ST. THERESA’S COLLEGE, Q.C. OCTOBER 2014

REMEMBERING THE SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014

Mrs. Dolores Malulan, the Head of the Grade School Guidance

Office, led the simple and meaningful activity about “Parenting the

Digital Age”. As a spring board, the parents were asked to agree or

disagree on the following statements:

I feel that advancement in technology creates challenges to my role as a parent.

The advancement in technology has great benefit to our family.

I observed that there is much difference on how children were raised during my time compared to how I should raise my

child/ren at present.

I need to learn more to be an effective parent in this digital era.

After which, some facts and statistical data were presented to

show the effects of the emerging

Digital Advancement to family

dynamics and values in general.

Parents were led to reflect on the

importance of their role in guiding their daughters to be mindful in

using technology and to use it to

their advantage. The following

processing questions were raised

for parents‟ reflection:

How has technology influenced my parenting styles?

What rules do we have at home regarding the use of technology?

What is the best way to make technology a healthy and positive part of family life?

How can we best protect our children from online threats while respecting their privacy?

To end the session, a short video on how to be an effective parent

during this digital era was shown.

During the orientation seminar, the groups of parents launched

the „Alay Mo, Kinabukasan Ko Campaign.‟ The parents voluntarily

dropped a peso or two which amounted to Php 11, 407.45 which was

forwarded to the SEFI secretariat.

Fourth Year Closure Activity

The parents of the 4th year grantees had a sharing of

experiences as SEFI-assisted families. In particular, they shared

significant experiences of their daughters while they were in the

program. They expressed their gratitude for the generosity and

kindness of the ICM sisters and donors. They also shared their

realization that there is nothing wrong if people come to know that they availed of the scholarship.

SETTING THE PACE AND MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

SEFI beneficiaries proved once again that they are achievers.

During the school year 2013-2014, some of them joined various

interschool competitions and brought honors to the school. The

awards they got are as follows:

Two 4th year grantees: o 1st runner-up award in Badminton in the Athletic

Association of Private School (AAP), August 2013

o 1st runner-up award in Badminton in the Interschool

Academic Athletic League (ISAAL), September 2013 o 1st runner-up award in the Women‟s Basketball League

(Milo Best), December 2013

Two 3rd year grantees: o 1st runner-up award in the Women‟s Basketball League

(Milo Best), December 2013

o 1st runner-up Mythical Award in the Quezon City Athletic

Association Volleyball Tournament, February 25, 2014.

In the Grade School, there

were Grade 6 beneficiaries who received Awards in their

Mythology pageant, Quiz Bee

and Talumpati. Three other

beneficiaries showed their

prowess in acting in “The Search

for the Magic Lake”, a play production produced by the Grade

School Department. The proceeds

of this show went to SEFI.

Moreover, there were

thirteen beneficiaries proclaimed

as outstanding students in the Grade School Department and

three 4th year beneficiaries

qualified as outstanding

students during the third

quarter in the High School Department.

Truly, these students made a difference inspiring other

beneficiaries to let their light shine.

Grateful Hearts Packaged in Expressive Words!

From the Parents:

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the SEFI Board, Staff and all donors for the 6 years of financial assistance. This program lessened the financial burden on our family and fulfilled my daughter’s wish to be a Theresian graduate. We are grateful for your kindness and your involvement in the promotion of success in the lives of every student. Again, thank you so much for investing in our daughter’s future.

First of all, I would like to thank the SEFI Board and donors for their kind heart. The SEFI scholarship for my daughter’s last year in high school was really a big help. The tuition in STC was too high for our financial capacity but because the school offers an education par above, I had to send her to STC to assure her of a bright future. We were very lucky to get accepted for a scholarship. It’s not just the financial help we are thankful for, but also for the kind accommodating people behind SEFI. Your kind treatment to us didn’t make us feel that we are different. Thank you very much! God bless you always! May you help more Theresians! My daughter and I will assure you that the kind of help you gave us today will be given back in the future.

It’s been more than a decade of my association with SEFI. My late wife and I would like to thank the SEFI Board, the staff and all the donors for giving us the opportunity to have my two daughters enjoy the quality education for us who are financially distressed. It’s been a roller coaster ride for my family but with God’s help, He introduced and gave us SEFI. I was able to let my eldest finish her secondary education at St. Theresa’s College. My second daughter will graduate this school year. My wife left us last 2010 without witnessing our daughters finish their education but she died fulfilling her dream.

