Our real, not reel, “Pinoy brothers”

By Emmanuelle

THE biggest Fil-Chinese federation builds schools for the barrios the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), to date, is a network of 170 chambers of commerce and trade and business associations all over the country. It is the largest organization of Filipino businessmen of Chinese heritage.

And at the end of this year, it would have built its 3,600th public school building, or 7, 200th schoolroom, and turned it over to the Philippine government. With almost non-existent publicity. Not even the smallest board of public works announcement.

The federation was created in 1954 to promote business growth, social welfare and development, unity, nationalism and cultural heritage in the Chinese-Filipino community. It has done exactly all of these. And more.

It has evolved to become the Philippine government’s efficient partner in nation-building.

That it may better pursue its original aim, FFCCCII focused on the promotion of investments in industry, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and mining in the different regions. It campaigned avidly for “Buy Pinoy” to encourage consumers to patronize Philippine products, to promote efficiency and quality improvement among local producers, and to ensure the availability of local jobs for Filipino workers.   

Thus, in the natural course of events, this dedication to the pursuit of progress horizontally expanded to include commitment to the improvement of Filipino lives as seen in its programs such as enterpreneurship development, tax campaigns, relief operations, health services, agricultural modernization, maintenance of peace and order, development of education through scholarships and trainings, and eventually, the construction of school building donations.   

To assist in the country’s classroom shortage, two-classroom units were built in public schools in all regions through donations from FFCCCII members and from benevolent organizations, families and individuals within the Chinese-Filipino community. Operation: Barrio Schools is the biggest school building construction program led by the private sector in the country. It also runs the longest. It started in 1960 and has since supported the education program of seven Philippine Presidents since President Carlos P. Garcia.

During the first ten years, 100 school buildings were built; for the next 10 years, 300. In the first quarter of 2005, the 3000th school building donation was turned over to the government. And FFCCCII expects to exceed the 3600-mark before 2007 ends.

It would be most worthy to mention that recent FFCCCII projects include school buildings for resettlements areas for the relocated settlers from the railways, and the Federation Village for relocated residents from the landslide at St. Bernard in Southern Leyte.

The Welfare Committee of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry Inc. with Mayor Emma Chan and Ex-Mayor Art
Chan of Pozorrubio. Background, FFCCone of the turned-over
school building donations.

The province of Pangasinan is a beneficiary of more than 200 school building donations from the federation, the latest turnovers of which were at the Cayanga Elementary School, Bugallon  with Mr. Alberto Aquilino as donor, Libsong Elementary School, Lingayen with Mr. Johnny Cobankiat as donor, Pogo Lasip Elementary School, Dagupan City with Mr. Joseph Yae as donor, Lucao Elementary School, Dagupan City with Mr. Pedro Yap as donor, David Elementary School, Mangaldan with Mr. Franlink Soriano as donor, Buenlag Elementary School, Mangaldan with Mr. Joseph Tong as donor, Benigno V. Aldana National High School, Pozorrubio with Mr. Domingo Chua Cham and Co Bee Ching Foundation as donors), another at Benigno V. Aldana National High School, Pozorrubio with Mr. Alex Go Kian Lin as donor, Pozorrubio Central School with Mr. Chua Ben Theng as donor, another at Pozorrubio Central School wth Miss Kathleen T. Chan as donor, and Villegas Elementary School, Pozorrubio with La Suerte Cigar and Cigarette Factory as donor.

And on August 1, this writer was present during this latest turnover to the school beneficiaries of Pozorrubio. Present were officers and members of the FFCCCII Welfare Committee which supervises the FFCCCII barrio schools programs: Vice-Chairmen Bonifacio Lui and Robert Ang; Directors Alfredo Lim and Joseph Co; Provincial Board Member Danny Uy, Regional Director; Carlos Legaspi and Jemar Pascual, Project Coordinators.

Also present were President Edison Soriano of the Pangasinan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., PFCCCII Directors Juanito Cuason, Charlie Ngo, Benito Chua, Kiko Penaflor, and Members Dencio Co and Edward Chua Cham.

Mayor Emma Chan and Ex-Mayor Art Chan (who, together with BM Danny Uy, was initiator/facilitator of the donations for the past and present years) accepted the turnovers in behalf of the municipal government.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/feelings/)

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