The Malacon Family, whose members are mostly businessmen and philanthropists, has donated their 1.8-hectare property in Barangay Tuburan, a coastal barangay in E. B. Magalona, to Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU), where its extension school for community development will be erected.

The building that will soon be constructed on this property will be named the CHMSU Center for Extension, Community Development, and Psychological Services – Feliciano S. Malacon Jr. Campus. Feliciano Malacon Jr. was the patriarch of the family.

Mayor Marvin Malacon, himself a businessman and a philanthropist, led the family in signing the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and deed of donation (DOD) at rites at the Administration Building of CHMSU in Talisay City today [Feb. 7].

Signing as witnesses were the mayor’s three siblings: brother Marlon Malacon, the newly elected president of Liga ng mga Barangay of E. B. Magalona, and sisters Marnie Malacon- Ganon and Marlyn Malacon.

Also personally witnessing the signing ceremony were the mayor’s wife, Mae Ross Malacon; their son, Matthew Louis Malacon, now an executive assistant to the mayor; and their daughter, Maia Lianza.

Joining them were Vice Mayor Eric Matulac and Municipal Planning and Development Office head Engr. Erwin Poniado.

Signing for CHMSU were University President Dr. Norberto Mangulabnan; with Vice President for Administration and Finance Rosalinda Tuvilla signing as witness. Joining them were Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jay Estrellas, Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Andrew Eusebio Tan, and Deputy Director for Research Ethics Review Dr. Ivy Aboy.

Dr. Jose Lizael Lampinez, president of CHMSU CARES (Concerned Alliance of Responsible Educators), the official organization of faculty members of CHMSU Talisay City Campus, gave a background on how the agreement on the donation was made.

CHMSU CARES was instrumental in facilitating the donation, as everything started from their small talk with Mayor Malacon and resulted to this philanthropy.

Also present at the signing ceremonies were several CHMSU deans and directors, faculty members, and some students.

FATHER’S DREAM

In his message, Mayor Malacon said the signing of MOA and DOD today was a “sentimental moment” for their family as it marks the realization of one of the dreams of their beloved father.

“It was my father’s dream to put up a Day Care Center in our property in the coastal barangay of Tuburan that will serve the children of Tuburan and the neighboring barangay of Tomongtong. Little then did we know that the Lord has a bigger plan for this property, for in God's perfect time, it will soon have— not just a Day Care Center—but an extension school of CHMSU - one of the leading higher learning institutions in the province,” Mayor Malacon said.

“We thank the administration of CHMSU for partnering with our family in this endeavor. As we formalize this partnership today, the Malacon Family pledges our strong support to CHMSU and in the future development of this project,” the mayor added.

As stated in the agreement, the Malacon Family, as the donor, will also facilitate the land development of the area, the drainage system, solid waste management system, including providing perimeter fence and road right of way, in preparation for future infrastructure projects to be implemented.

Among these infrastructures are the multi-purpose covered court and the building for the Center.

LAUDABLE PROJECT

Mangulabnan lauded the philanthropic works of the Malacon Family, adding that the proposed extension school to be constructed on the donated property will enable CHMSU’s educational programs to reach and touch the lives in the communities through services which transfer knowledge and technologies to create impact and sustainable development programs to those who have limited access to formal education and provide psychological services and training opportunities for its psychological students and psychology programs.

For her part, Tuvilla said the activity today is a “milestone and a testament to the collaborative spirit” between CHMSU and the Malacon Family, whom she thanked for the “generous act of donating land as a gesture of the importance of partnership in advancing education and community development.”

Dr. Estrellas, in his opening remarks, said, “The CHMSU community is indeed grateful to the Malacon Family for this generous lot donation which will greatly benefit the community in E. B. Magalona as a future site of our campus development.”