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Chapter Chairperson Mr Richard Tan (Public Policy '13) helping to move the electric fans.
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(From left:) Mr Federico Sandoval (Business '19), Mr Richard Tan (Public Policy '13), Mr Wesley John Gonzalez (Public Policy '18) and Ms Kimly Ang Sandoval (Business '18) from NUS Alumni Manila Chapter posing for a group photo.
NUS Alumni Manila Chapter - NUS Day of Service 2021
05 March
Originally scheduled for 2021, NUS Alumni Manila Chapter came together to serve the community on 5 March 2022 as part of NUS Day of Service (DOS), which was much-delayed due to the global pandemic. Manila was now at the least restrictive Alert Level System Level 1. While health and safety protocols continue to be maintained in accordance to the city’s regulations, there were no longer restrictions for indoor and outdoor capacities, which include intrazonal and interzonal travel of people.
The Missionaries of Charity (Philippine Branch Office) was selected as the primary beneficiary. Administered by a dozen nuns, the Charity caters to mostly sick and/or physically or mentally challenged children and elderly. Most children at the Charity were abandoned, some of whom were left to the care of the Charity, as the parents were physically and financially unable to care for their sick children. The Charity is headquartered along Tayuman Street of Tondo District in the City of Manila; an area known for being the slum capital of Manila due to the high incidence of poverty.
The Project Chairperson and DOS Champion for this activity was Ms Kimly Ang Sandoval (Business ‘18), who also concurrently serves as the Chapter Secretary for the current term (2021-2023). To understand their long-term needs, the Chapter surveyed the Charity directly and received an overwhelming response for the supply of Industrial Orbit Ceiling Electric Fans for all 18 Homes, two of which were located in Manila, and the rest in other major cities in the Philippines. These fans were expensive but much needed for the daily routines of the beneficiaries, especially in the hot summer. DOS Champion Ms Kimly was able to get in touch with a personal contact from Europrince Philippines Corporation, which is a major supplier of the requested ceiling fans. The company offered a goodwill discount – almost 30% cheaper than retail prices – and included free delivery and 1-year warranty nationwide.
To raise funds for the purchase of the fans, the Chapter made a Call for Donation through their official Facebook Group Page on the evening of 1 March 2022. Within 48 hours, 11 alumnus generously donated a total sum of PhP41,250 (approximately SGD1,075.62). This was enough for the Chapter to order 33 fans, exceeding their initial goal of 18! On 5 March 2022, four alumni representatives from the Chapter handed the fans to the Charity, which would then be distributed by the sisters to their other branches across the provinces.
Submitted by Mr Nestor Precioso (Science '06).