A Memorable Visit for the Lerma Family

The Lerma family visited St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City last February 8 and met their scholars for the first time.  Benjie and wife, Aileen, with kids, Nate and Mandy, got to know their scholars, Trisha Villanueva (Grade 3) and Kier Vincent Barnueveo (Grade 5).  Benjie and Aileen have been dedicated sponsors since 2011. 

The Lerma family with their scholars (from front L-R: Kier Barnuevo, Trisha Villanueva,
Aaron Manjero, Renato Sadio, Jr. and Aleah Hechanova)

They also met their additional scholars for the next school year, Aleah Hechanova and Renato Sadio, Jr., both incoming Pre-Kindergarten students.  They also met Aron Manjero who is the scholar of Mrs. Ditas Lerma (mother of Benjie) who will also start Pre-Kindgarten in June 2016.  Each of the scholars happily received a gift from the Lerma family!  

To the Lerma family, thank you so much for your continued support and giving these children the chance to have a better life!

Our visit was very memorable.  My wife, children and I were really looking forward to meeting our scholars face to face for the first time.  It provided us the perfect opportunity to congratulate Kier Vincent and Trisha on a job well done.  We are really proud of how well they are doing in school and we hope that they continue to work hard until they graduate.  The visit also gave us a chance to meet our new scholars, Inday and Axel, as well as my mom's scholar, Ron Ron. We hope they will do well in school too.

The campus tour and the introductions to school personnel and students gave us an in depth look into the operations of the school.  Needless to say, we were very impressed.  

Our visit only strengthened our resolve to keep supporting our scholars and the school.

We look forward to visiting the campus and our scholars again in the future.   by Benjie Lerma

A New Year Visit!

On the first day of school after the holiday vacation, TF donors Ben Prince, Eric Yulo and Raffy Garcia visited St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City and met their scholars for the first time. They got to know their scholars and toured the school campus.

Ben Prince with scholar, Jazzy Eguid (Grade 1) and
Eric Yulo with scholar, Claire Marie Deriada (Grade 7)

Raffy Garcia with scholar, Angelika Garcia (Grade 8)

With Eric's mother, Mrs. Ana Yulo

Ben and Eric have been sponsoring a child to school since 2009 while Raffy started in 2013 and chose his scholar during the 60 Scholars in 30 Days Challenge.

"Eric and I sponsor a couple of scholars there via this great organization called Tapulanga Foundation, and we got to meet our scholars, so that was cool. Mine's in first grade and very shy, but adorably photogenic!" by Ben Prince

"We had a great time visiting St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City. I was very impressed with everything— from the well behaved students to the expansion programs currently underway. It was also a pleasure to meet my scholar Claire and Principal JR. Thank you for a delightful tour." by Eric Yulo

"I feel glad to have met Angelika in person. She seems like a sweet and level headed kid. Just exactly like the optimism I sense in her when I see her pictures and read her Christmas cards. I guess she's obviously enjoying being in school. Just shows how a good education could do so much for someone who really wants it too. It's really admirable what Tapulanga Foundation has been doing for these kids; to continually do this earnest and industrious effort from the heart so as to have an effect on someone's future. And I'm very happy to be a part of this endeavor, in whatever way that I can." by Raffy Garcia

Medical Mission 2015

The annual Medical Mission of Tapulanga Foundation was held at Our Lady of the Nativity Chapel in Hacienda Tinihaban I, Silay City last December 23.   

124 children from Hacienda Tinihaban and neighboring communities received health checkups, basic medicines, and got donated toys and clothes. Deworming was also given to children from 2 to 10 years old.

A big thanks to our volunteer physicians, Dra. Jo-an Ledesma-Millonado (president of Tapulanga Foundation), Dra. Kate Abello and Dr. Julius de la Cruz, school nurse Ms. Marissa Guadalupe and volunteer nurses Ms. Aerial Guadalupe and Ms. Jelaine Estardo who are both SFAS alumni.

And big thanks to Westmont Pharmaceutical, Inc. who supported our mission once again thru their donation of medicines for cough, colds, fever, antibiotics and multivitamins. And to all who generously donated to the health care program during the Sharing Hope fundraiser in Maryland last November ... THANK YOU!

For more photos, please click here.

Christmas Giving Program 2015

Tapulanga Foundation ended 2015 celebrating with our scholars through the Christmas Giving Program. Blessed with more generous donors, the foundation extended the giving of toys and "noche buena" (Christmas Eve) packages to a neighboring public school and two farm communities.

December 14
St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City Preschool held their Christmas party at McDonald's North Drive branch in Bacolod City.

