The parents of the high school scholars of Tapulanga Foundation stopped for half a day from work last October 20, 2012 to have some time of reflection, prayer and inputs on parenting.
This was
facilitated by SFAS teachers and Campus Ministry directors, Sir Jomar Eguid and Sir Leonard Guinabo who
talked about parenting. Some parents
were given the chance to share their experiences as parents as well.
One of the touching moments that made them cry was when the parents read the letters from their sons and daughters.
PERFECT ! It’s realization time. The recollection made us realize how to become a good parents , good models to our
child. It made me think about the things I haven’t done to my children. – Mrs.
Roxanne Artillo
I appreciate so much the effort of the
teachers that encouraged us parents to become better parents . – Mr. Noel Delos Santos
I don't regret that I attended the Parents Recollection. It reminded me of my great responsibility as a parent.
I’ve also realized my “ kakulangan” to my children. - Mrs. Hazel Bacaoco
St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City faculty and staff, together with other students, faculty, parents, businessmen and professionals from Negros, attended an "inspiring" seminar entitled "I Change: Winning Disciplines for Change" by Francis J. Kong at the University of St. La Salle Bacolod last September 22, 2012.
Tapulanga Foundation, Inc. was one of the seminar's beneficiaries, together with the
Kalipay Foundation Scholarship Fund and One La Salle Scholarship Fund. Other speakers were Alex Lacson (Faith in the Filipino), Yeng Remulla (On Starting Something)
and Lois Yasay (Starting a Passion Revolution) who were also applauded for their inspiring sharing. The crowd was given the task
to make a survey of the things, traits or habits that they want to change and
they want to achieve. It was an avenue in gaining tips and techniques
establishing DISCIPLINE within Filipinos. Francis J. Kong emphasized that “good people do not retire, they refire” which inspired all especially the SFAS attendees.
“To attain success, I learned that I need to have more patience in life, be strong and do my best in everything I do.”
– Ms. Elena Coja, Grade 1 Adviser
“I learned that discipline is
the best factor to change. I especially like the three do’s: just do it, do it yourself and do
business honorably.”
– Ms. Maricel Navigar, Assistant Vice Principal and Preschool In-Charge
“I learned to have a
positive outlook towards life no matter how hard it is.”
– Ms. Rosemarie Iglesia, Grade 3 Adviser
“I learned that I have to
develop more character and aim high. Most of all,
I learned that I don’t have to stop learning.” – Ms. Leda Ibugan, Grade 2 Adviser
“I learned that discipline is the road to
success.” –
Ms. May Santillan, School Librarian
Our heartful thanks to our guests last week at Sharing Hope 2012. We had about 130 guests at Kahler Hall in Columbia, Maryland. Our event started promptly at 5pm and we ended the silent auction shortly before 8 pm and picked the winners of our raffle. Marcella Glasgow won the iPad, Bryan Teague won the Microsoft Surface tablet (to be delivered when it comes out in a few weeks), and Cindy Kolodziejski won the Google Nexus table.
We couldn't have done this without everyone's support including those who weren't able to join us that evening but still sent in their generous donations and bought raffle tickets. We hope many of you will join us again next year. Together with all the pledges we received, we raised more than $17,000. Thank you for these blessings to support our programs in the Philippines.
Thanks to Mari Abello for the wonderful pictures from the event.
Here's a video we showed at the event showing students in their various activities at SFAS.
And here's a video taken during our presentation.
North Star (from Fort Washington) provided the catering and the desserts were made by Margie Abello and Chrissy Jardeleza.
Our menu for the evening was Lechon (Roast Suckling Pig), Pork and Chicken barbecue, Chicken Adobo, Lumpia Shanghai (pork), Vegeteble Springrolls, Bijon and Sotanghon noodles, Mongo (Beans) with Spinach (vegetarian), Beef Caldereta (with carrots, red peppers, peas and potatoes), Fried Plantains, Mango Pastel, Pili Squares, Cassava Cake, Leche Flan, Meringue, Fried Rice and White Rice.
Thank you to all our silent auction donors --- Margie Abello, Mari Abello and Lisa Kornerup, Jack and Madeleine Castro, Susan Clack, Clyde’s Restaurant, Coventry School for Dogs, Midge Crystle, Custom Media Options, Melinda Derrick, Ellicott Mills Brewing Company, Karen Gerald, Ramon and Marianne deGuzman, Ging and Michael Graham, Pat Hiban, David Hobby, John Hossli, Neal and Virginia Jarvis, Leelyn’s Restaurant, Maryann Laing, MD Dermatology of Maryland, Robert McAllister, Kathy Miller, Jackie Panowicz, Percworks, Scott and Judy Pelletier, Pub Dog, Jose Raymundo, Joanie Reisfeld, Lia Ridout, Faith Riggs, Alvin and Babsie Sanico, Sarah Sauder, Steve and Becky Sauder, Molly Scheufele, Frankie Schwenk, Joanne Serelis, Aaron and Meghan Sommers, Bob and Sue Strauss, Michelle Taylor, and Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia.
