Makabayan Georgia, Inc. (MGI) was established in May 12, 2008 to empower Filipino Georgians and friends, to make a difference in their communities, in the Philippines, and elsewhere in the world. All contributions to MGI are tax deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code as a Public Charity entity with 501 (C) (3) tax exempt status.
MGI supports the annual June 12 celebration of the anniversary of Philippine Independence from the Spanish rule, to showcase the Philippine culture and heritage thereby providing prospective supporters a better perspective of where their contributions go. The MGI livelihood programs empower even the most needy, to become productive citizens and make a difference in their own communities.
 |
DIDI O'CONNOR Chairman of the Board 678-923-2027 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Didi’s initial passion was to share, promote and preserve the Filipino culture and heritage when she first came to Madison, WI then to Atlanta, GA, in the Filipino community serving as a Filipino Folk Dance Director/Instructor, Culture Chair, and Debutantes Ball Program Director/Choreographer in Fil-Am. A University of the Philippines graduate, Didi comes from Zamboanga City, Philippines. She is married to Dr. Ralph O'Connor, a Returned US Peace Corps volunteer (1966-1969) , a retired scientist at CDC, and also a retired Captain in the US Public Health Service (USPHS). Together they successfully raised three wonderful children and have two grandchildren, instilling in all of them to know and appreciate their beautiful Filipino and American cultural heritage and to be proud of their cultural identity. Retired from Emory University where she worked for 20 years, she enjoys the free time she has to pursue her new passion. Community work. "I love working in the Filipino community here in Georgia and elsewhere, making a difference, inspiring, motivating and empowering through the avenues provided by Makabayan Georgia, Inc. (MGI) a Georgia Filipino-American foundation. “ Community Involvements:
|
 |
MAYETTE P. BAYANI Corporate Secretary 404-316-9238 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Marianne Pedrezuela Bayani, Mayette for short is a Senior Corporate Tax Accountant for Heidelberg USA Inc. She graduated from UST with honors and once was the youngest professor at the same university. An alumna of Indiana University Institute of Professionals in Taxation and UCLA Masters in Accounting. She worked public accounting in Los Angeles before moving to Georgia in 1993 to join AT&T as a Tax Accountant. Mayette is also the manager and the lead vocals for the JAMMRS Band. She helped several charitable organizations obtained their 501C3 status. She is also a licensed Notary Public. Mayette is married to Art with two sons Avery and Jason. Community Involvements:
|
 |
DODDY WARD Finance Director 404-932-4090 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Doddy Ward is a well-traveled entrepreneur who truly understands “world affairs” both on the business and political perspective. She graduated from Misamis University, Ozamis City, Philippines with a degree in Accounting and an M.B.A. She also worked at the same university as an Internal Auditor. Doddy moved to Hong Kong to work as a personal accountant for the British Trade Commissioner. She was once an accountant and Logistics Executive Coordinator for the British Ambassadors to Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Pakistan, Canada and France. After 13 years of crossing the continents, she got a job as a Staff Accountant for Ernst and Young in the Bahamas for 7 years. Doddy has a passion for helping people in need. This led to her new- found career in Home Health Care, which she finds very fulfilling despite the long hours, but satisfies her desire to help others. Working with people is her forte, so in Atlanta she got involved in the Fil-Am community and sharing a similar passion to help others, she and 4 past Fil-Am presidents established in 2008 Makabayan Georgia, Inc.
Community Involvements:
|
 |
ELEANOR MAE PASCUAL Community Affairs Director 404-683-0606 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Eleanor Mae Pascual is a native of the Philippines and has been a Georgia resident since 1979. A familiar face in the Asian American community, Eleanor shares much of her time, talent, and resources in promoting awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Filipino culture. She relishes the role of “bridge-builder” between the Fil-Am community and the larger Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Georgia and is an active and tireless volunteer for AAPI causes. Eleanor recently retired as a litigation paralegal with the Corporate Law Department of State Farm, after 22 years. A musician by avocation, Eleanor also served in music ministry for many years – as soloist, choir member, organist/pianist, and music director. She currently serves as church pianist at Clarkston International Bible Church and enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends. Eleanor is married to Alex Pascual, a structural engineer, and they are blessed with three children (Andy, Jonathan and Eileen) and eleven beautiful grandchildren. Community Involvements:
|
 |
WILLY BLANCO Information Director 770-331-9540 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Willy Blanco is married to Edwina Hilario, and father to Nicole and Kevin. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia from the Chicago area, in October of 1991 when he was promoted to Regional Sales Manager for Beckart Environmental, Inc. for the Southeast territory, USA. Willy has been with the same company since 1988.
