Tanauan, Leyte (August 13) -- Officers and members of the Tanauan Lady of Assumption Society in San Francisco Bay Area through the Balik Ayuda Program, brought joy to more than 232 disadvantaged families in Tanauan, Leyte on August 12, 2007 at the Tanauan Gymnasium.
The TLAS was represented by Mr. Francisco Salvana and Atty. Jose Buban who together with Mayor Roque Tiu and the local officials, led in the distribution of bundles of food stuff and clothing to about 282 grateful families from the different barangays of Tanauan, Leyte.

Mayor Roque Tiu informed that the TLAS sent the money which was used to buy the foodstuff consisting of canned goods, milk, rice and noodles. Atty. Buban was the one who chose the foodstuff that were distributed to the people, Mayor Tiu said.

He added that several balikbayan boxes containing clothings, toys and books also arrived from San Francisco and were distributed to the people.

The clothings and toys were distributed to the same beneficiaries while the books consisting of encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reading materials were turned over to the town's e-Center and Municipal Library.

Mayor Tiu said that the Tanaunanons in San Francisco have been very helpful and supportive to the needs of the constituents of Tanauan.

The good rapport between the Local Government Unit and the TLAS started during the presidency of Ms. Corazon Abaya who started supporting the scholarship program for high school and college students in Tanauan. Other kind-hearted Tanauananons followed suit and also sponsored poor students to school.

The gesture of the TLAS members never fail to touch the hearts of the people of Tanauan, Mayor Tiu said, expressing his unending gratitude to the generous members of the organization.

The Balik Ayuda Program has been going on for many years already, in connection with the Tanauan Day celebration on August 15. The gesture is a manifestation of the Tanauananons in Southern California to be one with their fellow Tanauanons during the celebration of the town fiesta.

The distribution of family gift packs to the disadvantaged families of the municipality is reaching out to them, so that they could also celebrate the twin occasions. (PIA 8)