LANCE was only 4 years old when his father, Army Sgt. Narciso Lawrence Layug, died.
He remembers how his mother broke the news to him, “Anak, si dad nandun na sa heaven [Son, daddy’s in heaven.]” To which he replied, “Sundan natin, bisitahin natin siya. Malapit lang naman iyon, at may pamasahe tayo [Let’s visit him. It’s not that far a place, and we have money for the commute.]”
Years later, the family left the province for Manila. As they rebuilt their lives in the city, mother-and-son became the best of friends, and helped each other in running the household.
Lance is only one of the many children supported by Help Educate and Rear Orphans (Hero) Foundation—a nonprofit organization that provides educational assistance in the form of stipends to children of fallen soldiers.
To help support military families, Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation Inc. (FBDFI), Bonifacio Global City’s social responsibility arm, and the Bonifacio Global City Estate Association recently turned over P1 million and P200,000 worth of cash donations, respectively, to the Hero Foundation.
“Wars, insurgencies and natural disasters keep military families apart. When an unfortunate incident leaves servicemen killed or incapacitated in the line of duty, their families are equally left impaired.
The surviving parent and children are left to deal with bouts of emotional and financial stress, and their future suddenly becomes unstable. This is why we have partnered with the Hero Foundation to help some of the children have a more secure tomorrow through education,” said Aileen Zosa, executive vice president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and vice chairman of FBDFI.
Zosa explained that the Hero Foundation’s cause is so close to home, because BGC, now a vibrant business and lifestyle district, was once a military base. “While BGC has evolved by leaps and bounds through the years, we acknowledge that what once stood here is an integral part of the city’s history. We feel that by assisting the Hero Foundation, we are honoring this side of our past.”