John Drake once spent his days managing corporate operations and flying across countries as an American executive whose life revolved around business. Today, at 78, he has spent two decades raising abandoned and neglected children in Toledo City, Cebu, who now call him "Tito John." What was meant to be one final trip to the Philippines became a mission that helped turn forgotten children into graduates, engineers, teachers, and nurses.
A Life-Changing Visit
Drake first came to Cebu in the early 1990s to oversee power plant operations in places like Toledo City. For years, the Philippines was simply another stop in his global career. But in 2002, everything changed. Before returning to the United States, he joined a Toledo City mayor in visiting schools where computer donations had been distributed. The mayor asked if he would consider renovating and running a struggling children's facility. Initially dismissive due to cultural and logistical challenges, Drake agreed to visit the old Lingap Center. The facility was in poor condition, and the 26 children there barely had food, no birth certificates, no schooling, and no certainty about their future. Yet, they reminded him of his own children. "The big difference was my kids would be successful because I would make sure. These kids had no chance at all," he said. The children's faces followed him home, and inspired by Mother Teresa's words, he decided to try.
Building More Than Shelter
In 2004, Drake began raising funds in the US, and a year later, construction for a new facility began. He established the Lingap Children's Foundation, and in March 2006, 39 children moved into the new Lingap Center in Barangay Ilihan, Toledo City. The center operates independently but is accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), holding a Level 3 accreditation — the highest possible rating. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the center has served over 800 children. Drake realized that shelter alone was not enough, so he pushed for education. Nearly 50 children have graduated from college or vocational programs, and the center holds an Honor Society Awards Night, now in its 13th year, to celebrate academic achievers.
Through Storms and Succession
The center survived the Covid-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette, which left them without electricity for weeks. Drake's son, Jeff, is slowly preparing to take over the mission. "As soon as I drop dead, he'll take over," Drake joked. The organization remains funded through donations, with boards in the US and the Philippines. Drake's goal now is not to expand but to make the center the best it can be, offering tutoring, life skills training, counseling, music programs, and more.
A Musical Night of Gratitude
On May 9, 2026, the Lingap Center celebrated its 20th anniversary with a surprise musical production for Drake. Children rehearsed lines, alumni fixed costumes, and teachers prepared for a show inspired by "Annie," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Sister Act." Alumna Morin Jade Lacay, now a radio DJ, recalled how Drake supported his dreams. "Tito John has always been supportive of our dreams," he said. Watching the children perform, confident and radiant, Drake reflected: "I love what I do. These kids deserve better than what they got. They are great kids. That's all there is to it."
