AT JUST 24 years old, Davaoeño racing driver Fgani Angelo Salubre has already made history as the first Filipino to win a class race in the GT Cup Open Europe. Now, beyond the international racing circuit, he is taking on another meaningful role: inspiring Filipino children to pursue their own dreams.
During his recent visits to World Vision-supported communities in Manila and Davao, Angelo spent time with children, listening to their aspirations and sharing how his own childhood dreams eventually led him to compete internationally.
One of his stops was the Area Development Program in Manila, where World Vision supports 1,278 assisted children and 1,276 families through programs focused on sponsorship, education, livelihood, child participation, and overall child well-being.
At the ING Learning Center, Angelo joined Grade 3 and Grade 4 students in games and coloring activities as they drew their dream cars and shared their hopes for the future. The center, a partnership between World Vision and ING Philippines, helps selected students strengthen their learning and numerical comprehension skills.
For Grade 3 student Angela, meeting Angelo was memorable. “It’s great to meet Kuya Angelo. He’s nice and has taught me a lot about cars!” Another child, Elmcqueen, proudly shared his drawing with Angelo: “My car is green because it’s my favorite color. When I grow up, I want to drive a fast car like you!”
For famed racer, the children’s excitement about cars was especially familiar. His own interest in racing began with a childhood fascination for the animated film Cars, particularly its character Lightning McQueen.
What started as a childhood interest eventually became a serious pursuit that took him from Davao to Singapore and Milan, Italy, and onto the international racing circuit.
Drawing from his own journey, Angelo encouraged the children to dream big, work hard, have faith, and be ready to take opportunities when they come. He also met community members who help support children’s learning, including Salvacion “Bhabes” Race, a volunteer teacher who has served at the learning center for nearly 20 years.
“Teaching at this learning center has helped me get my children through college. Not only that, it has been a great benefit for the children of Manila as they got to explore and enjoy learning more,” she shared.
Despite the challenges faced by families in Manila, including fires and floods, Angelo was struck by the children’s optimism and eagerness to learn. His message to Filipino children was simple: “Pursue your studies. Enjoy every day going to school. I also dream for them to have a great childhood—where they grow up in a safe environment, where they can eat well. Because they really are the hope of the nation.”
Reflecting on why he wants to support World Vision, Angelo shared, “I want to support World Vision because I was just like them. I dreamt big, I worked hard, and I had faith.”
His visit to Davao, where his own journey began, also reinforced his desire to use his international racing platform to advocate for children. “I can be the voice of children on the world stage. I meet people from different countries, and being able to be their voice and their representative is very powerful.”
For a young racer who once dreamed of making it to the international circuit, helping amplify the dreams and voices of Filipino children may be one of Angelo Salubre’s most meaningful journeys yet.
To know how you can protect and support more Filipino children, visit World Vision’s website at https://www.worldvision.org.ph and follow World Vision Philippines’ official social media pages: @worldvisionph on Facebook and Twitter, and @worldvisionphl on Instagram.
