About Us

Being in Japan with some free time to think about ways to help others, I planned to collect
used eyeglasses to give away to needy people in our countryside community in the Philippines.
Spending the holidays there at the same time being involved again in some programs like this
would be very fulfilling, I guess. I first heard of such a project in 2005 conducted by a NLAC,
Seventh-Day Adventist-run College next to our home in the rice fields. I learned that there were
not enough glasses for all of those who lined up in the campus for hours. About 400 people
didn't receive glasses they wished
they could have. That event served as
my motivation for this outreach.

Thus, since then, I've been collecting
used eyeglasses, visiting discount shops,
hopping from one store to another
to have a few hundred pairs to hand to those
looking for specs.

It's amazing, not only did my friends and students in my neighborhood in Kawagoe in Japan
contributed a lot to this glasses program but also friends in the Association of Foreign Wives of
the Japanese -AFWJ who shared boxes of either used or new pairs of eyeglasses. There were
about 350 pairs in all handed to 2 groups hailing from some communities in Northern Luzon.
Oh my, what a group of very supportive women this AFWJ is! Your contributions have reached
the grateful needy people. Domo Arigatou gozaimasu!

THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION was held on December 26, 2006 at the Christmas Program held for
Women and Men from United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Artacho Chapter, attended by
some community representatives of Parish 1, NCLC Conference (Pangasinan -La Union). I'd
sent the first half of the bulk before my flight home (Dec.27th) in time for gatherings like this, so
my mother Pacita Benosa with the help of the TMB,some public school teachers, our pastors
Rev Almazan and Ptr.Dapiaoen organized the first distribution.

The second event was quite public as it coincided with the Sagunto Barrio Fiesta and
anniversary of the death of our National hero, Jose Rizal on December 30. It was held at our
barrio hall and health center during the fiesta variety games emceed by my brother Kagawad
Larry Benosa. This time, I assisted in the handing of the second bulk of glasses just after my
scheduled mountain hiking, a nice hobby. I decided to hand over to my mother, the community's
new Senior Citizen's Club President the honor of explaining about the sources of the
eyeglasses as most of the recipients were senior citizens. It was a very touching event for us
organizers especially, as most of the recipients gave us big hugs or thanked us for their
wonderful gifts that Christmas. Of course, I always pointed to the banner where a long list of
donors made the day's celebration even more international.

Unfortunately, there were no doctors
or optometrists to speed up the
matching of correct glasses and patients;
just our community nurses and aides
helped in the selection. There were no
doctors we could find at
that holiday season but hope we could
find volunteers next time. Luckily,
the community people were more than
happy to receive what they've been
wishing for-a new pair of glasses that
could make them enjoy and see clearly
the world's beauty!

I hope this would be a regular program that would extend to some other communities as well.
More contributions like this would be welcome from you and friends as there are lots of
requests especially on glasses for far-sighted people. There are less than 10 pairs left as of
today, as these ones do not quite match the aspirants' grades. More to come...Thank you all !
Donors to The Eyeglasses Joint Project of the Sagunto Seniors Citizens Group and
S-Migrants-Asia with big support from many AFWJ -Japan members:
1.AFWJ friends
2. Wendy Minami
3. Doris Kobayashi
4. Michelle Zacharias
5.Viki IIzuka
6.Diane Nagatomo
7. Adogawa Chugakko
Volunteer Club
8. Kyoto Restaurant-Yoshikawa
9. Beatrix Yoshikawa
10. Martha Ichiyanagi
11. Christina Parsley
12. Christina Pearson Ishii
13. Alexandra
14. UCCP-Artacho Church
15. HBILC students
16 Watabiki Family
17. Benosa-Homma Family
18. Anonymous donors
19. Sagunto Barangay Council
20. Sagunto Senior Citizens Federation

New Course: Teacher Training Seminars and Workshops
HBILC now conducts regular and intensive classes in ELT...JOIN US!!!
Intensive Training for Beginner Teachers of English (24-hour attendance; 1-3 months)
Contents :Methodology and Principles in Language Teaching
           Approaches and Techniques in Language Teaching
           Lesson Planning and Curriculum Planning
           Strategies and Activities in an English Classroom
           Games and Practical Activities
           Objectives and Aims in Language Teaching
           Starting a Small Tutorial or Language School
           Gathering Materials and Resources for a Mini English School
Level:    Teaching English to Pre-school, Elementary, High School, Adults
           Business Level English, English for Specific Purposes
Requirements: at least 10 years of formal education attainment
           At Least Intermediate English Proficiency Level

Event Pictures: FETJ- Filipino English Teachers in Japan May 20, 2007, OMIYA, Saitama, Japan,OIC: Ms.Evelyn
Workshop Instructor: J E Homma, HB International Language Center (Photos by May Ramos and Evelyn)