New Chairman of the Board Fr. Francis Lucas and new board member Noemie Cam continue their tour of duty even in the heat of summer.
On June 20, 2022, Fr. Francis Lucas, Chairman of the Board and Bishop Bernardino Cortez presented former Chairman of the Board Apolinar Derilo and board member Sally Derilo a Plaque of Appreciation for their 25 years of service carrying out the mission of Metro Infanta Foundation. On June 24, new board member Noemie Cam, along with Bishop Bernardino Cortez, also presented former board member Melecia Garcia a Plaque of Appreciation at the St. John the Baptist Church in Panukulan, Quezon, for her ardent support of the Foundation as donor and board member.
Continuing their tour of duty after a short vacation in Boracay, Noemie and her family—husband Juan and their two sons, Nick, 17, and Alex, 13, went back to Infanta on July 20 for a short visit to recipients of scholarship funds. Led by Fr. Francis at Mt. Carmel School of Infanta, they met with Ms. Janedel Florencondia, principal; Ms. Margie Recio, vice principal; and a few faculty members. They treated the guests with short tour of the campus including both the primary and secondary school facilities and classrooms.
“They are doing quite a bit of renovations and preparations,” said Noemie, “for the upcoming school year face-to-face classes in August. Like most schools the last two years of the pandemic, “they have been on virtual learning for the past two years.” Noemie added, “Juan really had a great conversation with the teachers. He will be amazing there!!” Nick and Alex took their mom’s tour of duty quite well too! “They knew what we were going to do so all expected,” said their mom, laughing! Nick, who is a film student, decided to video tape the church, St. Mark’s Cathedral, where grandparents were married almost 50 years ago! Great thinking, Nick, and great practice filming too!
Noemie noted, too, all the earnest preparations for an alumni Foundation Day event July 15-16, celebrating the school’s 60 years anniversary. Noting that her dad, Cenon Garcia, was one of the school’s first graduates, Noemie requested a list of graduates, but realized there might be a problem because records might have been destroyed by the 2014 mudslides.
Noemie’s regret with her short visit to Infanta was that she and her family did not get a chance to visit the Gabaldon schoolhouse that Metro Infanta Foundation built in 2011. Neither was she able to meet with a few scholars and applicants. Fr. Francis will, instead, schedule an interview with them at a later date.
Metro Infanta Foundation is blessed, indeed, to secure the services of new board members! If interested in helping our new board members continue to carry out the mission of the Foundation, please make a donation by clicking the DONATE button above. Or mail your check to: Metro Infanta Foundation, 7350 Braun Way, Arvada, CO 80005. Any amount you donate will make a difference to those in need, especially scholarships.
