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MESSAGES ARCHIVE

       1. Chairman's Report for Fiscal Year 2006-2007

       2. Chairman's Report for Fiscal Year 2005-2006

       3. Chairman's Report for Fiscal Year 2004-2005

       4. The Class of 2006: Meeting Today's Challenges

       5. An Pagka-kablas Dire Nakakaulang Ha Maupay nga Kabubwason     

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006

            Warmest greetings to everyone!

I take great pleasure to announce that last March 29-31, 2006, I visited Zumarraga to demonstrate once again that ZUCIR Foundation, Inc. (ZUFI) will sustain its commitment, for as long as it is financially capable, to help talented students of our beloved town pursue secondary and college education through its scholarship program. At this visit, I was joined by our Executive Director, Trustee Gerry Versoza.

During the closing exercises of the Zumarraga Central Elementary School (ZCES) on March 30, at which occasion I was privileged to be the Guest Speaker, on behalf of ZUFI, I awarded certificates for a 4-year scholarship in the local high schools to the top five (5) Class 2006 graduates of ZCES, namely:  Ma. Karen V. Paturbos (Valedictorian); Cendie B. Caro (Salutatorian); Janille V. Villaflor      (1st Honorable Mention); Angelica V. Nacionales (2nd Honorable Mention); and, Leslie A. Niedo (3rd Honorable Mention). In this regard, I am happy to announce that the ZUFI Board has approved the recommendation of the Chairman of our Local Foundation Arm, Vice Mayor Ed Versoza, to support forty-three (43) students as ZUFI scholars pursuing secondary education: twenty-two (22) at St. Anthony’s Institute and twenty-one (21) at Zumarraga Integrated School, with each scholar entitled to a monthly stipend of P50.00.

The following day, March 31, during the First Commencement Exercises of the Zumarraga Integrated School (ZIS), during which I was also privileged to deliver a message to the graduates, I likewise awarded certificates of college scholarship for a 4-year degree program to Shallaine D. Dante and Arianne J. Donaire, Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively of the ZIS Class 2006. Subsequently, before I returned to Metro manila, I similarly awarded certificates of college scholarship to Marlon D. Costo and Debbie Lalaine P. Pacayra, Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively of Class 2006 of St. Anthony’s Institute. For the Mualbual High School, I requested our Local Foundation Arm Chair to present ZUFI’s certificate of college scholarship to Jemmalyn C. Llanza, Valedictorian this year in that school. Presently, we have a total of eleven (11) college scholars, two (2) of whom are enrolled in the Greater Manila area. In sum, for SY06-07, ZUFI’s scholars number fifty-four (54), adding the forty-three (43) in high school. For the college program, ZUFI is allocating each scholar a stipend of P5,000.00 per semester if studying in the province and P10,000.00 per semester if in the Greater Manila area. ZUFI’s certificate of scholarship entitles the recipient to a four year scholarship, in high school or college as appropriate, provided that the recipient maintains the standard set by ZUFI for all its scholars to observe, in addition to sustaining good moral character, i.e., an average grade in any grading period of at least 85% (2.0) with no grade in any subject lower than 80% (2.5).

Meanwhile, the Board has been delighted to learn of the excellent performance of ZUFI’s scholars at the Samar State University (SSU). Two (2) of our three college scholars who just graduated, namely: Julie Ann J. Donaire (B.S. Applied Statistics) and Nanette A. Labro (Bachelor of Secondary Education), received cum laude honors. Two (2) other scholars merited inclusion in the Dean’s List: Lyza D. Minoro (3rd Yr, BSE) and Etelbert Conde (1st Yr, BSE) both studying too at SSU. Already, the Chairman has given these achievers an additional incentive of P5,000.00 each. The other college scholar who graduated this year is Ma. Isabel Lucero (BSE) also at SSU. To date, ZUFI has been able to graduate six (6) college scholars, namely: 1) Mary Grace D. Gatil (BSPT, DLSU Cavite, Cl 2004, Cum Laude);  2) Leo Z. De Luna (SSPC, Catbalogan, Cl 2004); 3) Rosalyn D. Bulan (SMC, BSA, Cl  2005);  4) Julie Ann  J. Donaire (SSU, BSAS, Cl 2006, Cum Laude); 5) Nanette A. Labro (SSU, BSE, Cl 2006, Cum Laude); and, 6) Ma. Isabel Lucero (SSU, BSE, Cl 2006).

