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Pinoys in US raise funds for poor kids in PHL who swim to reach school


A group of Filipinos in the United States have raised funds for the Philippine-based Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation that provides boats for poor students who have to swim across rivers or lakes just to go to school. Members of the high school Class of 1985 of the Benedictine Abbey School (now San Beda College Alabang) have used their reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada from May 25 to 28 as a venue to raise funds for the foundation.

Members of the high school Class of 1985 of the Benedictine Abbey School (now San Beda College Alabang) raise funds for poor children. Dennis Urquia
Jay Michael Jaboneta, founder of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, said they have already provided hundreds of yellow boats for communities in the southern Philippines like Layag-Layag, Zamboanga City; Isla Mababoy, Masbate; and Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur. In an article posted on his blogsite, Jaboneta noted that, “In Manila, kids would skip school to swim. These kids would swim to go to school.”

The Yellow Boat Project has already caught international attention, having been featured on  CNN, Al-jazeera and Associated Press.  

Jay Michael Jaboneta, founder of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, said they have already provided hundreds of yellow boats for communities in the southern Philippines. Jay Jaboneta

Giving back In a news release, Marie Pangilinan Reyes, co-organizer of the reunion attended by Bedans from the US and Canada, said, “This reunion brought unity, camaraderie, love and support for one another. It also brought awareness to the plight of the children in the Philippines who swim just to reach school.” Maia Neri, another co-organizer said, “It’s our small way of giving back to our motherland.” The high school batch plans to organize more fundraisers for projects such as medical and dental missions for poor communities. - VVP, GMA News    

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