The Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) has been implementing the “Pagharap sa Pangarap" Education Program since 2009 and has expanded its scope from Metro Manila area to other provinces. This school year, CFBCI is supporting 80 excellent students from less affluent backgrounds, and holds a Life Skills and Motivational Seminar (LSMS) every month.
On November 17, 2022, CFBCI Executive Vice President, Mr. Samuel Lee Uy, went to Isabela Province to led an inspirational talk and a Christmas party for the students at Cauayan Isabela Elementary School with local colleagues and members of CFBCI. Eighty students and their parents were invited to attend the seminar.
On the day of the seminar, Ms. Geralda Hoggang, Discipline Officer of Cauayan Elementary School, gave a welcome speech and Mr. Uy was the keynote speaker, sharing with the students the theme of “Being Proactive" in forming their values in life. He pointed out that there are millions of poor people in the Philippines who are unable to get enough food and basic necessities because of the habit of toxic obedience and lack of perseverance.
“Our ancestors were taught the wrong Catholic model by the Spanish conquistadors, so that we only know how to obey orders and bow our heads and say Amen, as seen in the famous book Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal,” said Mr. Uy.
“To change this habit, we must first understand the “Law of Radicalism", which can make a person rich. First of all, everyone needs to have ambition or goals and work hard to succeed in the goals they choose. Just like eight-year-old Tiger Woods said, “I want to break all the world records in golf and become the best golfer in the world,” Mr. Uy added.
With a goal in mind, you have to focus on it, be passionate, and do it with the mindset that you will not rest until you reach your goal. For you succeed, don't give up lightly. Of course, also have the patience to wait, because everything will be sown at the right time. And the most important thing: everything we do must come from love. When we realize these truths and become motivated, it proves that you are on the road to success.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Gregorio P. Uy and Lee Feng Scholarship Foundation, encouraged the students and their parents to trust our organization and guidance so that they can be sure of a brighter future. He told the students to study hard, respect their parents and help them accomplish the household chores. A local member of the foundation encouraged the recipients to do better than usual and to set their goals higher so that they can achieve more than the average student.
The recipient, Erika Silverio, gave a thank you speech, saying that her mother is the sole breadwinner for the family due to her father's illness. Without the scholarship, she would not have been able to continue her education. She said the scholarship was God's answer to her prayers. She is grateful that the Foundation and the Society have changed her life by inspiring her with the right values.
Ms. Ligaya De Jesus, the school principal, also shared her experience with the students. She said that she was also from a poor family when she was a child, but through hard work and effort, she never gave up any opportunity and finally became a scholar. She urged the students to cherish the financial aid provided by the Foundation and the Society.
After the event, Christmas gifts were given to all the students and their parents. Everyone went home with a smile on their face and a sense of gratitude.
菲華工商總會訊：本會「點亮未來」助學方案，經過多年實施日趨成熟，範圍也從大岷區擴展到其他州府，長期與依沙迷拉省「黃國棟、林春鳳教育基金會」共同舉辦助學方案，惠及當地貧寒學子。今學年共支助八十名清寒資優學生，為了關心他們的學習和生活情況，定期舉辦修養談座會。十一月十七日，本會執行副理事長黃書瑋親赴依沙迷拉省，和本會當地同仁及菲華商會成員假Cauayan南星小學，為受助生舉行勵志講座暨聖誕聯歡會。八十名受助生和他們的家長受邀出席。
講座當天，由南星小學訓導主任Geralda Hoggang女士致歡迎詞，黃書瑋執行副理事長擔任主講人，他向受助生們分享了以人生價值觀形成的主題『積極進取』。他指出，我國人因為習慣順從和缺乏進取性，所以菲律濱有數百萬窮人，他們無法獲得足夠的食物和基本生活需求品。我們的祖先被西班牙征服者教導了錯誤的天主教徒模式，使我們只懂得服從命令，和低頭說阿門，這可從國父扶西•黎剎的名著Noli Me Tangere一書中讀到，有五個文化根源剝奪了國人的進取性：
第一、莊園綜合體，我們的大多數農民都依靠莊園來滿足所有需求，從食物到教育再到住院治療，從而產生依賴的態度。現代莊園主是我們的省長和市長，他們必須回應窮人的需求。
第二、Bahala na（看著辦）態度，不做籌備，凡事抱著向上帝祈禱尋求答案而培養出來的態度。
第三、樂透文化，窮人寄希望於贏得花檔或樂透以擺脫貧困。
第四、Mañana習慣，拖延，小問題不處理，直到它成為一個大問題。
第五、螃蟹心態，人們會因為你的好勝心而瞧不起你，有些甚至會給你打上野心太大的烙印。
黃書瑋執行副理長說到：要改變這個陋習，先要瞭解「激進法則」，它可使一個人變得富有。首先每個人都需要有雄心或目標，並在自己選擇的目標中努力取得成功。就像八歲的老虎‧伍茲(Tiger Woods)說：「我要打破所有高爾夫球世界紀錄，成為世界上最好的高爾夫球手。」有了目標，就要全神貫注，激情如火，以不達目標決不甘休的心態為之。在你成功之前，不要輕言放棄。當然，也要具備耐心等待，因為一切都將有合適的時機。還有最重要的一點：我們所做的一切都必須來自愛。當我們意識到這些真理，變得積極進取時，證明你已經走上了通往成功的道路。
「黃國棟丶林春鳳教育基金會」主席黃書企致詞，他鼓勵受助生和家長相信我們的培養系統和指導方式，讓受助生確信有一個更美好的未來。他告訴受助生們要好好學習，尊重父母，幫助他們分擔家務。
本會當地會員黃培當勉勵受助們要表現得比平時更好，把目標設定高一點，這樣他們就會比普通學生有更高的成就。
受助生Erika Silverio發表感謝詞，她說因為父親生病，母親成為家裡唯一養家糊口的頂樑柱。如果沒有這份獎學金，她將無法繼續升學。她指出，獎學金是上帝對她祈禱的回應。她很感謝本會和基金會通過用正確的價值觀激發她的進取心，從而改變了她的生活。
南星小學校長Ligaya De Jesus女士也與受助生們分享了她的經歷，她說她小時候也是家境窮苦，但是，她通過勤奮和努力，不放棄任何機會，終於成為一名學者。她敦促受助生們要珍惜本會和基金會提供的助學方案。
本會和基金會為當天出席的每個人準備了豐盛的自助午餐，在活動結束後，還向所有受助生和他們的父母贈送聖誕禮物，當天每個人都收獲滿滿，臉上洋溢著幸福的笑容，心中懷著感恩喜悅回家。
圖片說明：
上圖左起：黃書瑋，黃書企，黃培當，Ligaya De Jesus，Erika Silverio，Geralda Hoggang。
中圖：兩會領導與南星小學校領導和出席嘉賓合影。
下圖：全體受助生合影留念。
