Tapulanga Foundation Awards 3 College Scholarship Grants!

The Ledesma-Mabilangan College Scholarship Grant is given by Ada Ledesma, daughter of Rafael Ledesma of Silay and Purita Kalaw of Iloilo and Batangas and her husband Felipe Mabilangan of Batangas. Sir Philip was Philippine Ambassador to France and concurrently to Portugal (1979 - 1988), China (1989 - 1994) and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (1994-2001). They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

They visited SFAS (for the first time) last January and was very happy to see what we are doing here. And they became inspired to help … thus, the Ledesma-Mabilangan College Scholarship Grant.

Congratulations Romnick Sadio for being the recipient of the Ledesma-Mabilangan College Scholarship Grant, a four-year college scholarship grant. Romnick plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Education in CHMSI, Talisay City.

The Babes of Bacolod College Scholarship Grant is given by the Babes of Bacolod, an informal group of friends originally from Bacolod committed to alleviating the lives of impoverished children through health and education in Negros. Now living in Los Angeles, California in the United States of America, they have been holding fundraisers for the Tapulanga Foundation since 2004. They started with 7 scholars in 2004 and this school year, they have 77 scholars studying in SFAS.

Last February 7, 2009, they held the first U.S. screening of our very own Ilonggo film “Namets.” The event was a fundraiser and because of its success, the Babes of Bacolod College Scholarship Grant was made possible.

Congratulations Ryan Navarette for being the recipient of the Babes of Bacolod College Scholarship Grant, a four year college scholarship grant. Ryan plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Electronics in CHMSI, Talisay City.
The Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Grant is given by Ramon Felix Totengco, more popularly known as Rafé Totengco, a New York-based Filipino fashion designer who specializes in women’s handbags, shoes, and small leather goods, and men’s bags and accessories. In the late 1990s and through the 2000s, he garnered a number of awards for his designs.

He grew up in Bacolod City, Philippines. Even in elementary school, he began modifying his school uniform and going to tailors to have new clothes made for himself and his friends and family. Most Filipino fashionistas remember Rafe for Schizo, a clothing and accessories business under Sari-sari store in Manila. He was only 18 then and with no formal training in fashion. Unsatisfied he wanted to expand his horizons and soon enough, he went to New York where he enrolled in FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) evening school in fashion while supporting himself as a design assistant.

Late of last year, Team Manila and Marie Claire magazine asked Rafe Totengco to design a men’s and women’s t-shirts for a foundation of his own choice. He chose the Tapulanga Foundation, specifically the scholarship program. The shirts are being sold for Php1,500 and 45% goes to the foundation’s project. This successful project made the Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Grant possible.

Congratulations Mia Joy Villaneuva for being the recipient of the Rafe Totengco College Scholarship Grant, a four year college scholarship grant. Mia plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Education in either the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City or CHMSI, Talisay City.