22/05/2026
๐ Retro Reads #1
Before Little Philippines became the official newsletter of Assumption Development Foundation, Inc., there was first a humble blogspot page where scholars, sponsors, and friends of the foundation shared stories of hope, service, and transformation.
And in a beautiful full-circle moment, the very first post ever published on that blog was titled: โAssumption Development Foundation โLittle Philippinesโ.โ Today, the name lives on through our official newsletter, carrying the same mission and spirit through every story we share.
Hereโs a look back at where it all began:
โ
โจ Assumption Development Foundation "Little Philippines" โจ
โIn 1963, Manilaโs squatters were relocated in Sapang Palay, Bulacan. The people were literally dumped into a no manโs land. Few provisions were made. There was no light, no water, no hospital. The people were in desperation. They wanted a school, thus Assumption Sapang Palay School was established by Edward Kelly, an Irish Carmelite Missionary in 1966. In 1982 the school became a College. After running it for thirty years the Board of Trustees decided to donate the college to the Diocese of Malolos.
Assumption became a foundation in 1995. The mission still continues: to help children in need, to help break the cycle of poverty through education. The Foundation performs two invaluable services for the students: First, the foundation gives financial support for the education of the children. Second, it opens the minds of the students to believe that they can overcome poverty and that they can become more than they think they can be. The foundation is unique because it goes beyond the financial aspect of the scholarship. It addresses the mindset of hopelessness.
The students were chosen from the eleven elementary schools in Sapang Palay. They go through a screening process to ensure they are deserving of the scholarship. Since ADF started, more than 586 high school students and 162 college students have graduated.โ
โ
From its beginnings, ADF has helped hundreds of scholars graduate and pursue better opportunities in life, a proof that education, hope, and compassion can truly transform lives.