Metro Infanta Foundation

More scholars and projects receive grants

By Mila Glodava

Thanks to our ardent supporters, the 2007 fund drive exceeded last year's regular collection by $524. This year's total regular collection was $32,099.71 as opposed to last year's $31,575.71, and exceeding our goal for 2007 by $7,848. This was made possible by Infantahins responding to the Challenge Gifts, which this year was a total of $13,500. the rest of the funds came from a new donor, the Spirit of Christ Catholic Community, which donated $3,000 for scholarships, and the rest came from friends of Metro Infanta Foundation. Thank you donors! Your support means more scholarship grants and more projects supported by you.

To date we have a total of 27 high school, 11 college, and 2 post-graduate scholars. In addition, three families -- Garcia, Garcia and Reyes -- have pledged to help cover the the cost of three friar rooms. This year, the second Garcia family completed its pledge and the third--the Reyes family--is still making payments toward their pledge. We should be able to send final payment for the second room soon. The Prelature of Infanta also receives funds for various causes designated by donors. Likewise, the Northern Quezon Cooperative College received a $2,500 grant frrom one of the MIF major donors. The Socio Pastoral Institute receives funding, too, for distributing funds, monitoring the MIF projects and for collecting and preparing reports to MIF.

Of course, it goes without saying that this website could not have been possible without the support of our donors. You have seen the impact this website has on our kababayans scattered around the world. Relatives have found one another; even mourned the passing of loved ones. Movements to save the very existence of our hometowns found a voice on its pages. Kababayans, who were touched by the inspirational articles by Amb. Arizala, exchanged ideas and expressed opinions. The MIF website also has become a source of news for the Philippine dailies.

In addition to the above, Metro Infanta Foundation also serves as the conduit for the Carmelite Friars of the Philippines, which conducted a mission appeal in the Archdiocese of Denver. Carmelite Father Arnold Boehme, who spoke at weekend Masses in three parishes in 2006, received a total collection of $35,427.08.

Furthermore, once again, in July 2007 the Foundation initiated talks with Mayor Grace America and the Infanta town officials to resurrect the Gabaldon Project. At the same time, we requested the Board of Directors to approve launching a fund campaign for said project, at least quietly. Such efforts generated in nearly $50,000 in pledges, with at least $26,000 in cash and stocks. An anonymous donor donated the stocks (to address various causes in the Philippines), which, to date, remain unsold due to fluctuations in the stock market. We hope our new Board of Directors will bring new ideas to realize our dream "to resurrect the Gabaldon" and officially launch an all-out effort to make it happen. But you donors will make it happen, once again, as you have done the past 12 years. Thank you!

Indeed, you, our donors have "touched hearts and changed lives." To all of you, a big "thank you" for your support. Of course, we cannot rest on our laurels. There's much more we can do, and we can use all the help of other Infantahins whose names have not appeared on our donors' list. I hope their hearts, too, will be touched so that we can change more lives. As Chairman of the Board, Pol Derilo said, "Let us not relent on the challenge that awaits us in the coming year and beyond. With the new board and officers, let us go on and nurture the mustard seeds endowed upon us in the good soil. "