15 October 2004 – Philippine Ambassador to Ottawa, Francisco L. Benedicto informed the Department of Foreign Affairs that Filipino-Canadian couple Robert and Amelita Armit donated a US $4,000 classroom building under the Classroom Galing Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad (CGMA) project, the first donation from the Filipino community in Canada.

Secretary Alberto G. Romulo lauded the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa for the signing of the Deed of Donation of $4,000 for the construction of one classroom building, the first from a donor from the Filipino community in Canada.

In a simple ceremony held at the Philippine Embassy, Ambassador Benedicto and the officers and staff witnessed the signing of the US $4,000 Deed of Donation by Mr. and Mrs. Armit, which was authenticated by Consul General Jerril G. Santos. . Ambassador Benedicto said: “Mrs. Amelita Armit and her husband Robert were among the first private individuals from the Filipino community in Ottawa and Kingston to respond to the appeal for donations for the CGMA project.  Amelita pledged to donate one classroom in the name of her parents Atty. and Mrs. Marcial Q. Aranas of Edmonton, Alberta, as a gift for the upcoming birthday of her father.. The Armit couple specified that the classroom be built in Biking National High School in Dauis, Bohol the hometown of Amelita’s father.”

According to Ambassador Benedicto, the beneficiary school, Biking National High School, is part of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports list of public schools that have a critical classroom shortage. END