Alumni Relations

  Alumnus donates to CAFA fund

Arch't. Danny Tan (B.S. Arch. '63), owner and proprietor of Solid Construction (Cebu) Inc., one of the established construction firms in the city, recently donated Php100,000.00 to the CAFA Fund.

Arch't. Tan’s spontaneous gesture came after a talk with CAFA dean Omar Maxwell P. Espina concerning an unrelated business matter. Dean Espina had in passing mentioned the program of the college to aid architecture and fine arts students who are in dire financial straits. A cheque for the amount came a few days after the meeting and was gratefully acknowledged through a formal letter by the dean in behalf of the CAFA community.

The CAFA fund was established in 2005, with the initial funding of Php100,000.00 from Mr. Joseph Ang, founder of PhilBex, for the benefit of CAFA students. After deliberations on how to best manage the fund, the CAFA Committee on Student Services decided on a program to use the money as a revolving relief fund for students who are in need of financial assistance.

Under the scheme, appropriate amounts are loaned to carefully selected students to use for their tuition fees. These amounts are covered by notes signed by the students promising to pay back the amount, interest-free, at a future date of their own choosing. The loans are granted with the implicit trust that the students understand the source of the loans to be a revolving fund that is envisioned to be of continuing benefit to other students coming after them. Initial loans were granted to four students in the 1st semester AY 2006-2007, which has drastically depleted the fund.

With Arch't. Danny Tan’s donation, the viability of the program has been extended. The college is presently campaigning for more donations and envisions that the program will be self-sustaining within five years.

If you wish to contribute to the fund, please contact the Dean of the College of Architecture and Fine Arts at (+63 32) 344–3801 loc. 707 or by email at cafadean@usc.edu.ph.