+OBITUARIES+
(July 7, 2006)
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE BEREAVED FAMILIES OF THE LATE:
a) MRS.THELMA SOLINAP BUENAFLOR-ARMADA (+ July 01/06-CaliforniaUSA)
A member of "Kapitan Omong" Divinagracia Clan of Dumangas, Iloilo
is the mother of Iloilo incumbent Provincial Vice-Governor Roberto
"Obet" Armada of Janiauy, Iloilo.
b) MRS. DUCHESS GARGANERA ALBANA-HARDY(+ June 09/06-Reno, NevadaUSA)
Grand daughter of former Iloilo City Mayor Eulogio C. Garganera, Sr.
and Adela Contreras; niece of former Iloilo City Mayor Francisco
"Paquit" Garganera & Past AIM,Inc.-President Pearl Garganera-Gauzon.
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PROGRESS REPORT: AIM, Inc...."Iloilo City Projects"
Hi! Pearl:
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GOOD NEWS! for a job WELL DONE!
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I agree, protocol dictates all transactions concerning AIM-GK Iloilo Village and Scholarship Program must be properly coordinated with you in Iloilo.
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That is in line with your duties and function as the duly elected Vice-President for External Affairs of AIM, Inc.
Moreover, being well verse in these kind of negotiation which certainly involve legal matters; and with your right connect plus personal presence it's the most practical.
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Good luck!...dinggol..
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pearl garganera gauzon <pearlgauzon@yahoo.com> wrote:
To all officers and board members, AIM, Inc.
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1. By this time, news must have reached you that Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has been elected president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Understandably, he is always on the go, i.e., manila-iloilo added to his responsibilities as archbishop of Jaro.
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We had a personal meeting in mid-April at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas forum on good governance. I handed over to him, Zeny Tabligan's letter of introduction and despite his warm assurance that he'd contact me (he asked for my coordinates, that is, landline phone number and cellphone nos) he didn't. aware of his hectic schedule, i followed up with a couple of phone calls, and finally on the 4th try, a 9am meeting was set up last Wednesday.
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Mr. Peter Chua, the over-all coordinator of Iloilo's Gawad Kalinga (GK) joined. It was a productive give-and-take sharing/discussion/candid observation among the three of us which lasted for more than an hour. Not wishing to set up a different date for an ocular inspection of Bunta Tala's Gawad Kalinga (GK), I unhesitatingly took up Peter's offer to proceed to the place. We rode a cab from the Archbishop's palace to Bunta Tala (a good 30 or so minutes away). Metropolis subdivision--where I have just finished builing my house--is approximately 10 minutes away. AIM Inc.'s nine houses (9) have already been staked out along the side of the GK community forming part of the 28 prospective houses. Peter acknowledged receipt of AIM's money which will be used for the nine (9) houses. He'd like to apprise AIM that, starting this year, a house that used to cost P50,000, can now be built at P61,000.
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Peter explained that Bunta Tala's residents consist of financially marginalized families who work with the Archdiocese. However, GK Bunta Tala is open to any family that meets the criteria set up by GK. There is a selection committee that decides who would qualify to be a GK house owner. A Memo of Agreement signed by the beneficiary clearly states that the house cannot be sold by the occupant. In addition, GK teaches/shows the residents "how to fish" rather than dole out fish. As soon as a resident has been chosen, he forms part of the team of GK volunteers assigned to build the house. The construction of AIM's alloted nine houses will start this week. I shared with Peter, AIM's plan to donate $30,000, more or less. (Zeny's email message to me mentioned about it.) He was elated and suggested that AIM complete the construction of the remaining 19 houses on the assigned block. He explained that, rather than name a street for AIM, a marker would be put at a visible and convenient location.
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He toured me around where a row of houses brightly painted are already completed. GK is also responsible in teaching moral values, incentive, and conscientious empowerment to replace the much ingrained "squatter mentality."
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Peter will contact Msgr Meliton Oso, director of the Archdiocese's Social Concern, for a meting among the Msgr, Peter and myself. Msgr. Oso and I, in 2004, teamed up during the 2004 presidential elections. We were volunteers for PPCRV (Philippines Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) and NAMFREL where we were invited to a forum on Voting in UPV. Peter thinks it's a good idea that, anyone from the U.S. who claims to be a member of AIM should first contact me before directly taking up GK matters with the Archdiocese. As an aside, he made mention of the fact that he was able...finally, to obtain a Memo of Agreement between Iloilo City and GK. In that MOA, it is the GK that has full and direct supervision of the city's real property in mandurriao (the one that Zeny Tabligan and I visited the last time she was here). Mayor Trenas and the city government which he represents can only recommend persons to apply for a house in this community but the final decision, based on GK's criteria, lies with GK.
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From here on in, because of this open communication between Peter Chua of GK and me (AIM), I don't envisage any complications and/or problems with AIM's GK project.
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I understand from Zeny T. that, AIM's pushing for additional donations within the $30,000 range. Well and good. Peter Chua would surely be happy if AIM would follow through with it. By the way, the entire front area of Bunta Tala consisting of 58 houses has been donated by the family of Mr. Eugenio Lopez.
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Volunteers from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas will be tapped to work on AIM's site. Apparently, these students offered their services to GK which the latter gladly accepted.
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2. AIM Scholarship for a Nursing Student--I had a meeting with Dean Monteblanco, University of San Agustin. She expressed her gladness that AIM, Inc. will set up a scholarship in the College of Nursing. Although the tuition (per semester) gradually increases on a yearly basis, we agreed that, AIM's funding will be restricted to $500 annually and that whoever is the student selected for the scholarship will be made fully aware that, upon landing a lucrative job, she or he will partner with AIM in financially contributing to the succeeding AIM scholar. Nursing grads of the Univ. of San Ag fans out to all parts of the world, i.e., London, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and the U.S.
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Dean Monteblanco is drafting the Memorandum of Agreement which she and I will further discuss in our next meeting after which an interview of interested candidates will follow leading to the final selection of the AIM scholar based on grades, moral character and commitment.
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It has often been said that..."the nearest and fastest distance between two points is a straight line." Following that sane and practical dictum, I would hope that, AIM would abide by the same, meaning, AIM should directly course its communication with me and for me to handle, on behalf of AIM, sustained interaction with GK and Dean Monteblanco.
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***You have elected me AIM's Vice President for External Affairs. Tasked with the above projects, I am herewith rendering a report of the same.***
