why we do what we do
The Filipino youth are thirsting for authentic love, but are experiencing an increase in depression, loss of self-worth, teenage pregnancy, suicide, etc. We seek to help the youth quench this thirst by leading them to the love of God and helping them live holy and healthy relationships in order to protect the Filipino values of faith and family.
MISSIONS
We are sent out to bring the message of God's Love and the truth of our sexuality to the youth in public and private schools, universities, youth groups, and religious and non-religious organizations. We present these topics through a combination of talks, skits, music, games, interactive activities, small group sharing, reflection, prayer, question and answer, and personal interaction with the youth.
Our goal is to help the youth have a personal encounter with Jesus. Through this encounter, and through our presentations, we hope that they may discover that they are created for love and that their sexuality is a gift from God, and that they would have the courage to choose to live in chastity.
Pure Heart Philippines began in Cebu City in 2014, but our roots go back to 2008. Corazón Puro, the mother organization of Pure Heart, had its beginnings in New York City, and has since spread to many other countries, including the Philippines.
Founded by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR and Odet Bisono, Corazón Puro awakens and accompanies leaders in areas of great need. Inspired by the life and theology of St. John Paul II, these leaders are equipped to become Christ-centered, pure of heart, joy-filled agents of change. They are sent out to form young people to know the dignity of their sexuality and God's plan for their life, in order to build up a culture of life and a civilization of love.
In 2014, Bulay Miñano, a member of Corazón Puro, came to Cebu City to serve with the Apostolic Sisters of St. John. Seeing that the youth had no resources to answer their questions about love and sexuality, she decided to begin Pure Heart Philippines.
our growth
We have been steadily growing since our inception in 2014. From our small beginnings, we are encountering more and more young people every year:
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HOW WE STARTED
Meet The Team
Mae Angeli Cañedo, Nurse and Entrepreneur, encountered Pure Heart Philippines after WYD 2023 in her Parish at the Alliance of the Two Hearts in Banawa, Cebu city . She is currently serving as the logistics head and is in awe of JP II's Theology of the Body. She started serving at 2024.
Fr. Jan Maria Mistina, CSJ currently serves as the Spiritual Director and Spirituality and Content Committee Head of Pure Heart Philippines. A member of the Community of St. John since 2008, he is currently assigned at the Banawa Priory. He has been serving as the Spiritual Director of Pure Heart Philippines since 2023. His biggest joy is to see each person growing in faith, hope, charity and humanity.
Marlyn Crame Lacorte currently serves as the Media and Promotions Committee Head of Pure Heart Philippines. She is professionally engaged in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, where she has built a career alongside her ministry work. Her journey with Pure Heart began in 2022, when she was invited by a friend to attend a Project Love at Saint Joseph Taboan. This event introduced her to the Theology of the Body, an experience that deeply resonated with her, opening her heart to the richness of this theology. Since then, Marlyn has been actively involved in Pure Heart’s missions, dedicating her time and talents to promoting its message and reaching more young people with the transformative teachings of the Theology of the Body.
Jasper Gae Salomeo
Executive Director / Full-time Missionary
Jasper Gae K. Salomeo currently serves as the Executive Director of Pure Heart Philippines. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Technology and devoted two years (2020–2022) as a full-time missionary with Pure Heart Philippines. From 2022 to 2025, he was employed at Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu, a Jesuit institution, where he served as Assistant Campus Minister for Student Formation. He was formally appointed as Executive Director of Pure Heart Philippines on August 1, 2025.
El Niño Papellero
Program Coordinator / Full-time Missionary
El Niño S. Papellero has been part of Pure Heart since its early years, volunteering from 2014 to 2019. In 2017, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology at University of The Philippines Cebu. He has extensive experience in missionary outreach and parish leadership both locally and abroad, with a focus on youth, families, and ministry to the sick and dying. Guided by a deep sense of meaning, his work seeks to unite human and spiritual development as a way of more fully proclaiming the joy and possibility of living with a pure heart.
Mary Grace Villarma
Finance Committee Head / Server
Mary Grace “Grasya” Villarma currently serves as the Finance Head of Pure Heart Philippines. A Licensed Professional Teacher by profession, she first encountered Pure Heart in 2014 at St. John Center and was inspired by the Theology of the Body discussions and the community’s commitment to prayer. She later served as a full-time missionary, where one of her most meaningful experiences was giving a talk on real love—a moment that deepened her encounter with God’s great love. She continues to live by her guiding principle: “Live as a Grace .”
Mae Cañedo
Logistics Committee Head / Server
Fr. Jan Maria Mistina, CSJ
Spirituality and Content Committee Head / Spiritual Director
Marlyn Crame Lacorte
Media and Promotions Committee Head / Server
Meet the Servers
Marie Louie Dejaño
Server
Louie has been serving with Pure Heart since 2014. She has a full-time job and serves on mission in her free time. Ormocana. Manager. Sunflower. Sleepy Head. K-Pop Fanatic. Hugotera. Hopeless Romantic. Feature Writer.
Merrick Lance Noel
Server
Lance works in IT and is involved in many different ministries in the church. He is the current head of Kaire a Community for young professionals of the Community of St. John He has been a member of Pure Heart since 2019. He loves Latin Mass and Food Panda.
