TF Scholar Kyle Barnuevo Embraces College Life

Tapulanga Foundation scholar Kyle Barnuevo has embraced the biggest challenge of his academic life: college. He is an incoming 2^nd year student of BS Fisheries at the University of the Philippines – Visayas. 

We had the chance to talk to him about his experiences and struggles on his freshmen year.

How was your first day in college?

It was a great culture shock to be at UP Visayas. Where I came from (St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City), I was used to the discipline. But in college, you are free to do everything you want. So it’s up to me on what attitude to take, how I will dress up and how I will deal with my professors. It’s really different from where I came from so I needed to adjust and adapt the new school environment.

Where do you live?

My boarding house is situated outside UP. I eat my daily meals in a nearby “karinderya.” The house is exclusive for UP students and they share experiences and helpful knowledge to me often. 

How is UP life so far?

UP life is a lot more different than how my life went on during my high school years. I am now far away from my parents and I have to do all things all by myself but with their guidance. There are a lot of things happening in the campus: academics, sports, organizations, student government, and social life.

Do you have any affiliations with any club organizations?

I am a member of the University of The Philippines Icthyophilic Society, an organization that aims to help members achieve the excellence of their mind, body, and spirit and uplift the fisheries profession. They are my family here in UP. It is been in existence for 50 years. We have a hundred members composed of students and research assistants. Some of the members are already outside the country and some of them are teachers here. I joined this organization because I know I can hone myself here, my character, leadership, and my social life.

What are the challenges that you have encountered so far?

Academics. I admit that it’s really hard and a bit challenging. I really make sure that every vacant time is spent in studying because this is the only way that I can show that I am deserving of the help that Tapulanga Foundation is giving me. 

Do you have any message for your donors?

To all my donors, what you gave is the biggest blessing for me. You have helped me and my family more than you know. 

Kyle's ambition and courage to pursue his dreams is something to be admired. As he embraces the challenges of being a college student, Tapulanga Foundation continues to support him all the way together with the help of his generous donors.

Christmas Giving 2014 for our Scholars, Teachers and Staff

In celebrating the spirit of Christmas, Tapulanga Foundation gathered all the scholars for the Christmas Giving 2014 at the St. Francis of Assisi School in Silay City and Campuestuhan Highland Resort last December 18-19, 2014.

Scholars from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 9 enjoyed a party at school with free cotton candy and ice cream and had fun playing games at the SFAS covered court and Edgardo Ledesma Hall on December 18, 2014.

All the scholars received eco-bags with lots of goodies such as toys, Noche Buena groceries, slippers, and more. Snacks were also served for everyone.

Our Grade 10 scholars had a great time out together with our college scholars at the Campuestuhan Highland Resort the next day. Each earned a free ride on Campuestuhan’s Sky Bike or Zipline.

All teachers and staff also received ham and dishwashing liquid last December 17, 2014.

Thank you to all the generous people who helped make possible Tapulanga Foundation’s Christmas Giving program this year. You have brought BIG smiles to the children, teachers and staff and their families!

For more photos please click here.

Photo Credits to Jaco Paz of ABMC4, University of St. La Salle- Bacolod.

Embracing the Challenge

It’s the start of another school year. For one Tapulanga scholar who graduated at the top of his High School class, the coming school year promises to be an exciting and challenging one. Dominic Kyle Barnuevo is very fortunate to have been accepted into the BS Fisheries program of the University of Philippines Visayas-Miagao with a partial scholarship.   

           Kyle has spent his entire life in Silay City, Negros Occidental.  The thought of having to study in a university in a different province and of being away from his family for the first time was certainly daunting for Kyle.  Last May 15, Kyle had to take his first trip outside his home town in order to fulfill his pre-enrollment requirements.  Kyle admits that the experience of seeing the large university grounds, which will be his home for the next four years, was quite intimidating.  Although he knows that it will not be easy adjusting to his college life in this totally new and different campus, Kyle is committed to his decision to obtain his college degree in UP.  He is fully aware that he will be getting the best education in this prestigious university, which, in turn, will provide better opportunities for him in the future.

 UP Visayas has granted Kyle 8O% subsidy on his tuition fees.  However, Kyle still needs financial assistance for the remaining 2O% of his tuition fee, his miscellaneous fees and board and lodging expenses.  Tapulanga Foundation is presently raising funds and looking for donors to help cover some, and hopefully all, of Kyle’s college education expenses for the next four years.       

We salute Kyle for his ambition and determination to face this new adventure without hesitation.  Just as Kyle is embracing this challenge, Tapulanga Foundation is likewise embracing the challenge of supporting Kyle all the way, with the help of our generous donors.  Let us help Kyle create a better future for himself and his family.

“Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation.” 
― Bernie S. Siegel

2014 College Scholarship Grant Awardees

We have two new scholarship recipients this year!

The Klaus Pfaender College Scholarship is granted to Ivan Kent Tad-y, a soon-to-be chemical engineering student at the University of St. La Salle - Bacolod City. The scholarship namesake, Klaus Pfaender, and his wife Maricar Totengco, have been committed donors of Tapulanga Foundation's scholarship program for many years.

