi-Ulmann to help the children victims of the Vietnam war, the association « The Friends of the Children from Vietnam » renamed in 1976 « The Friends of the Children of the World » (“Les Amis des Enfants du Monde” or AEM in French) has been expanding ever since. As a non-profit non-political and nonreligious association, the function of the AEM is to provide long-term help to children in need either through local action in the area, or by looking for a French foster family for those who no longer have a future in their own country. |
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WERELDKINDEREN, The Netherlands“Every Child is Entitled to a Home”Wereldkinderen supports project that allow children without home to grow up in a family or family changing situation in their own country.When a child in his country has no chance of living in a family situation, Wereldkinderen intervenes with international adoption. |
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EDM BelgiumChildren of the World (EDM) is a Belgian non – profit organization whose aim is to help disadvantaged children in developing countries . It is recognized by the State and benefits from the tax exemption. The association operates in over 15 countries of the Third World (scholarships to ensure the schooling of children, construction, renovation, maintenance costs of schools, clinics, kindergartens, orphanages, of homes for disabled children, teacher salaries, nurses, school supplies, etc.) and all members are volunteers . |
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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RANDOLPH L. ANG
Chairman Currently a consultant for Greenfield Development Corporation, overseeing the Materials Management Division, Randy has served as a KBF trustee since 1999 and assumed the Board chairmanship in 2015. He reveals that it brings him delight seeing that children are placed in fitting homes through KBF, as he and his wife Mariglo are adoptive parents themselves. He gives credit to all past and present trustees and to all the KBF staff for their untiring work in pursuing the vision that every child deserves a loving, permanent family. |
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MERCEDES R. ABAD
Vice-ChairmanMercy is currently president of Ahon sa Hirap, an NGO committed to the social development of the dispossessed in poor communities, applying the Grameen microfinance methodology. Prior to this, she was a research practitioner for 42 years. She set up and helped manage two major research companies serving the top 50 companies in the Philippines: Consumer Pulse, which was eventually bought by AC Nielsen, and Trends which was bought by TNS. An adoptive mother to twin boys, she has been a KBF Trustee for a very long time and became Board Vice-Chairman in 2016. |
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ROSE MARY P. BLANCAFLOR
President/CEO Rose is active as an Independent Distributor of Reliv Philippines and was recognized as the first to achieve the level of Presidential Gold Ambassador of Reliv International. Despite her busy work schedule with Reliv, Rose is also into helping religious and social upliftment advocacies. Proof of her passion in these advocacies is the “Advancing the Status of Women” Award presented by the Soroptomist International and for founding “Pamana ni San Jose sa Mga Pari, Inc.” which has been helping poor seminarians with their priestly duties. Rose has been a member of KBF’s Board of Trustees since 1994 and was elected as President & CEO in January 2016. |
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ROXANNE L. ANG
Treasurer
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MELISSA Y. MORAN
Secretary Lissa is a freelance editor and writer, having had over 30 years’ experience in the publishing industry. She is an adoptive mother thanks to the services of KBF and she then became a founding member of the Adoptive Families Foundation – a support group for Filipino adoptive parents and their children with an advocacy to promote legal adoption and to help craft the Domestic Adoption Law. She gladly accepted the invitation to serve on the KBF Board of Trustees and has been the Board Secretary since then. |
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NOEL G. CHUA, M.D.
TrusteeNoel is currently a consultant at the Eye Institute of St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) Global City and Quezon City. He is also Ethics Chairman at SLMC Global; Peer Review Chairman at SLMC Q.C.; Board Member of the Medical Arts Building, Global and CHBC; and Chairman of the National Committee for Sight Preservation. Dr. Chua has been a long-time KBF Board member and together with his wife, Marie, has been a KBF foster parent as well. |
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MARIA TERESA M. SICAT
Trustee
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MANAGEMENT
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GLADY QUINDOZA-BUNAO Executive Director An experienced Social Worker, Social Work Supervisor for 8 years, Executive Director for 19 years and Social Work Professor for 5 years (part-time and full-time) with strong and regular network with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Inter-country Adoption Board (ICAB), different Social Work and Social Development Associations, Schools of Social Work and other non-government local and foreign organizations. With her vast experience in the field of child care and welfare, she often gets invited as a resource speaker in both local and global conferences, seminars and training workshops. She shares her skills with fellow social workers in writing Social Case Study Reports of children as well as conducting and writing a home study report for adoption, setting up their own children’s homes and streamlining their organizational structure, and the pre adoption procedures and practices. Awarded as one of the OUTSTANDING SOCIAL WORKERS OF THE PHILIPPINES, on October 10, 2018 during the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI), Biennial Convention in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Nominated as Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Outstanding Professional of the Year (2019). She is an officer and official representative to various Social Work Organizations and Social Welfare Development Agencies (SWADAS) like ASEAN Social Work Consortium, Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines (ACCAP) as Vice President, Area Based Network (ABSNET) Central Cluster and Regional ABSNET (RAB). She is currently a member of the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) Child Welfare Specialist Group (2018 to present). She was also a member of the Inter-country Placement Committee of the Inter-country Adoption Board (2004 to 2010). She officially joined KBF on September 6, 2021.
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WILHELMINA B. DACANAY Consultant – Social Work Mentoring
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MEMBERSHIP
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ASSOCIATION OF CHILD CARING AGENCIES OF THE PHILIPPINES |
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Task Force on Family and Alternative Parental Care
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN Technical Management Committee COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN |
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National Committee on the Filipino Family |
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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (NCSD) |
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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES (NCCP) |
ABOUT KBF
Kaisahang Buhay Foundation Incorporated is a private, non-profit child and family welfare organization duly licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and certified as a donee institution by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification. The organization’s name, Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, stands for oneness within the family and meaningful life for the children it serves.
HOW TO REACH US
Address: #56 10th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines, 1109
Phone: (+63) 912-1159
Email: kbf@kbf.ph
Website: www.kbf.ph
Facebook Page: facebook.com/kaisahangbuhayfoundation