Tom & Nancy Cook — Missionaries to the Philippines

Ministry News and Updates

  • Our Scholars: Carrying the Load

    Our Scholars: Carrying the Load

    During the widespread educational shutdown caused by repeated flooding during this past monsoon season, our four scholarship students—Mikaella, Caleb, and Kelsey at Olongapo City Christian School (OCCS), and Samantha at Wesley Christian School (WCS)—kept pressing forward. Now that the rains have passed, their schools have resumed in-person classes, and the students commute back and forth each day.

    Because they attend private Christian academies with established distance-learning protocols, their teachers actively supported home studies. Mikaella, Caleb, and Samantha used basic tablets we provided when the COVID-19 pandemic first disrupted education. Those tablets were their primary lifeline to schoolwork and assignments during the closures. Kelsey, our newest scholar, used her mom’s cellphone for distance learning.

    Yet education does not happen in a vacuum. Our scholars live directly inside flood-prone areas. During the prolonged monsoon, their days demanded constant vigilance—monitoring rainfall and river levels night and day—while still keeping up with their school lessons. Even so, these four students completed more schoolwork than most of their peers across the city, many of whom lack access to tablets, smartphones, or private schools. Their perseverance amid chaos is a remarkable display of character.

    The end of the floods has not ended the danger. As the mud left behind has dried, it has turned to dust, triggering a citywide respiratory crisis. Every school day, our scholars travel to and from class through that polluted air.

    The Partnership of Sacrifice

    Providing full-tuition scholarships—which cost approximately US$700 per student for the entire school year, including required textbooks—is a vital part of our ministry outreach. But these sponsorships do not erase hardship. In many respects, committing to an academic path in an environment like this increases the load a family must carry.

    It requires extraordinary sacrifices and steady, quiet commitment from parents to keep their children fed, clothed, and focused while running a household through weeks of mud and floodwater and amid deteriorating economic conditions. The students, too, had to discipline themselves to keep studying through those stressful months.

    This is a three-way partnership between devoted parents, determined students, and generous donors who stand with them in prayer and provision. Thank you for partnering with these families to build a more hopeful future for these students, their households, and the Kingdom.

    “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” (1 Corinthians 9:26, NLT)

    Caleb
    Kelsey
    Mikaella

  • Pressing On Through the Monsoon: The Realities of the Habagat

    Pressing On Through the Monsoon: The Realities of the Habagat

    “The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” —Psalm 29:10–11 (NIV)

    It can be hard to picture exactly what a prolonged monsoon season looks and feels like here on the western side of Central Luzon.

    The shift starts in June. The perpetually sunny skies begin to dull, and occasional afternoon showers roll in. By definition, a monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds. During this time of year, the prevailing wind shifts to the southwest, pulling massive amounts of moisture off the ocean—a weather pattern known locally as the Habagat. By July and August, the skies are completely overcast, and we are locked into periods of heavy, relentless rain.

    Occasionally, the atmosphere clears and becomes unexpectedly balmy. But that refreshing change is just a tease and a warning: heavy rain squalls are right behind it. When a squall hits, it literally roars through the neighborhood, hammering everything with wind-driven raindrops that feel like tiny missiles. The sound overrides everything else in the house.

    The Daily Damp and Dangerous Waters

    Most homes in the Philippines are not insulated, and there is no central heating. Unless you make a trip to a commercial laundry, there are no clothes dryers. At the height of the Habagat, the humidity is so high that wet clothes will not dry, and dry clothes become damp just hanging in the closet. Walls and floors grow slimy, and mold turns surfaces as slippery as winter ice. For the many families who sleep on mats on the floor, it means resting on cold, wet cement every night.

    The nonstop rain brings severe hazards. Over the past few months, the saturated mountains gave way, triggering localized landslides that crushed retaining walls and threatened upland homes. Down in the city, rivers overflowed their banks, forcing over a thousand Olongapo City residents to flee to evacuation centers.

    Floodwaters never entered our home, but we were physically cut off on two separate occasions. On one of those occasions, while returning from picking up important medical tests for Nancy, we were nearly caught in a flash flood. We had to turn the car around on a traffic-clogged street as the fast-moving waters rose rapidly, eventually taking shelter at the local SM Central Mall for an hour until it was safe to navigate home.

    Even inside, the dangers persisted. Rainwater found its way into an electrical outlet in our “dirty kitchen,” an open-air room used for cooking with gas burners or charcoal or wood fire. The water-filled outlet caused electric arcs to pop and shoot across the room at 12:30 in the morning. The result: a terrifying indoor fireworks display. The room filled with smoke, an acrid smell, bright flashes, and a cracking noise as loud as a high-caliber rifle shot. The only reason our house did not catch fire is that absolutely everything around was simply too wet to burn.

