We are indeed very lucky to be citizens and immigrants of this great country of ours, the United States of America.  From the mountains, valleys and shores of Carcanmadcarlan, we found our way, by dent of hard work and perseverance, to this great land of liberty, a land peopled by various races all over the world.  We all came here seeking a better future for ourselves and our children.  And for most of us, we found it.

And so we thank God, Who took care of us in our great journey.  And in thanking God, we remember what He has commanded us to do, "Love thy neighbor, as you love thyself."  And like the good Samaritan, we ask, "Who is our neighbor that we should love and help?"

For us from Carcanmadcarlan, who indeed shall we think of as our neighbors?  Perhaps we should look inside ourselves to find out.  And when we do that, we realize that, deep in our hearts and minds, our neighbors are the relatives and friends we left behind:  the Carrascalanons, Cantilangnons, Madrinanons, Carmenanons, and Lanuzanhons.  We remember their faces, the life they lead, the rice fields they work in, the fishing boats they use to go out to the deep sea at night.

Day in and day out, week after week, and month after month they toil to feed their families, and buy them the necessities of life.  We remember doing that ourselves there not so long ago.  Many of our neighbors there are living very successful and comfortable lives, for which we are proud and grateful.  But for many others, their labors do not bear as much fruit.  Not because of lack of perseverance and industry, but because of the economic and political conditions that condemn our country to a substandard level of living.  It is to these less fortunate neighbors of ours that we turn our attention, as we celebrate this anniversary of our association.

We appeal to the members of this association to help the less fortunate of our neighbors from Carcanmadcarlan.  We can accomplish more as an organization than we can as individuals.

We have several programs in place that we would like to invite everyone to participate.  For instance, we have a scholarship fund for needy students.  We have deserving students in Surigao who, for lack of funds, are unable to continue their high school and college education.  A little help from each of us will enable a promising student to develop his talents to the full, and contribute to the development of our country.

The rest, as they say, is up to us.