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Hi! We are the Saup Foundation, a collective of Filipino immigrants and loved ones of the late láwû makurye'nte—also known to many as Mango, Ate Chi, or Pam.
Months before their car accident, láwû sat down with their mother, Edirose Lapid, and organized a giant Google document (<--view here!). Together, they began shaping a plan rooted in their shared history in Pampanga, Philippines, where they grew up.
If you knew láwû, you know exactly how this went: a vision that was enormous, tender, and wildly creative—paired with a mind that could navigate grants, oppressive systems, and bureaucracy with the clarity of a seasoned revolutionary at work.
láwû’s clarity was forged through lived struggle—alongside marginalized, disabled, and QTBIPOC communities—where liberation was practiced not as theory, but as shared work.
More than anything, they knew how to build community. They brought people together, drew out their best, and steadied all of us through our storms <3 . láwû loved sitting with their elders. That way of listening shaped their work—rooted in guidance, steadiness, and care; and carried by a love that was (and is!) strong enough to sustain a barrio for generations.
láwû is an ancestor now. Their mother, Edirose, says they lit candles inside of people.. and the Saup Foundation intends to keep those candles lit, carrying láwû’s light forward through the lives and work of many. We can all do this- by mobilizing resources and comrades in the service of láwû's spirit.
are you a beloved of láwû and want to be more directly involved or hold a position within láwû's Saup Foundation? email the contact listed on this page -`♡´-
The plan láwû created with the Saup Foundation responds to a long-standing reality they witnessed growing up in Pampanga: the exclusion of impoverished children with disabilities— not only from educational opportunities, but from community life itself. At its heart is the work of láwû’s cousin, Ethna Lapid Galura Mañalac, who has devoted her life to serving children with disabilities in their community.
Today, the Saup Foundation exists to bring this vision to life by strengthening educational access for marginalized children with disabilities—beginning with San Simon Elementary School’s SPED program, led by Ethna, and expanding beyond it. Our work includes building sustainable infrastructure, supporting educators, expanding programming, and developing long-term, community-based solutions that uplift disabled children and their families in the Philippines and beyond.
Our New Jersey launch gala on April 19th, 2026 is our first major step in turning láwû’s vision into lasting impact. While the gala brings our community together in person, this GoFundMe exists for friends, family, and loved ones who want to be part of this beginning from wherever they are. Your contribution helps carry láwû’s light forward and ensures this work reaches the children and families it was always meant to serve.
The GoFundMe infrastructure allows an automatic increase of goal amount to allow this page to be a sustaining site for fundraising.
drawing by cristy road carrera
San Simon SPED
Where the Money Goes
Your donation directly fuels three immediate pillars of work:
1. SPED SCHOOL SUPPORT — San Simon Elementary
Funds support:
- school supplies and educational materials
- student meals
- accessible transportation for learners
- field trips and inclusion programming
- training for massage, manicure, other jobs the students can graduate and become wage-earning members of their community
- teacher support and classroom resources
2. Dulu Ning Lugud — Organic Farm and Learning Hub
Funds will help build:
- earth-based and agricultural learning programs
- wellness and spiritual spaces
- music education and a "jam room"
- food distribution to food-insecure families
- hands-on job pathways for disabled young adults, elderly, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those without access to organic foods and holistic wellness due to economic instability
3. Cultural and Community Fundraising Projects
Funds help us:
- produce Filipino festivals and arts events in New Jersey, with extensions to Los Angeles, Bay Area, Bilbao, Austin, and more
- uplift Filipino immigrant artists, musicians, and educators
- build cross-ocean support for disability and environmental justice
Projected Use of Funds (Initial Phase)
(This breakdown may shift slightly as needs evolve — transparency is priority.)
Estimated allocation:
50% San Simon SPED programming and student support
25% Dulu Ning Lugud farm development
20% arts, festivals, and community fundraising
5% operations and administration
Why Now — The Urgency
Disabled children in San Simon are:
- currently unable to access consistent meals, supplies, and transportation
- socially isolated from the wider community
- facing community stigma and exclusion
- learning in under-resourced classrooms
- aging out of systems without safety nets
And yet — they are thriving through Ethna’s leadership, with a seven-year history of growth, love, creativity, and transformation.
Transparency and Reporting
As a registered New Jersey nonprofit, Saup Foundation is committed to:
- public financial reporting
- donor updates at every project milestone
- open-access documentation
- on-site reporting from the Philippines
- direct testimonies from students and families
Every dollar and peso will be traceable, with quarterly reports on SAUP Website and through email.
This work is rooted in love, in culture, in land, in disability justice, and in láwû’s light.
Thank you for being here — reading, remembering, and helping this seed grow.
From the bottom of our hearts:
Dakal a salámat pu
New Jersey Launch Gala
if you're in the neighborhood!
Organizer
Saup Foundation
Beneficiary