BANTAYAN HONORS BOBBY ABOITIZ
Last Sept. 24, 2013, Bantayan passed Resolution 191, Series of 2013, declaring Bobby Aboitiz as the town’s adopted son Marian Aboitiz, Bobby’s wife, and RAFI board of trustees chairperson and CEO Jon Ramon Aboitiz thanked the town for the gesture
The Municipal Government of Bantayan honored Roberto “Bobby Aboitiz for his great contributions for the development of the island town in Cebu.
Mayor Ian Christopher Escario turned over a charcoal painting of Bobby to wife Marian Aboitiz and a collage of photos of Bobby showing him in various turnover ceremonies, and other activities in Bantayan to Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) president and chief operating officer Dominica Chua on Dec. 4 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation in Barangay Tinago.
The turnover symbolized the municipality’s tribute to the man who did so much for them. Before handing over the painting and collage, the Bantayan Government also showed a video that highlighted all the contributions that RAFI, through Bobby, has given to Bantayan through the years.
“For the Bantayanons, these schools and day care centers are not just mere buildings, but these serve as standing monuments of a legend that is Roberto Bobby Aboitiz,” said one beneficiary.
“We are here today to express our deep gratitude to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. for the priceless assistance you have extended to Bantayan and the thousands of Banyatanons through the years. The continued partnership of RAFI and Bantayan is a testament to our shared com- mitment to education. We take the road less taken and fight on because that is what Sir Bobby would have wanted us to do. May the memory of this great man continue to be our guiding light in building stronger, better and brighter communities. I assure you, his bugsay legacy will live on. Sir Bobby’s memory and legacy not only lingers but lives forever in our hearts,” said Escario.
He said that in Sept. 24, 2013, the Municipal Government of Bantayan passed Resolution 191, Series of 2013, declaring Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz as an adopted son of Bantayan. In the resolution, it stat- ed that Bobby as a RAFI president was cognizant of his social responsibility towards the community.
Also present during the tribute were RAFI board of trustees (BOT) chairperson and chief executive officer Jon Ramon Aboitiz (via video conference), BOT vice president Mikel Aboitiz, and BOT members Fr. Ernesto Javier, Atty. Manuel Go, and Amaya Aboitiz (also via videocon), RAFI president and chief operations officer Dominica Chua, Eduardo Aboitiz, Carlos Aboitiz and RAFI team leaders.
Jon Ramon Aboitiz and Marian thanked Escario for the gesture and the tribute.