ALKFI chairman Eugenio Lopez III hands a certificate of appreciation to fashion designer Rocky Gathercole as Bantay Bata 163 program director Jing Castañeda and ALKFI managing director Susan Afan look on“MY father, Eugenio Lopez Jr., has always believed that public service is the only reason of our existence. Profit alone is not a reason to exist. If we can serve people, then our growth and success will follow. If we take care of our customers, then they will take care of us.”

These were the words of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Inc. (ALKFI) chairman Eugenio Lopez III during the inaugural Araw ng Pasasalamat held at the Dolphy theater in ABS-CBN.

Around 150 donors, volunteers and partners gathered together to witness a live presentation of the foundation’s accomplishments. The Araw ng Pasasalamat was staged to acknowledge the trust and generous support of the donors and partners that is the main driving force of the successes of the foundation’s causes.

“…To you, our dear partners in public service, this is our gesture of sincere appreciation for your support in our Lingkod Kapamilya programs,” managing director Susan Afan said.

The achievements of the three major programs of ALKFI were presented by its program directors— Jing Castañeda of Bantay Bata 163, Jen Santos of Bantay Kalikasan and Jun Dungo of Operation Sagip (formerly known as Sagip Kapamilya). Chief finance officer Noemi Samson expressed gratitude to sponsors who supported the important causes of the foundation in general.

Environment Sec. Gina Lopez, who was at the time in Marrakesh, Morocco for the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, delivered an inspiring message for all the donors, volunteers and partners.

“From my deepest heart of hearts, I want to thank you for all the support and all the love that you have given the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya all these years,” she said. Lopez pioneered the foundation’s programs and ensured its sustainability through the years. (Stort/Photo by: Ana Junio)