BGC donates for education of military heroes’ kids
LANCE was only four years old when his father, Army Sgt. Narciso Lawrence Layug died. He remembers how his mom broke the news to him, “Anak, si dad
nandun na sa heaven.” (Son, daddy’s in heaven.) To which he gave an innocent answer, “Sundan natin, bisitahin natin siya. Malapit lang naman yun, at may
pamasahe tayo.” (Let’s visit him. It’s not that far a place, and we have money for the commute.)
Years later, the family left the province for Manila. As they rebuild their lives in the city, mother-and-son became best of friends, and helped each other in running their household.
Lance is only one of the many children supported by HERO (Help Educate and Rear Orphans) Foundation — a non-profit organization that provides educational assistance in the form of stipends to children of fallen soldiers.
To help support military families, Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation, Inc. ( FBDFI), BGC’s social responsibility arm, and the Bonifacio Global City Estate Association recently turned over P1-million and P200,000 worth of cash donations, respectively to HERO Foundation.
“Wars, insurgencies and natural disasters keep military families apart. When an unfortunate incident leaves servicemen killed or incapacitated in the line of duty, their families are equally left impaired. The surviving parent and children are left to deal with bouts of emotional and financial stress and their future suddenly becomes unstable. This is why we have partnered with HERO Foundation to help some of the children have a more secure tomorrow through education,” said Aileen Zosa, EVP of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and vice-chair of FBDFI.
Ms. Zosa explained that HERO Foundation’s cause is so close to home because BGC, now a vibrant business and lifestyle district, was once a military base. “While BGC has evolved by leaps and bounds through the years, we acknowledge that what once stood here is an integral part of the city’s history. We feel that by assisting HERO Foundation, we are honoring this side of our past.”
Two of the teens who will benefit from BGC’s donation are Lance Kelly Layug and Danica Joy Talania, residents of Taguig who manage to ace their studies while enjoying every bit of their student life.