During the ZUCIR Fiesta Celebration last June 25, 2006, at the QC Sports Club to honor our revered patron, St Anthony, with the assistance of our ZUFI President, Dr. Teresa Diez-Solero, I presented to Msgr. Anton Verzosa, immediate Past Chairman of our Local Foundation Arm, a Plaque of Distinction for his “exemplary commitment and invaluable services in furtherance of the objectives of the Foundation.”

In addition, the reader may be interested to know that since ZUFI began its operations in 1998, it has sustained a total of three hundred eight (308) scholarship grants, with two hundred sixty-eight (268) in high school and forty (40) in college. As indicated in the Treasurer’s Report, as of 30 June 2006, the Foundation has a capital investment with PNSLAI of  P1,194,031.34 with the principal fund of  P1,180,242.14, or about six times its seed fund of P200,000.00 in 1998.

Once again, as we look forward to another good year, I take this opportunity to renew the assurances of the Board of Trustees, with the valued support of our valued supporters and friends, of their determination to sustain ZUFI’s program for the educational advancement of poor but talented youth of our community. 

            USWAG ZUMARRAGA!  SULONG ZUMARRAGANHON!

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CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004 - 2005

    Warmest greetings to everyone!

    As the Foundation enters its sixth year of operation, I take great pleasure in sharing with you all some good news. The current assets of ZUFI stand at over a million pesos- the final figure to be exactly known by June 30, the end of its fiscal year. This is about five (5) times over the seed fund of about P 200,000.00 that we were able to generate during my hermanidad on the occasion of our 1997 Fiesta Celebration in Metro Manila in honor of our beloved St. Anthony of Padua.

     As in the past, our donors comprised mainly of well-meaning friends from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and the Philippines Coast Guard. Over time, we hope we could tap other sectors of our society, including Zumarraganhons in good stead who would be magnanimous enough to share their blessings by supporting the Foundation. Any volunteer?

    We in the Board of Trustees are determined with your valued support, to sustain ZUFI's program for the educational advancement of poor but talented youth of our community.

     In this regard, the reader may be interested to know that in the past five (5) years of our operation, ZUFI was able to support 128 high school scholars at St. Anthony's Institute. This number is broken down as follows: 20 in SY 1998-1999; 22 in SY 1999-2000; 32 in SY 2000-2001; 32 in SY 2001-2002; and 22 in SY 2002-2003. With growing resources, ZUFI decided to concentrate on a college scholarship program beginning with one (1) scholar in SY 2000-2001, and gradually increasing to five (5) scholars last school year.

     Beginning this school year, SY 2003-2004, ZUFI has expanded its college scholarship program as well as provided incentives for academic excellence and outstanding achievements. For this year, we have programmed to support three (3) more college scholars. This is in addition to providing with modest stipends our local scholars at the secondary level. This also includes continuing education program for interested faculty members.

     For more details about ZUFI's programs and activities, you may try surfing from this website, courtesy of our computer whiz: Manny Versoza II.

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The Class of 2006: Meeting Today’s Challenges

Speech by RAdm EC Varona during the first Commencement Exercises

of Zumarraga Integrated School held on March 31, 2006

in Zumarraga Samar

Introduction

Damo nga salamat, maupay nga kulop ha iyo ngatanan!

It is indeed a great honor and a distinct privilege for me to be part of this maiden commencement exercises of the Zumarraga Integrated School. Sanglit, dako gud iton pagpasalamat namon hiton akon pamilya ha iyo ngatanan.

An Occasion for Celebration and Thanksgiving

Graduation exercises are always important and exciting – especially for those receiving their diplomas and the others who helped them through their grind, like their parents and their teachers. that is why graduation is not only an event for celebration, it is as much an occasion for thanksgiving.

Next to you, the graduates, your parents are the most excited, probably preceding your teachers, as they momentarily grab that feeling of accomplishment and, yes, a great sense of pride and fulfillment. To your parents, your graduation is a responsibility very well done: an investment for your future and a legacy to your success. Indeed, they deserve special recognition for they are the real champions in today’s activity.

Palakpakan naton an aton mga graduates. Palakpakan naton an ira mga kag-anak. Palakpakan naton an ira mga maestro o maestra ngan iba pa nga tumambulig ha ira….

Moving On: What lies Ahead?

As we move on, I must admit that in every student’s life there has never been a moment more significant than graduation day. It is like having run a good race that upon reachng the finish line, one is tempted to say: Thanks, God   it’s all over! But not that is not really the case…. While it marks the completion of some studies, it signifies as well the start of new challenges.

