Iloilo City (7 November) -- The West Visayan Conference of Seventth-Day Adventists will play host to the first ever Southern Asia Pacific Region Fundraising and Philanthropy Leadership Congress, which will be held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel from November 13-16.

According to the organizers, the perceived weakness of philanthropy in the Philippines today is an urgent call for them to respond by exerting efforts at building strong bonding and strong networking to achieve a brighter tomorrow.

The congress will be keynoted by Mr. Tony Meloto, Executive Director, Gawad Kalinga International and a Magsaysay Awardee for Community Development, who will speak on the theme: "Everyday We Walk with Heroes."

A host of speakers will speak on various topics, to include: "Biblical Foundations in Fundraising," "Fund Development through Alumni Relations," by former Iloilo Vice-governor Demy Sonza, who is presently the Chairman of Taytay Sa Kauswagan, Inc. Kauswagan bank and Kauswagan Management and Development Corporation.

Other topics are "Preparing and Organizing for a Capital Campaign," and "Bringing Back Life to your Annual Fund Program," by Dr. Danny Dial, president of Mountain View College; "Understanding Fundraising in the Asian Setting," by Dr. Wong Yew Chong, CDO, National Cancer Society; "Developing Leaders for Philanthropy," by Dr. Joyce Dy, Associate Professor, UAP and consultant, Executive Career Development' "Helping the Poor Escape Poverty through Microcredit, " by Mr. David Tan.

Topics on "Writing effective fundraising letters," "Fundraising through earned income projects," "Setting Up your organization's development program," and "Positioning your organization for successful fundraising," will be tackled by Mr. Jose Sarsoza, Jr. of the Philippine Publishing House, Pr. Pascual Panaglima, member of the board of the National Urban Poor Commission, and Mr. Joel S. Habaradas, Philanthropic Services Director.