For this I am very grateful and thankful to SEFI, the St. Theresa’s College Administration and to the Good Lord for all the help and blessings. It is God’s blessing for us to be assisted by SEFI. God bless and more Power!

I would like to thank the SEFI Board, staff and donors for giving us the opportunity to be included in this financial assistance program. It would have been difficult for me to pursue the quality education of my daughter without the support that was provided by SEFI. Apart from the simplicity that is being enforced by the school, I also got to know more about the “Theresian upbringing” through this program. The program has boosted the morale of several families who are facing difficulties in order to continue a brighter future for their daughters. Again, I salute the STC community, the SEFI Board, the staff and the donors. More power and God bless!

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the SEFI Board, staff and donors. The SEFI assistance was a big help to us. If not for SEFI, my daughter could not have graduated from St. Theresa’s College. The knowledge and the spirit that inspired her to be a better person, the motivation to excel, the simplicity and humility of a young lady yet to be groomed into a professional adult will forever be an indelible imprint in the mind and heart of our daughter.

I literally work 14 hours a day, 7 times a week and don’t care as long as my situation benefits my loved ones. Despite the effort however, I could never afford to give the kind of education STC can graciously provide. In God’s name, we thank SEFI for this wonderful privilege for lightening the load of aspiring and hard-working parents like me to give their children quality education, an enduring lifetime legacy. SEFI is God’s gift to our children and what they’ll become will be their GIFT to SEFI. Our heartfelt appreciation to all concerned.

From the Students:

My school life in STC has never been the same. Being blessed with the opportunity to be aided by the SEFI Board and donors has really changed my view of life. I am taught the value of generosity and empathy for the marginalized sectors in our community.

All I can say is THANK YOU! Studying in STC and being assisted by SEFI have not only changed me academically but have taught me to cope with and understand the true essence of life.

I wish to give my gratitude to the SEFI Board and donors for giving me the opportunity to acquire an education that not everyone is offered with. I will continue doing my best to make sure that the support extended to me will not be put to waste. Thank you for the legacy!

To the SEFI Board and donors, I am expressing my gratitude for believing in me and giving me a chance to study in a school that upholds excellence and service. The simplicity, humility and generosity that I have imbibed will certainly bless my life and in turn, make me a blessing to others. Certainly the values, knowledge and skills that I learned in STC will be my anchor in life.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the SEFI Board, donors and the staff for making it possible for me to continue my education in STC. I may not know you personally but you are my inspiration. The little things you do for the students mean so much. I hope you will continue to give hope to those who are in need. May God bless SEFI a hundredfold.

SEFI has assisted me financially all throughout my high school years. It has been a relief to my parents and I am sure also to other families who experience the same predicament like my family. My high school life is challenging. I engage myself in extra-curricular activities. I am a member of the basketball team. I am part of a church organization called the Living Word Ministry in our parish. These activities serve as my motivation in keeping my grades passing. More than the grades I am ready to face challenges that come my way because STC has taught me the skills and the values to help me cope with the adversities in life. To SEFI and to STC, “THANK YOU!”

OUR WISH LIST

In the future, I really plan to become a SEFI donor because I know how much I will be able to help students like me.

I will help SEFI by donating cash to help other Theresians study in STC. I will also participate in the activities of SEFI. In this way, I will be able to give back the great help that SEFI gave me during my school days.

I can help SEFI someday by being one of the donors or by being a SEFI staff myself. I will return the blessings SEFI has given me by supporting another Theresian. I will volunteer in the SEFI activities and other services.

Hopefully someday, I would also become a SEFI donor. I would like to change a student’s life like how the ICM and the donor s changed mine.

I’m thinking of serving others by teaching in the High School Department in the future.

I can help SEFI by living out the values I have developed in STC: simplicity of lifestyle, diligence and perseverance. I’ll show everyone how STC has developed me into the person I am today.

Before I enlisted as SEFI-assisted student, I’d wanted to be like Korina or Mel Tiangco and other Theresians who excel in their fields. Just like them, I want to help my less fortunate brothers and sisters.

When I become part of the Alumni Association of STC and I get settled with my career, I would pay a visit to the school and if SEFI wants to invite alumnae who were assisted by the foundation, I would gladly take the chance to be part of it. I would also recommend STC and SEFI to parents.

I. Name ENDOWMENT DONORS

1.Natividad Ozaeta-Lebron with her sisters and

brothers, in memory of their parents, Herminio and Virginia Sarayba-Ozaeta N.B. Mrs. Virginia Sarayba-Ozaeta was an

alumna of STC-Manila.

