Honouring Our Roots: A Tribute to Where Anaya’s Care Began
Every meaningful journey has a beginning — a moment, a place, and people who quietly shape what comes next. Today, Anaya’s Care pauses to look back, to remember our roots,…
“Anaya” is a name that means caring, compassion, and protection in many languages—and that’s exactly what we stand for. When we founded Anaya’s Care, it wasn’t about starting a group or launching a campaign. It was about creating a safe space—where help, healing, and hope can be shared freely.
Anaya is not just a name—it’s a promise.
A promise that every child, every family, and every individual in need will be met with dignity, empathy, and love.
Inspired by Galatians 6:2—
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”
—we walk alongside people through hardship, healing, and hope.
The heart behind Anaya’s Care was formed long before it had a name.
Back in 2017, I was volunteering with Dumagueteneo Cares and Anaya’s Way—before I met my wife, before any logos or websites existed. We would roam Dumaguete City with simple bags of food for people experiencing homelessness. It was spontaneous and small-scale—but deeply meaningful.
We also participated in:
These early acts shaped our values. They showed us that compassion doesn’t need a big platform—just a willing heart.
Then came the pandemic. Like many others, our outreach efforts were forced to pause. But even in that quiet season, the desire to serve never faded. It simply waited—for the right time to rise again.
In 2022, with the world slowly healing, my girlfriend (now wife) and I, alongside a few close friends, started a community pantry.
Still no name.
Still no banner.
Still no official group.
Just the same call from 2017—to serve with love.
We walked the streets again. We gave food to those in need. It was raw and real. And again, we saw how small acts can spark big change.
After Christmas 2023, something beautiful happened.
Our friend Joezer had extra rice and canned goods from his family’s holiday tradition of giving to carollers. He didn’t want them to go to waste, so he called Mark, who then reached out to me.
Together, we delivered the food to families on the streets of Dumaguete. What started as a one-time gesture quickly turned into something more. More conversations. More dreams. More compassion.
We ran more outreach events:
And before long, we knew: it was time to give this growing mission a name.
Our first official outreach as Anaya’s Care was a feeding program at San Jose Elementary School in Manjuyod.
We cooked over open flames. We braved the summer heat.
And we served with hearts full of purpose.
Read the full blog: “A Heartwarming Beginning: Anaya’s Care Feeding Program”
This wasn’t just about food—it was about joy, connection, and showing these children that they matter.
The name Anaya’s Care carries our history in every letter:
Two past outreach groups, now united by a shared heart and a single cause.
This isn’t just the story of a name.
It’s the beginning of a movement—rooted in kindness, fueled by community, and driven by faith.
Today, Anaya’s Care is not a formal organization. It’s a movement of compassion.
We still fund many of our projects from our own savings.
We’re blessed by the support of generous friends—especially Matt Grill, founder of BSharp Tech in Australia, who helped bring our website to life.
From personal sacrifices to cross-border support, every act of kindness has built what Anaya’s Care is today.
At its core, Anaya’s Care is this:
We don’t always have much—but we give what we can.
We don’t always know what tomorrow brings—but we show up anyway.
Because to us, being a blessing means being present—for each other, for our community, and for those the world too often overlooks.
We invite you to be part of this journey.
Whether through giving, volunteering, praying, or simply sharing our story—you can bring hope.
Because one simple act of kindness can start a ripple,
and that ripple can become a wave.
And that wave? It can change lives.
Bringing Hope. Changing Lives. Be a Blessing.
