The First Ten Years
The Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation (then known as the Catalino D. Yap Foundation or CDYF) was established to honor Mr. Catalino D. Yap. Sr., who organized the Saint Anthony institute in 1945, one of many he organized around that time. Today, the SACT College System includes various schools and colleges offering education and training at all academic levels. The College System considers the Foundation as the “soul of the school”.
Pinatubo was the primary area of concern when the Foundation started. Scholarships for Aetas in the area, a Study-Now-Pay-Later plan for thousands of students (high school, college and graduate level); organization of two multipurpose cooperatives, establishment of a local United Way affiliate, organization of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng Mabalacat, various medical-dental and food distribution missions, and, support for the Archdiocesan Social Action Center of Pampanga (e.g. “Sagip Baryo” Adoption Program, etc.) – were the hallmark of these years.
From 1993-2003, the Foundation was focused on Education, Sports, and Institution Building. By 1995, the Holy Rosary School was organized in cooperation with Fr. Greg Vega and the Santo Rosario Parish in Magalang, Pampanga to help residents of the over half a dozen communities it was serving, which resulted in what are now the SACT Gabay Bayan Schools. The latter, by 2010, included: HRS, the Clark Education Center (CEC), and the SACT Community College in Angeles City (the original SCC was established in Dau in 2004 with Mayor Morales and Abp. Paciano B. Aniceto, D.D. as main supporters and sponsors). The SACT Night School, established in 1953, operates as a charity activity as well.
The Next Decade
The next decade saw the Foundation focusing on expanding its activities in the area of Education. Over the last 17 years, two Saint Benilde Fellowships at De La Salle University, a Professorial Chair on “Grassroots Education” in the University’s Graduate School, and nine (9) years of CDY “Dalubhasang Tanglaw” Awards for Most Outstanding Elementary School Teacher in Pampanga were undertaken.
In the last half- decade, the Foundation has focused on CSR. Together with the Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas (est. 1611), the 1st Philippine Conference on Research in CSR was held on September 1, 2011. Preparations included three Roundtables held at the Boardroom of Ortigas & Co. Attendees included representatives from UA &P, DLSU, Ateneo de Manila University, The Fair Trade Movement. AIM, LCF and others. On September 3, 2012, the 2nd Philippine Conference on Research in CSR was held (also at UST). The 3rd Conference is scheduled on September 2, 2013 at AIM.
On its 20th year, BCYF has just celebrated the 100th birthday of Catalino D. Yap, Sr.
The Future of BCYF
Last January 7, 2013, the Social Media Workshop for CSR Practitioners was held at De La Salle University Taft. The Foundation is now firmly committed to trying to help the “common good” in the Philippines and Asia through its Institutes: the CSR Research Institute (CRI), the Institute for Social Enterprise and Development (ISED) and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), and five Centers: the Center for Educational Reform (CER), the Center for Counselling and Life Coaching (CEFCO); the Bea Cecilia Center for Seniors; and SPAME – its Special Projects and Marquee Events department, and CSR Today.
Last February 28 at DLSU, the Foundation decided to adopt the new CSR definition formulated by the AIM RVR CSR Center’s Dr. Francisco Roman, which is Citizenship, Sustainability and Social Responsibility. Also this year, BCY Foundation launched the programs of CSR Today, where people could experience CSR to the full online and offline. CSR World is the digital experience for students and young professionals including the CSR Youth Forum, CSR Youth Congress, CSR Story Caravan, etc. While CSR Life, has been a long year program of BCY Foundation where people apply and experience CSR with the foundation’s indigenous partner communities in Ifugao, Palawan and Mindoro.
The BCY Foundation is excited about this new focus on “Social Entrepreneurship” (and its “relations” – Charity, Volunteerism, Social Work, Good Governance, and CSR). The next five years till 2018 – its Silver Jubilee, should see a fine tuning of the Foundation’s model of key events and conferences, workshops, and other training activities, and special projects highlighting the areas it has identified. Anchored on its roots in Education, the Foundation will do more and more work in both the formal and informal educational spheres, and encourage others to create institutions and events as well. The objective remains – a better country anchored on renewed commitment to basic values.