Our Team in Cebu
The Hansen Family
Susanne, John William, Elisabet and Flemming Hansen
I, Elisabet am Norwegian and my husband, Flemming is from Denmark. We were married in 1974, in Oslo, Norway. We come from very different backgrounds, but met, fell in love and decided to dedicate our lives together to reach out and help people in need. In the beginning we worked with the drug addicts and hippies on the streets of Oslo, and Christiania (Copenhagen). As time passed, and with several children, we moved to Asia in the -82, where we worked as missionaries in the countries of Malaysia, Singapore and India offering counseling and spiritual strengthening through Bible studies and motivational classes. We used to perform with our children, bringing joy to people in institutions through our songs. We returned to Denmark again in -88, and lived in Denmark and Switzerland where we worked bringing humanitarian aid to many Eastern European countries.
From our years in Asia, we always desired to return, so it was a dream come true when we in year 2000 were able to again move there – this time to Cebu City in the Philippines. Seeing a country with so many poor and destitute people, we were compelled to start the many programs we have at present running, and we are proud that these programs have grown and that more and more people have joined us from far-away countries to work as volunteers together with us.
Our Rise Above compound (where several families and individuals on the team live) is the base for all our activities. Every week the projects are discussed, creative thoughts and ideas are welcomed and implemented, and together we are able to make a big difference in Cebu.
Thank you to all of you who have given of your time and money to further this cause, and we hope many more will like to partake in our charity work in Cebu.
Sincerely,
Flemming and Elisabet Hansen
The Tangalin Family
Gabriel and Marie with their grandchildren on their laps. Behind them are their children, Esther, Danny, Jonathan, Mark with son Kevin, Christopher, David, Larissa and Mark’s wife, Michela
We, Ireneo and Jovita Tangalin have been doing missionary work for over 26 years. With almost 4 years spent in Thailand and 22 years spent in different cities and provinces of the Philippines, we’ve committed our lives to assisting the communities of those around us, bringing hope and changing for the better the lives of those who have no hope to the best of our ability.
In the 9 years of being missionaries in Cebu, we have been involved in feeding programs, Dental Missions, prison ministry, helping to coordinate the Danish volunteer program, and this year, started assisting a Norwegian foundation in aid for children’s education.
We consider ourselves blessed to be working with a wonderful team here in Cebu City who share the same goals and objectives in assisting the underprivileged and disadvantaged of our beautiful country.
Thank you all for your support and prayers!
~ Sincerely,
Ireneo and Jovita Tangalin
(Gabriel & Marie)
Abi. F. K. Biard
Abi among beautiful Filipino children.
I am French and joined the team in Cebu in November 2008 after 9 years in West Africa and 36 years of missionary life and humanitarian work in more than 20 different countries! I am very happy to have come and live with such gentle people as the Filipinos and contributing in all the projects of Rise Above Foundation.
I know that ‘little truly goes such a long way’ and there are so many poor people who ‘go through hell on this earth’. I am more and more determined to show a little bit of Heaven and sow lots of hope and cheers!
Thank you for your encouragement and support!
Love, Abi
Maria Luisa (Jenny) Pityo
Jenny is from Manila.
My name is Luisa “Jenny” Pityo and I have been a missionary for 34 years.
I have been involved in youth counseling, giving motivational classes and supervised a youth center until I left for the U. S. to work as a youth and marriage counselor in 1979.
In 1981 I returned to the Philippines where I worked as a missionary base manager involved in provincial community services until 1987. I then moved to Thailand where I supervised youth training centers and outreach programs until 1990.
I returned to manila and worked as a community project manager until 2006. These projects were: Sponsorship of educational material for orphanages, disaster relief, slum aid program and visitations with counseling in a women’s prison. While in Manila I also worked for 7 years at Philippine General Hospital as a puppeteer, entertaining cancer stricken children, counseling parents and giving motivational classes.
In 2007 I joined the team in Cebu City where I among other responsibilities am co-managing an education sponsorship program for underprivileged school children.
Warm regards,
Jenny
Einar Davidsen
Einar Davidsen from Norway.
Einar Davidsen is from Norway and has been part of the Cebu team since early 2006. He has experience from volunteer work in countries like India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand and his home turf Scandinavia. By profession he is a builder and has also worked as an English teacher and translator. His construction business has become more of a side show and is now only for paying expenses.
“My heart is with the poor in the Philippines!”, he says, “And my goal is to help raise the necessary support so that I can dedicate myself 100% of the time to directly reaching out to the needy through our livelihood program. Through this training program people learn a trade and can then stand on their own two feet and better care for their families!”
Regards,
Einar
