Welfare officer Reynaldo D. Yayag said there are 91 sponsors from Saipan.
On Sunday, during the celebration of 111th Philippine Independence Day and Migrant Workers Day, the Philippine Consulate General, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and OWWA acknowledged the sponsors of the Tuloy Aral Program.
In his message, Tayag thanked the sponsors for their generosity and support.
“The better-off Filipino workers and expatriates, and Filipino community and organizations like you, once again have shown the truly Filipino spirit of volunteerism and charity,” Tayag said.
He said years of overseas migration have led to economic prosperity for millions of Filipinos.
However, he added, there are also many workers that “tell stories of woe, of joblessness and reversal of fortune that consigned them to pitiable status worse than they were before venturing abroad.”
OWWA, as a welfare provider, conceptualized the Tuloy Aral Program as an intervention for children of less fortunate workers, Tayag said.
Saturnino Banting, one of the sponsors of the program, encouraged other Filipino workers to support it.
Banting, the 2001 Bayani Filipino awardee, works at the Saipan World Resort as a maintenance supervisor. He has been sponsoring students since 2001.
As a Lions Club regional president, Banting believes that “it’s better to invest your money in helping people than spend it on vices.”
The other Saipan sponsors of the program are Wellinton and Linda Ang, Consul Belinda M. Ante, Glicerio Arago, Kahra Atalig, Nelida Atalig, Cheryl Baka, the Bayani Association, May Briones, Argie and Mario Buensalido, Marconi and Adam Cafege Calindas, Fe Calixterio, Jhun and Lany Camero, Guillermo T. Canape, Ladyvir D. Canape, Richard and Rizalina Cano, Maritess Castillo, Tess Castro, Century Insurance Corp., Ma Luz Chinco, Circulo Boholano delas Islas Marianas, CNMI Power, Joven and Nat Angeles Cruz, Julieta Cunanan, Elna Curate, Anatalia and Jessee de Guzman, Gabriel de Guzman, Dyan Kristine Decenteceo, Andy del Mundo, Ador and Adelina Dimaano, Violaflor Enerian-Acheta, Susan and Celso Agul Espanillo, Kristine Feliciano, Roselie Garcia, Eden Guillo, Armela Ham, Jim Michael Ham, Jimaela Anne Ham, Marissa Hardt, Crispulo Hilario, Emma Ho, Shirley DLR. Kim, Emants Kingbergs, Marieta Kingbergs, Labor Representative Joan Lourdes Lavilla, Clarissa Limpin, Ernesto Lineses, Emmanuel Lleva, Ofelia Lopez, former welfare officer Leonor Mabagal, Puy and Susan Macario, Rofelina Madlambayan, Mary Ann Madriaga, Jose Rey Madrelijos, Teofilo Malaran, Melvin Malvar, Maria Liza Manarin, Eliosa Manese, Arnold and Norma Marfega, Marianas Institute of Filipino CPAs and Accountants, Jose Ariel Mariano, Marcelo Lasilungan, Cornelio Matanguihan, Consul General Wilfredo Maximo , Judy and Ariel Jinang Mendieta, Pablo and Ma. Lourdes Mendoza, Florenda Miranda, Eleanor Nisperos, the Northern Marianas Badminton Federation, the OFW Support Group, Rhodora Bernabe Osborn, Pacific Marine Industrial Corp., Pauline Perez, Emmanuel Po, Nelma and Jan Abraham Valencia Sadian, Saipan Building and Fixing Computer Users Group, the Saipan Tribune, Ferdinand and Merlie Tolentino Santos, Florencio Santos, Perlita and Sherwin Pasillos Santos, Jeff and Hannah Schorr, Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Roselilly Soledad, Nenita Ta, Jerry Tan, Willie Tan, Andrew Tolentino, Traders Insurance Company, United Filipino Organization, UP Alumni Association-CNMI chapter, and White Coconut Computer Service.