    The Economic Toll and the “Stoop Work” of Recovery

    When the weather turns like this, it isn’t just an inconvenience; it is an immediate economic crisis. A week of rain means a week without wages for tricycle drivers, construction workers, and market vendors.

    Furthermore, when the floods finally recede, they leave behind a secondary, silent threat. Flooded homes and streets are coated in a thick, sticky mud contaminated with human waste and rat feces and urine, creating a severe risk for leptospirosis.

    People—young, old, and everyone in between—have to scrape and scrub to remove the slime from their homes, streets, and neighborhoods. It is hard, heavy, backbreaking, exhausting toil. When it’s finished, you can’t go home and put on clean, dry clothes. Everything is wet and soiled.

    Our friend Walter, who works for our landlord, has his family home in Bulacan, north of Manila. His home was flooded for three weeks, and his family lived in it the entire time. The ground floor had water up to the bottom of the chair seats. They still sat around the dinner table for meals and traveled two kilometers by bangka (a native canoe) to reach dry land. The water has finally receded, but it left behind a thick layer of mud and debris, and a great deal of damage that the family is now working to clean up and repair.

    No matter how much rain falls, you cannot dampen the Filipino spirit. We have seen it time and time again: Filipinos are resilient overcomers. As October draws to a close, the Habagat is finally giving way to the cooler, drier northeast winds of the Amihan—but the cleanup and recovery will continue long after the rain stops.

    “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” —Romans 5:3–4 (NIV)

  • The Greater Cost: The After-Flood Health Crisis

    The Greater Cost: The After-Flood Health Crisis

    “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, WEB)

    While the dramatic rush of water makes the news, the full cost of a flood often appears days or weeks later in clinic and hospital waiting rooms. Living amid drying, contaminated mud creates serious public-health risks:

    • The Threat of Leptospirosis: Leptospira bacteria can survive in wet soil and stagnant water. When floodwater is contaminated by the urine of infected animals, people may contract leptospirosis through cuts or abrasions in the skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, the infection can cause kidney or liver damage, respiratory complications, and death.
    • Respiratory and Mold Hazards: Persistent tropical humidity can prevent buildings from drying fully. Damp walls, ceilings, furnishings, and bedding can promote mold growth and worsen asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions, especially among children, older adults, and people with existing lung disease.
    • Skin and Gastrointestinal Infections: Contaminated mud and water can infect open wounds and contribute to cellulitis, rashes, and diarrheal illness. The risk increases when drinking-water systems, wells, or household water containers become contaminated.

    Cleaning up this toxic environment requires intense, physical labor. Families must scrape, shovel, and scrub the heavy sludge by hand, frequently without rubber boots or protective gloves. A single microscopic scrape while shoveling mud can lead to a hospital admission that a daily wage earner cannot afford.

    What We Know Now

    How many people are sick? As of October 10, 2026, no reliable public source gives a combined total for flood-related illnesses in Olongapo City and the Subic Bay area. Reports confirm an increase in suspected and confirmed leptospirosis patients, but they do not provide a local case total. Nationwide, 11,965 leptospirosis cases had been recorded through September 9—46 percent more than during the same period in 2025. That national figure should not be mistaken for a local count.

    How many are in the hospital? No exact local inpatient count has been published. On August 28, however, James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital reported that all of its inpatient beds were occupied during a surge that included suspected and confirmed leptospirosis cases. Its emergency room remained open for assessment, but some patients who needed admission faced delays or referral to another facility.

    Can local hospitals handle the demand? The available information shows that Olongapo’s main city-run referral hospital was under severe pressure and could not immediately admit every patient who needed a bed. James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital is listed as a 270-bed Level 3 facility, but beds are only part of the picture. Staffing, laboratory and dialysis services, medicines, and space at other referral hospitals also affect the health system’s ability to respond.

    Sources: Department of Health figures reported by the Daily Tribune; the August 28 hospital advisory reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer; and the published facility profile for James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital. Information checked October 10, 2026.

  • REJOICING IN THE HARVEST 

    REJOICING IN THE HARVEST 

    “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” — 3 John 1:4

    Remember Billy, the boy whose answer to every question was simply “God”? This season, we’ve watched that same truth play out in the lives of the young people we love.

