BY FELIPE CELINO
ROXAS City — A group of Ilonggo philanthropists from Guam, United States donated a complete computer set to the Don Sofronio A. Cordovero Elementary School in Brgy. Jumaguicjic here.
The group, Migs in Guam, led by its chairperson, Fely Dy, was in this city for the turnover of the donation to the underprivileged school on Wednesday.
Mayor Angel Alan Celino thanked the members of Migs in Guam for their generosity. He also vowed to support their other activities.
Migs in Guam had been helping the poor over the past 13 years.
Formed in 1999, the group was initially named the Iloilo Association of Guam under the leadership of Lino Escalona, said Bert Jurinario, the group’s coordinator.
The group conducted its first medical and dental mission in Badiangan, Iloilo. Because of their very close bond, the members felt sad to go separate ways when they returned to Guam. They said did not know if others like them would continue the mission.
According to Jurinario, they decided to meet every month and call each other amigos or amigas — friends — hence, the group’s current name, Migs in Guam.
Celino lately gave meaning to Migs in Guam — Mga Instrumento sang Ginoo Subong — for its “laudable and noble mission for its poor brothers and sisters.”
In July last year, the group donated seven electric fans and a water system to the Don Juan Celino Memorial School in Brgy. San Jose.
Aside from giving snacks to the schoolchildren, Migs in Guam also donated school supplies, educational videos, and desktop and laptop computers to the school.
Migs’ first activity was “Christmas in July,” a gift-giving activity to identified poor inhabitants of Brgy. Calubihan, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, and a school supply distribution in the Pangsangaan Elementary School in Pavia, Iloilo.
A yearly gift-giving in various remote schools and communities in Iloilo, then in Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Antique followed.
Migs’ funds come from its members’ monthly dues and proceeds from fund-raising activities.
Among the beneficiaries of Migs are elementary schools in Anilao, Ajuy, Barotac Nuevo, Cabatuan, Dingle, Dumangas, Janiuay, Leon, Maasin, Pavia, Pototan and Sta. Barbara towns in Iloilo, and Barangays Hibao-an, Navais, Sooc and Tabucan in Iloilo City.
Other beneficiaries include schools in Bago City, Negros Occidental and San Jose, Antique.
The group also has scholars in the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology in Iloilo City.
Other group members include Blanca Imbo (vice chair), Ma. Fe Escalona-Napalan (secretary), Rose Escalona and Tessie Dingcong (treasurers), Fred David, Tito Imbo, Danny Dingcong, Alex and Susie Adriano, Rudy Amuan, Donnie and Adele Tabigoon, Fel Jurinario, Marco and Diana Pobre, Rolly and Linda Hortillosa, Roli Gallo, Joe Dy, and past chairpersons Fanny Junsay, Fe Amuan and Rose David.
