Christmas Contest back with a boom

Last year, we took a break from holding our traditional Christmas Contest to give direct donations to Typhoon Yolanda victims. We raised P160,000 and $300 from Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia (P50,000), Ateneo player Kiefer Ravena (P50,000), Ever Bilena chairman/Blackwater Elite team owner Dioceldo Sy (P20,000), Herma Group chairman Hermie Esguerra (P15,000), Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado (P10,000), ALA Group chairman Tony Aldeguer (P10,000), Games and Amusement Board chairman Ramon Guanzon (P500) and Gurmeet Buxani through a fund-raiser at the University of California-Irvine ($300).  A total of P110,000 and $300 was turned over to The Philippine Star Operation Damayan while P50,000 in cash was given directly to Sto. Nino assistant parish priest Fr. Amado Alvero in Tacloban City.

This year, we’re reviving our Christmas Contest to share the goodwill of the holiday season with our readers. It’s easy to join. Simply answer the following questions: 1. Who is the oldest player in the PBA today? 2. Who was the fighter whom Manny Pacquiao defeated to regain the WBO welterweight championship this year? 3. Name the four teams that have won Grand Slams in the PBA (one team won two Grand Slams). Then, in three sentences or less, express your thoughts on why or why not sports should be a priority in our national government agenda. Write your answers and the brief essay on a piece of paper and send to The Philippine Star sports section, R. Oca and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Metro Manila. Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. Winners will be announced in this column on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and prizes will be awarded at The Philippine Star office at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17. We will select 20 winners with the correct answers and the most insightful essays.

Don’t forget to write your name, age, address, telephone number (cellphone details preferred) and occupation (if student, course, year and school).

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We are now in the process of assembling prizes for our winners. Part of our solicitations for prizes will go to the SAGIP (Saklolo at Gabay Ng Ina’t Pamilya) Foundation of Muntinlupa. SAGIP is an NGO, duly certified by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC), that was recently awarded as an outstanding socio-civic project by the world-wide organization committed to the advancement and empowerment of women, the US-based Zonta International.

SAGIP was one of six winners of the prestigious Service Recognition Award presented before over 1,600 delegates from more than 60 countries at the 62nd Zonta International Convention in Orlando, Florida, recently. It was a distinct honor for SAGIP, the flagship project of the Zonta Club of Muntinlupa and Environs (ZCME), as the 24/7 crisis response center was the only Asian entry among 12 finalists chosen from 99 service platforms submitted by 76 Zonta clubs all over the world for the award. The other winners were from Hamburg, Germany, Brisbane and Adelaide, Australia.

SAGIP was established in 1998 as a joint undertaking of ZCME and the Muntinlupa Mayor’s office to address the immediate safety and healing needs of abuse victims through programs and services. Over 6,500 victims have been cared for by SAGIP since its inception. SAGIP’s crisis response center provides 24-hour hotlines, emergency shelter, crisis management, medical attention, legal assistance, counselling, therapy, referrals and other forms of psycho-social intervention. It is also active in implementing advocacy initiatives in communities and schools to prevent violence against women and children. Seminars are conducted weekly in barangays in Muntinlupa and nearby towns and cities to make communities aware of SAGIP’s services.

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So far, sponsors and benefactors have sent these prizes for our Christmas Contest – P50,000 from Philippine Sports Commissioner chairman Richie Garcia, P20,000, 10 boxes of Ever Bilena Naturals Soap and 20 boxes of Cussons baby powder, baby shampoo, baby oil, baby cream and baby cologne from Dioceldo Sy, P12,500 from Tony Aldeguer, P15,000 from Hermie Esguerra, P10,000 from NLEX, P5,000 from Games and Amusement Board chairman Ramon Guanzon, P5,000 worth of gift certificates from Robert Aventajado, 20 basketballs, 20 E-Cow stuff dolls and 20 T-shirts from Alaska.

Additionally, we’ve received 10 Milo basketballs, 10 Milo Tshirts and 10 Milo jackets from Nestle, six Molten basketballs, six Molten Azkals footballs and four badminton rackets from Sonia Trading, 20 FIFA footballs from Kia, Reader’s Digest magazines from Emerald Headway and PBA shirts, basketballs and annuals from the PBA.  We expect more to come from PLDT, Meralco, San Miguel Corp., Ginebra San Miguel, Purefoods, Shell, The Philippine Star, to name just a few.

If you want to share your blessings with our readers this Christmas season, please call us at tel. no. 527-6007 and we’ll be happy to pick up whatever you may wish to contribute as prizes. Please remember that SAGIP will also be a beneficiary of our contest this year. And to our readers, send in your entries now and get a chance to take home lots of prizes for the holidays.