“BIONIC” Donor Comes to Town

Marilyn Bernasol, a Grade 7 student and on her first year in St. Francis of Assisi School, is one lucky kid.  When she graduated Valedictorian from Cuaycong Elementary School, she received a scholarship grant from Tapulanga.  Her donor was a first time donor who signed up last April in Tapulanga’s 35 Scholars in 35 Days Challenge. 

Lucky girl, indeed, but that is not the end of the story!

How would you feed if you find out that your donor is the only person in the world with batteries in his chest wired to his brain?  That’s what Marilyn’s donor is.  And she actually came face to face with him!

She met Jess Villanueva, her donor, when he came to town from Phoenix, Arizona last month.  Married and with three children, Tito Jess suffered from labored speech because of Dystonia.  His symptoms abated because of deep brain stimulation which came as an effect of the unique wiring system from his chest to his brain.  He is currently a test subject, making him the single one in the world’s population set-up like this.

Tito Jess has become Marilyn’s inspiration, as she has seen, in real terms, how one person has refused to let physical obstacles prevent him from continuing to live according to God’s beautiful plan for his life.  And most of all, how one person refused to let physical obstacles prevent him from continuing to give and share.  

Tita Betchai Visits

All our donors are family to us.  And when a donor visits, it is like someone was with us for a homecoming. Last month,  Elizabeth "Betchai" Tamayo-Luc did just that.  Betchai used to teach at the University of St. La Salle’s  Engineering Dept, but being now resident of San Diego, California, she teaches in a high school in her new home city.

Several years ago, she sponsored Ken Rey Pabale, then  a 1^st Grade student. Time has fast forwarded indeed, because Ken Rey will even soon leave St. Francis of Assissi School as he is now a graduating student in SFAS. Betchai also added another scholar just this year, Cris John Baja, in Pre-Kindergarten.

Betchai, who is a member of a bloggers group called The Salitype Society, has also inspired the other bloggers to sponsor two kids from what they earn from blog writing. They responded by sponsoring two more scholars, Micah Ramirez and Angelico Abo who are both in Grade 7 now. 

Betchai’s homecoming was exciting for the four scholars, as she brought chocolates as "pasalubongs."  She even spared some bonding time with the scholars, which included a lunch treat at SIR Restaurant in Silay.

And even the school was blessed by her homecoming, as she left a laptop for the school as well.

Thank you, Tita Betchai!

Chicken Charlie Supports TF

Eighteen SFAS teachers and staff members and twelve Grade 8 scholars got the chance to watch the phenominal movie of the year "Les Miserable" at Cinema 3, Robinson's Place, Bacolod City last January 28, 2013.  This was made possible thru the generosity of Tapulanga Foundation donor, JP Sy, a good friend of JR Abello in college at the Ateneo de Manila University.  

Based on Victor Hugo’s epic tale of romance and revolution in 19^th Century France, this adaptation of the long – running stage musical was put into screen by Tom Hoopers (an Award Winning Director of The King’s Speech).  The film had such heart–soaring and breath–catching dialogues which were being sung not spoken. One would really feel how each of the characters fought, dreamed, hoped and loved.  

The school is very grateful to Mr. Sy, owner of the newly opened restaurant in SM, Chicken Charlie.  A portion of their sales during their opening day last October 2012 was donated to Tapulanga Foundation, which in turn sponsored the students, teachers and staff to watch Les Miserables.

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.

Para Kay Toto

Top–billed SIDE A Band rendered a benefit concert last December 1, 2012 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod City embracing its national campaign “Para Kay Toto“(Toto is a common nickname among Ilonggo kids).  The campaign was set on stage as an advocate in promoting awareness to free children from the abused world.  Tapulanga Foundation was one of its beneficiaries, together with the Real Life Foundation, Kalipay Negrense and Bantay Bata 163.

The event was founded by Mr. Joey Benin, a former SIDE A band member, and his wife, Bing Ledesma-Benin, who is from Negros, and organized by the Para Sa Kabataang Pilipino Movement whose vision is to help children and participated by various celebrities.

Some of the teachers and staff of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City set aside their school works and proudly delivered their spirit of volunteerism during the said concert. It was reunited by more than 100 volunteers from different sectors to give free service to Para Kay Toto.

SFAS students-scholars joined and sang on stage with the SIDE A Band during the finale and they gave out thank you cards to the audience.

Thank you to all who came and had a great time singing old and new time hits and at the same time, being a part of providing children with a brighter tomorrow!