By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – There are so many things that are on the plate of the indefatigable 82-year-old Lumen Castaneda, Fil-Am community leader and founder of the teacher’s group UNIFFIED. A few years ago, when she saw the horrible situation of little school children in Batangas who had to traverse the waters everyday to go to school on the other side of the island, she immediately did her own initiative of raising funds for the creation of bamboo rafts. In this manner, the children could go to school safely and without having to be exposed to water-borne diseases.
She added more concern on her plate. But such is Lumen Castaneda known for her lengthy energy for people. Her list of activities never seem to get diminished.
On May 27, 2019, she relaunched her LC Legacy Foundation at the Philippine Center. LC means Life for Children, thus the foundation devotes itself to school children in the Philippines for the past five years now.
It provided school supplies in Marikina, Mindoro and Batanes in the Luzon region. Soon, the foundation will provide mini solar lamps to schoolchildren in Sitio Bernarda, Nasugbu in Batangas.
Cristobal: Every effort for our school children is commendable.
Its relaunch was hosted by Juliet Payabyab. The new set of officers are: Judith Sanchez, president; Vicente Gesmundo, Vice President; Emilia Quidit, secretary; Celia Morales, treasurer; Steve Van Derodar, business manager; Ria Serrano, public relations officer who were inducted into office by Consul General Claro Cristobal.
The directors of the foundation are: Grace Labaguis, Menchu Sanchez, Jennifer Castaneda, Laura Garcia, Ramona Gapasin, Ronnie Mataquel, Lynn Ciocon, Josie Harrison, Juanita Castaneda, and Bernard Lapuz. Bobby Yalong stands as adviser.
(Feature photo by Grace Labaguis)
