In Honor of Bishop del Portillo: Project Sampaguita Launched in Cebu City

A Benefit Dinner-Symposium kicked off last July 23, 2014 at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu hotel, organized by the Kalinangan Youth Foundation, Inc. (KALFI) through Banilad Study Center (BSC), attended by  more than a hundred people who support education and youth development initiatives. KALFI is a non-government, non-profit organization committed to women-in-development projects in the country.

Aptly named “Project Sampaguita: Strands of Poverty and Blessedness,” this event highlights how poverty can be fought actively in Cebu City by supporting various youth development projects in the province.

The symposium’s speakers were His Excellency, Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu, Mrs. Beth Lopez, Director of the Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD) school, Ms. Bunny Ludo, Proprietress of Oh, George! and Café George, Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, Head of the Institute of Corporate Directors, and Hon.  Agnes Magpale, Vice-Governor of Cebu. 

Project Sampaguita is a call to Cebuanos and everyone with a big heart to give 1-2 year scholarships to the students of BCPD and  provide year-round youth development financial support to some high school and college students who attend socio-civic activities in Banilad Study Center. BCPD is a technical-vocational school for underprivileged female high school graduates who would like to work in the tourism industry. 

This dinner-symposium takes its inspiration from Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the first successor of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. Bishop del Portillo came here to Cebu in January 1987 and spoke about how the wide gap between the rich and the poor in the city can be resolved via education initiatives such as the Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD), which was established soon after his visit. Bishop del Portillo’s beatification, the first step before sainthood, is set this coming Saturday, September 27, to be held in Madrid, Spain.  

Some members of Project Sampaguita's core group 

The Sampaguita Girl, a bronze statue made by sculptor Seb Chua, depicts the gripping and sad image of poverty in the country i.e. Sampaguita vendors who eke out a living by selling strands of Sampaguita in the streets in order to have money for their schooling.  The speakers of the event were each given this statue as a token of appreciation.

It is our hope that there be more Project Sampaguitas which will resolutely work on alleviating poverty in and outside the province of Cebu.