2. Josie Padilla-Rufino with her brothers and sisters in memory of their mother, Lily de las Alas-Padilla. N.B. Mrs. Padilla was an alumna of STC-Manila.

3. Ernest and Josie Rufino in honor of their children (2nd endowment)

4. Sr. Vicky Palanca and her sister Angelina Palanca-Jose, in memory of their mother Mrs. Clara d. Palanca.

5. Ellen Francisco and Eduardo Fajardo in memory of their parents:

George I. Sr. and Emily R. Francisco Jose A. and Natividad G. Fajardo N.B. Mrs. Fajardo is an alumna of STC-QC.

6.STC-QC Family Council in memory of Sr. Asuncion Martinez, icm

7.STC-QC Family Council for the 40th Anniversary of the Family Council

8.STC-QC Family Council - Schoolyear 2003-2004

9.STC-QC Family Council – Schoolyear 2005-2006; 2007-2008

10.Mr. Lino Lebron, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Josefa Lebron

11.STC-Mla. High School ’78 - Foundation Inc.

12.STC-QC Grade School Department in memory of Sr. Catherine Vanderhulst, icm

13.Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Hassell in honor of their mother: Justina C. Ortiz-Luis

14. Cecilia Tando-Arnold in memory of her sisters Josefina & Carmen

15. Loida Nicolas-Lewis Endowment 16. Friends of Sr. Simone Sergeant, icm 17. Sibal Family, in honor of their mother:

Alegria Rodriguez - Sibal and in memory of their father: Ernesto Yap-Sibal

18. Obayashi Sacred Heart School of Japan 19. STC-QC High School Class 1982 20. Candida Dimaano-Gener, in memory of her

daughter Theresa Rosario, HS Class ‘84 21.STAA-QC, HS Batch ’84 & other Jubilarian

Groups, Homecoming 2009 22.Jubilarians of 2008 Homecoming (STC-QC HS

Batch ’83) 23. Homecoming 2010 Jubilarian Batches (STC-QC

HS Batch ’85) 24. Mrs. Lisa Macuja-Elizalde 25. Anonymous - 26. Mrs. Carmen VF Seriña in memory of her

husband Fernando N. Seriña 27. STC-QC Family Council – Schoolyears 2009-

2010; 2010-2012 28. STC-QC Grade School Department (ALPA) –

Schoolyear 2011-2012 (2nd endowment) 29. Ernest & Josie Rufino in honor of their

grandchildren (3rd endowment)

30. Arnedo & Vida Lucas in memory of Arnedo & Leonila Lucas

31. Mr. & Mrs. Gerald & Agnes Hassel 32. Mrs. Agnes Hassel in honor of her sisters 33. STC-QC HS Batch 1963 34.*Sibal, Lynda & family in memory of their mother:

Alegria Rodriguez-Sibal (2nd endowment) 35. * Theresian Student Council SY’s 1997, 1999,

2000,2001 & 2002 36. * Theresian Student Council SY’s 2003,

2004,2005,2006 & 2007 37. * Theresian Student Council SY’s 2008 & 2009 38. * Theresian Student Council SY’s 2010 & 2012 39. *Theresian Student Council SYs 2011 & 2013 40. * STC-QC Family Council SY’s 2012-2014 41 * Mrs. Angelica H. Lavares

42. * STC-QC Grade School ALPA in memory of Sr. Yvonne Van Ackere, icm (3rd endowment)

43. * Mr. and Mrs. Abel Manliclic 44. * Mrs. Carmen VF Seriña (2nd endowment) 44. Parents at large STC-QC

