What is so special about Bicol that merits mention in the Foundations name? Why not organize and use the family name or perhaps emphasize a particular advocacy campaign? The answer is both simple and profound. The founding trustees of the foundation have deep Bicolano roots. Ryan Culala, Michelle Song and their mother, Maria Culala, trace their roots from the town of San Fernando, Province of Camarines Sur, one of the six provinces comprising the Bicol region. Ricardo Perez, is a native born son of Bicol, with blood and cultural ties to the region. 

"Bicol" is the root word that identifies not only the people living in the region, but also the language spoken in the area. It is but one of the regional groupings that comprise the 13 regions of the Republic of the Philippines, and is where the majority of the Aeta's live. Geographically speaking, the Bicol region is located at the southern most portion of the island of Luzon, the largest of the three island groupings of the Philippine archipelago. Economically speaking, the data gives a clue as to why a foundation rooted in the name of the region was organized. 

The Bicol region is ranked by the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines as one of the most economically depressed regions in the country. It is likewise the home of the most economically depressed tribal communities in the country, known collectively as the Agta, Aeta or negritos. In Bicol alone, the last known statistical data from the government in 2007, indicate that there were more than 47,000 registered members of the cultural group scattered in four of the mainland provinces of Region 5. There are actually more unregistered tribal people living in various other locations. There were only 187 identified tribal communities listed in the directory of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). It does not include other marginalized communities living elsewhere. 

Unlike the other tribal people or cultural minorities in the country, or those living in the USA and Canada, the Aeta unfortunately are the most neglegted of the indigenous groups in this part of the world. The idea of our family organization is to "change lives for the better," one person, one family, one tribe at a time. With enough resources, this slogan can become a reality. Only the generous support and commitment of kind hearted individuals who are willing to put their money where their heart is can make a difference. The Bicol Foundation is a relative newcomer in this field of public service, but has a decade long experiecence of making an impact where it matters most.