Mia Joy Villanueva, College Scholar

“Yes, it takes time. But every little bit helps“, shared Mia Joy Villanueva as she is on her final year in college through the help of the Tapulanga Foundation scholarship grant.

Mia is a graduating student of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, Talisay City taking up Bachelor in Science in Education (Secondary level), majoring in English and currently having her Pre – Service Training as a teacher at E.B. Magalona National High School. Her mother, Marivic , who is a housewife and her father Orlando , who is a sugarcane farm laborer, inspired her so much in fighting the challenges of life. Despite their poor financial status in life, she did well during her elementary to high school and until now in her college years. This four- year scholarship grant was awarded to her under the Rafe Totengco College Scholarship grant, when she graduated at SFAS in 2009.

According to her, the scholarship grant has formed her not just a student but as a true person being responsible of the things that God has given to her. She is very blessed because of the FREE tuition and miscellaneous fees, school uniform, school supplies, eye check-ups and yearly Christmas parties for all Tapulanga Foundation scholars that she has enjoyed so much. But more of it is the chance of making her parents and the foundation proud of her. And now that her graduation is approaching, words are not enough to express how grateful she is in receiving all the opportunities that Tapulanga Foundation has given to her and it will really be a dream come true not only for her but for her parents as well as she will the first college graduate in her family.

“I am so thankful to the Tapulanga Foundation because they have supported me since elementary until college. I can really say now that the Foundation makes students‘ dream come true."

She is very excited as she will be applying for a teaching position in her alma mater, St. Francis of Assisi School this 2013.  It's now her turn to help not only her parents and siblings but also the children/students of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City and be a living witness of how beneficial the scholarship Tapulanga Foundation is giving to the scholars IF valued well!

Labor of Love

Lisa Marker (left), a resident of Belgium who is now in the Philippines visiting, together with her mother, Mrs. Marilyn Reyes-Marker (second to the right), who resides in Denmark, visited St. Francis of Assisi School last December 21, 2012.  Lisa shared her passion for photography as she captured the beautiful faces of the children in all levels as each class was having a Christmas party. Click this link to see her photos:  The Happy Faces of SFAS Kids.

They also attended the Tapulanga Foundation's Christmas party for the 5th - 8th graders held the next day at McDonald's and Lopue's East.  You can view her photos also at TF's fan page. (TF Scholars' Christmas Party (by Lisa Marker)).

In photo as well is Ms. Margie Ledesma-Abello (right), the daughter of the Ledesma owners of the school, and mother of Micmic and Robin Abello, founders of Tapulanga Foundation and JR Abello, Vice Principal and teacher in SFAS.

Thank you Lisa for the wonderful pictures of our kids!

TF Medical Mission 2012

Tapulanga Foundation, Inc. held its annual Medical Mission despite of the typhoon last December 26, 2012 at Our Lady of Nativity Chapel, Hda.Tinihaban, Silay City. It was attended by adults ages 40-50 and kids ages 0-12. Free consultation and medicines were provided for to all plus deworming for ages 2 to 10. 

The medical team this year was composed not only of our Vice President, Dra. Jo-an Ledesma-Millonado who does the yearly check-ups to the children but we had other volunteer doctors:  Dr. Fritz Gerard Flores, an orthopedic, Dra. Monace Sandalo, an anesthesiologist, Dra. Michelle Flores, an OB gynecologist and Dra. Regina Tan- Buenaflor, a pediatrician.  

Mrs. Marissa Guadalupe, the school's nurse volunteered as well as she took the blood pressure and administered blood sugar test to the adults.  

Likewise, 3 generations of the Ledesma family joined the mission by administering the deworming medicine to the children and giving out the medicines and loot bags.