* New Endowers to be awarded

II. SEFI PILLARS

1. STC-QC HS Class 1975

2. STC-QC HS Class 1976

3. Mrs. Araceli Rosal-Barclay

4. Mrs. Christine Peñaranda-Concio

5. Elena P. Tan Foundation

6. STC-QC HS Batch ‘78

7. Dr. & Dra. Arnel Jiao

8. Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Sarmiento

9. Atty. Rose I. Cabrera

10. Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Chua

11. A Group of SEFI Parents

III. SEFI BENEFACTORS

1. Dawn Marie & Roxanne Mae Austria

2. Mrs. Yolanda F. Bacani

3. Anonymous

4. Mrs. Leni Verde-Cuesta

5. Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Dintemann

6. Mr. & Mrs. Macario Gaw, Jr.

7. Anonymous

8. Ms. Angeles Guevara

9. Mrs. Belen Siasoco-Jose

10. Friends of Sr. Julia Meirhaeghe, icm

11. Mr. & Mrs. Jesi Mendez

12. Metrobank Foundation

13. Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Padua

14. Mrs. Ma.oi Margarita C. Perez

15. PLDT-SMART Foundation, Inc.

16. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes

17. Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel V. Plan II

18. Mr. & Mrs. Melchor Rivera

19. Atty. Leah Sebastian

20. STC-Manila HS Class 1970

21. STC-QC HS Class 1971

22. STC-Manila HS Class 1972

23. STC-QC HS Class 1972

24. STC-QC HS Class 1981

25. STC-QC High School Personnel

26. Mrs. Grace Uy

27. STC-QC HS Batch 1986

28. STC-QC College Batch ‘67

29. Family Council Alumni Association

30. Dr. Lydia Balatbat-Echauz

31. Mr. & Mrs. Eduardo Rodriguez

32. Anonymous

33. STC-QC HS Batch ‘70

34. STC-QC HS Batch ‘64

IV. SEFI SPONSORS

1. Mr. & Mrs. Francis Belo 2. Mr. & Mrs. Getulio Bote 3. Anonymous 4. Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Castro 5. Mr. & Mrs. Nilo Daza 6. Mrs. Elenita P. Evaristo 7. Globe Telecom Inc.

8. 8. Atty. & Mrs. Faustino Madriaga, Jr. 9. Ms. Pola Maloles

10. Mrs. Teresita Guevara-Manigque 11. Ms. Carmencita San Juan 12. Mr. and Mrs. Reynaldo Sarmenta 13. Mrs. Gladys So 14. Fr. Alfred Spincemaille 15. Mr. & Mrs. Joaquin Sumpaico 16. Dr. & Mrs. Walfrido Sumpaico 17. STC-Manila HS Class 1948 18. STC-QC HS Class 1966 19. STC-QC & Manila Class 1967 20. STC-QC College Batch ‘68 21. STC-QC College Class 1971 22. STC-QC HS Class 1974 23. STC-QC College Class 1975

24. STC-QC HS Class 1977 25. STC-QC HS Class 1980 26. Mr. & Mrs. Rommel Tadiar 27. Dr. & Mrs. Jose Caballes 28. STC-QC Grade School Sinag Chorale 29. H.S. Academic Council & Heads of Offices 30. Mrs. Josefina Opeña-Disterhoft 31. Homecoming 2012 Jubilarian Batches

(STC-QC HS Batch ’87) 32. Mr. & Mrs. Edward Delos Santos 33. Mr. & Mrs. Nelo Gellaco 34. Dr. Segundo Lansang 35. STC-QC College Class ‘73 36. Gr. 6 Graduates Batch 2013 37. Mrs. Carmen G. Monfort 38. Verzosa Family 39. Ms. Wilma Palafox 40. Atty. & Mrs. Santiago Gabionza, Jr. 41. Mr. & Mrs. Amador Antonio 42. Mrs. Lorna P. Ricolcol

43. STC-QC HS Batch ‘59 44. Gr. 6 Graduates 2014 45. Mr. & Mrs. Vicente Tirol

46. Architect Angeline Chua Chiaco

V. SEFI PATRONS

1. Mr. & Mrs. Lauro Abrahan 2. Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Alleje 3. Arlington Memorial Chapel, Inc. 4. Mrs. Cecilia Cabo Chan-Balagot 5. Mr. & Mrs. Eugenio Bayta 6. Anonymous 7. Mrs. Cecilia Castillo-Cabigao 8. Mr. Honorio Capulong 9. Mr. Ben Colet 10. Mrs. Gloria L. Cruz 11. Mrs. Margarita De Araneta 12. Mr. & Mrs. Roehl Diamante 13. Dr. & Mrs. Pastor Echavez 14. Mrs. Nini Baez-Gadia 15. Mr. & Mrs. Virgilio Genuino 16. Mrs. Marissa Salomon-Go 17. Mr. & Mrs. Melchor Gozum 18. Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Gutierrez 19. Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Hidalgo 20. Mr. & Mrs. Renato Jiao 21. Mrs. Margarita Penson-Juico 22. Dra. Melinda Lupisan-Maglaqui 23. Miss Felisa Mariano 24. Mr. & Mrs. Rey Maskariño 25. Trixia Medina 26. Mrs. Emilia Mesa 27. Ms. Nanette Morata 28. Mrs. Ma. Esperanza Paras-Murga 29. Mrs. Ma. Corazon Oliveros 30. Mrs. Rosemary Recto 31. Mrs. Erlinda Sarmiento 32. Mrs. Ma. Lorna Simangan 33. Mrs. Leonida Sotto 34. STAA-QC Past Forward Organizers 35. STC-QC H.S. Class 1955 36. STC-QC H.S. Class 1957 37. STC-Manila College Class 1958 38. STC-QC H.S. Class 1965 39. STC-Manila Resident Students

