ANAK KO History & Legacy

ANAK KO (“My Child” in Filipino”) is named for the founder’s unborn child, Angel Nevaeh Rendón, who was miscarried on Halloween and buried on Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead” in Spanish) 2018. Angel’s family fortunately could afford to pay for her funeral and tombstone at the time, but not all families are blessed with funds for the unexpected — which can cost thousands of dollars (including for babies). 

ANAK KO founder, Dr. Elaine Dispo-Rendón, Ph.D., GC-C, PGSS-C, considers this foundation as her life’s calling, to commemorate the lives of her babies: Ángel Nevaeh, Asia Felina Catalina and Divine Mercy. As angel mother, she also is cat mama to Annie, Leónidas, Lilo,  Santo Niño (a.k.a. “Chuy,” short for “Baby JESUS”) and Rosario (a.k.a. “Left Eye Levi”). Her husband and AKO co-founder, David Rendón, is Corporate Executive Chef who also taught culinary arts. “Dr. DR” has worked as an educator for over a baker’s dozen (13) years, teaching college communication and business, and having served as a campus administrator. Dr. DR, as AKO Chair, also serves other Boards-of-Directors, as Vice President of her PhD alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake University’s Alumni Executive Council, and as Secretary of the Filipino American Association of Brownsville, Texas. Before releasing Our Babies Have Angels & Wings, Dr. DR also defended and published her dissertation on intercollegiate college coaches’ leadership, in addition to writing many articles on community, culture, education, fitness and sports. As lovers of nature, Dr. DR and Chef Dave dedicated to Angel a Marian garden, where they buried Asia and Divine, whose resting place now is called their Queen of Angels Marian Garden, which attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. After founding ANAK KO in 2020, Dr. DR reached the following goals with GOD’s grace and mercy, as tributes to her babies: 

• published Our Babies Have Halos & Wings in 2021 

• published Fly Pies in the Sky with Chef Dave in 2022 

• earned the Our Lady of the Lake University Outstanding Alumni Award for Service to the University in 2022  

• co-presented Navigating Grief: Healing & Growing from Loss at SWPA & NSTA with Doc Rod in 2022 

• completed her certifications in Grief Counseling (GC-C) & Pet-Loss Grief Support Specialist (PGSS-C) from the AIHCP’s American Academy of Grief Counseling in 2022 

• published Annie’s tribute, PAWSitive PURRspective, on her Emotional Support ANNIEmal’s 13th birthday 

ANAK KO founder, Dr. Elaine Dispo-Rendón, self-funded the Angel Nevaeh & Divine Mercy Rendón Memorial Scholarship at her PhD alma mater, Our Lady of the Lake University, for students who also experienced loss, and to help fulfill their potential, like she had hoped her own child would’ve, had s/he been born. The ANAK KO Vision Statement indicates its goal to establish endowments in memory of children, to help future students. Dr. DR’s babies’ causes appear in OLLU Alumni Donor Spotlight:https://www.ollualumni.com/s/888/Hybrid/wide.aspx?sid=888&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=5211&ecid=5211&crid=0&calpgid=1032&calcid=2886 

Marigolds represent Día de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead” in Spanish).🕊ANAK KO co-founder Chef David Rendón planted them at Asia Felina Catalina’s grave the summer after their family’s oldest cat died.🐯When he and ANAK KO co-founder Dr. Elaine Dispo-Rendón did ANAK KO’s very first Pregnancy & Infant Loss (PAIL) Balloon Release on PAIL Remembrance Day, he pointed out how they started to blossom in their Marian garden.🪂By All Souls’ Day, an abundance already had bloomed exponentially.💐Just like these aromatic orange flowers, ANAK KO plans to grow and offer awards to scholars who, like these founders, have lost a loved one and want to make the world, like their garden, a better place.🧡 

Lauren Elizabeth Gonzales upheld AKO’s mission even before we established our foundation by making a heartfelt (literally and figuratively) condolences poster—with her artistic brother, Tristan’s aid—to comfort the founder when she returned to work (teaching for Texas A&M University-Kingsville) from miscarrying and burying Angel Nevaeh, for whom ANAK KO is named. Our Marigold Scholar’s award-winning essay told about her grandmother, who died shortly prior to the pandemic and whose value of caring has been instilled in Lauren, as she lives on a legacy of that same compassion to others. During the COVID-19 quarantine, Lauren graduated as Salutatorian of Lasara High School’s Class of 2020 and Summa Cum Laude in 2024 at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The UTSA alum-turned Trinity University graduate student, with aspirations to become a School Psychologist, has served with leadership roles as a Resident Assistant, on her dance team, and in the American Sign Language Club. Lauren is from a household of scholars, with her mother, Lisa García, an ANAK KO patron, + her brother, Tristan, a UT Rio Grande Valley alum & artist.  

Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, has supported ANAK KO's formation from the very beginning. As the Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of San Angelo who continues his ministry (including with immigrants and incarcerated) from Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, "Bishop Mike" has blessed ANAK KO with his ideas, prayers & support. He's the one who recommended that members & guests share testimonials--which has been a long-standing tradition during Board meetings. For decades, he's blessed AKO founder, "Dr. DR," & her family + also has blessed Marigold $cholar Lauren Gonzales, a fellow Rio Grande Valley native-turned San Antonian, through her undergraduate & graduate studies. In 2024, Bishop Mike reached his "Diamond" (60-year) milestone of Priesthood, followed by his "Ruby" (40-year) "ANNIE-versary" as Bishop in 2025.