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GRF successfully launches its 50^th year celebrations
August 26, 2008

The Gerry Roxas Foundation successfully launched its 50th anniversary celebrations last August 25, 2008 at the Mandarin Oriental Suites, Gateway Mall, Quezon City. The event, which coincided with the birth anniversary of its founder, the late Sen. Gerry Roxas, turned out to be a reunion of family and friends of the late Sen. Roxas, beneficiaries of the Foundation’s development programs, and hundreds of Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees (GRLAs) from all over the country.

The launch, which was initiated by a core group of GRLAs (Professionals Group) commenced with a Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Prudencio Andaya, Jr., himself a GRLA. It was followed by a short program featuring the beginnings of the Foundation and testimonials from some beneficiaries of its programs.

Mrs. Judy R. Roxas, GRF Chair and wife of the late Sen. Gerry Roxas, acknowledged the presence of some members of the Roxas Family, the members of the GRF Board of Trustees, the representatives of some partner agencies of the Foundation, and the stakeholders of GRF’s programs which participation and support compel the continued existence of the Foundation. She expressed her gratitude for everyone’s support in achieving the late Sen. Gerry Roxas’ vision of a nation of leaders for change.

Hja Nurija Kallas, a Barangay Justice Advocate trained through GRF’s Barangay Justice Service System (BJSS) project, related that the implementation of the BJSS in the ARMM has increased the peaceful settlement of conflicts in their communities and increased the participation of women in local governance.

Ms. Evangeline Doletin, a GRF Hublag Beneficiary, shared that her initial loan of P10,000.00 in 1996 from GRF-Hublag which she used to buy fertilizers for her farm, helped her provide for the needs of her family and enabled her to buy house appliances. She remains a client of good standing with Hublag and has an increased bankability with a current loan amounting to P24,000.00.

Atty. Christine V. Lao, 1991 GRLA, shared that she learned three things from the Gerry Roxas Foundation. She said that GRF develops leaders by inspiration. She confessed that receiving the Gerry Roxas Leadership Award inspired her to persevere and become a true leader—a quality common to all GRLAs, and made them successful in their respective endeavors. She also shared that the award is a recognition of the fact that it is the community (i.e, family, school, barangay) that makes a leader, and reflected that a true leader is one who enables other people to also become leaders. Read More...

The program ended with an inspirational message from Sen. Mar Roxas, a Member of GRF Board of Trustee and son of the late Sen. Gerry Roxas. He shared that GRF and GRF scholars have always been a staple topic in their family, and anniversaries such as this event, is an opportunity to look back what has transpired in the past as well as to commit oneself for a better tomorrow. He said that the story of each stakeholder and beneficiary of GRF programs realizes the vision of his father that Filipinos are good—a vision that has even outlived the man.

The event culminated in a sumptuous lunch which the attendees enjoyed while participating in fun games prepared by the GRLAs.

Please see the Gallery for pictures on this event.

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