MANILA, Philippines - President Macapagal-Arroyo came to grace the turnover of nine classrooms and a covered court to the Gun-ob High School in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. These add up to 21 classrooms donated through the years to this school by Ramon and Betty Chiu, highly respected in Cebu for their deep sense of charity and civic concern.

The day chosen was most significant: July 23, 85th birthday of Ramon Chiu. The president congratulated him on his longevity and unveiled a marker to commemorate the historic occasion. The president also officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mr. and Ms Chiu, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, and Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz.

Then the president cued an aide to bring in a birthday cake she herself had chosen.
She presented it to Chiu with a flourish and led everyone to sing the birthday song. Clustering about her were members of the Chiu family: eldest son Henry with wife Rosan and their sons Lawrence and Terence; Elizabeth Chiu with daughter Jennifer Liao; Yvonne and Wen Foo Chern with their Min, Lee and Kai; Antonio and Nelly Chiu with their Janice, Jason and Jillian; Grace and Edwin Mercado with sons Brian and Devin; and Kristine Chiu, youngest of the brood.

The school?s principal Raul Davide and the faculty were visibly overjoyed. So was Barangay Captain Jose Dungog who delivered the welcome address at the start of the program.

Messages were delivered by Dr. Carmelita Dulangon, Department of Education superintendent in Lapu-lapu City; John Tan, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and its Cebu chapter president Filomeno Lim.

Message of inspiration

The president left to attend myriad engagements in Cebu City, but the celebration continued. Gov. Garcia delivered a most inspirational message to the family. She has been close to them since her student days at Cebu?s St. Theresa?s College. Yvonne Chiu was president of the student council, and Gwen was her vice president.

In the evening Mr. and Ms Ramon Chiu with their children and grandchildren, plus lots of friends, celebrated with a grand dinner at the Arctic Halls of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Eva Poon, singer and emcee par excellence made things lively.
Classical and popular music came from the strings of Mark Hamlet Mercado and Dave Clark Sibonga. One of the grandchildren Min Chern regaled everyone with violin solos.

A special message was delivered by the Chiu couple?s second son, Antonio Chiu, Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Cebu.

He mentioned how his father had never completed his formal education as he worked very hard in order that his younger siblings would attain theirs.

Three of these siblings were present that evening, and have done the family proud: Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Francisco Benedicto, who is the next Philippine Ambassador to India; Enrique Benedicto, Honorary Consul of Belgium in Cebu; and Ceferino Benedicto, Honorary Consul of Albania in Manila.