• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

To continue what they had started by their father, Feliciano “Morito” Malacon Jr., more than two decades ago, Mayor Marvin Malacon and his family formally donated yesterday a portion of their one hectare property, occupied by squatters, composed of about 50 families, in Barangay Tabigue, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.
The donation also includes the space occupied by a chapel, and right of way.
Siblings Matthew Louis and Maia Malacon, and their aunt, Marlyn Malacon, yesterday turned over the individual land titles to 21 donees, whose houses are occupying the property of the Malacon family, in the barangay, in the presence of Mayor Marvin Malacon, his mother, Josefina, sister Marnie Malacon Ganon, and wife, Mae Ross.
The mayor also paid the P245,000 tax arrears and penalties of the lots granted to them by his late father, in 1998, to the beneficiaries.
He said it has been the wish of their late father and the family members to donate the property to the poor.
“It is our pride as a family to continue the dream of our father,” Marlyn said in a brief speech during the turnover ceremony of land titles, held at the E.B. Magalona public plaza Asenso Hall, as she admitted they were surprised by the good heart of their father, who always loved the poor.
In February this year, the Malacon family also donated a 1.8 hectare property in Brgy. Tuburan, E.B. Magalona, to be used as the site of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) Center for Extension, Community Development, and Psychological Services.
The beneficiaries and barangay officials of Tabigue, led by their barangay chairwoman, Sally Arsenal, took their turns in acknowledging the generosity of Malacon family, especially to poor families.
Matthew Louis said they will continue what had been started by his grandfather in helping the underprivileged of E.B. Magalona.*