Former Philippine President and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praised the humanitarian assistance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pampanga during a World Humanitarian Day Friendship Luncheon hosted by the Church on September 10, 2026. The gathering was held at the Philippines Missionary Training Center Activity Center and brought together representatives from government, humanitarian and development organizations, faith-based institutions and civil society.
Macapagal-Arroyo, who also chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Poverty Alleviation, highlighted the Church’s humanitarian work in her home province. She noted that the Church carries out humanitarian projects in 200 countries and territories and said Pampanga has been among the communities where that global humanitarian mission has had a local impact.
“You are a global church with humanitarian projects across 200 countries and territories,” Macapagal-Arroyo told those gathered, adding that Pampanga had benefited from the Church’s humanitarian mission.
During the luncheon, the Church announced a donation intended to provide assistance to 2,000 families in Pampanga affected by monsoon flooding. Following the announcement, Macapagal-Arroyo and Anthony John Balledos, the Church’s country manager for Humanitarian Services, signed a deed of donation.
Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area Presidency welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of working together to help others. He described those gathered as brothers and sisters and spoke about a shared desire to do good, love God and care for neighbors.
Other speakers included Hero S. Hernandez of the Department of Education, Major General Victor Bayani of the HERO Foundation, Kyungsun Kim of UNICEF Philippines and Menchie Silvestre of the Alagang Kapatid Foundation. Brother Abenir Pajaro, Philippines Area Director for Welfare and Self-Reliance Services, also thanked organizations that have collaborated with the Church on humanitarian projects throughout the country.
Hernandez expressed appreciation for Church-supported initiatives including the Colega human rights education curriculum and digital infrastructure programs in selected schools. Bayani acknowledged the Church’s Giving Machine initiative and its support for organizations such as the HERO Foundation, while Kim emphasized the value of partnerships in reaching vulnerable children and families during emergencies and other humanitarian challenges.
The gathering was held in connection with World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19 to recognize humanitarian workers and organizations serving people affected by disasters, conflict, displacement, poverty and other difficult circumstances. The Church described the observance as an opportunity to strengthen humanitarian cooperation and support efforts to protect human dignity and assist people in need.
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