All she wanted was to go to school

Poverty drives girl to commit suicide
By Edith Regalado, The Philippine Star
Thursday, November 8, 2007

DAVAO CITY – Extreme poverty apparently drove a 12-year-old girl to commit suicide here last Nov. 2.

Marianeth Amper, second to the youngest of seven children of Isabelo and Magdalena Amper of Yniguez Subdivision in Sitio Bugac, Barangay Ma-a this city, used a rope to hang herself inside their shanty. Amper, a Grade 5 pupil of the Ma-a Elementary School, expressed her depression through entries in her diary, lamenting how she wanted to continue with her studies but her parents could not afford to send her to school.

Her classmates said Amper had been depressed in the past months and was said to have also told everyone in class that she was looking forward to the coming All Saints’ Day. She even wrote in her diary on Oct. 21: “Thank you, malapit na ang araw ng mga patay.” Her teachers described the victim as an intelligent pupil who could share her thoughts and input on various subjects, including religion.

She however sometimes did not go to school for days, weeks and even a month, because she did not have money for fare and school allowance.

The victim also wanted to work at the undong and pancit factory in the neighborhood where her mother works but children were not allowed to work there.

The young Amper also noted in her diary her plan to write a letter to the popular program “Wish Ko Lang” of GMA Channel 7. She also wanted to request the program’s host to visit their house and witness the poverty that her family is suffering from. She also planned to ask Wish Ko Lang to give her a new pair of shoes, toys and a bicycle that she could use to go to school.

Wish Ko Lang producers usually give away cash or kind to lucky letter senders.
Amper’s classmates said that in the past days, the victim was always crying in a corner in school, and she told her classmates not to come near her as she had a very big problem that they would never understand.

And the final count is...

$12,000!!! Yup - that's how much money we made from this year's fundraiser. Thank you to our friends, family and coworkers who have made this happen. We have exceeded our goal because of you! Special thanks go out to Lisa Kudrow who is our biggest contributor and our very first celebrity donor. Thanks Miss Kudrow! You will always be our favorite f r i e n d.

What's in a name?

When we had our very first fundraiser back in 2004, we didn't have an organized group. We didn't have a group name. We weren't even sure of what we were doing. And, because we didn't take ourselves seriously (and oftentimes we still don't), we started calling ourselves The Babes of Bacolod. We're all from Bacolod but we would never describe ourselves as Babes. Humility is a Filipino trait after all. But what started as a joke has now become "official." However, as our events have gotten bigger and our group is getting more recognition, we would like people to take us seriously. Unfortunately we can't seem to come up with a new name! So we're asking all of you out there to help us with one. A name we can say with a straight face, a name that describes who we are or what we do. The name game is on. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you.

Not Your Ordinary Christmas Card

Christmas is just around the corner! But why buy cards that will only enrich big businesses like Hallmark? Send a card that's unique and truly Filipino. Send a card to help out the Tapulanga Foundation.



Inside Text - May your life be blessed with hope, peace and joy. Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon! (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!)

$10 for a pack of 10

Created by Filipino artist, Fran Ng, proceeds from the sale of the cards go to its educational, healthcare and micro-credit programs. To purchase, please contact any of the Babes or email us at babesofbacolod@gmail.com.

Who We Help

The St. Francis of Assisi School is a private institution established in 1964 with a vision to provide quality education to the children of farm workers. Located in a 5 hectare campus just outside Silay City, Negros Occidental, the school provides kindergarten to high school education for approximately 450 students. With their parents earning an average of $4/day in the farms, most of these children cannot afford tuition. The Babes, through the Tapulanga Foundation, help in sending these kids to school and providing them with medical check-ups.

The C.L. Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) is the main public hospital in Negros, an island in the middle part of the Philippines. The hospital mainly serves the poor who have no health insurance and can barely afford medication. Funding for this hospital is at its bare minimum and patients oftentimes have to bring their own beds or sleep in hallways due to the lack of facilities. It is not unusual for 3-4 children to share one bed or for patients to sleep on cardboard boxes. We intend to buy mattresses, medical equipment and supplies for this hospital.

A few more photos...

Want to see more? Here are a few more fundraiser photos worth sharing. Enjoy!



Thanks to Alan Montelibano for the photos.

Can you help?

Filipino Fiesta Fundraiser

The Babes of Bacolod recently held their fourth - and most successful - fundraiser on September 8, 2007 at the residence of Joy and Bill Herd in Brentwood, California. The cocktail party benefitted the Tapulanga Foundation which provides free education and healthcare assistance to the underprivileged students of the St. Francis of Assisi School in Silay City. An added beneficiary this year is the pediatric ward of the C.L. Montelibano Provincial Hospital which is in dire need of hospital beds and linens for its young patients.

At least 100 guests were treated to an evening of Filipino hors d’oeuvres prepared by the Babes’ very own hands. A silent auction was held which included jewelry, DVDs, video games, toys, clothing, a Rafe New York handbag and wallets. Attendees were also able to get a glimpse of the school and its students through a touching video presentation.

Fundraiser Photo Gallery

View more photos from our Fundraiser by clicking here. We recommend that you view the slideshow. Thanks to Leo Benedicto (http://photosorcery.blogspot.com) for the gorgeous pictures!