TV in 1st prize package

We just got confirmation from no less than PBA Governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon of Rain Or Shine that the Elasto Painters are donating a TV set to add to the pool of prizes for our Christmas Contest.  It’s the first time we’re giving away a TV since we began our annual Christmas Contest over 10 years ago.

The TV will be part of our first prize package which includes P50,000 in cold cash, a Balenciaga watch with matching leather wallet from Shell, a desk fan and coffeemaker from Meralco, a Ferrari polo shirt and Ferrari mug from Shell, canned goods, San Mig Coffee 3-in-1 mix and Magnolia cheese and cream from San Miguel Corp., an 18-inch tall James Harden NBA Fathead sticker from Larc and Asset, a limited edition FIFA 2014 World Cup soccer ball from Kia, an overnight bag with computer case from Metro Pacific, Milo jacket and umbrella from Nestle, Antonov bag and Ginebra Premium water bottle from Ginebra San Miguel, Cussons baby powder, baby oil, baby shampoo, baby cream and baby cologne and Ever Bilena Naturals soap from Ever Bilena, team autographed basketball from Alaska and many, many more.

The second prize winner will receive P20,000 cash, the third prize P10,000 cash, the fourth prize P5,000 SM gift certificates from Robert Aventajado of the Philippine Taekwondo Association, the fifth prize P5,000 gift certificates from Planet Sports and the sixth prize P5,000 gift certificates from Planet Sports. The second to sixth prize winners also take home a bagful of gifts. We will be handing out a lot of goodies to the seventh to 20th prize winners.

Since we announced the prizes in our column last Wednesday, more friends sent over goodies. Larc and Asset donated NBA Fathead stickers – 3 of Harden, 7 of the Dallas Mavericks and 10 of the Los Angeles Lakers. Each winner will get one sticker pack. The stickers are precision-cut, moveable, reusable, easy to put up and safe for walls and devices. San Miguel Corp. delivered 20 bags of assorted food products, including canned goods, cream, cheese and San Mig Coffee 3-in-1 mix. Nic Jorge of the BEST basketball center is contributing 10 basketballs and 20 T-shirts. We are awaiting the delivery of the TV, T-shirts and umbrellas from Rain Or Shine and giveaways from Lamoiyan Corp. NLEX also pledged a P10,000 cash donation.

Another first in our Christmas Contest this year is the sharing of blessings with an NGO beneficiary, the SAGIP (Saklolo at Gabay Ng Ina’t Pamilya) Foundation of Muntinlupa. SAGIP is a 24/7 crisis response center that takes care of abused women and children. Aside from providing shelter, it implements advocacy initiatives in communities and schools to prevent violence against women and children. Whatever amount we collect from donors beyond P80,000 – which is earmarked for our first three winners – will be given to SAGIP. My wife Menchu has been involved with SAGIP for over four years now and I can personally attest to the positive impact that SAGIP has created in the community, particularly in depressed areas. Menchu is a volunteer worker and like her fellow members of the Zonta Club of Muntinlupa and Environs, devotes her time freely to SAGIP in the fight against abuse of women and children.

So far, we’ve raised P122,500 in cash with a pledge of P10,000 more from NLEX. The cash donors are the Philippine Sports Commission (P50,000), Blackwater (P20,000), The Herma Group (P15,000), ALA Group (P12,500), Philippine Olympic Committee (P10,000), Miguel Belmonte (P10,000) and Games and Amusements Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon (P5,000).

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As for donations in kind, we’ve received from Alaska (20 basketballs, 20 E-Cow stuffed dolls, 20 T-shirts), Blackwater (20 boxes of Cussons baby powder, baby shampoo, baby oil, baby cream and baby cologne and 10 boxes of Ever Bilena Naturals soap), Kia (20 limited edition FIBA 2014 World Cup soccer balls, 20 caps, 20 Hanes T-shirts, 20 eco-bags), MVP Group (10 Metro Pacific overnight bags with computer cases, 3 Meralco coffee kettles, 2 desk fans, 5 Meralco caps, 2 tote bags, 2 foldable bags, 7 Smart Laban Pilipinas jackets, 3 handcrafted bags, 2 water bottles), SBP (5 Molten basketballs and 5 SBP umbrellas), Nestle (10 Milo basketballs, 10 Milo umbrellas, 10 Milo jackets), Shell (10 T-shirts, 5 PBA water bottles, 3 Ferrari jackets, 2 Balenciaga watches with wallets, 1 Manel’s overnight bag, 5 Ferrari mugs, 5 Ferrari polo shirts, 5 golf umbrellas), Emerald Headway (24 back issues of Reader’s Digest), Sonia Trading (4 Gosen badminton sets, 6 Molten Azkals soccer balls, 6 Molten basketballs), PBA (20 T-shirts, 5 Molten basketballs, 20 PBA Annuals), San Miguel Corp. (5 San Miguel Beer jackets, 8 San Miguel Beer T-shirts, 5 San Miguel Beer polo shirts) and Ginebra San Miguel (16 Antonov bags, 6 Ginebra water bottles). We are awaiting the arrival of donations from Rain Or Shine, Lamoiyan, BEST Center and NLEX.

 Deadline to join the contest is 5 p.m. today. It’s easy to join. Simply answer these questions: 1. Who is the oldest PBA player 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 3 sentences or less, express your thoughts on why or why not sports should be a priority in our national government agenda.

Writer your answers and the brief essay on a sheet of paper and send to The Philippine Star sports section, R. Oca and Railroad Streets, Port Area, Metro Manila. As we mentioned, deadline to submit entries is today. No Star masthead is required for each entry. You may send in as many entries as you wish. We will select 20 winners with the correct answers and the most insightful essays. 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. on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Don’t forget to write your name, age, address, telephone number (cellphone details preferred) and occupation (if student, your course, year and school). Send in our entries now and get a chance to take home a TV, cash and lots of prizes.