Two years ago, he held his 60th birthday celebration in Spain and, in lieu of gifts, asked his guests to donate to the Foundation. This effort led to a home theatre system and two aircon units in the AVR, and two new computers in the lab. Besides his college scholarship grants, he also sponsored ten scholars this year alone.

Our second recipient is Thalea Segaya, whose scholarship grant comes from a very generous, yet anonymous donor of the Foundation. Thalea plans to take up a degree in Education at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC).

Congratulations, Ivan and Thalea!

From "Manong" to Sir Romnick

Born 26 years ago, Romnick Sadio and his family lives just a tricycle ride away from the St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City.  His older siblings never finished school, and neither did he.  After two years in high school, he had to stop, due to financial problems.

Romnick Sadio was fifteen when he joined his father at the ponds, where thirty other people also worked. He worked there in the afternoons, wondering if this would end up as his career after three, six, maybe even ten years. He thought about his nonexistent diploma, and the other half of high school that he missed. Life at the fish pond was tough. Yet this place, he later realizes, led to an opportunity.

Romnick knew of SFAS. A few kids, scholars of Tapulanga Foundation, from his neighborhood studied there. He knew of the Ledesma family — he should, because they owned the land where he worked. They also happened to own the school. This thread of connection found him being called to the school one day.

It had been almost four years since Romnick left high school. He admits he hesitated for a moment. To finish high school now meant he would be an eighteen-year-old among a class of fourteen-, fifteen-year-olds. To just his classmates he would be "Manong" Romnick, he thought, and it bothered him.

But one does not find himself given an opportunity every day. Romnick knew very well the hardships of someone who belonged to a family that had never seen any of its children on stage, with a diploma in one hand and the principal shaking the other. Next to this, being Manong Romnick in class was nothing. So, at eighteen, he took the exam, received a scholarship, and became a student once more.

Romnick Sadio earned a college grant in 2009. He never met her in person, he says of his sponsor. All he knew was that she was called Mrs. Ada Ledesma-Mabilangan, and that her support fueled his way into college.

He’s blessed, he says, very blessed to have been given a chance to study again. Romnick feels as if everything was a dream – the last two years in high school, his student council presidency, the youth congresses and seminars he was sent to, his college diploma, his bachelor’s degree.

It has been six months since he earned a degree to his name, three months since his first day at St. Francis of Assisi School. He had started to teach cooking, drafting, even arts, to the high school students. The man who stands before the students is no longer Manong Romnick, an upperclassman, their old school president. He is Sir Romnick, the teacher.

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!

2012 College Scholarship Grant Awardees

Five years ago, the Tapulanga Foundation started giving college scholarship grants to graduates of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City (SFAS). Two of them have graduated while fourteen are still in college.

Last March 31, 2012, five college scholarship grants were awarded to graduates of SFAS during their graduation.


The Klaus Pfaender College Scholarship Grant is given by Klaus Pfaender, husband of Maricar Totengco, who is the sister of renowned fashion designer Rafe Totengco. Klaus and Maricar, like Rafe, have been committed donors of the scholarship program of Tapulanga Foundation for many years. Just this school year, during the 60th birthday celebration of Sir Klaus, he celebrated in Spain a dinner party and in liue of gifts, he asked his guests to donate to Tapulanga Foundation. And the total amount of gifts he received he matched so he was able to donate to the school $10,000 which went to the procurement of the big tv, home theatre system and two airconditioners in the AVR, two new computers in the lab and 2 college scholarship grants.


Congratulations Nikko Sobretodo and Jessica Macahilig for being the recipients of the Klaus Pfaender College Scholarship Grants, a four-year college scholarship grant. Nikko plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Automotive in TUP, Talisay City. Jessica plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Education in Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, Silay City.

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The Corazon and James Chiofalo College Scholarship Grant is given by our alumni, Corazon Estardo, class of 1972, and her husband James. They now live in New York, U.S.A. Corazon is so proud to be an alumnus of SFAS and never hesitates in supporting the scholarship program of the foundation.


Congratulations Jessica Estardo for being the recipient of the Corazon and James Chiofalo College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. SFAS is proudest to have our very first graduate to be accepted in the University of the Philippines in Iloilo City. Jessica plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Biology.

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The Milou Locsin-Von Einseidel College Scholarship Grant is given by Mrs. Milou Locsin-Von Einseidel, a Silaynon and niece of the founder of this school, Mrs. Marietta Locsin-Ledesma. Mrs. Von Einseidel has also been a loyal supporter of the scholarship program of the foundation.


Congratulations Claire Badian for being the recipient of the Milou Locsin-Von Einseidel College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Claire plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Accountancy in the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City.
Presenting the award was Mrs. Juliet Graham.

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The last but not the least … the Akubo Software College Scholarship Grant is given by my brother, Robin Abello, who built Akubo Software, a web/cloud-based database and fundraising management system that is designed for small organizations. Akubo is a 100% Pinoy and Negrense product being used by hundreds of companies in the U.S. and is being used as well in the Philippines!


