Philippine Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor cuts the ribbon during the Opening Ceremony of Manila Plaza Summer Festival last year
As temperature soars high, the heat will become even hotter this week-end and the coming week-ends at the basement of Manila Plaza – one of the known stamping grounds of Filipinos in downtown Batha.
“People, especially Filipinos, are expected to converge for the opening of the Manila Summer festival 2009 on Friday afternoon at 5:00 pm, said Rannie Basanta of Special Events Productions (SEP), who leads in organizing the activity for the second time.
The Mabuhay-Mobily-sponsored event offers dart and table tennis tournaments, karate exhibitions, food festival bazaar and a baratilyo wherein assorted items will be displayed for sale, which will include T-shirts, bags, pants and kitchen wares.
Along with the baratilyo is a rummage sale for the benefit of Jhiemel Pacao, a 14-year old cancer patient, who is undergoing series of chemotherapy in the Philippines.
“SEP will donate for the chemotherapy of the patient who is currently in the Philippines and scheduled for her eight and last therapy at the end of this month”, added Basanta.
Expatriate Darters of Saudi Arabia (EDSA) will handle the dart tournament and AFTA will organize the table tennis tournament. Martial arts organizations such as Black Python, combat Judo Karate and Attack Force Self-Defense, Inc., will hold various Karate exhibitions.
“I trust that SEP will once again stage a successful event following the overwhelming support shown by Filipinos in last year’s similar festival”, said Walid El-Hossary, Manila Plaza General Manager.
Aside from Mabuhay Mobily as main sponsor of the festival, the following companies have shown support to the event, like Al-Yusr Installment Co., Mediacom, Krispy Kreme, raze Environmental systems and Advance Technologies, Beac/Pioneer, Cardio Check, Indomie Instant Noddles, Time Life and UBTV 37 and the Filipino Channel (TFC) as media partners.
“There will also be weekly raffle draws so that anyone who visits the festival during Thursdays and Fridays will have chance of winning gifts and some give-aways especially on the last day for the grand raffle draw,” Basanta said.
SEP is known for helping Filipino distressed workers by providing plane tickets to ward of Bahay Kalinga – a temporary shelter for female OFWs who ran away from their abusive employers. Likewise, they are also organizing cultural shows at the Philippine Embassy promoting the culture and attractions in the Philippines.
Recently, it gave a brand new bicycle to a male distressed worker for his use in selling chicken skin’s “chicharon and vegetables as source of livelihood. The bike is courtesy of SEP Members Delfin Federico Jr and Vonnel Mirandilla.
by: Daniel Ronquillo
