Espina: We Care, Philippines Foundation at 25

Monday, February 20, 2012

YES, two leading civic groups, the We Care and Philippines Foundation, Inc. (PFI), both founded in 1987, celebrate their silver anniversary in 2012.

The We Care group grew out of the OICs appointed by then President Cory Aquino to run Cebu City from November 1986-February 1987 while the local politicians prepared for elections. Antonio Veloso and Joseph Gaisano were then Mayor and Vice –Mayor respectively, and councilors were the late Remy Mateo, Mario Veloso; Ben Adlawan, Nene Dakay; also Boni Degamo, Hermie Villarica, Ed Rosello, Lito Roden, Nick Aricayos, and MCE. We continued as a singing group and called ourselves the We Care Foundation, which has been sustaining educational/scholarship programs in high schools. Recipients were University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) – up to the present; University of the Philippines-High School; University of Southern Philippines High and Cebu Normal University high school . New members with passion for service and music are current president Peter Dy, Nestor Chua, Ramon Sebastian, Ben Yapjoco, Enrique Benedicto, Boni Sia, Gary Munoz, Tito Escario and Willie Go. Fr. Ernesto Javier, SJ, has been the committed president of Philippines Foundation, Inc., who has zealously pursued the vision of past presidents Hernan Streegan, Joseph Gaisano, Antonio Veloso, Enrique Benedicto, Ben Yapjoco, Nestor Chua, MCE; Honorary Chair Francisco Benedicto and Spiritual Adviser Ricardo Cardinal Vidal; pioneers Nelia Neri, Pureza Oñate, the late Xavier Ledesma, Anit Verano, Anita Sanchez, Merle Cunanan; current members Marisa Fernan, Elvira Luym, Tess Chan, Odette Jereza, Dr.Efren Valiente, John Domingo, Michael Go, Consul Ben Dapat; Francis Monera, Petite Garcia; Clarito Fruelda; Belin Go Ching Hai; Bunny Pages, Stella Bernabe, Mariter Klepp, Filna Espina and Dr. Marcelo Lopez.

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Its prime project, the Perlas Awards for Valuable Filipino, had conferred on individuals and institutions who excelled in their profession, served the community and touched the lives of people. For its silver anniversary, the PFI, Inc., will gather all past awardees and have a more symbolic conferment of the Perlas Awards, scheduled in July or August, 2012, instead of the usual March rites, to have ample time to prepare.

Kudos to We Care and PFI, both Charter Awardees of the City of Cebu, for their sustainability and dedication.