College Class 1966 40. STC-QC H.S. Class 1973 41. STC-Manila H.S. Class 1977 42. STC-QC H.S. Class 1979 43. Mr. & Mrs. Arsenio Yap 44. Mr. & Mrs. Salvador Mirasol 45. Gr. 6 Graduates Batch 2012 46. Ms. Michelle Evaristo 47. Dr. & Dra Montano Ramos 48. Mr. & Mrs. Francisco Ortiga 49. Mrs. & Mrs. Francisco Cervantes 50. Mrs. Gladys Fontanilla 51. Mrs. Pearli Montano 52. Ms. Ma. Lourdes Sison 53. Dr. & Dra. Caesar Palaruan 54. Mr. Cesar D. Sotoza 55. Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Umali 56. Mr. and Mrs. Raul Tan 57. Ms. Cynthia Bayaborda 58. Mrs. Asuncion David-Maramba 59. Dr. Manuel & Dra. Cynthia-Zacarias

Contributors to the SEFI ENDOWMENT FUND

Continuation of SEFI ENDOWMENT FUND

55. Mrs. Esperanza Viola Fernando 56. STC QC HS Class 1999

VI. SEFI DONORS

1. Mrs. Luz L. Alandy 2. Mr. Rodie Arciaga 3. Arnaiz Caretaking Inc. 4. Miss Lou Arnau 5. Mr. & Mrs. Ulysses Arreza 6. Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Asual 7. Ms. Arlene Avendaño 8. Mrs. Monica Aveo 9. Ms. Amelia Babaran

10. Mr. & Mrs. Benedicto Banzon 11. Mr. Apolonio Bautista 12. Mrs. Divina Asperin-Bautista 13. Mrs. Ma. Teresa C. Bayle 14. Mr. & Mrs. Leonardo Miguel Benesa 15. Mr. & Mrs. Rene Buenaflor 16. Mr. & Mrs. Kleanthe Buendia 17. Mr. Prospero Caddauan 18. Ms. Purita Carrao 19. Central Visayas Finance Corporation 20. Classmates of Mrs. Seriña 21. Mrs. Carmina Chiong 22. Dr. Charlotte Chiong 23. Ms. Carmencita Concepcion 24. Mrs. Lirio Sobreviñas-Covey 25. Cuisia Family 26. Mrs. Monica Guevara-Cuyegkeng 27. Dr. & Mrs. Laverne Dakis 28. Ms. Maya Dayaram 29. Mr. & Mrs. David Daza 30. Mrs. Maria Paz Delos Reyes 31. Mr. Cenen Dizon 32. Mrs. Marianne Paz Tengtio-Dunne 33. Mr. & Mrs. Ernesto Dyangko, Jr. 34. Mrs. Anita Enecilla 35. Ms. Corazon Estrella

36. Ms. Jean Fangonilo 37. Mr. & Mrs. Mark Arjan Fernandez 38. Mr. Dionisio Ferraris

39. Dr. & Mrs. Edilberto Fragante 40. Ms. Teresita Fuentebella 41. Ms. Ermelinda Galang 42. Mrs. Julieta Araullo-Gamboa 43. Mr. Benedicto Gamez 44. Genesis Transport Servicing, Inc.

45. Mr. & Mrs. Eugenio Gregorio 46. Ms. Realiza Henson 47. Ms. Amparo Hernandez 48. Ms. Anne Marie Iñiquez 49. Mr. & Mrs. Luciano Joson 50. Mrs. Luz Juliano 51. Mrs. Ruby Evangelista-Kirkupp 52. Ms. Editha Lim 53. Ms. Ma. Lucia R. Limpin 54. Mrs. Carla Calingasan-Lingad 55. Mr. Paul Limgenco 56. Mr. Antonio Lorenzo 57. Lorenzo-Reyes Laboratory 58. Ms. Angeles Lorayes 59. Mr. Cesar Luna 60. Mrs. Marichelle C. Lutz 61. Mrs. Aimee Manahan 62. Manila Execon Group, Inc. 63. Dr. Teresita Geraldez-Mascardo 64. Mr. Reynaldo Mencias 65. Mr. Rene Mendoza 66. Anonymous 67. Orejana Sisters (Pinky & Winky) 68. Mr. & Mrs. Edgardo Ortiz 69. PAGCOR 70. Dr. & Mrs. Albert Palpal-latoc 71. Mr. & Mrs. Gerardo Pio Parco 72. Mr. Emilio Peñano & Family 73. Ms. Lourdes Reyes 74. Mr. Conrado Rodrigo 75. Atty. & Dra. Virgilio Rondaris 76. Mr. Antonio Sibulo 77. Mrs. Grace S. Sison 78. 16 Theresians STC-Manila H.S. Class 1951 79. STC-QC H.S. Class 1956 80. The Former Resident Students of STC-Manila

