Metro Infanta Foundation

Inquirer Southern Luzon
By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Southern Luzon Bureau

Posted date: June 21, 2007

LUCENA CITY – Frederick Rili, 26, a native of Makati City, will be finishing his masteral studies in International Relations this year, thanks to a scholarship grant from the Metro Infanta Foundation (MIF).
The 11-year-old MIF, a Filipino-run nonprofit organization based in Colorado, USA, unites a group of Filipino expatriates living in different parts of the globe not only to provide education to students but also to initiate and fund worthy causes back home, especially in northern Quezon.

Mila Glodava, MIF president, said the foundation was an offshoot of a two-page newsletter which she distributed to her former high school classmates in Infanta in 1995.

The newsletter was such a hit that one of her sisters and her friends suggested sending a similar publication to “Infantahins” in the USA to expand the mailing list.

“Soon, more names were coming my way and it was clear that a nonprofit organization was in order. By the time we turned to the website, we had more than 400 on our ‘Where are they now?’ list,” she said.

The foundation was formed in 1996 when Glodava was a fellow of the Asian/Pacific Women’s Leadership Institute. The fellows were required to create an impact project that would benefit at least 25 people.

“I was determined in seeing to it that my impact project would reach out to my hometown. I wanted to create a foundation that would pool the resources of Infantahins so we could address the needs of our hometown and beyond,” Glodava said in an e-mail interview.

Since its formation, the MIF has been providing scholarships to high school students.

In 2002, during the launch of the book “Labong ng Kawayan: Walking through the Pathways and Streets of Infanta,” a compilation of stories about their native town which the MIF published, the foundation decided to establish several scholarships for college students.

A number of high school and college students in schools belonging to the Catholic Association of Schools of the Prelature of Infanta (Caspi) also started to avail themselves of educational subsidy.

“Before 2002, our scholarship efforts were quite sporadic. That’s why we decided to retain the services of the Socio Pastoral Institute (SPI) to monitor our grants’ recipients, especially our scholarship program,” Glodava said.

The SPI, a Church-based nongovernment organization in Manila, assists the MIF in the implementation of the scholarship program.

In school year 2007-08, the MIF will again support 39 students in Quezon and Aurora provinces.

Touching hearts

Glodava said the MIF had been pooling resources from concerned natives and fellow expatriates from northern Quezon, who are now living in Chile, Saudi Arabia, England, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

“A donation of at least $125 will take care of one year’s needs of one student. We recommend that a prospective donor consider making a donation annually for four years to cover the cost of the entire high school course of one student,” she explained.

Scholarships usually include everything, from tuition to books and allowances for housing and transportation.

“We have created the Ambassador Arizala Diplomacy Scholarship at his alma mater—the Lyceum University for deserving students, not necessarily from Metro Infanta. This is a post-graduate scholarship,” Glodava explained.

Arizala, who also hails from Infanta and is now based in Chile, is among the active members of the MIF.

All scholars must agree to “pay it forward” by doing some community service for high school students and projects that would provide positive impact to the community for post-graduates.

“These partial requirements determine if MIF will continue funding their scholarships as we don’t want recipients to become lax with their studies,” Glodava said.

Future leaders

“Our long-term goal is to expand this feature of the MIF so future servant leaders could be developed,” she explained.

Glodava cited the success of Rili in organizing the Sulyap Savings and Credit Cooperative, along with neighborhood leaders in Barangay Rizal, Makati. Members of the cooperative pool their resources and provide loans to one another at reasonable interest in times of financial difficulty.

Glodava, who is also the director of communications and stewardship at the St. Thomas Moore Parish in Centennial, Colorado, has worked on the partnership of the parish with the Prelature of Infanta and the SPI.

During a visit to Colorado, former Infanta Bishop Julio Labayen received cans of pennies from children who collected a total of $10,000 to help rebuild a church in the island town of Panukulan.

During the typhoons of 2004, the foundation helped Infanta and its neighboring towns. “Expatriates from all over the world responded immediately to our call for help. Some not only made their own contribution but also raised money in their own locality,” Glodava said.

Aside from pursuing causes to benefit their town mates, the foundation links fellow natives now residing in foreign shores through a website, (www.infanta.org).