    We baptized Caleb, Kaella, and Samantha — three more young lives stepping into the Way of Jesus. For each of them, this marks the third generation of their families we’ve had the privilege of baptizing during our 26 years in Olongapo. God is faithful across generations.

    We also dedicated a one-year-old from our church family to the LORD. Her journey with Him is just beginning, and we’re grateful to walk alongside her family as it does.

    And we’ve had the joy of celebrating milestones further down the road. One of our original Children’s Gathering kids just marked seven years as a certified public accountant — she now works for an international company and teaches part-time at the local city college. One of our original School Scholars has completed his medical internship at the internationally recognized St. Luke’s Hospital, and on August 9th, he’ll graduate from medical school and become a Medical Doctor — a tremendous accomplishment for a young man from a lower-class family.

    These young people and their families have climbed a steep, rough road. But ask them how they made it, and — like Billy — the answer comes back the same: God.

    The three who were baptized are well on their way in the Way of Jesus. The one-year-old is taking her first steps. Thank you all for making this possible.

    Rejoicing in the Harvest
  • Joy-Joy Goes Home: A Rare Grace at The King’s Fil-Am Children’s Home

    Joy-Joy Goes Home: A Rare Grace at The King’s Fil-Am Children’s Home

    “God sets the lonely in families…” — Psalm 68:6 (NIV)

    For nearly twenty years, we have regularly visited The King’s FilAm Children’s Home. We have shared in quiet heartbreaks, prayed with and counseled devoted caregivers, and watched children grow up within its walls. Yet in all that time, we have rarely seen a child joyfully reunited with her family.

    That changed this past April.

    To understand why this moment is both special and rare, you have to understand the quiet, unglamorous reality of the home itself. The King’s FilAm Children’s Home began decades ago, during the peak of the U.S. Naval presence at Subic Bay, when an American female naval officer joined hands with local Filipino women to care for abandoned Amerasian children left behind in the community. Decades later, the military base is gone, and those early generations have grown up and integrated into society. Today, the home’s mission has evolved to provide sanctuary for “children in crisis” placed there by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

    These children arrive carrying burdens no child should bear. Some are removed from severe domestic violence or sexual trauma at the hands of family members or neighbors. Others come because a single parent, living in a fragile shack, simply cannot leave a young child unattended and unprotected while trying to earn enough daily wages to buy food.

    In theory, the DSWD addresses each family’s crisis and works toward reunification. In practice, children often remain in limbo. A struggling parent may initially attend scheduled visits, but as weeks become months, visits fade, circumstances intervene, or families move away. The children are effectively abandoned but not legally declared so, making them ineligible for adoption locally or internationally. Adoption also becomes less likely as they grow older. They remain at the home until they may leave at sixteen and must leave at eighteen, often entering a predatory world without a family to protect them.

    This is why true Christian service in this type of critical care and intervention is not glamorous; it does not produce tidy success stories for a promotional brochure, and it offers few easy victories. The caregivers at the home do all the “stoop-work”; we simply show up to love and remind these children that God sees and values them.

    Then came Joy-Joy.

    Joy-Joy, a bright little girl of about five years old, had been living at the home. Through months of patient casework, real change, and sustained effort, the impossible barrier gave way. Joy-Joy was officially cleared to go home.

    We had the happy privilege of being present as she was reunited with her mother, her seven-year-old sister, and her baby brother. Standing together in that humble room, Nancy and I were invited to pray over each family —a blessing they welcomed with open, grateful hearts.

    In ministry, it is easy to become conditioned to the weight of persistent hardship, especially during seasons when storms, illness, and economic distress press in on every side. But the Gospel reminds us that the Kingdom of God often moves in quiet, unexpected breakthroughs. A true “happy ending” in this work is extraordinarily rare, and when God grants one, it is worth pausing everything to rejoice.

    Joy-Joy is home. Please join us in lifting up this family in prayer—that God would protect their home, provide for their daily bread, and allow the love and peace of Christ to anchor their lives as they begin this new chapter together.

  •  The Answer to Every Question

     The Answer to Every Question

    — The Answer to Every Question

    “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” — Colossians 2:2-3 NIV

    Vacation Bible School at the Olongapo City Christian School (OCCS) was one of the main highlights of summer vacation for our three OCCS scholarship students, Caleb, Kaella, and Kelsey. Kelsey is a new addition to our Scholarship Outreach and a newcomer to the first-grade class at Olongapo City Christian School.