For over 10 years of granting
educational assistance, Tapulanga Foundation has inspired students in gaining
quality education, especially in St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City. Two
graduating high school scholars, RJ Navigar and Jean Mate, continue to have a
chance at better lives because of Tapulanga Foundation.
Aside from receiving financial benefits
for school-related expenses, Tapulanga Foundation scholars have been treated to
free summer workshops, medical benefits and enriching field trips. RJ and Jean have been attending two summers of
hip-hop dance workshops and RJ has attended two acting workshops as well.
Both
come from financially-challenged family backgrounds. RJ’s mother works for ten
years already at SFAS and is presently Preschool In-Charge and assistant to the
Vice Principal while his father is a farm worker. His brother (an SFAS alumnus)
is now in 2nd year college (with a college scholarship) and his
younger sister is currently in Grade 1 (also at SFAS and a Tapulanga Foundation
scholar). Jean’s mother is an office clerk while her father works as a sales
agent for a telecommunications company.Her brother (an SFAS alumnus and sports scholar of TF) is in his 2ndyear
at LCC-Bacolod.
How long have
you been Tapulanga scholars?
RJ: It’s been 11 years since I was in Kindergarten.
Jean: I’ve been a Tapulanga Scholar since 2010, when
I was in 2nd year High School.
How is your senior
year so far?
RJ: I’m sad to think about it, but that’s
life. We (my batchmates) are enjoying our time
together.
Jean: My Senior year has been so busy so far. But
still, I’m enjoying it as it is my last year being
a Franciscan.
What are your
feelings as this is your last year in SFAS?
RJ: I’m sad but I am PROUD of my Alma Mater.
It has raised me as a good
student, enhancing
my skills and developing my individuality.
Jean: As this is my last year in SFAS, I am
cherishing my 2nd home and bonding more with
my classmates.
What are your
plans/dreams after SFAS?
RJ: I’m planning to take up Bachelor of
Secondary Education, Major in MAPEH (Music,
Arts, Physical Education and Health). I want to pursue it at USLS (University of
Saint La Salle) or CSA-B (Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod).
Jean: After graduating, I plan to take up either
Tourism or Mass Communications. I am hoping
to enroll in LCC (La Consolacion College) or USLS.
What message
can you give to the Tapulanga Foundation?
RJ: First and foremost, thank you for making
me a scholar at SFAS. It has been my “cocoon”
(for 11 years), but time will soon come that I will spread my wings like a butterfly, ready to soar high in my
life. I will try my best to return and help my fellow
Franciscans too.
Jean: I’m really thankful to Tapulanga Foundation because
they shouldered all my school
expenses the past three years. It has been a big help for me and my family
especially that we lack the finances. I also thank my sponsors because they
believed that I can get high grades and I am worthy to become their scholar.
With high hopes, the foundation, as
well as the school, sees bright futures for these two scholars. Hopefully, the two will be granted
scholarships when they will enter college, allowing them to continue exploring
their infinite possibilities and reaching their dreams.
It was only three years ago that Mrs. Ruby Barnuevo was still a struggling food vendor in Hacienda Lugway, Silay City. Although cooking was her passion, she struggled to make ends meet for her family. Today, she owns a stall in the canteen of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City (SFAS) with the help of Tapulanga Foundation’s micro-credit program.
“The food business has always appealed to me. With the micro-credit loan of the foundation, I don’t have to worry that much about finding capital for my business.” said Mrs. Barnuevo, 43 years old. She lives in Hacienda Lugway, with her husband, Judy and their five children: 3rd year high school student Kyle Dominic, 4th grader Kara Fraancheska, 2nd grader Kier Vincent, and pre-kinder Jude Bryan – all students of SFAS and scholars of the Tapulanga Foundation.
“I loan 6,000 pesos and pay on a weekly basis for two months. It all works out quite well and I get to have extra money at the end of the day for savings. Sometimes my husband helps me out and so does some my children.”
The low interest rate of 1 percent a month and after two months she is able to renew her loan again makes her livelihood easier and more stable as she always has ready capital for her business. She plans on adding a new livelihood project since her current business is going well. “I would like to go back to raising pigs since we already have a pigpen at home.” adds Mrs. Barnuevo.
Like the other beneficiaries, micro-credit allows her to support her family and eventually make a difference in her community.
“It’s really nice to get to do what I love –which is cooking –and make a sustainable living out of it. Micro-credit makes all of this possible. I am really thankful.”
Eight months have passed when Typhoon Sendong devastated the city of Iligan and claimed so many lives. This is the story of a family who
lost not just their house and their source of livelihood but also family members
whose bodies remain unrecovered until this very day.
Eddie and Excelenia have seven children and all of them lived in Purok #5, Bayug, Iligan City. Their eldest daughter, Edeline, who was married to Mc Jayson Ferolino for nine years and blessed with two sons, Mc Jayssin who was 9 years and Mc Jayvance who was 6,was five months pregnant when the tragedy transpired.
