First Negros Fundraiser a success

Thank you to all our volunteers, board members and staff who worked hard to make the first Negros fundraiser a success. We had over 200 guests who came and enjoyed the delicious food buffet dinner at 21 Restaurant. And the silent auction, a first for most Negrenses was a success raising P18,000 to benefit a graduating student at St. Francis of Assisi School with a college scholarship next year.

Thank you to all the sponsors who made our event possible.

Premiere Sponsors: Migahay Co., RA Financial Services, Inc., Tinihaban Agricultural Corporation, Lonoy Agricultural Corporation, Asociacion de Hacenderos de Silay-Saravia, Inc., AHSSI Planters Multi-Purpose Coop., SMART Communications, Inc. and SWIP Travel Inc.

Table Sponsors: Misyel’s Catering, Hilo & Stitch, Twin Shell Service Station, AVIDA Land Corporation, Datalink Technologies, Inc., and Prudential Guarantee and Assurance Inc.

Silent Auction donors: The Sylvia Manor Hotel, Lopue’s East Center, Negros Saturn Marketing, Association of Negros Producers, Royal Wellness Spa, Negros Navigation, Trattoria Uma, Mrs. Joy Magalona-Barreiro, Mrs. Margie Ledesma-Abello, Julie’s Flower Shoppe, Roli’s Diner, Play Studio, Style Bacolod Inc., Bascon Café, Chicken House, PAPEL Handicrafts, Tumandok Crafts and Industries, Dir. Jay Abello, and Mr. Edgardo “Jack” Ledesma. Other donors: Silay-Saravia Railways Cooperative, Bacolod Fertichem Inc., and Trims and Treasures.

SFAS Coop Net Center - A First in Negros!

The St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City recently received ten (10) more personal desktop computers from the Tapulanga Foundation. Last October 16, 2008, the computers were installed and activated, increasing the school’s total number of computers to twenty (20).

Resulting from various fund-raising projects by the school’s administrator's Ma. Carmela "Micmic" Abello-Golez’s friends and family in the USA and a partnership with Intel Technology Philippines and Asianic Computers, the school received 10 brand new Intel-equipped desktop computers. Under its Coop Net Center program, Intel Technology Philippines assisted the Tapulanga Foundation in providing the school with affordable computers in addition to refurbishing and dressing-up the school’s computer room.

Intel supports the Tapulanga Foundation’s vision of sharing God’s gifts through educational projects that provide students with more opportunities. With this project, Intel hopes to provide the students and the community with access to a wide range global learnings and technology transfers via the Internet. Equipped with Intel Core Duo processors, the new computers also give the students increased productivity in performing various computer tasks and enhance their computer skills.

Answered Prayer!

Parents of 20 students studying in St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City have been "praying" for the school to provide a nebulizer machine in the clinic for their children who have asthma. Their prayers were answered today as the Babes of Bacolod, thru the Tapulanga Foundation, donated a nebulizer!

Donation of Supplies to C.L. Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital

The Babes of Bacolod, a Los Angeles-based fundraising group, recently donated over P170,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment to the Department of Internal Medicine of the C.L. Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital. Last year they donated 50 mattresses and two suction machines. This year, they were able to donate much more - six suction machines, nine nebulizers, over 200 ET and tracheostomy tubes, sterile gloves, valve masks, a diagnostic set and a laryngoscope blade - due to the overwhelming success of their fundraiser. Mrs. Micmic Golez, Executive Director of the Tapulanga Foundation, represented the Babes as she delivered the supplies to the following: IM's (Internal Medicine) Training Officer Dr. Rafaelito Salvador, Chief Resident Dra. Mari Cris Bacinillo and doctors Juliuis dela Cruz, Carina Frayco, Kristin Atonson, Celestelyn Barredo, Gerard Espilita, Mary Anne Jocson and Mark Agana. (Please visit our website photo gallery for more pictures.)

Facebook Fan Page

We now have a Tapulanga Foundation Facebook fan page. Pictures, videos, events and announcements we share will appear in your Facebook news feed

Please do us a favor and start sharing the fan page with all your friends!

WE CAN NOW "SEE" A BETTER FUTURE FOR US!

