Empowering Aeta Children
Delivering Hope and Nutrition to Barangay Bayugao, Luna, Apayao.
Bukas Palad means open palm. We are dedicated to supporting the poor, underprivileged, and malnourished Aeta children and their families, providing essential nutrition and basic needs with 100% transparency.
The Urgent Need in Barangay Bayugao
The Aeta, the resilient first peoples of the Philippines, face significant challenges in Barangay Bayugao. Around 80 households struggle with poverty, leaving children, especially infants, malnourished and lacking essentials like milk – often surviving on water alone.
Malnutrition Crisis
Lack of access to nutritious food, particularly milk for infants, leads to critical health issues.
Poverty & Limited Resources
We believe in education, and while the government is making effort to educate the community, families lack the means to purchase basic necessities like rice and other essential foods. We have to tackle this problem first!
Our Direct Solution
We personally purchase and deliver vital supplies, ensuring 100% of your donation reaches the children.
About Peter & Shella Bukas Palad Initiative
Our Story: A Personal Commitment
The initiative was born from a desire to make a direct impact. Peter was fundraising for ChildHope, aiding homeless orphaned children in Manila, when Shella proposed focusing as well on the needs of the Aeta community nearby. Why not do both? Living and running our business close to Barangay Bayugao gives us a unique connection and understanding of the challenges they face. We felt a strong calling to extend our help to these wonderful children and families.
Our mission is simple: To combat malnutrition and poverty among the Aeta children of Barangay Bayugao by providing direct, essential aid with compassion and respect.
We are proud to source essential goods locally from the Apayao business community whenever possible, supporting the regional economy.
We partner with the Philippine Congress to streamline logistics operations.
We are currently exploring a relationship with Myriad, an organization connected with the King Baudouin Foundation associated with the Belgian Royal House and Belgian Business ventures, to ensure funding on a yearly basis.
Learn more about our other ventures: Shella's Sunkissed Escape
Our Cause: The Aeta of Barangay Bayugao
The First Peoples of the Philippines
The Aetas are the aboriginal inhabitants of the Philippines, with a rich history dating back thousands of years. They are believed to be among the earliest migrants, arriving during the last glacial period around 20,000 years ago via land bridges. Their unique culture and deep connection to the land are invaluable parts of Filipino heritage.
Challenges in Modern Times
In Barangay Bayugao, the approximately 80 Aeta households face significant hurdles. Living in remote areas often means limited access to healthcare, education, and stable livelihoods. Poverty is widespread, directly impacting the health and well-being of families, especially the poor, underprivileged, and malnourished children we strive to support.
Providing basic nutritional support like milk and rice is a critical first step towards improving health outcomes and offering these children a brighter future.
Our Impact & Updates
Follow our journey and see how your contributions make a tangible difference in the lives of Aeta families. We document every distribution.
Latest Bimonthly Distribution: [Placeholder: Date, e.g., April 2025]
[Placeholder: Detailed description of the latest distribution event. This month, thanks to generous donors, we delivered 150 cans of infant formula milk, 10 sacks of rice (50kg each), essential vitamins, and basic hygiene supplies to 75 families in Barangay Bayugao.
Transparency & Accountability
Our Commitment to You
Transparency is paramount. We guarantee that 100% of donated funds are used exclusively to purchase essential goods (milk, rice, food) for the Aeta children and families. We personally oversee the purchase and delivery to maximize impact and ensure aid reaches those who need it most.
Operational costs, such as fuel for delivery, are covered through separate, dedicated funding streams, ensuring healthy books.
Official Registration
We are officially registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ensuring our operations are legitimate and accountable.
SEC Registration Number:
SEC Registration Number
Our connection with advisors related to Myriad further guides our commitment to ethical practices and governance.
Peter's Memo: Annual Financial Overview
In the spirit of complete transparency, Peter provides an annual financial overview of the Bukas Palad Initiative. This memo details our income, expenditures, and financial position.
Peter De Ceuster's Memo - Year 2025 Overview
Our Memo will help communication with our donors. Once we have completed our setup process, our memo will include the following: Our yearly Bukas Palad audit, covering our initial setup phase and activities for 2025, has been published here on the date of Month, Year. These are the details of donations received and how they were utilized for purchasing goods.
Period Covered: [Placeholder: e.g., Start Date - End Date]
Total Donations Received: [Placeholder: Amount]
Expenditures:
- Cost of Goods (Milk, Rice, Food): [Placeholder: Amount]
- Cost of Transportation (Fuel): [Placeholder: Amount]
Balance Carried Forward: [Placeholder: Amount]
(this is our current positive cash balance)
Purchase records and bank statements are available upon request.
Thank you so much everyone for your contribution.Helping others is helping yourself.
Peter De Ceuster, Director
Fuel Our Next Step: Support Our Crowdfunding Campaign!
Help us keep our promise of open palms ('Bukas Palad')! This crowdfunding campaign aims to secure the funds needed for a full year's worth of essential supplies – the vital milk, rice, and nutritious food described earlier, which nourish Aeta children in Barangay Bayugao and give them a brighter future. Your contribution ensures consistent support throughout the year.
Visit Our Campaign & ContributeHelp us reach our goal! Clicking the button opens our official crowdfunding page in a new window.
Partner With Us to Nourish Aeta Futures
Your generosity directly translates into vital nutrition for children and families. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. 100% of your donation buys essential food and milk.
Peter & Shella Bukas Palad Initiative is a registered nonprofit organization with the Philippine SEC. Your donations are tax-deductible under Philippine law.
Donate via Bank Transfer
For maximum transparency and to ensure 100% of your funds purchase goods (less standard bank fees), we prioritize donations via direct bank transfer.
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Please consider notifying us via the contact form after making a transfer, especially international ones, to help us acknowledge your gift. Thank you for your incredible support!
Get In Touch
Have questions, partnership proposals, or wish to discuss a major contribution? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below or contact us directly.
Call Us (Optional)
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Location Focus
Our efforts are centered on Barangay Bayugao, Luna, Apayao, Philippines.
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