Georich Foundation Turns 15

CEBU, Philippines - On February 14, 1997, The Georich Livelihood & Learning Foundation, Inc. (GLLFI) was registered with the Security & Exchange Commission - Cebu Regional Office. According to surviving founder Mrs. Felisa Yap-Chiongbian, “it was a corporate birth filled with significance, in terms of love and compassion.”

Analisa Baltao Chiongbian ( who died young, from dengue complications) conceptualized GLLFI and brought in her father, the late Richard Y. Chiongbian, her mother Urma Baltao-Chiongbian, her only sister Kim C. Tan and her grandma Mrs. Felisa Y. Chiongbian. Support came from the late Mrs. Rosie K. Chew and Atty. Merle Padilla-Cunanan, former SEC Regional Director.

Scholars were sent to Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion. Wards of the Asilo de la Medalla Milagrosa orphanage, some elderly, as well as sons and daughters of the domestic helpers of the trustees were trained at Banilad Center for Professional Development and TESDA. Most of them are now successful in their fields of endeavor, with the opportunity of having an income-generating livelihood from the trainings.

“Over the years,” Mrs. Chiongbian disclosed, “we gained the trust and confidence of several organizations – civic, religious, NGOs – who became the beneficiaries of our livelihood and scholarship projects in basic cooking, housekeeping and food & beverage management. To date, we are able to establish linkages with TESDA-accredited centers for professional development. The latest is the inclusion of Seafarer Courses for Deck and Engine Department, which we have linked to the Nautical Departments of the University of Cebu and the University of the Visayas.”

GLLFI also donated a piece of land in Balamban to Cardinal Vidal on his 75th birthday and which he, in turn, has donated to the archdiocese. The 600 sq. m. land was formally turned over to the Archdiocese head, Bishop Jose S. Palma. The land has a grotto and a playground that will be under the supervision of the parish priest ( Fr. Raul Gallego) of the Balamban Parish. An adjacent property, 400 sq. m. along the main road, has been donated to the Bukas Loob sa Dios Movement and they are now building a multi-purpose building.

A major undertaking for GLLFI’s 15th anniversary is the Raffle for a Cause on April 18, 2012, 2 pm at Sacred Heart Center. Proceeds of the raffle will be for the scholarships at the Banilad Center for Professional Development, as well as at other TESDA-accredited centers of the city.

GLLFI would like to thank the early consolation prize donors: Islands Group of Companies – Islands Banca, Islands Stay Hotel & Islands Souvenirs; Handuraw Pizza, Hale Manna Beach Resort & Coastal Gardens in Moalboal, Regal Business Park Hotel and Shakey’s. Mrs. Chiongbian is expecting some more prizes from generous friends.

The present GLLFI Board of Trustees are: George T. Chiongbian III, Felisa Y. Chiongbian, Remedios K. Chew, Atty. Merle P. Cunanan, Rebecca Pestano-Smith, Marlinda Angbetic-Tan, Charles Francis T. Chiongbian, John Paul T. Chiongbian, Georgia Felice “Jaja” C. Rama, Kim C. Tan and Felipe O. Casing.