Since the foundation started giving free eye-glasses to students and teachers in SFAS that have poor eye sight in 2003, twenty have benefited. The program also provides to mothers and fathers of Hacienda Tinihaban who need eye glass.

MORE BABIES FOR THE INFANT FEEDING PROGRAM

Through the Infant Feeding Program of the foundation, ten babies ages 8 months to more than a year old are now receiving free infant formula milk. These three 4-month old babies are "waiting" to be part of the program. They are Jose Miguel Antolo, Shane Jaden Macahilig and Jessa Mae Negrito (from left to right). They have been breastfed for their first 4 months but their mothers are "running out" of breastmilk already. :) Their mothers are hoping and praying that more donors would help the program so that their babies can have a more steady supply of milk.

New Shirts for 12 Lucky Girls

Ella Mae, Jamia, Ana Rose, Alondra, Shane, Diza, Eden, Thalea, Josie, Christy, Jeselle and Emily were given "cute" girl's tshirts by Mrs. Jana Koffman of Los Angeles. Mrs. Koffman's bestfriend in LA design the shirts and sell them at Fred Segal for $20 - $30 each. Mrs. Koffman is the donor of one of the girls to SFAS as well. THANK YOU MRS. KOFFMAN!

ANTONIO CABLARA NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Imagine you are a 49 year old man, with a 48 year old wife, seven children ages 25 to 9, unemployed and without health insurance. You have had pains on your shoulder blade for weeks. After weeks of looking for money, you finally find enough to pay for a visit to a doctor. Then you are told YOU have CANCER! This is the story of Antonio Cablara.

The first round of chemotherapy was made possible by Congressman Kako Lacson, Talisay City Mayor Eric Saratan, Ikaw Kabuhi Ko and a couple of anonymous donors.

Six months of good health followed. Antonio and his family welcomed Christmas 2007 with joy as they celebrated his return to wellness. But by May 2008, Antonio’s cancer had returned. More chemotherapy, more tests, more medicines, mounting expenses and not even the smallest income to pay for all these. Uppermost in Antonio’s mind was where to find the money to support his family and pay for yet another round of treatments.

Once again, Mayor Saratan helped. Then the TAPULANGA FOUNDATION became a donor and another donor added to the pool of money. BUT, Antonio and his family still need food. One son who was able to help a little has just been laid off.

Where does Antonio go from here? A second round of treatments is covered. But what future is there for him and his family without the help of others?

“I like to eat vegetables now.”

Last June 30, 2008, the Feeding Program of the Tapulanga Foundation started. It is provided for all the scholars and I am one of them. Our viand every lunch is mostly vegetables and some fish or meat. At first I didn’t like vegetables but because of the Feeding Program, I like to eat vegetables now.


by Edcil Buensuceso, 1st year student

A Job Well Done

Sang Hunyo 14, 2008, ang pelikula nga “Kung Fu Panda” nag showing sa Robinson’s Place Movieworld – Bacolod City. Si Ms. Mic naghatag sang oportunidad sa mga scholars nga makalantaw sang sini nga pelikula tungod man ina sang mayo namon nga performance sa pag-obra sa eskwelahan sang summer. Ang mga boys nga scholar nagkiskis kag nagpinta sang tanan nga steel chairs. Ang mga girls naman ya nag obra sa library, pang cover kag pang inventory sang mga libro. Ini nga premyo ang naghatag gid sang dako nga kalipay sa mga scholars. Kag ako isa gid sa nakaagom sang pinakadako gid nga kalipay.

by Romnick Sadio, 4th year student

Welcome New Babies!

The Foundation welcomes 3 new babies to our Infant Feeding Program!

Left photo: Hello baby Nica, second child of Roda Galvez. Nica's father works in Hacienda Tinihaban. She was born on January 8, 2008.

Right photo: Meet the Tagsip family! Maria has 5 children, the last of whom are TWINS William and Willy! They were born on November 20, 2007. The father is a worker in our hacienda but only during milling season (September - March). The rest of the year, he has no work! I really cannot imagine how he can feed his "big" family with only 7 months of work. When I met them, Maria's son was helping her take care of one of the twins!

Mrs. Virgie Ledesma, program director, recommended the twins to the program because she learned that the mother, due to lack of breast milk, was feeding her boys evaporated milk (liquid) mixed in water - to save on cost of milk. It was obvious when I met the boys that they were underfed because at 4 months old, they were "small."

