Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo conveyed his appreciation to the Filipino community in Canada for their overwhelming support to the Classroom Galing sa Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad project that was jointly undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa, Francisco Benedicto said “I am deeply heartened by the outpouring of support from the Filipino community for this worthy undertaking”, as calls and letters commending the government’s project and pledging donations continued to pour in.

At a dinner meeting hosted and chaired by Ambassador Benedicto to secure the commitment of leaders from various Filipino community organizations in Ottawa and Kingston, a total of seven classrooms or some P 1.5 million has so far been pledged by individuals and organizations.

Leading the list of donors is Ambassador Benedicto who donated Cdn$10,000 for two classrooms in Mabolo, Cebu as well as another Cdn$ 1,000 towards the construction of another classroom. Robert and Amelita Armit pledged to donate Cdn$5,000 for one classroom in Amelita’s hometown in Bohol, as a fitting birthday gift for Amelita’s father who was a former educator. Jun and Connie Abella pledged one classroom preferably in their hometown of Calinog, Iloilo, while Camilo Tabalba who is President of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Ottawa Valley, pledged to make a donation of Cdn$5,000 for one classroom in Guinsiliban, Camiguin where he grew up.

Prominent leaders of the Filipino community in Ottawa, namely, Sonia del Rosario, Atty. Alicia Natividad and Danny and Nora Arriola, likewise pledged Cdn$1,000 each. Leaders of the Filipino community organizations in Ottawa and Kingston also gave their commitment to gather more pledges from their members.

The Classroom Galing sa Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad project is in line with the Philippine Government’s thrust to provide classrooms for primary and secondary pupils in priority areas nationwide, through the benevolence of Filipinos overseas.