In a heartwarming ceremony coinciding with Calasiao’s fiesta, Kamuning Bakery Cafe (KBC) owner, realty entrepreneur, college teacher and writer Wilson Lee Flores handed over keys to a new four-classroom public schoolbuilding to Dinalaoan Elementary School in Barangay Dinalaoan, Calasiao, Pangasinan on May 3, 2024.

 

This generous donation underscores KBC’s support to education and rural development, made possible through a partnership with the “Operation Barrio Schools” civic initiative of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) led by President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, with cooperation of businessman Willy Sy, Pangasinan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and East Pangasinan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

            Nestled in the heart of Calasiao municipality, Barangay Dinalaoan is renowned for its production of the region’s famed Puto rice cakes. The event was graced by Pangasinan Provincial Board member Dr. Sheila Marie Ferrer-Baniqued, Calasiao Mayor Roy Q. Macanlalay, Dinalaoan Barangay Captain Mylene Laforteza Ico, “Sunday Punch” newspaper publisher Ermin Garcia, Jr. and other local community leaders. Dinalaoan Elementary School educators and students were led by Principal Gina Javier. 

            Leaders who sent messages of support for this public schoolbuilding donation included Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Bong Go, Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Vice-Governor Mark Lambino, and others.

            Wilson Lee Flores, owner of 85-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City and Red Apple Properties & Management, Inc., expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to public education in Barangay Dinalaoan. He affirmed his belief in education as key to progress, eradicating poverty and promoting social justice. Citing how education empowers people, Flores quoted an ancient Chinese proverb in his short speech: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.

            Flores said he and Kamuning Bakery Cafe are committed to unique civic causes like donating public schoolbuildings to different rural regions every year, holding annual October 16 “World Pandesal Day” civic and cultural project, hosting non-partisan and issues-focused “Pandesal Forum”, etc.  

            This public schoolbuilding donation to Calasiao also paid homage to the legacies of the late educator and poet Mary Young Siu Tin and the late sawmill entrepreneur Lee Tek Hong.

 

Among FFCCCII officials present  at the public schoolbuilding turnover ceremony included FFCCCII Board member and Pangasinan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce past President George Chua Cham, East Pangasinan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Rosendo So, FFCCCII regional council directors Alfredo Lim and Joseph Redulla, Carl;os Legaspi and others.