Hi everyone,

I’m setting up this GoFundMe to support my friend Al as he copes with the death of his mother, who passed away last week from dementia. I am raising money to help Al pay for travel expenses so he can return his mother’s ashes to the Philippines and fulfill her final wishes.

I met Al through Cross Bay Mutual Aid in 2020, and his friendship has meant so much to me during the pandemic. I feel lucky to have learned a bit about his story and want to share it with you.

Al and his mother, Ester, lived in the Philippines until they moved to San Francisco in 1978, when Al was 10 years old (they also returned to Manila for a period in 2016 when they couldn’t afford to live in San Francisco). They lived together until 2017, when they separated so Al’s mom could transition to subsidized assisted living.

In the meantime, Al also needs elbow replacement surgery. He worked for 2 years at Halal Guys in SF, through much of the pandemic, but his doctor told him to stop working a month ago because of overexertion and arthritis (he is now 54). This means that his financial strain is serious and does not leave room to pay for medical bills. He is currently receiving income through workers' compensation, but it won't cover travel and funeral costs, let alone medical expenses.

Al and his mom have been each other’s support system for so long, and I want to do everything I can to make sure that he feels supported during this time of grieving. Your donation will help with airfare, lodging, and food while he manages his mom's end-of-life wishes. Thank you so much for keeping Al in your thoughts at this time and for helping me help my friend.

From Al, describing his mom: "During her heyday, she really helped a lot of people back in the [Philippines]. She helped them come to the United States. People who were in need, who didn't have food. She always gave more to other people than she gave to herself."

Rachel