FFHC commemorates Emerald year with New Chapel

Employees of First Famers Holding Corporation (FFHC) employees packed their newly-renovated chapel last January 31, 2020 as they commemorate the company’s 55th year of milling operation with a Holy Mass.  FFHC is the first and only sugar manufacturing facility in the country that is owned and operated by its member-planters.  It milled its first canes last January 27, 1965.

FFHC President Bernard Trebol and General Manager Jose Rojo Alisla, together with members and officers of the Board of Directors, also joined Dos Hermanas Parish Priest Fr. Salvador Esganan during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

“We should always make God as the center of our lives.  We are all sinners just as David was in the first reading.  When God reminded him of his transgression, David acknowledged his grievous fault and repented for his mistake.  In the end, God forgave and blessed him.  As you celebrate your 55^th anniversary, may our imperfections always remind us of God’s benevolence and mercy as we look forward to more years ahead for First Farmers”, Fr. Esganan said in his homily.

Meanwhile, GM Alisla expressed optimism for the future.  “We started this year with the hope that our operations will get better and with the grace of God we did it.  During the first month of our milling this year, we were able to exceed our target for the first time and things are looking good.  This is because everybody gave their best and with prayers and faith in God, we were able to overcome many of the challenges we had in our first half of the season”, he adds.

Before the start of the Holy Mass, Fr. Esganan led the blessing of the chapel.  The facility used to house the company’s bowling lanes before it was converted into a sanctuary for prayer and reflection more than a decade ago.  The new look retained many of its original features including the wall of used bricks at the altar.  The bricks were part of the furnaces that were used by boiler equipment in the production of sugar.