Community Involvements:
|
 |
WILLEE BONUS CEO Emeritus 678-471-4893 wThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
OR
Make your check payable and mail to:
Makabayan Georgia, Inc.
P.O. BOX 2962
Duluth, Ga 30096
Your donation may be tax-deductible. Consult your tax adviser.
GEORGIA
FILIPINO COVID-19 RESPONSE TASK FORCE (GFC-19) UPDATE
06/10/2020
- The plight of the laid off J1s has been like a roller coaster ride. One day
they are booked to go home only to be informed that their flights are cancelled
due to Philippine government limiting the amount of citizens allowed to enter the
country. Most flights have been rebooked and cancelled several times. Thanks to
Ms Elsa Sagun, a Filipina travel agent, we depend on her to assist the J1s
secure flights and rebooking when necessary. For the J1s, the challenging part
is how to make their budgets last to cover rent and essentials like food and
supplies for their extended stay. We reached out to the Filipino American
Community for assistance to lessen the concern of the J1s. As expected several
community based groups and individuals responded to help.
Our
heartfelt thanks to the following members of our community.
They
continue to provide food and essentials to our young Filipino J-1 visa holders.
Mary Ann Moriles
Isabel Fiorella
Imelda Young
Ana Blackburn
Maraming Salamat Po
Fund
provisions directed towards J-1 assistance
|
STATE |
J-1 COUNT |
FOOD |
RENT |
ESSENTIALS |
AIRFARE |
TOTAL |
|
GA |
44 |
$
1,251.81 |
$
4,150.00 |
$
1,425.00 |
$
7,815.00 |
$
14,641.81 |
|
FL |
5 |
$
250.00 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$
250.00 |
|
TN |
14 |
$
50.00 |
$
1,405.00 |
$ - |
$ - |
$
1,455.00 |
|
UT |
1 |
$
50.00 |
$ - |
$ - |
$ - |
$
50.00 |
|
VA |
12 |
$
550.00 |
$
- |
$ - |
$ - |
$
550.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
76 |
$
2,151.81 |
$
5,555.00 |
$
1,425.00 |
$
7,815.00 |
$
16,946.81 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J-1
Updates from Georgia
2 home
04/29/2020
3 home
03/29/2020
10 home
05/20/2020
3 home
05/30/2020
1 home
05/31/2020
3 moved
to SC
4 moved
to MD
2 moved
to NJ
1 moved
to CA
29 left ATL
7 STS
scheduled to leave 06/13/2020
1 Atl
scheduled to leave 06/26/2020
1 Atl
scheduled to leave 06/28/2020
1 Atl
scheduled to leave 08/07/2020
4 Atl
no immediate plan to leave
1 STS
asked to stay
15 still
in GA
You can still help us help lessen the burden on these young J1s
To donate on line visit our website www.Makabayangeorgia.org
Or mail your donations to
Makabayan Georgia, Inc.
