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THE DRAGON BOAT RACES FOR THE FOUNTAIN OF LOVE
by Jay Denvher Soriano
The Padua Charitable Fund’s “Fountain of Love”
School Project in Bani, Pangasinan, Philippines is now completed
and ready to be utilised this year!
This daycare centre was started in 2013 through the fundraising
activites of the Padua Charitable Fund (UK registered 1123426)
with the devoted supervision of British Filipina actress Rachel
Grant and her mother Isabel Padua Grant in liaison with the municipality
of Bani.
In 2014, Connia Interiors of Nottingham UK selected the charity
as the sole recipient of their Dragon Boat team's fundraising
activity through their participation in the Nottingham Dragon
Boat Race. This event is held annually at the River Trent Embankment
in Nottingham, UK.
With the indefatigable support of British businessman, Warren
Leighton, owner-director of Connia Interiors, fundraising for
this project escalated. Warren encouraged Filipinos and British
in Nottingham to participate in the abovementioned event. This
move has successfully achieved its two-fold purpose of strengthening
the community spirit while raising money for a worthy cause.
Money raised from 2014-2016 Dragon Boat fundraising has tremendously
helped in finishing the school of which the materials used are
strong and reinforced. Around 600 villagers, who were rehoused
in this small community after Typhoon Emong tragedy, also utilise
the building as shelter during strong typhoons.
The Padua Charitable Fund, Rachel Grant, and Isabel Padua Grant
gratefully recognise the immeasurable efforts and support of the
people involved --- Warren Leighton, British/ Filipinos in Nottingham,
friends, family --- who worked hard for the success of this project.
Moreover, the project could not have been possible without the
support of Bani Mayor Gwen Palafox Yamamoto, Engineer Cyril Cerezo,
Josephine Masanto and Jamaica Realty, and Rev. Jonas Centeno,
Parish Priest of Bani.
Another Filipino truism is manifested in this case: “Walang
nagtatagumpay nang mag-isa, palaging kailangan mo ng mga kasama.”
( No one succeeds alone. You always need companions.)
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