LOVE146 (PHILIPPINES) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Gundelina Velazco

CEO & President

Love146's Aftercare programs are devised and directed by Dr. Gundelina Velazco, a recognized international consultant in counseling psychology. Dr. Velazco has taught in institutions in Malaysia, South Africa, and the USA, particularly in the therapy of traumatized children. She has also conducted workshops in Ireland, England, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Namibia, Romania, India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. She was a university professor in the Philippines in the fields of psychology, education, research, and counseling for nine years. She has authored three books and a number of journal and book articles. She is a member of the British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Velazco obtained her education in the Philippines, USA, UK, and France in the fields of nursing, education, gestalt therapy, drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation, and test development. In recognition of her work among the world’s street children, Dr. Velazco received the Presidential Award, Pamana ng Filipino Award, in December 2004, a recognition bestowed on Filipinos overseas for excellence and distinction in their work or profession. She was also the recipient of the International Humanitarian Award from the APA in 2008, an award bestowed on a psychologist with exemplary contribution to humanity. She also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of the Philippines in 2009. Dr. Velazco recently finished and publicized her research about the reintegration of traffic survivors.

Dr. Velazco has three sons, one a scientist, the other a graphic and music artist, and the third one, a film maker.

Dr. Jesus Marco 

Vice President

An Associate Professor from the De La Salle University (DLSU), Manila Philippines, Dr. Marco served as DLSU’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Learning from January 2009-May 2011. At present, she is the Executive Director of the Human Resources Development and Management Office of DLSU. She also served as Director of the Social Development Research Center of DLSU from September 2005-May 15 2008. In her more than 30 years with the University, she has served in various administrative positions – Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Department, Graduate School Director, among others. Trained as a sociologist, she is affiliated with DLSU’s Behavioral Sciences since 1976 where she is teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses.

Her research work and consultancy has been in two areas: one as a community specialist and the other as an evaluator. Dr. Marco has done an array of qualitative research in varied areas, such as facilitating focus group discussions with community health stakeholders; school heads, teachers, Department of Education division officers; midwives, women in their reproductive years, health workers; street children and youth; NGO heads, local government leaders, among others; convening and presiding over community assemblies to discuss the concern/s of specific projects on hand like dengue control, promoting reproductive health, gender, and STD, HIV/AIDS awareness among women, information dissemination and forum on water projects, organizing “barangay” waterworks and sanitation association; and investigating local government housing projects for urban poor, community-based projects such as those in the uplands, and the like.

As an evaluator, Dr. Marco has evaluated a range of projects from secondary education to upland programs for low income classes, vitamin A, health programs for street children, programs and services for institutionalized street children, abused children and children in conflict with the law, et al. Moreover, she has developed and conducted belief/attitude, socio-economic surveys and social impact studies. Dr. Marco has worked with numerous local and foreign donor groups.

Desi F. Thomas 

Secretary & Treasurer

The second child and only girl of three children, she was named Desi, the combination of the first syllables of her parents’ first names, Delia Valencia and Sixto Fermin. She was born on August 6, 1951 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

She graduated valedictorian from the elementary grades, and was in the top five of the graduating class in high school. From the University of the Philippines in Diliman, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration majoring in Financial Management, and took up masteral units at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

Her career in the banking industry spans over 39 years, covering the areas of collection, credit evaluation and administration, account management, treasury, remedial management and acquired assets disposal and management. In August 2011, she retired from BDO Universal Bank, at present the largest bank in the Philippines. She is now a consultant of Planters Development Bank, where she was once a First Vice-President. She likewise co-manages the family business, engaged in providing certain services to banks.

More important to her, she is a mother of two adult daughters, Desmelyn, an entrepreneur, and Melissa, a young professional in the advertising industry; and a servant of the Lord, leading the iGive.Club of Feast Alabang of the Light of Jesus Community.

Antero Rosauro V. Arias, Jr. 

Chairman

Coming from a middle class conservative family with strong religious values, Antero Rosauro V. Arias, Jr. involved much of himself in the choral activities of his parish in addition to the academic activities that preoccupied most of his time. His parents, who both worked for the Philippine Government, inculcated in him and his siblings the importance of honesty and integrity in their dealings with their fellowmen. Their parents stressed in them the significance of education in their lives, with education being their “lone legacy” to them. He then thought that these would be the same set of values which he could readily pass on to his lone and loving daughter, Alexandra Joy.

He finished a bachelor’s degree in college and pursued further studies in the field of law. Later, he also earned a master’s degree in psychology as he continued to teach in the tertiary level and as he worked at one point in a foreign embassy in Manila as its public relations officer. Then, he was invited to work as human resource manager; but later, he resigned from this lucrative post and went back to the academe during which he also earned academic units in the doctorate degree in counselling psychology with major in clinical counselling. Presently, he has been recognized with the titles of certified clinical psychologist, certified assessment psychologist and registered guidance counsellor while serving as a tenured faculty member of the psychology department of the Mapua Institute of Technology, as a private clinical and forensic psychology practitioner, and as the chairman of the board of trustees of Love 146 Philippines.

Maria Paz Morelos-Poa  

Member

Paz has done professional counseling for 24 years. She was also a University Lecturer for five years teaching psychology subjects, such as: Abnormal Psychology, Personality Theories, Guidance and Counselling, Research, Humanities, Group Process and Mental Health. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (De La Salle University-Main) and two Masteral Degrees, one in Guidance Counselling with Honor (De La Salle University-main) and another in Government Management. In New Zealand, where she is currently based, she was awarded level 7 for her Bachelor of Arts degree (major in Psychology) and two level 9's for her two Master's Degrees by the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA).

Rob Morris

Rob Morris is President and Co-Founder of Love146. Named an Agent of Change by GQ Magazine as well as earning the Myspace Impact Award for social justice, Love146 continues to be recognized as a leader in the fight to end modern-day slavery. Rob Lectures internationally on issues of child trafficking, justice, compassion and human rights. He lives with his wife and six children in New Haven, Connecticut.

Steve Martin 

Steve Martin is Love146’s CEO, a position held since 2010. His management background began with over 10-years in global media production including 5-years in broadcast news. He received a BA in Television Production from Bournemouth University, England and went on to produce documentaries and television productions. He created and implemented communications strategies for the world's largest maritime medical organization and produced communications tools for corporations, non-profits and US Government agencies. His live productions included television news and live television for the 2001 US Presidential Inauguration. Throughout his media career he managed the financial, operational and personnel challenges in both technical and management positions. After leaving broadcast production Steve launched Infused Communications, a successful international media company spearheading the online distribution of broadcast video. In 2005 he joined the early Love146 team and pioneered the organization's growth in areas of operational, programmatic, financial and international expansion. Steve is a passionate advocate for children and serves as a member of the board of directors for the Seattle based charity Orphan Relief and Rescue, New Haven based charity Groundworks, Love146 Philippines and Love146 Europe.