UGAT started in 1987, when a group of committed persons conceived an organization that would serve the poor of our society to address their spiritual and the psycho-emotional problems. This group initially held a consultative meeting in Tagaytay and was composed of the following grassroots workers: Fr.Nilo E. Tanalega, S.J., Fr. Miguel Lambino, S.J., Sr. Celeste Yuzon, RGS, Ms. Lita Bambilla, and Ms. Oyet Bustamante. After three (3) full years of consultations and discussions, extensive brainstorming and evaluation, with added workers for the poor such as Raphael Ocoma, Teresa Dalumpines and Titay La Vina, they named the organization as the Ugnayan at Tulong para sa Maralitang Pamilya Foundation, Inc. abbreviated as UGAT.
In 1991, UGAT Foundation was finally established as a Jesuit apostolate whose main thrust is to assist in strengthening the individual, family and groups and empower them to change from within and develop resiliency, with preferential service to the marginalized and underserved.
It conducts its ministry through psychological interventions and family systematic approaches to address psycho, emotional, relational and spiritual development. Since it primarily deals with the disadvantaged sector of society, which composes the largest segment of the national population, the Foundation monitors developments to offer enrichment and curative services.
To be a partner in honing the emotional and relational well-being of Filipinos in the margins of society to live a meaningful and compassionate life.
EVERY HUMAN INDIVIDUAL is a child of God whose psychological, emotional and spiritual needs must be cared for within the context of a strong family and an empowering community of the Children of God.
WE CONSECRATE, therefore, our Psychoemotional and Pastoral expertise and experience in Integral Human Development to the service of the Individual, the Family and Society, with special preference to the Poor and Marginalized.
We shall actively harness to the fullest the psyche of the individual, thereby strengthening the well-being of Families and building an empowering community of Faith, a Society of Human Persons under the Counsel of God.
We conduct our business by being guided by the following values:
We believe that every individual is innately good, unique, and entitled to a respectable and decent life. We do our work with compassion and care for the individual and respect the choices made.
We have a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of our internal and external stakeholders. We acknowledge that we are guided by spirituality and faith as we serve others. We have a commitment to give our best in everything that we do.
We abide by Christian morals and business ethics. We value an individual’s right to privacy. We are honest in our interactions and dealings. We are reliable as we deliver our commitments. We take accountability for decisions made and acknowledge our mistakes and shortcomings.