Hello Rob...
My name is Greg and I am also living here in the Philippines near Cagayan de oro.
Kudos to you friend for you efforts to help support those Filipinos here stuggling here to earn a living.
Although I have been into Bitcoin and Cryptos for a couple years my wife and I are fairly new to Steemit.
Not familiar with witness, but have voted for you.
Cheers.
P.S.
Please follow my wifes account as she has just started too Hive account@fairyanneschoice
Thanks