Posted by Mila Glodava at 10:26 AM | Permalink

By Rudy A. Arizala
Santiago, Chile 17 June 2007

This year we shall celebrate Fathers Day on 17 June. Perhaps, unknown to many, it was a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd of Washington, U.S.A., who initiated the idea of celebrating Fathers Day. She would like to honor her father, Henry Jackson Smart, a veteran of the U.S. Civil War, who became a widower when his wife gave birth to their sixth son. Since then, Henry Jackson Smart took charge of taking good care of the children as replacement for the love and dedication of his wife who died and at the same time performed also the role of a father.

The first Fathers Day in Washington was observed on 19 June 1910. However, Fathers Day has been officially celebrated since 1924 when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge declared the date as a national holiday. In 1966, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed a Proclamation declaring that the third Sunday of June every year as Fathers Day. Every year, Fathers Day is now observed not only in the United States but also in other countries of the world.

Every Fathers Day I could not help but remember my late father. He was a serious-looking person who seldom talk. He was a man of few words but every now and then he would smile with fatherly love and care. I never heard him engage in hilarious laughter. He had a big, generous heart. He saw to it that we have sufficient food, shelter, clothing and good education. Aside from such material things, he taught us hard work, honesty and never forget to help others. He himself would not hesitate to go out of his way to help others.

When father passed away on 16 June 1981 at the ripe age of 80 years old, I discovered that he had lots of godchildren – either in baptism or wedding. Many of his godchildren came to the house very early that day to express their condolences and support to our family.

During his lifetime, if I did not see father engaged in hilarious laughter, neither I saw him also shed tears in public except on two occasions: the first was in 1948 when I graduated from high school and he pinned on my breast a silver medal as a Salutatorian graduate And the second instance was in 1855 when he read from the newspapers that I passed the bar examinations and became a lawyer. I saw there were tears in his eyes. Tears of silent joy!

I fondly remember when I was about 4 years old, father used to take me with him to civic activities such as the Rizal Day parade and tried to inculcate in my young mind the significance of the event.. Father, being a BIR agent, was considered by our town authorities as representative of the national government, hence, always invited to participate in civic activities of the town. Father was from the town of Liliw, Laguna but was assigned in Infanta in 1927 as a BIR agent. Still a bachelor, he met my mother, then a young lass of 19 years old and they were married in 1929. Since then, father adopted Infanta, Quezon as his second home.

When I started going to school, he saw to it that I learn about the lives of other Filipino heroes aside from doing my homework before going to bed. I acquired the habit of reading or studying my lessons because when I was still a kid, I always see my father every evening writing or doing his reports. I loved to sit with him and imitate what he was doing. Father was one of those few subscribers in our hometown to newspapers such as The Manila Tribune. Consequently, I also formed the habit of browsing over the pages of newspapers and magazines or at least look at the pictures when I did not know yet how to read.

I also remember when father took me along with him to Manila during one school vacation. That was my first visit to the City, the capital of the Philippines popularly called at that time “Maynila”. I was impressed by the well-laid out metropolis plan of the metropolis separated between North and South districts by a huge river called the “Pasig River.” At that time city or urban zoning was observed separating the residential areas from the commercial sectors. “Downtown” is located across the Pasig River. We stayed at a hotel in one of the side streets of Plaza Sta. Cruz near the elegant shopping area called the “Escolta.” From our hotel, father, clad in his his white-cream “de hilo” suit and white buntal hat, brought me first to the Escolta where he purchased a set of cutlery for mother at “Aguinaldo” department store. I marvelled at the pretty young sales ladies who all looked to me like live “mannequins”. It was also my first ride on the elevator of the said building. Then we went to nearby “Heacock” store where father bought some gifts or “pasalubongs” to our folks in the province. After that shopping spree, father took me to the other side of the Pasig river and showed me the Luneta, the Mehan Botanical Garden and the zoo. I saw at the zoo a big elephant called “Goyo”. At Plaza Lawton (now called “Liwasang Bonifacio) father showed me the Manila Post Office building with huge, massive, round posts or pillars. Then we went to Taft Avenue where father showed me the Finance, Agriculture and the Congress Buildings as well as the Philippine General Hospital. Across the Philippine General Hospital was the University of the Philippines campus dotted with several huge buildings. Years later, one of these infrastructures – the U.P. Library building – along Padre Faura street, became the Department of Foreign Affairs. I did not know then that someday I would be working in that U.P. Library building converted into Department of Foreign Affairs edifice. Said structure is now part of the Department of Justice buildings.

