Legacy of Compassion
In a city nestled among rolling hills of Mayon Volcano and quiet landscapes, a powerful movement of compassion has been quietly transforming lives. What began as a simple gesture of kindness in 2019 has since grown into a remarkable journey of service, empathy, and unwavering commitment. For nearly six years now, the Legazpi City ‘Host Lions Club, PMJF, a socio-civic club, has dedicated itself to the care and empowerment of children and individuals living with congenital deformities, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, autism, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, and muscular dystrophy.
This is their story — a narrative of resilience, love, and the conviction that every life, regardless of its challenges, deserves dignity, joy, and opportunities.
The Beginning: A Call to Serve
The spark was ignited in early 2019, when several members and officers of the Legazpi City ‘Host’ Lions Club, PMJF were invited to a community outreach activity in a city health center. There, they met several children with physical and neurological conditions, most of them hidden away from the public eye due to stigma and lack of support. One particular encounter changed everything — a child with hydrocephalus who, despite the limitations of his body, beamed with joy at the smallest act of attention.
This moment pierced through the hearts of the club members. They realized that while there are many organizations assisting with general medical missions or poverty alleviation, very few were focusing specifically on those with lifelong congenital and developmental conditions. This marginalized group — often overlooked, misunderstood, and under-resourced — needed champions. And so, the Legazpi City ‘Host’ Lions Club, PMJF, found its mission.
The club began modestly: provision of diapers and vitamins, simple therapy toys, and connecting families to medical professionals for consultations. They coordinated with the social workers of the City Social Welfare Development of Legazpi City, Albay. The focus was never on ”fixing” the children. Instead, the club’s mission was to support, accept, and celebrate every individual for who they were, while doing everything possible to improve their quality of life.
Stories of Hope: Faces Behind the Mission
One of the most compelling aspects of the club’s work lies in the stories of the people they serve.
Michael (not his real name), a boy with cerebral palsy, used to spend most of his time lying on bed inside their tiny home. His mother struggled to provide even the necessities. The club provided milk, diapers, and financial aid for his check-up. Joahnna,(not her real name), a young girl with global developmental delay, barely spoke a word and shy, with the club’s help, she enrolled in SPED class. Volunteers would tutor her weekly and engage her in interactive learning. Last April 2025, she stood on stage during a club event and sang a short song — a moment that left the audience in tears.
These stories are just a glimpse of hundreds of lives touched by the Club.
Challenges Along the Way
It wasn’t always easy.
Funding was often uncertain, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The club had to shift to remote support, deliver supplies door-to-door with safety protocols. Financial assistance was given through e-wallets. Therapy sessions were held through video calls by the City Social Welfare and Development of Legazpi City.
A Legacy of Love
In a world that often moves too fast, where people with special needs are still too easily ignored, the Legazpi City ‘Host’ Lions Club, PMJF, has become a beacon of hope. Their efforts show that compassion, when organized and sustained, can transform not just individuals but entire communities.
What they have done over the past six years is more than charity — it is justice, it is love. It is our PRIDE, our LEGACY. And that, truly, is the heart in action of the Legazpi City ‘Host’ Lions Club, PMJF
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