Our History

Due to pressing problems related to poverty, the "Opisina ng Kabiyak" of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo founded in 2001 the First Gentleman Foundation Inc. Without any government funding, the Foundation spearheaded countrywide projects to address these problems. With financial help generously given by friends -- private individuals and companies -- the Foundation extended assistance for the improvement of the lives of Filipinos, particularly the poor and the marginalized.

The First Gentleman stressed that he is a partner outside governance. Though husband of the President, he is not involved in or interfere with governance.

"I don't meddle with governance," says the First Gentleman. His charity work highly complements the social development programs of the Macapagal administration.

OPEN HEART SURGERIES IN PGH

Instead of celebrating his 62nd birthday, the First Gentleman will sponsor 14 open-heart surgeries in PGH by end June 2008.

• Bagong Puso Galing sa Puso ni FG (14 open heart surgeries in PGH).

MEDICAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE

• Bagong Doktor Para sa Bayan

• Bagong Espesyalista Para sa Bayan

• Doctors to the Barrios

• Financial Incentives to Doctors to the Barrios Program of the Department of Health (Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo - awarding recognition day during May and October)

OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

The Foundation recognizes the role of the youth in building a Strong Republic. To address the problems of out-of-school youths, the Foundation provided help to OSYs through the Department of Education's Oyster Project. Through this, OSYs are given training in various skills, backyard livelihood projects, streetsweepers and some even become junior policemen. With this training, OSYs are given more opportunities of earning on their own thus becoming productive citizens.

SOLUTION TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING

Even the environment was given focus. The Foundation supported former First Lady Ming Ramos' Clean and Green Projects through funding and manpower support for the Pasig river's cleanup drive. In February 2005, the Foundation distributed millions of pawlonia seeds for the reforestation program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Ongoing is the Foundation's support to the Philippine Bamboo Foundation. Joined the Celebration of the Sea activities by participation in the Public Relations Society of the Philippine Coastal Clean up Drive on 13 June 2008 together with the boy scouts of Dr. Albert elementary School, Miss Earth Phils, Rotary Club, Eco Waste Coalition, PICPA and the City of Manila.

SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

The Foundation believes that sports build national pride. In 2003, the Foundation supported the training of our athletes for the SEA Games in Vietnam. In 2005, with the Philippines as host of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, through the efforts of the First Gentleman, the private sector participated as "sports godfathers" and a total of Php160 Million was raised for the training of our athletes. The First Gentleman was successful in forging an agreement with China for our athletes to train in the various world class sports facilities in China. All the efforts of the First Gentleman paid off with the Philippines winning the SEAG Overall Championship and our athletes garnering an all-time high 112 gold medals.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT PATIENTS

In support of the government's efforts to provide quality health care to Filipinos, it has been the Foundation's priority to extend medical services to our underprivileged citizens. In 2007 alone, over 8,000 charity ward patients of PGH were given medical assistance by the Foundation.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL MISSIONS

• Extensive medical and dental missions in the provinces and Metro Manila's poverty-stricken areas benefited thousands of poor families who could not afford to pay the high costs of medical and dental treatment.

• 7,000 persons were able to see through the Foundation's Bagong Mata para sa may Katarata.

• 9,683 persons were given new smiles with their new dentures from the Foundation's Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu.

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE

The high cost of legal consultations often leave many Filipinos in a tangle of legal problems. To address this, the "Opisina ng Kabiyak" pooled lawyers from the Ateneo Class of '72 who provided free legal assistance to the needy from 2001 to 2004. Through the "Pang-sabadong Abogado, Handog Namin sa Inyo" project, many Filipinos availed of competitive legal services without having to pay thousands of pesos for lawyers.

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Calamities strike the Philippines year after year. Typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions dampen, shake, and harm the Filipinos' spirits like a certain disease. In response to this, the Foundation provides immediate support to the victims through relief operations and manpower assistance.