A Fountain Valley father and daughter have teamed up to change the world, or at least one corner of it.

Ernie Delfin and his daughter Donna Delfin recently launched a website from their home near Mile Square Park to make a difference for the poor in the Philippines.

"The Philippines is crying right now," said Donna.

The new website enlists humanitarian aid for the Philippines and is called www.katipunan-usa.org. The name "katipunan" symbolizes revolution, said Donna.

"My dad and I, we were always talking about the Philippines and what could be done there," said Donna.

What the Delfins seek is something of a social revolution to raise the standard of living for a large number of poverty-stricken people in their homeland. The father and daughter hope to accomplish this goal by improving one life at a time.

The first person they want to help is a Filipina teacher named Rosario "Nene" D. Lansangan who needs heart surgery. Since learning about Lansangan's situation, the Delfins located a doctor in California who agreed to perform the surgery at no charge; a California family who agreed to car for her during recovery; and $2,000 for travel expenses.

"We are Catholic and we believe in outreach," said Ernie. "Those who have less in life should really be helped. I hope that God really can guide us in our outreach projects."

Both father and daughter said they felt guided through a chain of events that have led to them to create www.katipunan-usa.org and begin charity work for the Philippines. Ernie has been involved in, and received training for, a Catholic charity called the Social Justice Ministry.

Both father and daughter have written newspaper columns for various publications about life in America. Donna creates websites for an Irvine company called Metafuse.

Ernie is a CPA by training and works in mortgage banking and financial services as President and CEO of Premier Financial Group in Fountain Valley.

Born in the United States, Donna calls the Philippines-the land of her ancestors-her home. "Although she's born here, I feel she's one of the few who has very strong roots," said Ernie.

Donna describes her homeland as a "poor country with so many problems." Although she realizes www.katipunan-usa.org is just getting started, her vision is that people will donate money, even $10 at a time. That money will grow until it helps one person, like Lansangan.

Finally, Donna said she helps that money will help many people and bring social and technological improvements to the entire Philippines.

"If one person each can help collectively, it makes a big difference," said Donna. "I'm very optimistic that it can be done."

Katipunan is a non-profit organization, but it is so new Ernie is still in the process of applying for a tax-deductible status. It's run out of Donna's younger brother's bedroom on his computer. Her brother, E.J., and boyfriend, Tri Nguyen, designed the graphics and will help maintain the site.

The website opened Aug. 31 with a kick-off event at Manila Peninsula Restaurant in Orange. Both father and daughter realize their vision of social revolution is in the formative stages.

"At least we are doing something," said Ernie. "It could be something better like the American Red Cross, but, hey, we are only a father and daughter."