Congratulations Eubie Aluad for being the recipient of the Akubo Software College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Eubie plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City.

A Dream Come True

What a great surprise when Ro-an Andrada, a Tapulanga Foundation college scholar, received a laptop from one our most generous donors, Dr. Jone Chen! Dr. Chen has been a donor of the scholarship program of the foundation for many, many years and sponsors FIVE kids to study in St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City! Ro-an was his first high school graduate. Ro-an shares that this is a dream come true not only for her but for her sister and cousin who are also in college. As college students, they need a laptop as most, if not all, projects have to computerized already. And her family cannot afford to buy a computer.

Colonel Mateo Dizon College Scholarship Grant

The Colonel Mateo M. Dizon College Scholarship Grant is given by Dr. Ana Marie Dizon, an Adult Endocrinologist in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in honor of her father, the late Col. Mateo M. Dizon. Dr. Dizon heard about Tapulanga Foundation thru the 35 Scholars in 35 Days Challenge recently launched by the foundation and she will be sponsoring a student as well.


Congratulations Edwin Antolo, Jr. for being the recipient of the Colonel Mateo Dizon College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Edwin graduated in St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City in 2009 and has decided to enter the priesthood at the Marian Missionaries of the Holy Cross in Silay City this June.

Seven Deserving Students are Going to College for Free!

Four years ago, the Tapulanga Foundation started giving college scholarship grants to graduates of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City. Two of them have graduated while seven are still in college.

This year is an extra special year as the foundation celebrates ten blessed years and to share this blessing, Tapulanga Foundation granted college scholarship grants to seven students from Class of 2011. The foundation has usually given to only one or two students per year so this is by far the biggest number of grantees, A BIG THANKS to all the donors who made this possible!



The A Gift of Hope - Manila College Scholarship Grant is given by the Tapulanga Foundation, thru the efforts of the Manila board members headed by Dr. Jo-an Ledesma-Millonado, as they organized a benefit dinner last February 26, 2011. The funds raised during the dinner went to two college scholarship grants.

Congratulations to Lloyd Navarette and Ro-an Andrada for being the recipients of the A Gift of Hope - Manila College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Lloyd plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Business Administration in the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City. Ro-an plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Education major in Special Education in Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.

Mrs. Agnes Ledesma-Segovia, president of the school and mother of Dra. Millonado, presented the awards.


The Leo G. Wassmer College Scholarship Grant is given by Dr. Michael Wassmer, a Pediatric Intensivist in Makati Medical Center in Manila. He learned about Tapulanga Foundation through A Gift of Hope benefit dinner and this scholarship grant is in honor of his father, the late Mr. Leo Wassmer.
Congratulations Edcil Belgira for being the recipient of the Leo G. Wassmer College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Edcil plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Maritime Engineering in John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University.

Mr. Joseph Conrad "Joey" Ledesma, board member of Tapulanga Foundation, presented the award.


The Captain Gregorio S. Oca College Scholarship Grant is given by Dr. Conrad Oca, the Medical Director of Seamen's Hospital in Manila. He learned about Tapulanga Foundation through A Gift of Hope benefit dinner as well and this scholarship grant is in honor of his father, the late Captain Gregorio S. Oca.
Congratulations Philip Paul Deogracias for being the recipient of the Captain Gregorio S. Oca College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Philip plans to enter the priesthood at the Marian Missionaries of the Holy Cross in Silay City.


The Tornquist College Scholarship Grants are given by the Tornquist family: Aase and Tore with their children, Audun and Ragnar, and Ragnar's wife, MaiMai Ledesma-Tornquist. They live in Norway.

The Tornquist College Scholarship Grant is the family's way of sharing to others.

Congratulations Michael John Navigar and Jayson Antolo for being the recipients of the Tornquist College Scholarship Grants, a four-year college scholarship grant. Michael plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University. Jayson plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Engineering at Technical University of the Philippines - Visayas or Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.

Mrs. Sally Ledesma, the mother of MaiMai Ledesma-Tornquist, presented the awards.


The last, but not the least, college grant awarded is the Kalaw-Ledesma Foundation College Scholarship Grant, given by Dra. Lourdes Ledesma, daughter of Rafael Ledesma of Silay and Purita Kalaw of Iloilo. Dra. Ledesma has sponsored this student since grade school and has been a loyal and most generous donor of the Tapulanga Foundation.

Congratulations Stephanie Diaz for being the recipient of the Kalaw- Ledesma Foundation College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Stephanie plans to take up either BS Psychology major in Special Education in the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod City or BS Nursing in Riverside College.

A Brighter Future Awaits for A Scholar

Remy Navarette Jr. is in his Senior year in college already. He is studying in Carlos Hilado Memorial State College taking up a 4-year course in the field of Automotive Technology. He is undergoing his on-the-job training now at Ford Motors, Talisay City, working from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. as a mechanic. He was awarded a college scholarship grant by the Tapulanga Foundation when he graduated from St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City Foundation, Inc. last March 2007.