Two questions probably occupy your minds at this time: What’s next?  What is in store for me?

Beyond high school is a big world of possibilities. People may tell you that some things are easy – and others, difficult - to overcome. In actuality, there is nothing really to fear about those so-called difficult things. As the great chemist, Madame Marie Curie, has said us: “Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.”

That reminds me of my own experience….

Some 46 years ago, soon after my graduation from SAI, my parents having been quite poor, I wondered what would be my future, if I would just remain in town, if I would not seek an adventure somewhere else. After a brief stint in Tacloban and having decided that steno-typing was not for me I sought the greener pasture in Manila where I enrolled at the National University to take up commerce. Eventually, after some odd jobs here and there, with the help of a relative, I landed a daytime job at the Bureau of Public Works as I continued with my freshman college studies at night. Thereafter, I found myself passing the exams for cadetship at the Philippine Military Academy, an ambition I nurtured way back in high school. Graduating in 1966, I concluded to myself: Poverty, after all, is not really a hindrance to success! Pero, sering pa, tungod kay kablas an tinikangan, dire karuyag sidngon nga kablas na la an usa nga tawo ha ngatanan nga oras!

Karuyag ko la balikan an mensahhe ko ha mga nagtapos kakulop ha elementarya kun di-in nagsering ako nga ha mga naglabay nga takna, akon natan-awan guihapon kun ti-unan-o tumabok ha kakuri-an an damo nga igkasi kablas naton;  kun ti-unan-o nira pinagpa-aram an ira mga anak ha kolehiyo para gud la masuportahan an mga pangi-nginahanglan ha ira pag-aram. Ira guin-atubang an mga kakuri-an hin pag-antos, hin pagporsigue, hin pag-sakripisyo, hin haros waray katapusan nga pagla-um. Sering pa, an pagka-kablas dire gad nakaka-pugong hin pag-uswag han tawo ha kalibutan.

Ha akon panhuna-huna, antes umasenso an usa nga tawo,  kinahanglan anay magka-ada hiya hin tinu-od nga ambisyon, nga may-ada gud hiya klaro nga karuyag kadtu-an. Pero kun ambisyon la, dire pa ito sadang. An usa nga tawo, kun waray pasensya; kun waray pagtalinguha ug determinasyon; kun waray kumpiyansya ha iya kalugaringon; kun waray disiplina ha iya pag-katawo;  dire liwat niya ma-a-abot an iya mga ambisyon ha  kinabuhi.

Ma-aram kamo, ha mga panahon hit kakuri-an, ma-se-sering naton nga  marig-on adton mga kablas kay nakikita nira dayon iton ira limitasyon. Mas ina-ayat iton ira kalugaringon para gud magporsigue ha kada oportunidad nga na-abot, ti-unan-o man kakuri. Kada pagdada-og han uyas han kinabuhi, sering pa,  kada suntok han kapalaran, dire basta-basta uma-atras an nakatilaw na han kakuri-an. Mas damo iton samad, mas na-a-ayat, mas makusog, mas  determinado, mas marig-on. Ine nga batasan han pagkatawo importante gud para umangat an usa dinhe ha kalibutan. Beyond all these, the secret of success, to paraphrase, Aristotle, the great philosopher,  is really putting, as a matter of habit, our heart, our mind, our intellect and our soul in every thing we do, what we call in one word: EXCELLENCE.

A Success Story

Speaking of excellence, have you heard or read about Dr. Josette Biyo?  A rural teacher from Iloilo, Dr. Biyo did our country truly proud when she won the International Excellence in Teaching Award four years ago, in 2002. The first Asian educator to ever obtain such award, Dr. Biyo won over some 4,000 other teachers all over the world. And to honor her, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston, USA, has designated a minor planet of our universe in her name. Today, rotating around the sun, between the planet Mars and Jupiter, is the Planet Biyo, named after a truly world class Pinoy.

Conclusion

As you graduate today, learning from the example of Dr. Biyo and others who succeeded despite the hardships they had to undergo, I hope that you will develop as a matter of habit a clear direction of what you want to be, a passion for EXCELLENCE in whatever you do, and a commitment to help uplift society, because by so doing you will no longer suffer forever from the bondage of poverty.

Asya ngani, dire karuyag sidngon nga kumo yana pobrehanon, buwas pobre la guihapon!

Sanglet, ipagparayaw niyo nga hi kamo mga taga Zumarraga, mga tinu-od nga Pinoy di-in man kamo makadto.  