Tatay was a loving and caring father and had a soft heart for children. This was illustrated by an anecdote narrated by a kababayan of ours who now resides in the United States, Mr. Leo Villeno. Hereunder is what he wrote about his encounter with my late father:

I was barely six years old yesteryears ago in barrio Langas, when one of my parents sources of income was !karitan” or wine-making from nipa palm juice. I was instructed by my parents that whenever Mang Boyong Arizala, who was a BIR inspector then comes for a visit, we would have to close the “sumbi” (small roon) where alak, tapayan and lupagi are kept, because if he sees them, Mang Boyong would impose tarifa and we would have to pay fines, thus, lose money.

One day, I was playing with my younger brother in the playground of Alitas Elemetary School when Mang Boyong came and asked: “Indong, nasaan ang tatay mo?”(My little boy, where is your father?). Before I could reply, my four-year old younger brother “Manny” said: “Nasa lutuan po, nagluluto ng alak.” (He is at the make-shift distillery shop brewing wine, Sir.”).

Mang Boyong just started laughing, went to our house and told my mother about his discovery.

From the above anecdote, in three short paragraphs, Mr. Villeno paid the sincerest and highest tribute ever made to my late father. As BIR agent, father is known for being strict to those who violate the law. But in the incident narrated above, my late father admiring the honest reply of the young boy, simply took his discovery in good humor that the person he was looking for was out there in the midst of the swampy area concocting illicitly nipa wine. This anecdote perhaps helped explain why despite the zealous performance of duties of my late father as a BIR agent, he nevertheless had a soft heart and admired the honesty or telling the truth of a young boy. No wonder, he acquired countless “kumpadres” and “kumadres” from almost all the barrios or barangays of Infanta.

May I end this piece with the following lines as tribute to all fathers on this day of remembrance and thanksgiving called “Fathers Day.”

ODE TO FATHERS

F – athers upon your shoulder rest
A – nd future of children depend
T – oiling from sunrise to sunset
H – erculean strength you needed
E – ndure all life´s vicissitudes
R – edeem children, have bright future
S – ilently, we pray to the Lord

D – ay of Thanksgiving be observed
A – nd all fathers be remembered
Y – ear after year by their children!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL FATHERS!

Posted by Mila Glodava at 05:53 PM | Permalink

By Rudy Arizala

In my earlier essay, I pointed out that from a strictly historical and legal point of view, what we celelbrate on 12 June is the anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence and not the achievement of independence.

Be that as it may, one should have a country or a place he or she could consider his / her native land or country. And even those who already embraced other nationality or citizenship should not forget the land of his / her birth or where he / she grew up.

In other words, one should have a country of birth or an adopted one. Why do I say this?

Let me quote to you what Sir Walter Scott wrote in his poem "The Lay of of the Last Minstrel" or commonly referred to as "Man Without a Country" with my translation from English to Tagalog or Filipino.

Man Without a Country

Breathes there the man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored , and unsung.

(The Lay of the Last Minstrel
By Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1832)

Salin sa Tagalog ni Rudy A. Arizala
10 June 2007, Santiago, Chile
Ng “The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Sir Walter Scott

Buhay nga ngunit walang diwa
Sa sarili di nagpasiya
Ito´y tinubuan kong lupa
Alab sa kanyang puso´y wala
Pagbalik mga yabag niya
Nagbuhat sa bansang banyaga
Tandaan mo ang gaya niya
May puso ngunit walang tuwa
Kahit na anong pagkadakila
Yama´y labis walang kapara
Ang mapagkanya ay ulila
Buhay nga, lahat mawawala
At kapag pumanaw na siya
Balik sa alabok na lupa
Taghoy, dangal ni luha´y wala.

Wakas

(“Ang Huling Taghoy” ni Sir Walter Scott.)

