OUR STORY
BYSMP Bless the Children Foundation (BCFI) was established to give identity to the growing mission of San Martin de Porres Manila. Separate but not different from its mother’s mission, Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de Porres, Inc. (BYSMP), the organization is known as “St. Martin – Bless the Children,” a prayerful invocation to our Patron Saint, St. Martin de Porres. However, the community calls the foundation by many names – St. Martin, Centro, Chalice, Bless, and some variations of those names.
2002
Since the launch of the Manila Mission of St. Martin in 2002, its presence has been felt in the disadvantaged barangays of Binondo and Tondo through various programs implemented, such as feeding programs for underweight children, free weekly medical clinics, informal education through tutorials, livelihood programs, and, most importantly, values and spiritual formation. Community workers have been immersed in different areas to reach out and extend assistance to the most in-need members of the community. Some beneficiaries were transferred to the residential facility of BYSMP in Bustos, Bulacan.
2009
The Foundation began to develop programs in Tondo, Manila, in response to the growing poverty in the city. A year later, Ancop partnered with BCFI by sponsoring children from selected areas and introducing holistic programs to develop their individuality and personhood.
2013
On July 1, 2013, a Contract of Lease was signed between BYSMP and John DV Salvador Foundation (JDVSF), allowing BCFI to use the Centro Salvador Building for free, making it accessible for community programs to assist the disadvantaged sector. On the same day, an agency agreement was signed with Chalice Canada, signaling the start of the Chalice Child Sponsorship Program in Tondo as a subsite of the Chalice Bulacan Sponsorship Site. Initially, fifty children benefited from the program, and the number of child beneficiaries grew in the following months. As the beneficiaries increased, the foundation focused on promoting health by providing necessary care to underweight, sick, and children with special needs in partnership with Maya’s Hope Foundation.
2015
On July 1, 2015, Chalice Canada confidently established the Tondo Subsite as an independent Chalice Sponsorship Site. This new status as Tondo Site expanded the foundation’s coverage, enabling more children to be sponsored and families to be assisted, always in line with Chalice’s vision of Sharing Christ with all in need.
2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nutrition program was moved to Baseco Compound in response to the needs of their community. BCFI saw the need to support hundreds of children in Baseco, especially those at risk of malnourishment, to observe and balance their height and weight status. As the Foundation fostered a healthier and better community in Baseco Compound, the other programs of BCFI are being replicated at a building in Gasangan, Baseco. The operations found a home in the Casa Soledad & Vicente Salvador Building, made possible through the graciousness of JDVSF, which purchased the two lots and funded the refurbishment of Casa.
2022
On June 23, 2022, it was inaugurated as the Baseco Subsite. It started the expansion of operations, with almost 200 children in the Chalice Child Sponsorship Program and another 550 children in the Nutrition Program. All programs run at Centro are now also being done at the Casa.
Currently, the Foundation continues to reach out to communities on a larger and more impactful scale with the assistance of its partners and donors. At the end of 2022, Bless the Children support over 2,300 children from 1,600 families. The foundation continues to inspire change and empower with hope because every child is worthy.
(Click on the Organizational Chart to view a full-sized photo on Google Drive)