    During VBS season each year, I’m reminded of a boy named Billy from a VBS class that I assisted many years ago.
    Every time the teacher asked the class a question, Billy was the first to raise his hand. His classmates chuckled among themselves, knowing that Billy’s answer would be the same each time. To every question, Billy’s answer was “God”.
    Eight-year-old Billy may have been a bit slow in his understanding of some things, but at the same time, he also knew a lot more than many others do.


    God IS the ANSWER to any and every Question in life.

    Olongapo City Christian School (OCCS) 2026 Vacation Bible School (VBS)

    Kaella, Caleb, and Kelsey at Olongapo City Christian School Vacation Bible School 2026

  • SPEAKING OF VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (VBS)

    “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14

    Summer in the Philippines is hot, dry, and clear. Vacation Bible School (VBS) is everywhere throughout the nation, including Olongapo, around Subic Bay, and out in Zambales Province. Kids love it. It’s free, it’s fun, and there is food. VBS is an effective way to teach Bible truths, reach significant numbers of unchurched children, and foster community bonding in a fun Christian environment. The Way of Jesus is exciting, challenging, and fun for the kids.

    Our scholars, Caleb, Kaella, and Kelsey (new to our program) had a full week of good weather and good fun. They made new friends and learned more about Jesus and the Scriptures. Their VBS week ended with an award ceremony and lots of good memories.

    Out in Rabanes, San Marcelino, Zambales, two small congregations combined resources to offer the kids of Rabanes a full-featured VBS. Over 200 kids and VBS workers had a great week together.

    Through the generous gift of one of our supporters, we were able to finance a hearty meal, including snacks, for the children, the workers, and some of the kids’ families at the Closing Day Awards Ceremonies. 200+ full stomachs!

    One of the most significant blessings that VBS produces is acknowledgment, or validation. The VBS workers (mostly volunteers) make a point of making each child feel special, because they are. The kind of poverty most of these kids live in is isolating, lonely, and soul-damaging. The VBS workers spend the week building into the children’s lives. By the end of the week, the kids are full of love and food…two things they absolutely need. VBS is more than “another” church program.

    Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14

    VBS has been part of Filipino church life for a century now — what began as an American import in the 1920s grew into something the churches here made their own, open to any child, regardless of background. That’s still true today: at Rabanes, and at OCCS, kids showed up who’d never set foot in a church before, and left knowing they were welcome. For Kelsey, new to our Scholarship Outreach and to first grade this year, that welcome came all at once.

    That’s the real harvest of VBS — not just Bible stories learned, but a week where a child who is often overlooked gets to feel seen.

  • PRESSING ON: A PERSONAL HEALTH UPDATE

    PRESSING ON: A PERSONAL HEALTH UPDATE

    “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14

    Nancy has now completed 8 Targeted Therapy sessions, with 10 sessions remaining. The treatment schedule is a consistent, marathon-like pace of one session every 21 days — which means that, occasionally, we have two sessions to navigate in a single month. We are truly grateful for the care she is receiving; her treatment protocols adhere to medical community standards, and she is supported by a team of qualified, committed, and compassionate doctors, nurses, and technicians.

    As we continue this treatment, we also manage the associated costs. Our local health insurer covers approximately $300.00 per session, leaving an out-of-pocket cost of ~$700.00 per session. Because Medicare is only available in the United States, we do not receive assistance from that source and rely entirely on our local resources and the support of those who partner with our ministry. LORD willing, this phase of treatment will conclude by February 2027.

    We are deeply grateful for those who have stood with us through this “slow and steady” race. Thank you for your continued partnership — for the resources you have provided to help us complete this phase of treatment, and for your faithful prayers for Nancy’s health, healing, and strength.

    Please continue to pray that we would have every resource we need to complete this Targeted Therapy phase of Nancy’s treatment. Thank you for walking this road with us, step by step.

  • Pressing On Amidst Economic Storms

    Pressing On Amidst Economic Storms

    As we prepare the latest updates for the Newsletter Bits & Pieces file, we want to share the reality of the economic situation currently impacting the communities we serve. Our ministry is built on the belief that “slow, steady faithfulness wins the race,” and running that race requires us to navigate some very real, difficult hurdles.

