5,000 join Alay Lakad in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - Some 5,000 students, government employees, and members of civic groups participated in the annual “Alay Lakad” held Sunday at 6:30 a.m. in Mandaue City to raise funds for their scholarship program.

The event was a joint project of Junior Chamber International (JCI-Mandaue City), Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc –Mandaue and city government .

Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede led city officials while city schools division superintendent Virginia Zapanta led the academe.

Also present were officials of JCI-Mandaue led by its president Rodencio Vergara IV.

Also joining the activity were Dannish students who have immersed with the community (street) children as part of their 6-month internship program.  Godofredo Castanares, president of Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc-Mandaue, said that at present the foundation is supporting the needs of 57 scholars 24 of whom are in college and the rest are in elementary, high school, technical schools, and in Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Majority of the scholars are community (street) children.

One of the scholars, Nina Mae Calambo, 19, from barangay Mantuyong, thanked all those behind the project.

Calambo, a first year college student taking up IT in Ama Computer and Learning Center is a daughter of a trisikad driver and a sidewalk vendor.

“I know God gave me this program as an instrument in attaining my ambition of becoming a professional someday,” she said.

Also present during the event were five community children aged 16 to 19 who recalled how they graduated from being “rugby boys” to students of ALS and graduates of Automative Mechanic from the Mandaue City Technical, Entrepreneurial and Skills Training (MCCTEST) Center.

“Every year donations are sent to the foundation and we are thinking of expanding our program to support the sports program of the city,” Castanares said.

The city has allotted half a million pesos for this annual activity aside from donations from other sectors.

Mayor Jonas Cortes in his message read by his executive secretary lawyer Jamaal Calipayan said everyone is part of the problem and part of the solution.

According to the mayor, who is out of town, joining the walk is one’s own way of contributing to the city’s progress and in attaining its vision.

“I share, we are Mandaue, I am Mandaue,” he said.

Awarded during the program were Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School as the biggest delegation, Don Gerardo Ouano National High School as the most lively, and group 3 of city hall employees composed of the departments of DGS, HUDO, JASSU, City Planning, motor pool and DAR as most lively. (FREEMAN)