Why Luigi left everything for the Philippines: a devotion beyond borders
Since 2015, Luigi has taken a decision that surprised many of those close to him: to leave his home country and move to the Philippines, a fascinating archipelago but one where poverty still affects millions of families.
This choice was anything but a whim of an expat in search of tropical adventures. It was born of a long inner journey, a deep desire to change one's life and above all to put oneself at the service of those whom Luigi affectionately calls "the invisible", those people we don't see, or too often choose to ignore.
As soon as he arrived, Luigi got involved with the local Italian community, helping his compatriots to cope with the complex bureaucracy of the Philippine authorities. For many, obtaining a visa, official papers or registering with the authorities is a real headache. Luigi has thus found his first way to be useful, to put his experience to good use for others, and to give meaning to his new departure.
When solidarity becomes an everyday way of life
Fasting days that become moments of sharing
Initially based in Manila, Luigi and his wife soon felt the need to do something for the most disadvantaged. Every week, they imposed on themselves a day of fasting, designed to purify their bodies and minds. But they couldn't live it in isolation in their relative comfort: this time of voluntary deprivation became an opportunity to share concretely.
With the money they had saved on their own food, they bought sandwiches and drinks to distribute in the poorest villages in the area. Where many motorists pass by without looking, Luigi and his wife would stop, take the time to offer a meal, a smile, a moment of listening.
A new home in northern Luzon, where rural poverty runs deep
For professional reasons, the couple then left the capital to settle in the north of the island of Luzon, a peaceful agricultural region hard hit by poverty. In these rural areas, roads are often made of earth, houses are made of bamboo, and access to public services (health, education) remains very limited.
It was there that a little boy, Gino, came into their lives. Born in their home, the son of the woman who helps them with the household chores, Gino grew up before their very eyes. Luigi and his wife quickly came to see him as their own child, sharing their table, their home and their affection.
Schools: a shock in the face of glaring inequalities
When Luigi enrolled Gino in primary school, he discovered the reality of many Filipino children: no breakfast, no pens, no notebooks. Teachers did what they could, but how could they learn on an empty stomach or without materials?
This painful realisation had a profound effect on Luigi. Where many simply shrug their shoulders, he decided to take action. With part of the income from the books he publishes and the consultations he offers in his profession, he has begun to finance breakfasts for more than thirty pupils at this school. Because how can you hope to follow a maths lesson when you haven't eaten since the day before?
👉 To see how Helping Hands also supports education, explore our page our projects in the Philippines.
Luce di Speranza: a project without status, but a huge heart
To give this fledgling mission a name, Luigi and his wife chose "Luce di Speranza", the "Light of Hope".
No official statutes, no published balance sheets, no flashy marketing. Just a small human circle, made up of helping hands and hearts that refuse to look away. Their strength lies in this total authenticity, far from the spotlight but close to the real needs of families.
Thanks to the first donations they received and the modest savings they made, they were able to buy pens, exercise books, pencils and fans to cool the sweltering classrooms during the dry season. Then came the ambition to go further: to renovate entire classrooms, replacing the bamboo walls that were too vulnerable to the elements with solid cement structures.
Why co-financing a classroom in the Philippines really does change lives?
An investment that does more than raise walls
Funding a classroom in the Philippines is not just about financing concrete and bricks. It's about giving children a safe place to learn, sheltered from the torrential rains and storms that sweep across the archipelago. It means enabling girls to continue coming to school in the knowledge that there are dedicated toilets, guaranteeing them hygiene and privacy.
According to UNICEF, thousands of Filipino children drop out of school every year for lack of suitable infrastructure or because they have to work to help their families. Helping to build a classroom means breaking this vicious circle.
Luigi and the Limbauan school: a concrete example
This is exactly what Luigi has undertaken with the Limbauan school, in the province of Isabela. Thanks to his help and that of donors touched by its history, the school has been able to benefit from major transformations:
✅ Building toilets for girls, an often underestimated factor, but crucial for the educational continuity of adolescent girls.
✅ The creation of an enclosed classroom, where children can learn sheltered from the wind, insects and heavy rain.
✅ Multiple repairs, consolidating existing structures and making the school safer.
✅ The distribution of shoes to more than 100 children, to prevent injuries linked to walking barefoot on rocky or hot paths.
✅ Regular food distributions, which have provided more than 100 families with nutritious meals.
👉 See more similar actions on our website Helping Hands - humanitarian projects.
A project that grows thanks to every donation, no matter how small.
Luigi doesn't see himself as a hero. He acts out of conviction, humbly, without any expectation of medals. But every step he takes really does change lives. He shows that it is possible, even outside heavy institutional structures, to provide direct and lasting help, where it is most needed.
That's why your support is so important. By choosing to co-fund a classroom in the Philippines, you're helping to build more than just a building: you're helping to build a future for these children.
👉 To find out how you can help, visit our page make a donation and find out how, together, we can transform lives.
In conclusion: love in action changes the world, piece by piece.
Luigi's story proves that love, when turned into concrete action, can truly change the world - not necessarily all at once, but bit by bit, smile by smile, light by light.
Thanks to him, the Limbauan school is becoming a safe, welcoming and hopeful place. It's clear proof that it's still possible, even thousands of miles away, to make a difference and build a better future.
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