Congratulations, good luck and God bless us all!

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An Pagka-kablas Dire Nakaka-ulang Ha Maupay nga Kabubwason

Speech for the 2006 Graduating Class of Zumarraga Elementary School

Katikangan

Greetings!

Damo nga salamat, maupay nga kulop ha iyo ngatanan!

Una han ngatanan, akon ipina-pa-abot upod han akon pamilya an amon matu-od nga congratulations ha aton mga kabataan nga magtatapos yana, an ira mga kag-anak, ngan an ira mga magturutdo.

Nalilipay ako nga magin parte hine nga selebrasyon han iyo pagtatapos.  Para ha akon, usa nga kangaranan nga mag-hatag hin maski guti-ay la nga mensahe hine nga napaka-importante nga okasyon ha iyo kinabuhi. Tungod hine, dako iton pagpasalamat nakon, upod na an akon pamilya, ha iyo ngatanan.

Ma-aram kamo, usa guihapon ako nga nag-graduar dinhe, maiha-iha na adto, mga sekuwenta na katu-ig an inague, pero nahi-nunum-duman ko pa kun ti-unan-o ako tinutdo-an han aton eskuwelahan hin mga mag maupay nga pamatasan, hin responsable nga panga-buhi nga naka-apekto hin dako kaupay ha akon pagkatawo, ha akon pagka zumarraganhon, ngan ha akon pagka pilipino. Kun ano man ako yana, dako nga parte an naibulig hine nga eskuwelahan han pag-hurma han akon pagkabata. Sanglit, damo guihapon iton akon pagpapasalamat ha Zumarraga Elementary School!

Pag-tabuk Han Kakuri-an

Kumo usa nga Zumarraganhon, akon natan-awan kun ti-unan-o ka-simple iton pangabuhi dinhi ha Zumarraga. Siguro, tungod ine kay harayo man an aton bungto ha sentro han komersiyo ug mga oportunidad ha panginabuhi kumo usa kita nga isla.

Ha mga naglabay nga takna, akon natan-awan guihapon kun ti-unan-o tumabok ha kakuri-an an damo nga igkasi kablas naton; kun ti-unan-o nira pinagpa-aram an ira mga anak ha kolehiyo para gud la masuportahan an mga pangi-nginahanglan ha ira pag-aram. Kun ti-unan-o nira guin-atubang ine, nakadto ha aton mga kabugtu-an an pagporsigue, an pag-sakripisyo. Ira guin-atubang an mga kakuri-an hin pag-antos, hin waray katapusan nga pagla-um. Sering pa, an pagka-kablas dire gad nakaka-pugong ha pag-uswag han tawo dinhe ha kalibutan:  asya ngani kay may-ada mga importante nga makaka-bulig ha aton ha pag asenso ha profesyon ug ha pag-abante ha panginabuhi.

Ano man it karuyag sid-ngon hini?  Ha akon pan-huna-huna, antes umasenso an usa nga tawo,  kinahanglan anay magka-ada hiya hin tinu-od nga ambisyon, nga magka-ada gud hiya hin klaro nga karuyag kadtu-an. Pero kun ambisyon la, dire ito sadang. An usa nga tawo, kun waray pasensya; kun waray pagtalinguha ug determinasyon; kun dire ma-aram mag- sakripisyo; kun waray kumpiyansya ha iya kalugaringon; kun waray disiplina ha iya pag-katawo;  dire liwat niya ma-a-abot an iya mga ambisyon ha kinabuhi.

An Pag-Ambisyon Ngan An Pagka-Kablasanon

Ha sulod han usa nga demokrasya sugad han aton nasud, libre gad mag ambisyon, ti-unan-o man kadako basta sulod la han bala-ud. Siguro, mga san-o nga adlaw usa ha iyo dinhe karuyag maki-lala ha aton komunidad, magkamay-ada ngaran magin ha propesyon ug pangabuhi: Makatapos hin maupay nga edukasyon; Maka-abot hin hi-taas nga posisyon ha pangabuhi ug ha trabaho; Makapag sustener hin maupay nga pamilya; ug makapag pa-aram han mga anak nga may pag-laum nga hira liwat mag kamay-ada hin maranyag nga kabubuwason.

Pero paano kun waray kita pan-sustener, kay kablasanon manla kita? Pababaya-an  na la ba naton nga mahilubong ine nga aton mga hingyap?

