Kids meet scholarship sponsor Sitti

Around 700 pupils of Tiltilon Elementary School in barangay Cotcot, Liloan town, northern Cebu met celebrity scholarship sponsor Sitti Navarro last June 11 during the start of World Vision’s City Advocacy Caravan in Cebu.

The 27-year old singer, accompanied by school principal Jesusa Bantilan and World Vision personnel led by public engagement director Minnie Portales, visited the children in their classroom.

Navarro, who became a sponsor since 2007, interacted with the children and serenaded them with her song during a brief program. The children, in turn, presented their talents to the delight of Navarro.

Navarro told the children to respect their parents and teachers and study hard to succeed. She also challenged them to go back to their hometown once they become successful in their respective fields and help develop their place through establishing buildings and other infrastructures and help send the next generation of poor children to school once they become successful in their respective fields.

Louis Marie Rio, a Grade 6 pupil who is sponsored by World Vision, in her speech thanked the sponsors for giving them chance for a brighter future. “Pangako namin sa inyo na hindi masasayang ang tulong ninyo sa amin (We promise not to put your help to waste),” she said.

Bantilan also thanked the World Vision, Sitti Navarro and community partners for helping their pupils.

At least 103 indigent children from Tiltilon Elementary School are beneficiaries of World Vision’s educational sponsorship program.

The children were selected from the poorest of the poor by partner organization United Families of Northern Cebu for Genuine Development Inc.

Portales said the City Advocacy Caravan is a week-long campaign from June 11 to June 17 to promote child sponsorship in key cities outside Manila.

Portales said they are aiming to find sponsorship for the 50 poor children and their families and communities.

Today at 10 a.m., another celebrity sponsor, Matteo Guidicelli, will visit barangay Catarman, also in Liloan.

Guidicelli, a Cebuano, will meet his sponsored children who initiated the ‘savings group’ to support some of their needs that their parents can’t provide. The children got the concept from their parents’ Managed Savings Credit Association introduced by World Vision.

A “meet and greet” with Matteo will follow after the visit.

The City Advocacy Caravan is part of World Vision’s 55th anniversary celebration, which carries the theme “Sharing the Joy of Hope.”

Now on its 55th year, the organization aims to inspire more Filipinos to share hope and reach out to fellowmen in poverty.

Meanwhile, exhibits are ongoing until June 17 at Ayala Center Cebu and at SM City Cebu Trade Hall to encourage visitors to sponsor a child.

For details, call Cebu Hotline 505-4444. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA