No More Empty Stomachs!

A BIG THANKS
to all the generous donors
who supported the
Lunch Meal Program
of the Tapulanga Foundation!

We reached our goal:
150 students/scholars and 14 teachers
of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City
for SY 2009 - 2010!

No more empty stomachs!

Connecting Across The Miles

Syvil Ortega, a third year high school scholar, is one lucky girl. Her sponsor, Avis Frazier-Thomas of Los Angeles, California, always manages to remember her not only during the start of the school year but at various times as well. Syvil was so happy to get a pair of sneakers, sandals and a t-shirt from Ms. Avis recently. At the same time, Ms. Avis is amazed at how a small amount can go a long way in the Philippines. Ms. Avis has been supporting Syvil for several years. It is a relationship that goes beyond borders and they hope to meet each other someday.

(Christmas is around the corner. You too can send a special gift for your scholar. Contact us and we can give it to them directly or we can purchase the items for you.)

Reaching Out to Typhoon Ondoy Victims

When Typhoon Ondoy hit the Philippines, we at the Tapulanga Foundation immediately tried to figure out how we could best help our brothers and sisters in Manila. There were so many people affected from the calamity and we could not ignore their cry for help. While various government and corporate relief agencies were available to assist the victims, we felt the best way to help out was to work with a smaller group - no red tape, no politicking, with people we can actually trust and who can get the help to them fast.

With the power of social networking sites such as facebook, we found the right person who could do the job. Leny Ojano-Yusay lives very close to the flooded areas and started her mission by helping out small groups. Eventually they were able to assist bigger communities as more people were needing help and more people were sending donations in cash and in kind.

With the success of their recent fundraisers in California and Maryland, the Tapulanga Foundation was able to come up with $3300. In addition, we got additional donations from individuals such as Wally Booth, Alan Montelibano and an anonymous donor. We plan to continue helping out the victims by sharing our proceeds from a Rafe New York sale on November 14 in Manila and a Photo exhibit on December 8 in Bacolod (stay tuned for more info on both events).

Here are some photos and a report from Leny Ojano Yusay:

We went to 4 evacuation centers last Sunday Oct 25, 2009 in Brgy Tunasan, Muntinlupa. The evacuation centers were shelters to the residents of the nearby areas near Laguna Lake. As shown in the photos, even some areas of Tunasan are still submerged with floodwater.



We have 7 tanods, 10 barangay health workers and 2 DSWD workers helping us there with their head barangay health center coordinator, Francis Tagle. Gerard (my husband), my son, Miguel and I went there with our drivers and truckers.

We have served a total of 380 families for a family of 5pax good for 2-3 days worth of goods. This can at least help sustain them as they don't have livelihood since some of them are farmers or fishermen (their fingerlings have been washed away by the flood).

I am so thankful for the Tapulanga Foundation for your big hearts to actively help our brothers and sisters. There are still some money left, and together with our own money, we hope to donate school materials and bags for the kids for their school, as well as for classroom materials like blackboards. All their materials are of no use now... It's time to help rebuild their young lives... This might be more consistent and in tune with your vision mission...

Please thank Janice and the rest of your group for this generous act of kindness... by Leny Ojano-Yusay

Thank You Babes of Bacolod!

Janice Ragona, one of the Babes of Bacolod, visited St. Francis of Assisi School last October 15, 2009. She met with all 78 scholars of whom the Babes of Bacolod is supporting this school year.

I was completely overwhelmed when I visited SFAS. You can tell that the kids were thankful and happy to be there. The school was very impressive - it was bigger than I expected, clean and organized. They also have different programs going on at the same time and made sure that all resources were put into good use. It gives me great joy knowing that these students have a better chance in life because of SFAS. - by Janice Ragona

Hospital in Need of Medicines and Supplies

Last October 14, 2009, Janice Ragona of the Babes of Bacolod, together with her husband, Steve, and Tapulanga Foundation's Executive Director, Micmic Golez, donated medicines and supplies worth $4,000 to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital. This is the 3rd year the Babes of Bacolod, with the help of the Tapulanga Foundation, has helped the hospital. The medical supplies were accepted by Dr. Adonis Guancia, MD (Department of Internal Medicine chairman).

Learning To Write

One of the teachers of SFAS, Mrs. Josie C. Bactong, attended a workshop on Advance Campus Journalism for High School and Elementary Paper Editors last September 26-27, 2009 in Queen of Peace, Bacolod City. The Tapulanga Foundation sponsored Mrs. Bactong's fees and transportation expenses.

The workshop was designed to equip participants with updated knowledge and skills needed in the preparation of school publications. Lecturers were Allen V. Del Carmen, M.S. in Journalism, Journalism Professor and USLS MassComm; Nannette Guadalquiver, M.A. in Journalism, Ateneo de Manila University Correspondent, Business World; Faculty, USLS MassComm and Nida Buenafe Sports Editor, DAILY STAR.

"I learned many things in attending this training such as photojournalism, editorial cartooning, sports writing and feature writing". - Mrs. Josie C. Bactong

* Mrs. Bactong is currently one of the writers of the school and foundation blog.

Enkwentro - A Theater Play

Thru the Tapulanga Foundation, selected students of SFAS watched a theater play entitled ENKWENTRO last September 26, 2009 at the Gallaga Theater, University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City.

Two one-act plays were presented: “Emo Trip” and “Pobreng Alindanaw,” characters and storylines portraying the most difficult journey to launch - the journey towards oneself.

Sharing Hope 2009 pictures and videos

Sharing Hope 2009 - Maryland Fundraiser

The guest speakers for the evening were Lia Ridout and her kids Gianna and Gabriel who recently visited St. Francis of Assisi School.  They shared stories of their visit meeting students, teachers and families from the St. Francis community.

Micmic Golez (Executive Director of Tapulanga Foundation and Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi School) also shared a video message.

 

We also showed a video presentation at the event.

Hope amidst the tragedy

This week of tragedy from typhoon Ondoy has brought out hope as we saw people all over the Philippines and abroad joining together to help the victims. As early as last Saturday when the rest of the world didn't know about the flooding yet messages on Facebook were already being exchanged to mobilize help for the flood victims. Our former schools (La Salle, Ateneo, UP, etc.) and highschool groups (SearchIn) were sending out messages to staff, alumni and students to join and help in the efforts to bring food, water, clothing and medicines to the victims.

Friends, cousins, workmates, nieces/nephews, former classmates, people halfway around the world are contributing what they can to help the victims through their churches, donating to the Philippine Red Cross/NGOs, sending money directly to their friends and family in the Philippines and organizing relief efforts on their own from cooking and delivering warm meals to donating their stock of bottled water.

This tragedy has brought out the best examples of compassion we've seen in a long time, the human spirit of sincerely caring for our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Our work is not yet done as the recovery of lives will take some time, so please continue praying for the victims and their families and helping in whatever way you can.

Philippine National Red Cross
PDI Relief Drive
Give2Asia Typhoon Relief Fund