PARTICIPANTS
Dr. Ariel Carlito Salem
The first person to avail of this project is Dr. Ariel Carlito Salem, a pediatrician from Davao City. He was primarily interested in reaching the United States to explore opportunities that are available there. Dr. Anacleto Millendez, CEO of the ABM International Consultancy, then facilitated his trip by providing him a loan for his air fare and an allowance that was to be left to the family he was leaving behind. Dr. Millendez’ task was made easier by the fact that Dr. Salem already had a ready visa. Upon reaching California, he was fetched by Dr. Millendez himself at the San Francisco International Airport on February 14, 2006, had coffee at Starbucks just across the main office of the ABM International Consultancy. That same day, they had lunch at the Boracay Tropical Grill and was introduced to the owner Mrs. Edwina Salinas and waitress Flower. The next day, he was hosted by Dr. Millendez for a lunch for Mrs.Eleanor C. Millendez' birthday at Fresh Choice Restaurant in Mountain Vew, CA. He was also toured around Stanford University. A week after his U.S arrival, Dr. Salem had an exposure as a volunteer at the Morning Star Villa Care Home in Oakland, CA for two weeks and another 2-week ends exposure at RezzaBell Residential Care Home in San Jose. Presently, Dr. Salem has signed up as an independent distributor of VEMMA, a proven effective health drink. Please visit his website at www.myvemma.com/csalem. Because of Dr. Salem's expertise in community work and strong background on grant writing, Dr. Millendez is seriously petitioning him to work as one of the consultants of the ABM International Consultancy. His Department of Labor Certification has already been issued and the petition for working visa (H1B) will be filed in April 2006.
With that wonderful experience of Dr. Salem, PUNTA on the otherhand, is also meant to benefit those who do not have visas. It is part of the project to advise applicants how to obtain visas and then assist them in providing the financing necessary to travel overseas.
PUNTA Project is a joint effort of the ABM International Consultancy and TULONG Project the Beautiful Heart Foundation, Inc.