Posted by Mila Glodava at 12:00 AM | Permalink

By Rodolfo A. Arizala*

I. Introduction
Historically, the Filipino people under the Aguinaldo dictatorial government proclaimed their independence on 12 June 1898. But said independence was not achieved due to defeat of the Aguinaldo army in the field of battle and inability of its envoys to obtain recognition of Philippine independence from foreign governments. Furthermore, with the signing of the peace treaty between Spain and the United States on 10 December 1898 commonly known as the Treaty of Paris, it sealed the fate of the Filipino people as a colony of the United States America for almost half a century.

Article III of the Treaty of Paris provides: “Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine islands. . . The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratification of the present treaty.”

Subsequently, in 1934, by virtue of a law adopted by the US Congress- the Tydings-McDuffie Act, it provided that the Phiippines shall attain independence on 4 July 1946.

II. Proclamation and Recognition of Independence
In compliance with the provisions of the 1934 Tydings-McDuffie Act, U.S. President Harry S. Truman proclaimed and recognized the independence of the Filipinos on 4 July 1946, pertinent provisions of the Proclamation read as follows:

“Whereas the United States of America by the Treaty of Peace with Spain of Deecember 10, 1898, commonly known as the Treaty of Paris, and by the Treaty with Spain of November 7, 1900, did acquire sovereignty over the Philippines. . . .

“Whereas the Act of Congress approved March 24, 1934, known as the Philippine Independence Act, directed that, on the 4th day of July immediately following a ten-year transition period leading to the independence of the Philippines, the President of the United States of America should by Proclamation withdraw and surrender all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control or sovereignty of the Philippines. . . should recognize the independence of the Philippines:

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the United States of America acting under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the aforesaid act of Congress, do proclaim that in accord with and subject to the reservations provided for in the applicable statutes of the United States,

“The United States of America hereby withdraws and surrenders all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty now existing and exercised by the United States of America in and over the territory and people of the Philippines; and, “On behalf of the United States of America, I do hereby recognize the independence of the Philippines as a separate and self-governing nation and acknowledge the authority and control over the same of the government instituted by the people thereof, under the constitution now in force.” ( Proclamation, 60 Stat. 1352, No. 1695, 4 July 1946, Emphasis, supplied).

It is clear from the foregoing law and Proclamation that on 4 July 1946, the United States “proclaimed” and “recognized” the independence of the Philippines.Thus, since 1946 up to 1961, we have been celebrating our independence day on 4 July.

III. Change of Date from 4 July to 12 June
However, in 1962 under Proclamation No. 28, by the stroke of President Diosdado Macapagal´s pen, the celebration of Philippine independence was moved from 4 July to 12 June. What was the reason or reasons for such change?

The reasons given by Pres. Diosdado Macapagal for such change of date as contained in his Memoirs “A Stone for the Edifice”were due to “inconvenience” encountered and not “inspiring enough”. In his words:

“I noted that the celebration of a common independence day with the United States on July 4 caused considerable inconvenience. The American celebration dwarfed that of the Philippines. As if to compound the irony, July seemed tantamount to the celebration of Philippine subjection to and dependence on the United States which served to perpetuate unpleasant memories.”

The other reason given by Pres. Macapagal was:

“July 4 was not inspiring enough for the Philippine youth since it recalled mostly the peaceful independence missions to the United States. The celebration of independence day on June 12, on the other hand, would be a greater inspiration to the youth who would consequently recall the heroes of the revolution against Spain and their acts of sublime heroism and martyrdom.”

Others opined that the reason for the transfer of our commemoration of independence day from 4 July to 12 June was due to the action of American Congress in backing out of a commitment to pay the Filipinos US $73 million in war damages.

This was, however, denied by Pres. Macapagal when he said:

“Let me avail of this opportunity to disabuse the minds of those who suggest that the transfer of our commemoration of independence was prompted by the American Congress in backing out of a material commitment and obligation to our people. There is no causal relation between the two events. We commemorate our freedom on this day because the paramount truth and historical reality so justify and not for any transient reason.”

IV. Relevant Issue / Conclusion
Whatever may be the reasons for changing the date of celebrating our independence day, the relevant question to ask is: “Could the commemoration of the proclamation and recognition of our independence on 4 July as ordained by law (Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934) be changed or amended by a mere subsequent Proclamation not back up by another law?

