Two individuals from Negros Oriental brought honor to our Province last week.
Rene “Tatay Ete” Vendiola, an environmentalist, and Analou Suan, founder of GP Rehab, were hailed as laureates along with eight other individuals and institutions during the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s Triennial Awards.
This premier social development award in the Visayas and Mindanao recognizes individuals and institutions who go the extra mile in bringing about change, and enhancing the quality of life of various groups and communities.
Both Vendiola and Suan embody the spirit of volunteerism that so many of our fellow Negrenses share. We have seen the spirit of volunteerism being tested and demonstrated during the two natural calamities that struck our Province — tropical storm Sendong and the earthquake.
The RAFI has given similar recognition to other Negrenses in the past, namely: Dr. Gerardo Maxino who founded the Philippine Physics Society, and Maxino College that offers an aggressive scholarship program for 50 percent of the College’s student population; Dr. Chelsa Cacaldo who established the community-run primary hospital in Inapoy, Mabinay for indigent families and where she also initiated the “Peso for Health” program; Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative Inc. and its former manager Edilberto Lantaca Jr.; and St. Catherine Family Helper Foundation Inc.
There may be more people in our Province, especially among the youth, who have the burning desire to be of service to our community. But there are very few opportunities available for them to be of help.
This is where private and public institutions can help tap the energy of these volunteers. People and institutions can mobilize resources to organize events that will serve as venues for people to volunteer and be involved in charity work. These volunteers may build homes for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga housing projects, serve in the Red Cross, or join environmental clean-up and restoration activities.
Together, they can bring about change and enhance the quality of life of various groups and communities.
