Itbayat Batan Mainland Residents' Association
Basco, Batanes

01September2001

Dear Fellow Itbayatans;

Kapyan kamu pa nu Dios a ichadlao a kahilian!

The Itbayat Mainland Residents' Association (IBAMRA)was formed by our kahilian who migrated to Batan Mainland in their desire to keep in touch with one another. Today, it engages in fund raising activities to support Itbayat delegates to Provincial Athletic Meets, and provides any necessary assistance within its means to our fellow Itbayat who come to the Batan Island. It also sponsors and annual Christmas Program wherein Itbayats come together to celebrate and fellowship with one another.

Having seen the steady flow of kahilian coming to the Batan Island to work, study, to seek greener pastures, and sometimes to avail the medical services of the Batanes General Hospital, it has come to the attention of the officers and members of the IBAMRA that there is a very real need to have a place that the Itbayatans can call a home away from home; kavavayatan kanu kasa'savatan . Having experiences being a stranger in another place, with nowhere to go upon arrival, no place to put their baggage, to lay their sick, or sometimes even their dead, has made kahilians long for home in the most needy circumstances.

When this was first mentioned to Mrs. Adoracion de Sagon in her message during the annual IBAMRA Christmas Program last December 30, 2000, Congressman Florencio "Butch" Abad, who graced the occasion immediately pledged to donate the funds to put up a multi-purpose building solely for Itbayatans, provided IBAMRA will put up a lot as a counterpart.

We have been negotiating to buy the residential lot of Mr. Solomon Mirabueno, located at San Antonio, Basco, Batanes (behind the Basco Cathedral). Mr. Mirabueno has offered the 200 sq-meter lot a a very reasonable price of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS ONLY (P250,000.00). However, he urgently needs the money and has set a deadline for payment on October 30, 2001.

We are imploring all Itbayatans to join hands and help us raise the funds for purchasing the lot. We are sure that if every able bodied Itbayatan willingly and wholeheartedly gives what he can for this beneficial project, our vision will doubtless become a reality.

We assure you that all your contributions will be used solely for this project, and every centavo we receive will be properly accounted and acknowledged for. You may transmit your donations to the undersigned, or to the IBAMRA Treasurer, Mrs. Nelia Alcazar - Castillo at Basco, Batanes. You may also remit payments through LANDBANK-Basco Branch account number 1081-0365-07 in the name of CHARLES C. IBAÑEZ & NELIA A. CASTILLO.


Very truly yours;

CHARLES C. IBAÑEZ
IBAMRA President

ALEXANDER D. NOLA
IBAMRA Vice-president