From the legal standpoint, it could not be changed by a mere Proclamation. It could be changed only by another law or in pursuance of an Act of Congress. Consequently, two years later from 12 May 1962 date of the issuance of Proclamation No. 28, President Macapagal on 4 August 1964 signed into law Republic Act No. 4166 prescribing 12 June as “Phiippine Independence Day” and making July 4 as “Republic Day.” Later, July 4 became known as “Fil-American Friendship Day.”

There may be good reasons in changing the date of celebrating our independence day to 12 June motivated by patriotic intentions even if it may be of doubtful legality and historical accuracy. Although a subsequent law (Republic Act No. 4166) was adopted prescribing 12 June as “Philippine Independence Day,” in reality said date was a mere “Proclamation” or declaration of a desire to be free and independent in 1898. Under the eyes of international law, we did not attain independence on said date because we were defeated in the field of battle and failed to obtain recognition of said independence in the corridors of diplomacy. What was recognized by law and diplomacy was te independence proclaimed and established on 4 July 1946.

Could the historic and legal infirmities of 12 June be remedied by a law (Republic Act No. 4166) prescribing June 12 as “Philippine Indpendence Day” although not supported by actual historical events and recognized by the law of nations?

Perhaps realizing such infirmities, the Department of Foreign Affairs, notwithstanding the signing into law of Republic Act No. 4166 on 4 August 1964, decided to issue on 3 May 1967 Foreign Service Circular No. 46-67 requiring that official invitations for 12 June celebration should be worded “To Celebrate the Sixty-ninth Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence” and not “To Celebrate the Sixty-ninth Anniversary of Philippine Independence.” In other words, the ForEIGN Service Circular was trying to convey that we should be celebrating on 12 June “the Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence” and not the Anniversary of the actual fact of being an independent and sovereign nation.

The legal and actual fact of our being an independent and sovereign nation was the one proclaimed and recognized on 4 July 1946. What we celebrate on 12 June is the Proclamation of our Independence but not the achievement of independence. Ib 12 June this year, we shall, therefore, celebrating the 109th Anniversary of the Proclamation of our Independence but not the achievement of independence.

Posted by Mila Glodava at 09:39 PM | Permalink

By Rudy Arizala

I am happy to read from the MIF Website that expatriates Filipinos - Dolly Banzon and Amelia Ashmann - are bringing to the Philippines Denver´s Catholic Biblical School, thus, not only spreading the "Good News" but also teaching the Holy Scriptures to our kababayans.

There is a need to study and familiarize ourselves with the Holy Scriptures for it deepens our faith. There is a need for deepening our faith as stated in the poem of Judge Roy Moore of Alabama. He wrote the following poem when he was removed from his bench because he refused to remove the framed "Ten Commandments" hanging from one of the walls of his courtroom.

AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL By Judge Roy Moore

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray.

We've kept God in our temples,
how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry,
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore

This says it all. .

IN GOD WE TRUST!

Posted by Mila Glodava at 08:51 AM | Permalink

By Mila Glodava

Today, my friends and supporter of the Metro Infanta Foundation – Dolly Banzon and Amelia Ashmann -- will leave the comforts of their U.S. homes to go back to the Philippines and bring Denver’s Catholic Biblical School (CBS) in three weeks time.

Dolly, who just completed her third year in the CBS, and Amy, a graduate of same, were so inspired in learning the Scripture that it did not take them any time to plan this trip with their instructor, Thomas Smith. Both shouldered most of the travel expenses and raised some to purchase materials they can leave behind for the clergy and catechists who will be attending the sessions in Davao and Manila.

When she graduates from the school next year, Dolly plans on returning to the Philippines to teach Scripture. “When you are touched by the word of God you can’t help but spread it around,” she said. “There is a need for a biblical school to spread that word all over the world.”

A retired internist, Amy believes that through studying Scripture, people will strengthen their faith, as it has deepened her own faith. “My experience at the school deepened my faith and I wanted to share that experience them.”

