The reins of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) were officially turned over to the fifth generation Aboitizes last November 16 at the foundation’s 50th anniversary celebration.
RAFI President Roberto Aboitiz, accompanied by his mother Señora Francisca Aboitiz, handed the newly published “The Foundation Called Ramon Aboitiz” book and the “RAFI @ 50” coffee table book to Amaya Aboitiz-Fansler and Juan Aboitiz, symbolizing the passing of responsibility of steering the family foundation over the next 50 years.
Speaking on behalf of the ‘fifth gen’, RAFI Board of Trustees member Amaya said that to be part of the continuing legacy of her great-grandfather Don Ramon Aboitiz and grandfather Don Eduardo Aboitiz was “both duty and gift”. She pledged to continue doing the work of the foundation and to ensure “that the spirit of the founders remain alive in all of us.”
RAFI Vice President Jon Ramon Aboitiz said that the books “show the hard work that goes into keeping the commitments made by Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eddie Aboitiz”. It was a way of thanking the individuals and partners who were part of the journey that brought RAFI to where it is today. Likewise, it is part of ushering in the fifth generation of the Ramon Aboitiz family who have committed to do their part to bring RAFI to more fruitful years.
As part of the celebration, RAFI recognized the Cebu Provincial Government and the University of San Carlos (USC) as its “Most Enduring Partners” in elevating lives.
RAFI’s collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government goes back to the time of Gov. Francisco Remotigue in 1966 and continued through the years, involving various programs including disaster response, school and Gabaldon rehabilitation, and the Mega Cebu project. Another important partnership project is the “Our Cebu” scorecard, which measures the performance and governance of local government units in the province.
USC, on the other hand, joined RAFI’s projects through its various departments, particularly the Cebuano Studies Center; Water Resources Center; the departments of Anthropology, Sociology, and History; and the School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design (formerly the Center for Architecture and Fine Arts or CAFA). In its early years, RAFI also gave scholarships to USC’s Department of Education.
[espro-slider id=6362]