05 November 2004— In a commendable act of benevolence and solidarity, the Filipino community in Ottawa donated a total of eight thousand US dollars (US$8,000) for the construction of two classrooms under the Classroom Galing sa Mamamayang Pilipino (CGMA) project according to a report of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa to the Department of Foreign Affairs.  “It is heartwarming to know that, despite their distance from their homeland, Filipinos in Canada still care about the welfare of their kababayans back home, especially the schoolchildren,” Ambassador Francisco L. Benedicto said.

In a ceremony held at the Embassy, Ms. Sonia del Rosario, Filipino community coordinator for the CGMA project, signed  the Deed of Donation for the two classrooms as witnessed by community leaders Dr. Ruby Formoso and Thelma Roger, before Ambassador Benedicto and the Embassy’s officers and staff.

By consensus, the Filipino community chose to donate the two classrooms to the Tondo Elementary School in Manila, one of the areas identified by the CGMA Secretariat as requiring immediate classroom assistance.  The individual donor intends to visit the Philippines upon the classrooms’ completion to attend the inauguration. END