The FREEMAN Foundation: 'Sharing our heart, our life, our hope and vision'

The year 2006 proved to be a year of new directions for The FREEMAN Foundation with the implementation of projects, not only for indigent children in need of medical help, but also for the improvement of the quality of life of children and the elderly.

To kick off the year, TFF visited the elderly people of Hospicio de San Jose in barangay Guibuangan, Barili town to hand over aid in the form of medicines, toiletries, and gift items. This first special project carried the theme: "Ageless appeal... Love ng taga-The FREEMAN to! The foundation had chosen the Hospicio founded by Don Pedro and his sister Doña Benigna Cui as all of its residents are destitute and that it does not receive fees from any of its 39 residents.

Charito Torres, a social worker who regularly reports there, said that most of their residents are unmarried individuals while there are few who are married, but are childless and have already lost their partners.

Aside from launching fund drives for sick indigent children featured at the paper's Public Service Section, distribution of relief goods in Dumlog, Talisay for families affected by huge waves and in fire-stricken areas, the foundation partnered with the Philippine Star's Operation Damayan for the "Dagdag Karunungan School Caravan (Dream Satellite Project).

Operation Damayan was into the distribution of 25-inch color television sets with satellite dishes and digital satellite receivers to different schools for the improvement of the quality of education. Five areas in the Visayas were the recipients of the TV sets, three of which were channeled through the foundation. The first set was given to Tan-awan Elementary School in barangay Tan-awan, Tubigon town in Bohol, the other one was turned over to barangay Bitaug, Enrique Villanueva town in Siquijor.

The third set was given to the Manatad Elementary School in Sibonga town. The pupils, teachers, along with the Department of Education district officials and the members of the Parents-Teachers Community Association of the school, thanked the foundation for choosing them as the beneficiary for the said project.

As an additional service for the pupils of Manatad, the foundation core group of volunteers assembled parts of 40 desks with the help of parents and distributed plastic brief cases containing school supplies in a project dubbed "Balik Eskwela Fun Day Year 2" back to back with the turnover ceremony for the Dream Satellite Project.

SM City Cebu Foundation represented by public relations officer Aicha Tabanera also turned over slightly used books donated by mall shoppers, and a second-hand computer donated by Banco de Oro.

To complement the project, the foundation asked the help of Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas for the construction of a classroom that would house the Dream Satellite unit and would also serve as the students' viewing room. As of this writing, the foundation has been informed that the classroom has already been completed.

The University of San Carlos Alumni Association headed by Derek Go with the Lions Club and the USC-GHS Elementary Class 1981 Alumni Association led by Ma. Cleofe Delfino-Claridad and TF managing editor Nimrod NL Quiñones were among the benefactors of the Balik Eskwela project.

Community recognizes TFF efforts

Good deeds never go unnoticed, which was why it was not long that the community recognized the efforts of The Freeman Foundation to help those in need.

In July, the Department of Health - 7 awarded the foundation with a certificate of appreciation for participating in its voluntary blood donation project.

Regional Blood Coordinating Council president and chairman of the board Jovita Ceniza said that, "through your selfless dedication and commitment to perpetuate the spirit of volunteerism, the Filipino people have been given the chance to enjoy life to the fullest through the units of fresh whole blood you donated."

Also on same month, Provincial Board member Juan Bolo filed a resolution lauding the foundation and Operation Damayan for including Manatad Elementary School as one of the recipients of the Dream Satellite Project. The resolution read, "it is but an act of generosity which is highly appreciated not only the school authorities, but more so of the residents of barangay Manatad that their public elementary school was one of the five beneficiaries in the Visayas area alone..."

The city government also took notice of this effort in a resolution of same tenor. Taft Property Venture Development Corporation also recognized the foundation's help in their mangrove propagule planting project in barangay Obong, Dalaguete town last October 28.

Sharing the Christmas joy to others

The foundation's projects toward the end of the year were all geared on sharing. One of these projects is the "Adopt an Angel Project" which was on its second year. The theme for this year was "Sharing everything we own - our heart, our life, our hope, our vision."

To raise funds for the project, the foundation sold Christmas lanterns and angels for P50 to P100 to help raise funds for the indigent children. The Freeman employees shared their blessings to the beneficiaries by buying the lanterns and angels, as well as other private and government offices. Even the management of The Parklane helped in raising funds for the children by also selling lanterns and angels to hotel guests and displaying these at the hotel lobby.

A hundred indigent children from all over the metropolis were then treated to a special Christmas party at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel last December 18.

There, the kids played games and presented a play on the Nativity of the Christ as trained by social worker Ma'm Teofy. Then they took their lunch of fried chicken, spaghetti and juice. One child blurted out to his facilitator, "karon pa ko kakaon gyud og fried chicken, ma'm."

Another child preferred to take home his packed lunch. When asked by the facilitator, he replied: "Patilawon nako akong mama ug mga manghod ani, sir!" This reply from a meek heart sent the facilitator teary eyed as he directed the child to eat his share, and gave him another packed meal for him to take home.

The highlight of the program was a magic show with Cebu's Prince of Magic, Vergel Racho, of Party Central. Then, the kids went home with their Christmas gifts and goodies for Noche Buena.

The foundation also embarked on a caroling contest and dinner for a cause dubbed as "Christmas with the Angels: Carols and Flavors for a Cause" at Manny's Resto. Part of the P1,000 per plate proceeds went to the foundation. The University of the Visayas Chorale emerged as grand champion in the caroling contest.

It has been a fruitful year indeed for The Freeman Foundation, and all these were made possible because of the continued support and growing number of donors and sponsors. The foundation hopes that its patrons will work with it again for the successful implementation of projects that can touch lives in 2007. - Maria Eleanor Elape Valeros with reports from Liv G. Campo, Garry B. Lao and Flor Z. Perolina