As a girl sleeping on my straw mat on the floor of my family’s home in Infanta, I never dreamed I would start a foundation that would accomplish so much, not only in the Metro Infanta but beyond – in South America, Africa, in the United States where I would emigrate to and raise my own family. Never did I dream this foundation would raise more than $1.4 million. Never did I dream that our foundation would inspire other funding organizations to reach out to the many needs of Metro Infanta and beyond with nearly $500,000 in grants to help support faith, education, and Filipino culture. Never did I dream this foundation would celebrate a Silver Jubilee with a fresh vision for our future and the improved futures of our countless beneficiaries around our world.
But, as our beloved Carmelite Bishop Julio Labayen often reminded us, nothing is impossible with God. Bishop Labayen found a scholarship for me to attend St. Paul College (now University) of Manila. I owe him a debt of profound gratitude for all his support of Metro Infanta Foundation. To honor his memory, Metro Infanta Foundation will establish the Bishop Julio Labayen Memorial Grant. Our first recipient in our Jubilee Celebration is Father Joefran Talaban, who has inspired me about his work for the indigenous and reminded me of our responsibility to people of our cultural heritage. His work to preserve our environment has put his life in danger, yet he presses on! Please see page 7 for more about Fr. Joefran who will receive a grant of 25,000 pesos to spend on any cause. In addition, the Foundation will donate $2,000 or 100,000 pesos to St. Anthony of Padua Parish so Father Joefran can finish the sacristy and kitchen of his new convent.
Overall, as we celebrate MIF’s Silver Jubilee, my prevailing emotion is gratitude. Gratitude for you, our Metro Infanta Foundation donors and supporters. Gratitude for the myriad blessings upon Metro Infanta Foundation. Gratitude for all the people whose lives we have helped: May they, in turn, pass along the grace.
To commemorate our Silver Jubilee, we have produced a journal celebrating our past 25 years; A generation! A quarter of a century! Thanks be to God, for “25 years of grace and gratitude.” Without you, we would not have arrive ko d at this milestone.
The journal also looks to our future with three new fundraising objectives. As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee in this time of pandemic, we’re stepping up our stewardship to benefit even more people in our homeland, the Philippines, and far beyond, as well.
For your support — past, present, and in our future — my heartfelt gratitude for your role in making Metro Infanta Foundation’s Silver Jubilee celebration truly sterling.
As we enter the New Year 2022 and look forward to the next 25 years, I would like to echo what St. Paul asked the Corinthians in 2 Cor 1:1:11, to “help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessings granted us in answer to many prayers.”
Thank you! In my native tongue, Maraming Salamat Po!
Mila Garcia Glodava
Founder and President
Metro Infanta Foundation
