My Story:
Thelma Clark-Santiago, My Story
My name is Thelma Clark-Santiago. I grew up in the Philippines. My biggest accomplishment is raising my seven children. During their elementary grades, I actively participated in parent organizations and worked closely with the school principals and staff to raise much needed funds for various projects. I also belonged to several charitable organizations at my church and was instrumental in getting a new church built at my town in the Philippines.
After the Americans liberated the Philippines from the Japanese in 1945, I completed my high school education, then I attended a trade school to become a dress maker. I enjoyed making dresses for my 5 girls.
In 1971, the Santiago family moved to California along with Mama, Josie and Doris. To help my husband, I got a job as a factory worker, a sales clerk and then later found a job that I feel was most rewarding – a church secretary, until I retired in 1990.
My daughter Suzanne and I formed a charitable organization whose sole purpose is to help the children in rural areas of the Philippines called “Lola’s Helping Hand, Inc.” (“Lola” means grandma in Tagalog) To date, our organization has provided financial aid and education scholarships to several families and schools.
Dadda Come Home
