Join us for a joint meeting at Grandvue, where we will have a special presentation from John Drake, founder and President of The Lingap Children's Center in the Phillipines.  The Lingap Center Manager, Jojin Ladroma, will also be at the presentation and is excited to meet some of the people (us) that have supported the center in the past and will be supporting the center this year.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres - we will serve philippine-inspired hors d'oeuvres ($10 per person), so we are asking for an RSVP.  If you are in the noon group and pre-pay for your meals.... you have already paid for this event.

John Drake
Founder and President of The Lingap Children's Foundation and the Lingap Children's Development Center, Inc. 

John Drake retired as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services for CMS Energy and affiliate Consumers Energy in Jackson, Michigan after a 32 year career. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources for 11,500 employees on five continents and the Philippines where the company owned facilities.

John founded and is President of The Lingap Children's Foundation and the Lingap Children's development Center, Inc. in the Philippines.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale Michigan. In 2005, he was named a Distinguished Alumi by the college as well as being named a Distinguished Citizen of Jackson, Michigan. Additionally, he was named the Lions of Michigan Service Foundation, Humanitarian of the Year. In 2009, he received a special tribute from the State of Michigan after being awarded the Hillsdale County Humanitarian Veteran of the Year recognition.

In 2006, he was named a "Son of the City" in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines and was later recognized as an outstanding citizen by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines.

John has served as the Chairman of the Lingap Children's Foundation Board of Directors since April 1, 2005. Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of the Lingap Children's Development Center, Inc (Philippine organization) since it was incorporated on January 1, 2007.

Jojin Ladroma
Lingap Center Manager

Jojin Ladroma joined the Lingap family on June 1, 2010 as a social worker. On June 1, 2012,  he was promoted to the position of Lingap Center Manager. She holds a bachelor's degree in social work from the Philippine Christian University in Manila and she is a licensed, registered social worker by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). She is also a graduate of the University of the Visayas, in Cebu City, Philippines, holding degrees in secondary education (March 2008) and special education (October 2008).

Prior to joining the Lingap Center staff, she was employed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD] - Home for Girls in Tarlac City, Luzon, Philippines.

On September 8, 2017, Ms. Ladroma was elected President of ABSNET (Area-based Standard Network) for the DSWD Region VII. ABSNET is an organization formed by the DSWD to assist registered/licensed/accredited Social Welfare & Development Agencies (SWDAs). They help the DSWD in the implementation and monitoring of programs and services, providing technical assistance as well as conducting advocacy activities related to the regulatory services of the department.