Empty Stomachs No More!

When my grandparents started the school 44 years ago, the farm kids not only studied for free but they were also provided with free meals. I know of several students who work after school selling pork barbecue and the like just so that they can have money for lunch in school. There are even students who go without lunch! And many just skip breakfast and eat rice and dried fish for lunch and dinner every single day! That's not very healthy! The foundation realized that what good would our scholarship program be if the free education being given to the children is wasted on empty stomachs! These students can’t concentrate and study well if they are HUNGRY or MALNOURISHED!

Hence, the Food Program was “brought back” in October of last year where we provide daily free lunch viand to 135 scholars from 1^st grade to 4^th year high school. Mothers take turn in preparing and cooking different nutritious meal each day. Vegetables and meat are sourced from different backyard growers so the program as well provides an extra source of income for the families in the farm. An average meal costs Php5 or US$0.12. We are hoping to generate more funds for the program next school year to include rice and some fruits / snack food. The program is also planning to let the students grow some of the vegetables in the school garden to help further bring down the cost and feed more children!

A Once in a Lifetime Experience!

Lea Salonga, international singing star, after a very long time came back to her mother's home province and gave a concert at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum last January 26. She sang favorites such as "The Promise and "Journey" but captivated the audience with "Ahay Kalisud." Jed Madela, an Ilonggo singer, joined Lea Salonga on stage.

Joining thousands of fans at the coliseum were faculty members Sir Ariel, Ms. Karen and Ms. Leda. Jeremy Deogracias, Micho Santillan and Danica Dimanalata were among the ten lucky students who attended this major event organized by Gawad Kalinga. All the profits will be used to build more houses for the less fortunate in Negros Occidental.

Thanks to the Tapulanga Foundation who sponsored the tickets, 20 teachers and students were fortunate to have experienced this once in a lifetime concert of Lea!

Ang Macaroon

ANG MACAROON


Ang macaroon nga akon natilawan,
Kanamit gid, ang akon nasaboran,
Pareho sang chocolate nga akon nalasahan,
Daw ara lang ako sa heaven nga akon ginaluparan.

Sang ginhikap ko ang macaroon nga ina,
magarasgaras gid kag nagamantika,
Pero sang ginbutang ko na sa akon baba,
Daw gusto ko magsiling kung may ara pa?

Ang macaroon nga akon natilawan,
Sa lubi gid ang iya ginhalinan,
Gintimpla sa maayo nga paraan,
Para ang lasa aton gid manamitan.

Ang isa ko pa gid nga naobserbahan,
Kanami gid sang ila nga ginsudlan,
Lainlain nga color ang ila ginputsan,
Kag kanami lantawon nga daw rainbow tanan.

- written by Elma Acuesa, 3rd year scholar of SFAS
This poem was written for Elma's writing class where students could write in either English or Ilonggo. This option was given to the students to encourage them to express themselves more freely. "Ang Macaroons" is the result of this choice. The Writing class, taught by Ms. Ging Graham, meets twice a week.

An Extra-Special Christmas for Some Children

It was truly an extra-special Christmas for some of the students of SFAS as their sponsors sent Christmas gifts to them. From school supplies to school bags to personal items (e.g. shirt, sandals, hair accessories) to bags of groceries! Some wrapped the gifts themselves. Some even mailed the gifts to the children. It was such my pleasure as I gave each child their gifts! I sure felt like SANTA ... thank you for all of you who remembered your "adopted child" this Christmas season!

Infant Feeding Program

The Tapulanga Foundation started a new program last October 2007 called the Infant Feeding Program. As the name suggests, we provide FREE formula milk to farm children ages 4 months old to 2 years old. Our first beneficiaries are the following: Ruby Aberia, Crisna Macahilig, Richard Buensuceso, Loreto Ferreras III, Cedric Macahilig, Geop Antolo and Nasel Montillano. Mothers (who can) still breastfeed and we just provide additional milk. The foundation noticed most of the kids coming from the farm did poorly in school. Adequate milk during the first two years of a child may be a factor in one's intellectual capacity.
For the holidays, the foundation shared some used baby clothes and toys to these 7 babies.