Angelo “Angeo” Tirambulo collecting books for Negros schools.*

A 17-year-old student in Tucson, Arizona, has started a campaign to collect books for needy schools in Negros Occidental.

Angelo “Angeo” Tirambulo, a student at St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson, who visited Negros last year said he has always believed that books are important to one’s education but discovered that many students, especially in remote areas in the province don’t have access to enough of them.

“I was happy to rediscover my roots in Negros Oriental and Occidental where my parents come from and realized that perhaps in a small way I could make a difference for others,” he said.

“So when I returned home to the States I decided to gather up the books I had to send back to Negros with educational videos,” he said.

Tirambulo said he works as a cook at an old folks home on weekends and is saving a large part of his earnings to be able to send more books home.

The beneficiary of the books he sent home recently was the St. Francis of Assisi School in Silay City that is ran by Tapulanga Foundation and the educational videos were given to the Department of Education for use in public schools.

The books were given to Carmela “Micmic” Abello Golez, Tapulanga Foundation executive director, and the videos, to Tina Orbecido of the Governor’s Office who turned them over to the DepEd.

The videos are very educational and helpful, said Orbecido, who has been tasked by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon to help teachers upgrade the English proficiency of their students.

While Golez who was glad to receive the books for her school said “we need more kids like him (Tirambulo) who have compassion for those who have less or none. This is what true sharing and giving is about.”

The St Francis of Assisi School in Silay was started by Abello’s family to help children of farm workers break free from the cycle of poverty.

Teachers at Tirambulo’s school in Arizona heard of his having sent books to Negros and his campaign has caught fire among fellow students at St. Gregory now competing to gather more books, he said.

But this also means he will have to work harder on weekends to save more money to ship the collected books home, he said.

The satisfaction is in knowing other students in Negros will enjoy these books, he said.

Although he was born and raised in the States, he has spent a lot of time researching on Filipino music and in the process learned about the culture and dialects of the Philippines, he said.

Tirambulo said it is important for him not to forget his roots and he fell in love with Bacolod City and its food when he visited last year.

Tirambulo who is into golf, photography and cooking plans to major in history and anthropology in college.

He is the son of Tucson entrepreneurs Grace and Angelo Tirambulo of Negros Occidental and Oriental.*

back to top

Medical mission conducted

Filipino volunteers and U.S. visitors from Picayune, Mississippi and Newport, Rhode Island, teamed up during the medical-dental and feeding programs in Talisay, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, a press release from organizers said.

Over 1,000 persons attended, including 550 patients, who were served and treated by the seven medical doctors and a dentist from Talisay.

Mayor Eric Saratan, and his Action Team hosted and sponsored the event held at Zone Three.

Daisy Ainza of Negros Kabataan and BMA Philippines sponsored the health-conscious activities.

Chaplain Don Biadog of Chapel of Hope, Newport, Rhode Island, also participated, the press release added.*

back to top

IN TALISAY
Car showroom
launched today

A grand launching of the Ford Negros Occidental showroom and service center at the Talisay highway in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, will be held today, a press release from the management said.

The event will have a western cowboy blended with modern native theme, Ford Negros Occidental branch manager Francisco Continente said.

Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco and Talisay City Mayor Eric Saratan will be the guests of honor. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano were also invited to attend the occasion, the press release said.

Three live bands will entertain the guests and cocktail preparations will be served for patrons and supporters of the Dearborn Motors Co., Inc., the local Ford dealer, the press release said.

Dearborn general manager Paolo Martin Borromeo will head the welcoming party in tonight’s affair.

Meanwhile, Continente encouraged car buyers to grab the latest promo of Ford by driving to the Talisay showroom and drive a Ford today.        Those who want to visit Ford and avail the latest offer  may call cellphone numbers 0918-906-6918, 441-0115 or 441-0865, the press release added.*

back to top

Summer workshop
slated at St. La Salle

The Negros Summer Workshops are now open for registration, and this year, Peque Gallaga will be teaching Director’s Apprenticeship for Theatre, a press release from organizers said.

It will be the first time the multi-awarded director will be teaching this course.

The other courses being offered are children’s theatre, teenage acting, movement, basic acting, film production, cinematography, photography, stage management, make-up, modeling and image projection and two advanced acting courses: being and theatre improvisations, the press release said.

The 18th NSW will be featuring top industry-practitioners from Manila and Bacolod as instructors and facilitators. It will be held at University of St. La Salle from April 21 to May 17.

There are only a limited number of slots and interested parties may register now by calling Tel. No. (034) 4345998, or visiting www.usls.edu.ph/nsw, the press release added.*

back to top