Can former residents of a municipality in the Philippines sustain their contact with their home town and eventually make a difference to the lives of many in their town mates, from their distant residences in Australia?
The Kananga Residents and Settlers Abroad, (KRSA) Inc, a non-profit community organisation registered in New South Wales, Australia and based in Western Sydney, can.
The mission statement of the association is “enhance Kananga in education, health, town beautification community activities and welfare.”
Kananga is a first class municipality in Leyte province in the Philippines. It was established in 1950 out of several barrios of Ormoc City also in Leyte, which suffered the brunt of devastation brought by Typhoon Haiyan last 8 November 2013.
KRSA highlighted this civic triumph recently during the association’s 4th anniversary celebration recently at the Marayong Community Centre in Marayong, NSW complete with the presence of the mayor and vice mayor of their beloved town of Kananga, Leyte in the Philippines.
KRSA capped its continued assistance to the hometown with a food relief assistance to the town which was ravaged last year by Super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda , worth 254,062 pesos, according to its club report. KRSA also donated 30,000 pesos to the town Catholic church, for church pews.
Municipal Mayor Elmer Codilla and Vice Mayor Macario Lumangtad, Jr obliged with the invitation of the KRSA to come to their celebration and in the process thanked KRSA for their invaluable assistance during the recent Typhoon Haiyan which ravaged the province of Leyte including the town of Kananga.
Kananga Mayor Codilla said,”Your organisation’s willingness to pursue several humanitarian projects in Kanagga, Leyte has benefitted substantial number of kababayans, ad definitely made an impact into their lives.”
Even before the onset of Typhoon Haiyan, KRSA was already active in helping make a difference to the lives of its kababayans with its various yearly project benefitting their hometown.
Recently, KRSA president Joy Robinson reported KRSA’s various projects, as such: donation of medical equipment, children’s toys and educational materials in 2009; sponsored an amateur singing contest to build confidence and develop talents, particularly among the youth in 2010; donation of another set of medicl equipment in 2011; sponsored a “Diabetes Awareness Day” which resulted in physical check up and subsequent referral of many diagnosed patients.
The 2014 KRSA set of officers are: Joy Robinson, president, international; Anel Piano, international director; Gerald Rowley, international secretary; Roger Mantua, finance officer; Jules Brown, auditor. For more info about KRSA, contact Joy Robinson 0401 293 356 or email ajrobinson@ozemail.com.au
KRSA’s Australia sector officers are: Arnel Piano, president; Gerry Mantua, vice president; Gerald Rowley, secretary; Val Tuguonon, auditor; Lilibeth del Rosario, PRO.