This is their account. On the night
of December 16, 2011, it started to rain. They thought of it as the usual rain
that will just stop in a couple of hours so the family retired to sleep past
9:00 p.m. Around midnight, Edeline and Mc Jayson were awakened by a strong banging on the door (by their parents), alarming them
to evacuate as the water in the nearby river overflowed. The grandparents, together with Edeline's family, their other children and grandchildren, evacuated to
higher ground unprepared. Having no flashlights or any flotation device, they
were just dependent on each other as the water rose up from their knees to
their chest. The strong water current sent some members of the family to other
directions. Eight of them found themselves on the roof of a relative's house. When the house started to collapse, the entire
family managed to climb on a coconut tree beside the house while the others held
on to a mango tree. But even the coconut
tree was unable to stand the raging waters. The consequent downfall of the tree
sent the family in disarray. They were all scattered, each trying to survive. The
matriarch, Excelenia, lost her grip on the coconut. She was the first one who
fell off the tree together with her other grandchild who managed to cling to
her even underwater. Knowing that she can't swim, her husband Eddie swam after
her, not knowing if he could still find her in the dark. It was pitch black but
he was able to grasp his wife's foot and was very thankful that along with his
wife was their 3-year-old grandchild,
John Dave, still holding on to her grandmother's leg. There was a lot of screaming
and crying everywhere – asking for help. The pregnant Edeline was thrown into a
pile of logs. Somewhere in the darkness, she can hear one of her child
screaming for help, calling her. She was repeatedly hit by "so many debris"
as she recalled, mostly branches of trees and even logs. That was the last
memory of her dear family as she lost consciousness. It was already morning
when she regained consciousness. A neighbor found her and helped her. Two
of the children of Excelenia and Eddie were swept by the current to other
barangays. They were only reunited in the evacuation center days after. She
lost one of her grandchild from her other daughter, Sarah. Edeline, unfortunately, lost everyone in her family, her two kids and her husband. Just like what
happened to "Ampil" who is her uncle, Edeline, also sank into
depression, refusing to eat for months and tried to bury her agony by sleeping.
Worried of her daughter and her unborn child, Excelenia and Eddie tried their
very best to lift up Edeline's spirit in the midst of very uncomfortable
living conditions in the evacuation center for several months as they are
awaiting still for their permanent relocation.
Last April 27 of this year, despite
all odds, Edeline Lacuna Ferolino gave birth to a 6.14 pounds bouncing baby
boy named Mc Jayson Jr., after the name of her late husband. It was an
agonizing normal delivery that almost caused Edeline her life. Her blood
pressure rose up while she was in labor and the baby was actually overdue so
she had to be induced. Thinking of their financial constraints, she strived so
hard for a normal delivery still. The
sight of her son, the only tangible reminder of her spouse made everything
bearable now for Edeline. Just last month, July 1, Mc Jayson Jr. was baptized
in the Catholic rites attended by family members, one of which was Galfer "Ampil"
Lasmarias who stood as one of the godfathers and is also one of Tapulanga Foundation's
beneficiaries.
Excelenia, Eddie, Edeline and the
rest of the family are so grateful for all of the help that the Tapulanga Foundation has readily extended to them
through all the foundation's benefactors. Having received a motorized
"pump boat" is like giving them another chance in life. As a
fisherman, Manong Eddie's simple dream is to be able to feed his family with
his own hands without asking financial
assistance from others. Now that he has the fishing boat and fishing net which
he made himself, they can now get back on their feet. Also, the financial aid given
for Edeline's delivery is something that
she can never forget for the rest of her life.
Thank you very much to you all! God bless you all dearly!
This school year,
2012-2013, is another year of fulfilment for the Tapulanga Foundation as it
continues its legacy of educational support to its 260 scholars at the St.
Francis of Asisi School of Silay City.
53 Preschool Scholars in Pre-Kinder and Kindergarten
This year's Pre-Kinder scholars exclaimed how they want to be doctors and teachers in the future.
76 Grade 1 to 3 Scholars
“Thank you to my donors,” a smiling Donna Grace Duremdes, Grade 1, said as she shared how she received school supplies from the Tapulanga Foundation in May before classes started.
57 Grade 4 to 6 Scholars
"My parents won't worry over school fees anymore." by Shiela Mae Filipinas, Grade 6
74 Grade 7 to 10 Scholars
Geno, one of the delos Santos twins in Grade 7 says, "I feel blessed because someone is actually supporting me."
Summer activities are conducted every year and Grade 8 student, Caroline Deriada, finds herself lucky for being one of the scholars to enjoy such events.
Some scholars have the following message to the donors of Tapulanga Foundation.
"It's a good that you're helping the less fortunate." by Aileen Mae Madayag, Grade 6
"We wish you good health and may you be blessed in return." by Pia Jean Arriola, Grade 8
"I promise to be more disciplined and persevering in my studies." by Eunice Celestial, Grade 10
+(1).JPG)
+(3).JPG)