December 15
TF Christmas Giving at Cuaycong Elementary School, E.B. Magalona where 166 students (Kinder to Grade 6), teachers and staff received an eco-bag filled with a noche buena grocery.  Kinder to Grade 3 students had a toy surprise inside their bag.

December 18
Tapulanga Foundation scholars from Grades 1 to 9 had their Christmas party at SFAS covered court. Games were prepared, kids played in inflatable balloon and trampoline, and snacks were served to all.  TF donor, Mrs. Gina Gatuslao-Millan donated noche buena gift packs and ham to all the teachers and staff of the school and foundation as she celebrated her birthday that day.

December 19
Grade 10 and college scholars went to Campuestohan Highland Resort in Talisay City.  Everyone enjoyed rides including the Hamster Wheel, Sky Bicycle, Horseback Riding and Carousel.  Some also went swimming and horseback riding.

December 21 and 27
135 families of Hacienda Lonoy in Silay City were given noche buena packages.

December 23
105 families of Hacienda Tinihaban in Silay City received noche buena gift packs.

To our generous donors and everyone who made the Christmas Giving Program possible, THANK YOU!

To view each album, please click here.

Eat. Share. Love. 2015

Tapulanga Foundation held its 7th annual fundraiser entitled "Eat. Share. Love." last November 27 at the La Proa Hall, L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

The Kansilay Visual Artists Society (KanVAS) displayed their artworks for sale along with other items for the silent auction. 

The buffet dinner included the following:  Cream of Asparagus soup, German Potato Salad, Linguini with Chicken Alfredo, Pork Satay, Chicken Relleno, Angus Beef Belly Pot Roast, Buttered Mixed Vegetable, steamed rice and one round of Iced Tea.  Deserts included Ube Cake, Mini Chocolate Crinkles and Lemon Yema Cheese Torte, 

Grade 7 scholars entertained guests with a dance number.

The highlight of the night was the silent auction. Many enjoyed bidding on over 100 items from toys, kitchenware, locally crafted and imported bags, shoes, lamps, paintings, home decors and gift certificates from hotels, restaurants, salon and spa.

Proceeds of the fundraiser will go to the Senior Scholarship program of Tapulanga Foundation and the Sports Program of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City. 

To everyone who supported, from all the sponsors to those who attended, a heartfelt THANK YOU!

To view more photos, you may click here.

Photo credits to Mr. Felix Querubin of St. La Salle - Bacolod Yearbook Office. 

An Evening of Sharing Hope in Maryland

The 9^th Annual Friends of Tapulanga Fundraiser (Sharing Hope) in Maryland last November 8, was a tremendous success.  Over 100 guests enjoyed an evening of Filipino food, silent auction, raffle and updates on St Francis of Assisi School of Silay City.

 

There were many faithful supporters who have attended every fundraiser since 2006.  A few new guests were surprised to see a whole roasted pig!  We had some wonderful donations this year… a beautiful hand made quilt, some great artwork, some unique handmade soaps, and lots of other remarkable items.  

The raffle was very successful… (the Kindle was won by Jim Siegel, Robert Graham won the other 2 prizes, an iPad Mini and a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet which he decided to donate back for an impromptu live auction --- which was won by Rich Spiegel).

We are truly  blessed to have such an amazing group of supporters and volunteers, our sponsors (Katherine Taylor of Taylor Legal, Hoffman and Associates, and Akubo) and we especially thank Mr. Charles Miller who has generously supported us in making our event possible at the Howard County Conservancy.

A Generous Heart

November 19

Mr. Mitch Gatuslao-Remitio visited St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City for the first time. He met his Tapulanga scholar, Annika Intal, a Grade 6 student.  Mr. Remitio was on a short vacation to be with his friends and family in Bacolod City.   He toured around the school campus and has expressed his interest in helping out the school's football team.  Mr. Remitio became a donor thru the 60 Scholars in 30 Days Challenge last April 2015.

"When I went home to Bacolod a few days ago, one of the things that I wanted to do was go to St Francis of Assisi School.  I had the chance to meet my scholar, Annika.  I asked her what her ambition was in life.  Without any hesitation, she answered that she wanted to become a doctor or an engineer.  Coming from a little girl, this warmed my heart a lot because you could see in her the determination and the drive to succeed in life even though the odds are against her.  I have no doubt that she will be able to achieve her dreams because when I looked at her report card, it was full of A's.  I absolutely salute her parents who gave her the will to succeed.  To Annika, you will be my scholar forever.  I hope that you will be able to achieve your dreams.  Stay humble and always pray to God.  Thanks for taking the time out to meet me."