More power to foreign friends of Infanta
Editor's Note: As usual, Ambassador Rudy Arizala sends the first comments regarding articles we posted. Below is his comment on the Victorian Tea Party.
Congratulations to Madame Turner and to the other organizers and members of the Ladies Victorian Tea Party which recently netted US$1,390.00 for fundraising in the reconstruction of the Gabaldon school building in Infanta, Quezon. I understand this year there would follow other events designed to raise more funds to the "Restoration of Hope" of the Youth of Infanta in having again decent, reliable school rooms where they could receive stable foundation of education and be better citizens not only of our country but also of the world which to MacLuhan has become a "global village".
More power and best wishes to foreign friends of Infanta who have joined us in this worthy endeavor of attaining good and stable educational foundation for our youth of the Land.
Encouragement
Do not lose heart. According to reports, Manila Bulletin of 22 April 2010: "TRIPOLI – The Philippine envoy to Libya, Ambassador Alejandrino Vicente, said Tuesday 3,040 registered for the overseas absentee voting (OAV) here out of the close to 20,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Arab Jamahiriya and over 200 of them have already voted for the May 10 elections."
A thought on raising $200,000
If in Libya alone there are 20,000 OFW's and if they donate US $10.00 each to the Gabaldon project, that would amount already to US$200,000. So, if all Infantahins in the Middle East and other parts of the world would donate US$10.00 each, we could raise the amount of US$200,000.00 budget for reconstruction of the Gabaldon schoolhouse in Infanta. What I mean by Infantahins are those OFW's from Infanta, Real, and General Nakar. Maybe, Fredy Cuento, my cousin who is in the Middle East could make a survey or inform us how many "Infantahins" are in his area or in the Middle East. And I hope, not only the "Infantahins" would give generous support to the project but other OFW's who know the importance of good education in our country. But, if we want others to join or support us, we should be the first one to start the ball rolling. The people of Infanta may wish to contribute not necessarily money for they might not be earning as much as those abroad, but they could contribute in kind, perhaps labor, or materials such as gravel and sand, etc. But Infantahins should first show that they are interested in the Gabaldon project.
In simple mathematics, it would take only 20,000 good-hearted people to donate at least US$10.00 each to raise the necessary amount for the reconstruction of the Gabaldon type of schoolhouse in Infanta.
In addition to what I told you that it takes only 20,000 OFW's to donate US$10.00 to raise the necessary budget of US$200,000.00 for the reconstruction of the Gabaldon schoohouse in Infanta, Quezon, and that the people of Infanta should also donate in kind, labor, building materials - sand and gravel, perhaps the Municipal authorities of Infanta could provide us a list of Infantahins OFW's - from Infanta, Real, Gen. Nakar area - their respective names and addresses abroad, so that we will know or have an idea how many from our place working abroad who could be possible donors. And each country, there should be one who would be designated as "Coordinator" for the donation to the Gabaldon project.
This is only an idea. And I hope our municipality have a record of those who are working abroad. This is in addition to whatever list there is on file with MIF, Inc.