Dire gad kakulangan kun kita natawo nga pinaka-habubo ha istado han aton bungto. Para ha akon, ha iba nga mga butang masuwerte an mga kablas, masakit man sidngon. Kay ano nga nasugad hine?

Pag-Ayat Han Pagka-Kablas

Tungod nga an mga pobrehanon  madagmit maka-intindi hiton matu-od nga kinabuhi, damo nga mga oportunidad iton  ira naki-kita dayon. Sanglit dire angay kit-on nga iton pagiging kablas usa nga nakaka-ulang. Unta kit-on naton nga an pagka-kablas usa nga nag-a-ayat, sering pa, usa nga big challenge para masantop naton kun ti-unano ka-upay mabuhi dinhe ha kalibutan. Ma-aram kamo,  nga may-ada mga butang nga dire nakikita hadton mga may-ada, pero nakikita hadton mga kablas nga puwede maging instrumento para umabante ha pag-dalagan ha kinabuhi?

Pananglitan, ha mga panahon hit kakuri-an, marig-on adton mga kablas kay nakikita nira dayon iton ira limitasyon. Mas ina-ayat iton ira kalugaringon para magporsigue ha kada oportunidad nga na-abot, ti-unan-o man kakuri. Kada pagdada-og han uyas han kinabuhi, sering pa,  kada suntok han kapalaran, dire basta-basta uma-atras an nakatilaw na han kakuri-an. Mas damo iton samad, mas na-a-ayat, mas makusog. Bisan kablas an tinikangan, dire karuyag sidngon nga kablas na la an usa nga tawo ha ngatanan nga oras! dire karuyag sidngon nga kumo yana pobrehanon, buwas pobre la guihapon!

Pira Nga  Pananglitan

Mga kasangkayan, kadam-an ha mga respetado nga mga tawo ha aton nasud ug ha kalibutan in  nagtikang  hin makuri nga kamutangan kun dire man natawo nga pobrehanon: Sidngon ko na la nga hine nga kadam-an nga mga tawo, api hira Abraham Lincoln, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Francisco Balagtas, bisan hi Jose Rizal ug Ramon Magsaysay nga nag-agui hin dagko nga paga-antos, testamento nga mase-sering naton nga an kakuri-an ug pagka-kablas han usa nga tawo dire rason para dire hiya umasenso. Indeed, as enshrined in your your class motto: “ Poverty is not a hindrance to success.”

Dire niyo unta hingalimtan nga damo na an natawo nga pobre, pero naguin bantog guihapon kay nagka-ada hira hin tinu-od nga ambisyon, nagtalinguha ngan nag-decidir nga dire hira magigin kablas ha ngatanan nga adlaw. Damo na nga mga estorya tungod hine an aton mga nahibati-an.

Pananglitan nala hi Manny Pacquiao; usa nga pobrehanon anay, pero yana, kilalado nga usa nga World Boxing Champion ngan milyonaryo pa!   

Hi Henry Sy, usa manla hiya nga parag-sapatos hadto; yana, may tag-iya hiton dagko nga mga shopping centers dinhe ha Pilipinas – iton Shoe Mart.  

Hadton Sabado la nga inagui, ma-aram kamo nga hi Ariel Toledo, an Valedictorian han Class 2006 ha PMA, usa la nga taga probinsya, usa nga pobrehanon, nga 11 anyos pala ilo na ha iya amay?

Damo pa nga mga pananglitan, pero dire ko na hihilaba-un pa.

Katapusan

Para ha aton mga nag-graduar yana, siguro na-itutdo na ha iyo an mga karuyag niyo mahibaru-an. Dire pa ito sadang. Kinahanglan pa nga magpasigue pa kamo pag-aram, ha sulod ug ha gawas han eskuwelahan, kumo an edukasyon usa nga pinaka-importante nga kapital han tawo han iya kabubwason. Naglala-um ako nga mga san-o nga adlaw, kada usa ha iyo magka-kamay-ada, kun waray pa kamo yana, hin senesering nga pangkaraniwang ug spesyal nga abilidad. Pero waray ito nga abilidad kuwenta kun dire niyo gagamiton ha maupay nga pa-agi para ha iyo kabubwason, ha iyo pamilya, ha iyo komunidad.

Sanglit, kun maabot na ito niyo, ipagparayaw niyo nga hi kamo mga taga Zumarraga, mga tinu-od nga Pinoy di-in man kamo makadto.  

Uswag Zumarraganhon! Sulong Pinoy!

Damo nga salamat, congratulations and God bless us all!

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