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!

75 Scholars in 30 Days Challenge

Can you help us make a difference in the life of a child today?

The Tapulanga Foundation is gearing up for the new school year once again. Please join us by sponsoring a scholar and give them the gift of education for a year.

Click here to see the profiles of our new scholars

We have 75 new scholars ready to start school in June. They have passed their entrance exams and our challenge is to find a sponsor for these deserving students - all 75 of them.

For as little as $30 or Php1,250/month, you can send a scholar to school for a year. You will get to know your scholar personally through letters and 100% of your donation goes directly towards their education.

Please Join Us and make a Difference in a Child's life!

·          Donating from the Philippines

·          Donating from the USA and Other Countries

**This program ends on April 30, 2014. Please forward this to at least 3-5 friends and be a part of The 75 Scholars In 30 Days Challenge! Each donor will be acknowledged on our Facebook page along with a photo of their scholar. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - all donations are tax-deductible.**

An Update on the Yolanda Rebuilding Efforts

Dear friends, We'd like to thank, once again, everyone who responded to our appeal last November to help rebuild the homes of families who were greatly hit by Typhoon Yolanda.

Rebuilding Homes  So far, we have finished repairs on the school's covered court roofing and at least 14 houses, and rebuilt 2 homes in Silay City. We still have more homes to repair and/or rebuild, and proceeds from the Eat. Share. Love 2013 benefit dinner will be able to fix at least 20 more homes in a small community in Cadiz City (north of Silay).

Christmas Giving Program  We'd also like to thank everyone who took part and gave our scholars a Christmas package of toys, supplies, and even noche buena. Part of your donation funds the construction of a simple, 3-bedroom house for a family of four scholars!

Pureza DVDs available for purchase Have you watched Pureza yet? The sugar industry of Negros Island is rich in history, and Jay Abello's 2012 documentary film, Pureza: The Story of Negros Sugar, gives us a glimpse of rise and fall of the province's sugarcane landscape in the 21st century. It's the only full-length feature about Negros sugar, and now you can get a DVD copy for Php750 (excluding mailing cost for delivery outside Bacolod City). Please contact Mic Golez at 0998-173-2788 or mgolez@tapulanga.org. For US residents, we have limited copies available, at $19.99 each (shipping included). Please visit www.tapulanga.org/pureza for more information about DVD purchases in the US. To know more about Pureza, please visit www.purezathemovie.com.

Medical Mission 2013

Two days before Christmas, Tapulanga Foundation held its' yearly medical mission at Our Lady of Nativity Chapel in Hacienda Tinihaban I, Silay City.

The place was filled up with 100 children, from babies to 12 year old kids, together with their mothers.

Everyone received a free check-up and prescription from our two doctors: Dr. Joan Ledesma-Millonado, Tapulanga Foundation’s Vice President and Dr. Kate Abello, wife of TF president Robin Abello.

Many younger members of the Ledesma family also came to help the mission. Besides the free medicine and deworming treatment, kids received a free toy and snack after their consultation.

Thank you as well to Westmont Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for donating Biogesic Paracetamol drops and syrup!

Christmas Giving 2013 Party for our Scholars

Our scholars gathered at the Edgardo Ledesma Hall on December 20 for Tapulanga Foundation's Christmas Giving 2013 party!

We had scholars from first grade to the sixth light up the atmosphere with a couple of dance performances, before everybody took turns coming up on stage. Some of the kids received a card with a personal message from their donor.

Every scholar received a colorful ecobag with a set of school supplies, a pack of "noche buena" (Christmas eve) grocery and a new toy!

After opening of gifts, everyone had snacks of spaghetti, special mamon (a Filipino sponge cake), and juice.

They also had two flavors of ice cream available – a crowd favorite!

The preschool scholars had their Christmas party on December 18 while the high school and college scholars, on December 21.

Pre-Kindergarten scholars

Kindergarten scholars

High School scholars

College scholars

We’re happy to thank all the generous people who helped Tapulanga Foundation’s Gift Giving Program this year. You have brought smiles to these kids and their families.

Eat Share Love 2013

Tapulanga Foundation once again hosted its annual fundraiser, Eat. Share. Love, last November 22!

Now on its 5th year, Eat Share Love attracted more than 200 people – young and old – for this charity event at the La Proa Halls of L’Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City.

The fundraiser opened its doors at 6 PM and started with a scrumptious buffet dinner.

For the night our attendees were served roast beef, chicken hamonado, ...

... lasagna, mixed vegetables, ...

... chocolate and custard for dessert.

And all the while, the St. Francis of Assisi School chorale, most of whom are scholars of Tapulanga Foundation, filled the hall with several music performances.

This year we had more donors for our silent auction. Attendees got to bid for toys, lamp shades, accessories and skin care products, shoes, wine, and gift certificates from establishments like BAYO and Branded for Less …

... Chicken Charlie, Fogo Grill, …

… Lopue’s East Centre and Mandalagan branches, Spa Natura, Sugarland Hotel, and many more.

Our attendees also got a little surprise – if they happened to have a special paper taped on the bottom of their chairs, they get a special prize!

During the past four charity dinners, we have raised funds for Tapulanga Foundation’s programs and the school it runs. And we have been very grateful for everyone who became involved in this cause.

This year, however, we’re giving all proceeds of Eat Share Love 2013 to repairing and rebuilding of homes that were hit by the recent Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda . It seems appropriate to say that every cent of our attendees’ contribution goes a longer way this time.

To everyone who came, helped, donated, and sponsored Eat Share Love 2013, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

The 4th Graders' Educational Trip to Bago City

Now and then, donors of Tapulanga Foundation go beyond paying for the tuition, or school books, or the lunch meals of students. On the birthday of the donor herself (last September), her fourth grader scholar, Francielle Acuesca, and her classmates went on a day trip to the southern part of Bacolod – a trip funded by her donor, Mrs. Ria Rochvarg, all the way from Maryland, U.S.A.

Led by tourist guide Miss Betsy Gazo and escorted by several parents, the class went aboard a Cebro bus and visited Bacolod City’s main landmark first – the Capitol Lagoon, which sits right in front of the Capitol Building.

They shortly headed for May’s Organic Garden and Restaurant – a rising agri-tourism spot in the province. The kids were introduced to the abundance of organic livestock, herbs, even ducks and cattle, and the fresh fruits and vegetables harvested straight from their gardens.

Next stop – the OISCA Bago Training Center. The Organization for Industrial, Spiritual, and Cultural Advancement (OISCA), a Japan-based NGO, has been in the Philippines for almost 30 years.

The group stopped by for lunch at the Bantayan Park. What sets the place apart from most parks, however, is that it sits right next to Bago River – a wide stretch of water with a riverbank that people could easily mistake for a beach.  They enjoyed a free meal of spaghetti, chicken, rice and drink!

The last stop was at the relatively new Tomiko’s Vintage Glass Museum, owned by Tomas Claridad Casiano. A retired florist from Beverly Hills, he recently returned home after more than twenty years.

Here, the kids found to their amazement the extensive collection of over 2,000 glasses pieces – vases, Victorian lamps, decorative objects, Depression glasses.

Needless to say, the trip was a great experience for Francielle and her classmates, and introduced them to some of the province’s upcoming tourist-worthy destinations.  Thank you Mrs. Rochvarg for making this possible!