    Here is a brief look at the current economic landscape in the Philippines right now:

    • A Historic Growth Slump: The Philippines’ GDP growth dropped to 2.3 percent in the second quarter of this year. Excluding the COVID-19 pandemic, this marks the slowest the country has grown since 2009—falling well below the 5.3 percent growth that the World Bank predicted for 2026.
    • Ongoing Economic Weakening: The government has tried to brush off the slowdown as “temporary.” However, after a period of strong growth, the fact is that the Philippine economy has seen sharp and continuous weakening since the third quarter of 2025.
    • Infrastructure & Corruption Fallout: One major factor at play is the flood control corruption scandal that broke last year. Increased scrutiny around infrastructure spending has unfortunately slowed investment by both the government and the private sector alike. (The government notes this is being dealt with and expects infrastructure spending to increase in the third quarter).
    • Global Energy Disruptions: The second major factor is the massive disruption to global energy markets following U.S. attacks on Iran and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Because the Philippines relies heavily on oil imported from the Middle East, the country is facing a nasty spike in inflation and a sharp slowdown in consumer spending.
    • Regional Comparisons: These figures make the Philippines one of the worst—possibly the worst—performing economies in the region right now. For contrast, neighbors like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam have all released figures showing second-quarter growth above 5 percent.

    The Call to “Stoop-Work”

    What do these numbers mean for the people of Olongapo? It means that the daily hardships for our neighbors, our scholars, and the families we serve are actively intensifying. High inflation and economic slumps always hit those at the bottom the hardest.

    Yet, this is exactly where the hard, heavy, and slow work of the Christian in this world takes place. Our response is not found in politics or loud noise, nor is it about reaching for the “heights”—it is about bending the back to do the “stoop-work” of service. As the economic burdens on our community grow heavier, we simply lower ourselves to serve them with quiet generosity and faithfulness.

    Thank you for standing with our Filipino neighbors and us as we continue to press on.

  • National Gridlock and Local Realities in Zambales

    National Gridlock and Local Realities in Zambales

    May 14, 2026

    It has been an eventful week here in the Philippines, marked by severe weather, significant political shifts in the capital, and ongoing economic transitions locally in the Subic Bay region. For those of us living and working in Central Luzon, the contrast between the high-stakes news out of Manila and our daily realities is sharp, though both impact our communities.

    The National Picture: A Divided Capital

    The most pressing national news centers on a severe political fracture in Manila. A standoff is currently underway at the Senate involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Following an unsealed warrant from the International Criminal Court related to his time as national police chief, authorities attempted an arrest that resulted in gunfire within the Senate complex. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the Senate was placed under lockdown. Senator dela Rosa remains inside the building under the protective custody of allied senators, refusing to surrender to international authorities. President Marcos has publicly denied that state security forces were involved in the gunfire or the arrest order.

    In a concurrent development that underscores the growing divide between the current administration and the Duterte faction, the House of Representatives has formally transmitted Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate. This initiates the next constitutional phase for a formal trial.

    On a more practical level, the public is feeling the strain of global events. Middle East tensions have driven up local fuel prices, prompting transport strikes. To help offset the burden on daily commuters, the government has temporarily halved train fares in the metro areas.

    Local Realities: Olongapo, Subic Bay, and Zambales

    Closer to home, the most immediate issues are the weather and the infrastructure struggling to keep up with it. The state weather bureau continues to place Olongapo—particularly around Cubi Point and Subic Bay—under a “danger” level heat index warning, with temperatures feeling like 43°C (109°F). It is a persistent, draining heat that requires serious attention to hydration and limiting afternoon outdoor work.

    The strain of this heat wave culminated last night when the Luzon Power Grid was placed under a “Red Alert” by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Several power plants went offline just as demand peaked, forcing manual load dropping across the island. Here in Olongapo, the power cut out around 7:00 PM and did not return until after 9:00 PM. Losing light, fans, and air-conditioning just as families were settling in after a grueling, hot day was difficult, highlighting the fragility of our local infrastructure under pressure.

    In the Freeport Zone, the tempo remains high. The massive US-Philippine Balikatan military exercises concluded last week, heavily utilizing Subic Bay for logistics. While the exercises are over, they did prompt local labor protests outside the Freeport gates, with groups raising concerns over both the geopolitical implications and the local cost of living.

    Looking forward, there are significant economic projects in motion. The US, Japan, and the Philippines have announced an expansion of the Luzon Economic Corridor to include other partner nations. This initiative aims to improve infrastructure and supply chains connecting Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Additionally, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is pushing ahead with the development of the Subic Bay International Airport, setting a mid-August deadline for proposals.

    Around the wider Zambales area, community and regulatory actions continue as usual. SM City Olongapo Central recently ran a large-scale joint tactical inspection of its emergency protocols. On the environmental front, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources halted a mining exploration project in the province for violating environmental orders, while community groups up in Masinloc have been steadily working to rehabilitate degraded mangrove areas.

    We will continue to monitor these situations as they develop, keeping an eye on how broader national shifts and the ongoing struggles with our local power grid affect our daily lives and our work here in the province.