Batches 1963-1969 81. Ms. Florina Tan

82. STC-QC HS ‘67 83. Ms. Vicky Tan Tong 84. Ms. Ann Marie Topacio 85. Tordesilla Family 86. Ms. Evangeline Torrado 87. Unilever Philippines

88. Ms. Rosario Woo 89. Dr. Chito & Carmen Ymalay 90. Mr. & Mrs. Ramoncito Yupangco 91. Mrs. Cynthia Zacarias 92. Dr. & Dra. Eduardo Dela Fuente 93. Mrs. Rhodora Formalejo & the HS-FAMIT Claimants 94. STC-QC H.S. Batch 1996 95. Mr. & Mrs. Jon Añasco 96. Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Fernando 97. Ms. Elvira Garcia 98. Mr. & Mrs. Michael Idioma 99. Mr. & Mrs. Jose Macaspac 100. Mr. & Mrs. Joel Peneyra 101. Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo Yuga 102. Dra. Engracia R. Sy & Mrs. Nena Reyes 103. Mr. Frederick Castillo 104. Justice Jorge Coquia 105. Mr. & Mrs. Louie Guia 106. Mrs. Mary Aquino 107. HS. Culinary Arts Elective Class 2012 108. Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert Lacebal 109. H. S. Science Area 110. Special Assets Department 111. Mrs. Lourdes Abeleda 112. Mrs. Mylen Sanchez 113. Miss Alma Paragas 114. STC-QC HS Batch 1998 115. H.S. Academic Personnel Association 116. HS Culinary Arts Elective Class 2013 117. H.S. CA-English Area 118. Rafaela & Racquel Almeda 119. Mrs. Ma. Cristina Reyes 120. Mrs. Concepcion R. Sayo

VII.FRIENDS OF SEFI - Total of 5, 325

FEATURE

Happy-Ness

How does one live in simplicity and be happy? Is it possible? As this

thought came across my mind, I wondered why there are people who

have less in life and are still able to share their blessings.

Ronnie and Melissa are a young couple with one daughter named

Ness. In 2012, their newly acquired house was devastated by Ondoy and

were left with nothing but memories of how it is to start again a family.

They left the place and rented an apartment in Metro Manila.

The couple found ways to make both ends meet. For the couple

every single centavo counted. Melissa was a regular employee earning

only the minimum wage in one of the government agencies. Ronnie, on

the other hand, thought of putting up a business “Toys and Gifts Shop”

to sustain the daily needs of the family.

The couple was most challenged knowing that their only daughter

would be entering a big school soon. They dreamed of the best

education for her and they only had one school in mind –St. Theresa’s

College, Quezon City.

The couple knocked at the door of SEFI and opened opportunities.

They were overjoyed and grateful that their daughter was admitted as a

SEFI grantee. They were so determined to work hard to give the best

education for Ness.

One day, Ronnie and Melissa visited the office and told

the staff that they were so delighted with their daughter

who, in her formative years was learning a lot and doing

well in school and at home. They also shared the

development of their financial capability. Their business

was growing and getting more sales than they were

expecting.

Consequently, the couple was ready to pull out their

daughter from the program so that another family could

avail of the scholarship. The words that came from them

were so heartwarming “We are so privileged to be given a

year to be a SEFI grantee. But we know that there are also

families who are in need of financial assistance and have

experienced the same predicament as we did. We will try to

stand on our own this time. We will be forever grateful to

SEFI.” (With smiles on their faces) The SEFI staff

congratulated and thanked them for their generous heart and

assured them that their daughter will have a bright future for

they have been admirable parents.

Indeed, there is no one rich enough who cannot receive

and no one so poor who cannot give. What’s the secret of

the one who is truly happy? Live simply and share God’s

blessings!

Ms. Lealeny Mani Social Worker