P.O. Box 2962
Duluth, GA 30096
COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND DRIVE As of 06/18/2020, we have raised $27,715.00
Breakdown:
| Donor | Amount | Donor | Amount | OWWA | $425.00 | . LLC MIU CARE & BEYOND | $500.00 | ANGELES CHARITO & ALDORINO | $50.00 | Anonymous | $10,000.00 | Anonymous | $50.00 | APANAY MANOLO & GLORIA | $50.00 | Aquino Joel | $25.00 | Avecilla Alexa Regina | $25.00 | Baccay Romeo | $100.00 | Bartolo Sheryl | $10.00 | Bayani Mayette | $100.00 | BENEDICTO YOLANDA FLOR | $100.00 | Bhuiyan Meg | $100.00 | Blackburn Ana | $50.00 | Blanco Wilfredo | $100.00 | Bonus Wil P | $100.00 | Bruder Barry/Delma | $150.00 | BUNTICHAI LORNA & PRADIT | $50.00 | CABADIN MARIA | $50.00 | Cadlaon Melvin | $50.00 | CAPEHART PHILLIP | $25.00 | Casanova Emmanuel | $300.00 | Clements Mrs. Angie | $20.00 | Concept Fusion | $200.00 | COOK JULIET | $100.00 | CORNELL ELIZABETH | $25.00 | Credigy Solutions | $50.00 | CULVERHOUSE AURORA | $30.00 | Eide Maria Redondo | $20.00 | Elliott Lolit | $20.00 | ELTZ ELENITA | $25.00 | ESCANDOR EVANGELINE | $25.00 | Estacio Eleanor | $50.00 | FINCHER FRANCIS | $50.00 | FONTELA DELILAH | $50.00 | Fundraiser Facebook | $10.00 | Galing Foundation | $520.00 | Granada Anita | $20.00 | GRUBE LUCILLE | $100.00 | Guinoo Elinore & Gregory | $30.00 | Hagler Lilia | $20.00 | Hawk Sarah | $250.00 | HCG RAY OWWA VIA | $3,300.00 | INC INTERNATIONAL CREDIT | $300.00 | JAMES JOY | $25.00 | Jones Vilma | $50.00 | LAUDATO MARLYN | $100.00 | Leyva Justin | $100.00 | Llarena Emmanuel | $50.00 | Logarta Anne Marie | $50.00 | Magbanua Mary Joy | $25.00 | Makabayan | $4,000.00 | Manaois Bernadette | $50.00 | MAPUA GEORGE & CZARINA | $50.00 | MINAYA MILA | $100.00 | MORILES MARY ANN | $25.00 | O'CONNOR RYAN | $100.00 | O'Connor Didi | $1,700.00 | O'Kelley Yolanda | $25.00 | Ortaliza Alie | $20.00 | PAREDES DENNIS | $20.00 | Pascual Eleanor | $100.00 | Pelicer Marites | $50.00 | Petermen Pam | $20.00 | Quiaot Eduardo | $50.00 | Ragheb Grace | $25.00 | Ragheb Shareen | $10.00 | Ragheb Omar | $10.00 | RATMAYER LYRA | $150.00 | RAZON JOSIE | $50.00 | Reyes Minette | $100.00 | RUEDA EDNA | $50.00 | Sabiniano Gloria | $50.00 | SAGUN MARIA ELSA | $25.00 | Salgado Carmen | $50.00 | SAMBO DAN & DAISY | $100.00 | SANCHEZ-TOBIA OWWA VIA JOSEPHINE | $1,000.00 | Santiago Carmencita | $25.00 | Saranai Club | $250.00 | SIEVERS EVANGELINE | $200.00 | Smith Nenette | $20.00 | Soriano Venus | $125.00 | STULC DELIA | $50.00 | Sullivan Maria Teresa | $30.00 | Tagaan Emmanuel | $15.00 | TAN XIAN | $25.00 | Turner Maurice/Leilen | $100.00 | Valles Myrna | $50.00 | VIDANES ELSIE | $100.00 | Villa de Sierra Vista | $100.00 | VILLACORTE MA ROSARIO & NILO | $100.00 | Ward Editrudes | $500.00 | Wilson Ed/Dee | $30.00 | Zabala Beth | $40.00 |
|---|
RESCHEDULING ANNOUNCEMENT
In view of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Kalayaan Committee is rescheduling the 2020 Kalayaan events as follows:
- Kalayaan Family Fun Day from June 6, 2020 to Quarter 4 2020;
- Save the Date: Kalayaan Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 5, 2021 (next year); and,
- Kalayaan Atlanta Gala from June 12, 2020 to Saturday, June 12, 2021 (next year).
We will be in touch soon with updates.
The Kalayaan Committee is here to answer your questions, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Maraming salamat.
Stay Informed:
https://www.facebook.com/KalayaanAtlanta/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/…/cases-updates/summary.html