During Calasiao's town fiesta, Kamuning Bakery Cafe (KBC) owner Wilson Lee Flores handed over the keys to a new four-classroom public school building to Dinalaoan Elementary School in Barangay Dinalaoan, Calasiao City, Pangasinan province, on May 3, 2024.
This donation highlights KBC's commitment to education and community enrichment, made possible through a partnership with the "Operation Barrio Schools" civic initiative led by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), now headed by President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, and with the cooperation of businessman Willie Sy.
Nestled in the heart of Calasiao, Barangay Dinalaoan is renowned for its production of the region's famed puto rice cakes. The event was graced by dignitaries, including Pangasinan Provincial Board member Dr. Sheila Marie Ferrer-Baniqued, Calasiao Mayor Kevin Roy Q. Macanlalay, and Dinalaoan Barangay Captain Mylene Laforteza Ico, "Sunday Punch" newspaper publisher Ermin Garcia, Jr. alongside other prominent community leaders.
Other leaders who expressed support for this donation of a public school building to Dinalaoan Elementary School included Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Bong Go, Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, Vice-Governor Mark Lambino, and others.
Wilson Lee Flores, owner of 85-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to public education in Barangay Dinalaoan.
He affirmed his belief in education as key to progress, eradicating poverty and promoting social justice. Quoting an ancient Chinese proverb, Flores emphasized the enduring value of empowering individuals through knowledge: "授人以魚，不如授人以漁” ("Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime").
Flores said he and Kamuning Bakery Cafe are committed to unique civic causes like donating public school buildings to different rural regions every year, to hold the annual October 16 "World Pandesal Day" civic and cultural project, host the non-partisan and issues-focused "Pandesal Forum", etc.
This public school building donation to Dinalaoan also paid homage to the legacies of the late educator and poet Mary Young Siu Tin and the late sawmill entrepreneur Lee Tek Hong.
Among FFCCCII officials present included Board member and Pangasinan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce past President George Chua Cham, East Pangasinan Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Rosendo So, also FFCCCII regional council representatives Alfredo Lim and Joseph Redulla.