Meanwhile, Tom said in an article in the Denver Catholic Register that the program will give the Filipino people a narrative story of Scripture, from Genesis through Revelation, and will lay a foundation of their successful brand of biblical school in the Philippines.

This may not be wistful thinking. To date, the sessions in Davao (June 8 - 10) have registered more than 400 participants and the Manila sessions (June 15 and 16, Philippine Heart Center, East Ave., Quezon City) have generated interest from 12 dioceses for up to 300 people.

If interested in attending any of the two locations please contact Dr. Tessie Menor at: theresamenor@yahoo.com.

Posted by Mila Glodava at 12:00 AM | Permalink

By Mila Glodava

With nearly $5 billion in remittances from its 2.5 million U.S. immigrants, the Philippines made the top five of the home countries receiving individual remittances from expatriates (see table below). The Index reports at least $95 billion of private giving to home countries of immigrants. That's more than three and a half times what the United States government give in foreign aid.

Individual Remittances from the United States to Developing Countries
1) Latin America $16.8 billion
2) Mexico $13.3 billion
3) India $ 5.0 billion
4) Philippines $ 4.8 billion
6) Caribbean $ 4.5 billion
7) All Africa $ 1.6 billion
8) Other $ 1.0 billion
-- Index of Global Philanthropy, 2006

This impressive amount comes from you and me sending $25 here or $100 there toour families and friends, multiplied by 2.5 million, and that’s quite a sum for our impoverished country. According to the Index of Global Philanthropy issued by a Washington think tank, the Hudson Institute, such remittances “were equivalent to 20 percent of export earnings and 5 percent of the GDP for the Philippines.”

What does it mean for a developing country like the Philippines? The Index reports such remittances enables developing countries to 1) bolster their foreign exchange reserves, 2) strengthen their banking systems, reduce dependence on the cyclical nature of aid and trade, and provide direct and cost effective economic benefits to families for education, housing and health care.

In addition, the Index reports of community foundations, e.g., Metro Infanta Foundation, comprise about 7 percent of the total number of foundations that make international grants. Community foundations raise funds from the public as opposed to independent foundations which are from contributions from a single source, such as a family.

While community foundations give only 1 percent of all international giving by foundations, its rate of growth in international giving was highest in community foundations. The Index reports an increase from $6 million in 1998 to $29 million in 2002.

Metro Infanta Foundation (MIF) has distributed, since 1997 nearly $350,000 or more than 15 million pesos in grants towards religious, educational, humanitarian, development and civic causes in the Metro Infanta areas of Burdeos, Infanta, Panukulan, Polillo and Real and the towns under the jurisdiction of the Prelature of Infanta (mostly in scholarship). In addition, it facilitated more than $200,000 or more than 9 million pesos directly from other funding agencies.

This fiscal year alone (July 2006-June 2007) Metro Infanta Foundation already has distributed more than $27,000 in grants for scholarships and other causes chosen by donors, such as the Prelature of Infanta, Carmelite Seminary and Socio Pastoral Institute which distributes and monitors all MIF grants. In addition, MIF served as conduit for the Discalced Carmelites' mission appeal in the Archdiocese of Denver, netting more than $35,000.

Of course, what we give is almost insignificant, especially considering only a handful of Infantahins really give to the foundation. However, when added to all the other private giving and the community foundations and home town associations involved in philanthropy, it's a staggering amount.

No wonder there is growing interest in migrant philanthropy. The Hudson Institute is only one of those studying this new phenomenon of private giving in the United States. In the Philippines, the Institute for Migration and Developments studies the impact of "Offshore Giving" and has noticed and reported on the growing network of “Diaspora philanthropy” benefiting our native land, including the work of Metro Infanta Foundation.

Posted by Mila Glodava at 02:00 PM | Permalink

June 5 … Flor Icasiano
June 6 … Perry Nanola
June 6 … Maribel Villeno
June 10… Tita Garcia Espiritu
June 16 … Kevin Glodava
June 19 ... Trish Glodava
June 23 … Nony Garcia
June 27 … Hillary Villeno

Wedding Anniversaries
June 22 ... Kevin & Trish Glodava
June 24 … Kelly & Annabelle (Icasiano) Clayton

Posted by Mila Glodava at 12:00 AM | Permalink