Continuing the legacy
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“The military plays an essential role in protecting our country’s peace and sovereignty. This provides a stable environment in which businesses can thrive,” says Don Jaime. “By forming the HERO Foundation, the business community provided the initial spark that enabled the citizenry to assure our soldiers of support. The business community was then, and is still, in a position to help. In doing so, we express our gratitude for our soldiers’ heroic contribution to the nation.”
For 25 years, HERO remains to be the only foundation of its kind that persists and even grows stronger as the years roll on. s F hief of ta eneral Emmanuel Bautista says, “HERO is one of the biggest contributors to [providing scholarships to our soldiers’ children] and in the upliftment of the morale of our soldiers.” A huge part of its success is due to the strong foundation from which it was built: the people behind it.
Like any worthy endeavor, however, HERO faces great challenges, one of which is continuing what the founders have started. “We know that someday we will fade out,” says de Villa. Furthermore, Don Jaime notes that, “Being part of HERO takes more than just being familiar with the group and how it goes about supporting its scholars. Vision and commitment is important as this will in uence how the foundation will be able to change, for the better, the course of life of our HERO scholars.”
As a response to this predicament, a new set of board of trustees with the same passion and energy as the one it succeeded has taken over.
Serving as chairman is Fernando Zobel de Ayala while Antonino Aquino serves as president. en. Renato de Villa, acting as the link between the younger board members and the military, sits as the vice chairman. Members include: Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Aquino- Abellada, Miguel Belmonte, Aniceto Bisnar, Jr., Raul Anthony Concepcion, Ernest Cu, Carlos Dominguez, Cecilia Victoria “Ces” OreñaDrilon, ilberto Duavit, Jr., Margarita Juico, Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, Michael Tan, and en. Emmanuel Bautista, Chief of Sta , AFP as an ex-o cio board member.
“HERO’s new leaders have been able to accomplish much in recent years, especially in the aspect of generating public support for the foundation. They infuse new ideas and think of new ways to make a difference,” continues Don Jaime. “We are gratified by the huge
e ort they have contributed to build on and strengthen further what the previous board of trustees established through the years.” Sustainable funds and public awareness
“In 2 , with the increasing needs of our HERO scholars and with the growing number of military orphans, we initiated a re- group and launched an awareness campaign calling upon the business community once again to support the foundation,” shares Fernando Zobel de Ayala and adds that they plan to encourage more companies to get involved in the program.
Just like during its inception, the call to action is received well. “We are very privileged to have the whole- hearted support of a new generation of business and civic leaders, who provide valuable support to the various projects of the foundation,” says Antonino Aquino. “They are now carrying on the mission that was established by the group’s founding board of trustees.”
One of HERO’s biggest goals is to set the foundation in a sustainable position. “Through our generous donors, we are building a trust fund for the scholars and expect its earnings to sustain the foundation in the years ahead,” shares Antonino. “This will give an assurance that there will be continuous educational support for the scholars.”
Another initiative is to push and encourage more scholars to take vocational courses, which will give them a wide range of educational options and ready employment in a short period of time. For this project, HERO has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority TESDA . “Equipped with the necessary skills for employment or entrepreneurship, we hope that they will be able to achieve their goals,” says Antonino.
The board also recognizes the need for public awareness. “We sleep soundly and securely because of the protection our soldiers provide to us. Let us not let them down in their family’s time of need, especially after they have made the ultimate sacri ce for our well-being,” says Miguel Belmonte.
In a fund- raising campaign held in 2 , the foundation called on the general public for donations. According to Antonino, the response has been very positive. He adds that they “will continue to share the stories of [HERO] scholars to bring their growing concerns to the public’s attention.”
As a trusted media personality and so- called “face and voice of HERO”, Ces Drilon is ensuring that the message gets across a larger base. Drilon, who is a military orphan herself, says that she feels close to her father through her involvement in the foundation.“We underestimate the sacri ces of soldiers for us,” she notes.“It’s not just the soldiers who make sacrifices, but the entire family.”
The public’s understanding of the soldiers’ living conditions and value is what HERO dreams of. “We were talking about how good it would be to get something from individual donors, no matter how small, because it means they understand,” adds Drilon.
The board of trustees expresses pride in playing a role in HERO, the soldiers’ lives and their families.
“We are most proud of our deliberate initiatives to demonstrate, as members of the civilian sector, that we appreciate what our Filipino soldiers and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are doing for the nation,” says Antonino. “Through HERO foundation, we are able to assure them of our full support.”
Raul Anthony Concepcion echoes Antonino and says that the foundation is one that creates an organized way of actively supporting soldiers. “We don’t just send kids to school and then leave it at that,” explains Concepcion. “The board is really thinking of a course that must be related to what they want to do in their lives,” he continues and adds that HERO is there for them every step of the way, from education to employment, and even to becoming an entrepreneur.
Belmonte, aside from taking pride in being part of a worthy cause says that he is also “honored to be working hand-inhand with such a distinguished group of men and women so committed to helping those who truly deserve it.”
Margarita Juico stresses that because of HERO, she is now “among sel ess people who are known for their philanthropic endeavors, who walk their talk.” She adds that she would like the soldiers, especially those in the battle eld, to know that “should anything happen to them, the HERO Foundation will be there to help out their children.”
Pinky Aquino-Abellada, on the other hand, is above all happy about the HERO success stories. Success rate, to her, is important for the donor to feel that his donation indeed bears fruit and is not wasted. And in spite of HERO’s praiseworthy efforts and constant progress, Pinky hopes that one day, it will be irrelevant: “That means we already have peace in the country,” she says.