L I N G A P

The Life Improvement Network for Grassroots Assistance and Progress (LINGAP), registered with Securities Exchange Commission on December 27, 2005 (No. CN200521064) was officially launched  on March 26, 2006. The founding members, some friends  and supporters gathered together at the basketball court of Caniogan, Calumpit, Bulacan at 6:00 in the morning,  invoked  God’s blessing and exercised with a dance aerobics instructor, Jun Paculto, for 30 minutes. Then,  Barangay Chairman Tony Soliman and other barangay officials led the group in a march or “alay lakad”,  to the town proper up to the  municipal hall  and  back to Caniogan .Vice Mayor Boy Lim Ranola joined the group later. They carried a streamer with this message: “Sa pagtutulungan, uunlad ang  pamayanan”  and  distributed  flyers  of LINGAP to  curious onlookers.

The launching program was held at the yard of the Galang residence (temporary office and site of the Community Learning Center of LINGAP) in the afternoon. Pilar G. Cadaing, treasurer of LINGAP served as the emcee.  Dr. Greg Lacsamana led an invocation and Pastor Ciriaco Q. Francisco, District Superintendent, NBD, The United Methodist Church,  officiated the dedication and blessing.. Mrs. Angelita Yco, an English teacher from Caniogan High School led the audience in the singing of the national anthem.

The very joyful and pleasant music of the God’s Chosen Choir and Band, organized by Brother Doming and Sister Normie De Castro and directed by Marcos  Cudio Medina  made the celebration festive as they sang praise and inspirational songs. The songs and messages were very much fitted to the mission and vision of LINGAP. The affair took on the air of a mini garden concert.

The founder, Elvira Galang, narrated how her research in Japan with women’s centers influenced her to push the idea of a community learning center in her hometown which will empower individuals and communities. She explained how the founding members, led by her high school batchmates of Calumpit Institute (Batch ‘73) communicated through the internet and planned it, together with friends from abroad such as Lynn G. Torres of Canada, Claro S. Patag of Australia, Anonina Binsol of Japan , Chie Cabral and Naoko Kamioka of  the USA.

She also stressed the non-political and non-profit nature of LINGAP, which will be run by volunteers who would like to make a difference in their community.

In closing, she mentioned about the warning of a friend- that they would be criticized, be regarded with suspicion, and be treated with ungratefulness despite their good intentions. In this regard,  she quoted  Mother Teresa who advised people  to do good anyway, because whatever we do or think,  in the final analysis, it’s between us and God and not with those people. She thanked her parents, Rosendo and Serenidad Galang who are fully supportive of  their desire to serve the community. She also thanked other agencies that collaborate with LINGAP, and acknowledged the presence of the representatives of those groups: Dr. Tita Francisco (Director of Extension Services of Bulacan State University), Ederlinda J.  Austrial (President of the Breast Cancer Society of Manila), Mrs. Resie Garcia (Principal  of Caniogan High School) and members  of the Couples of Christ.

Guest speaker was the very young, energetic and amiable town mayor, Engineer James  P. de Jesus, who noted that an NGO like LINGAP, is  an invaluable partner of the government , and  he  therefore promised a full support for it - personally as a member and officially as the town mayor. He emphasized his admiration for the Galang family who has accomplished a lot and yet still are living humble lives.

Besides the beautiful music of the God’s Chosen Choir and Band, the women of  the “Bayani ng Sta. Cruz” rendered a folk dance to the delight of the audience. LINGAP PRO, Priscilla Gonzales, announced the forthcoming programs of LINGAP and encouraged the people to participate.

LINGAP Secretary Liwayway A. Galang, delivered an emotional closing speech about how blessed she feels being part of the Galang family, who remain the salt of the earth despite their considerable accomplishments. A simple traditional snack was served after the program.

Click here to view more photos of LINGAP's official launching.

On December 14, 2006, the Interact Club of Calumpit Institute made a difference in the life of LINGAP kids.  Forty-nine (49) kids who never went to MacDonalds in their life were treated by the Interact Club of C.I. to spaghetti, hamburger, drinks, balloons, games and mascots.

Fourteen dumpsite kids who walked for one hour from Pungo to Caniogan's LINGAP Center were very excited, as well as the Riverside children and other indigent kids of Caniogan.  It was indeed a golden Christmas treat.  Mrs. Ofelia Sevilla is the adviser of the club. Below is a photo taken during this special day.

For more photos, please click here.

Please click here to download the Christmas Message of our LINGAP Founder.

Download the latest LINGAP NEWSLETTER - NOV. 08 ISSUE NO. 4

For back issues, click the following links:

July 2006 Issue

November 2006 Issue

November 2007 Issue

Dear Friends,

The year 2008 is another challenging  year. My health failed and recovered, failed again and recovered again. Thank God, I'm still hanging in there.  Its been a sad year without my mother; however, father is  slowly recovering his health and many other blessings have made this year something to be more thanful for.

The NGO I co-founded with my high school classmates Batch 73 called the Life Improvement Network for Grassroots Assistance and Progress ( LINGAP) has become more active with more scholars and activities, please see the attached newsletter.  And so is the Breast Cancer Society of Manila, Inc. (BCSMI) which has become more visible and more active in its advocacy to promote health consiousness among the public. My very close friends are from this two groups.

The five year project for the Technological University of the Philippines, dubbed the "Dream Project" which I co-organized with the High  School Alumni Association as its adviser  was finally completed and a scholarship program has been launched and is now operational. This high school alumni group has become a big family for me and a source of fulfillment, profesionally and personally.

Another blessing is the Acting Deanship of Colegio de Calumpit, my alma mater. The college department I am now heading has two programs-BS Education and BS Entrepreneurship. I am very glad that they allow me to be active still with many other commitments such as part-time teaching at the Technological University of the Philippines and the Bulacan State University.
 
My son Joseph (nicknamed Jacel) at age 15  is very active extracurricularly: he plays soccer (best player according to his coach),  was declared the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in his high school intramurals in  the field of basketball  and went to Japan for two weeks,  as an exchange student with five other high school students. In his  "storms and stress" years, he is one of my great challenges. It is very difficult to raise him alone . In fairness to him, growing up fatherless in a world full of confusions, materialism  and misplaced priorities is tough. Compounding this complications is that his mother plays  multiple roles in life.

May I take this opportunity  to thank you  again, from the bottom of my heart,  for the love and support you have been giving me over the years. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and may you have more blessings to come.

With love and prayers,

Elvie Galang

c.p. no. 0919-791-4135

Our kababayan & balikbayan from Canada, Joven Talampas' visit to the Philippines and his close encounter with LINGAP kids. With Joven in the photo are our LINGAP founder, Elvie Galang, Evelyn Borromeo, LINGAP volunteers and dumpsite kids. Joven is one of LINGAP's active Balikbayan supporters based in Canada. To view more photos, please click here and for video footages, follow this link courtesy of C.I. Batch '73 (thanks to Chie Cabral for creating the link). 

If you would like to make donations to LINGAP, please contact gnalagarivle@yahoo.com.

Click here to view more photos of LINGAP's official launching.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING.