Celebrities have the enviable power to make people listen, move them to action—and make a difference. Here are two personalities who are using their celebrity status to help the less fortunate and convince other people to follow suit.
DAPHNE OSEÑA-PAEZ
This talented and busy TV host & producer, businesswoman, and mother of three makes time to help the less fortunate as United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) Special Advocate for Children and as a supporter of the Hero Foundation.
How did you end up supporting Unicef and the Hero Foundation?
Two years ago, Unicef invited me to join them and appointed me as Unicef Special Advocate for Children, focusing on maternal health and infant mortality. Now I also participate in programs on nutrition, severe acute malnutrition and education—basically anything that involves the rights and safety of children. As a mother of three, issues about children are closest to my heart. I come from background in international development in Canada and it is my choice to be involved with long-term community-based programs rather than merely supporting charity.
Hero Foundation approached me a couple of years ago to help raise funds and awareness for their scholarship programs. Hero Foundation sponsors children of men and women who died in the line of military service. As a daughter of an Air Force veteran and having spent my childhood in Nichols Air Base, I want to ensure that children of our heroes get a fair chance in life.
What do you for them?
As a Unicef advocate, I go on trips to visit programs all over the country. It is my role to bring causes and issues up to the forefront/public arena. I’ve been to Ondoy relocation sites in Luzon as well as Sarangani, Gen San and most recently in the ARMM Maguindanao. I also do fundraising activities for Unicef Philippines.
[I brought] awareness and public attention to the importance of exclusively breast-feeding newborns up until 6 months, and extended breast-feeding until 2 years. [I also] advocated the health benefits and life-saving aspect of exclusive breast-feeding especially in times of emergency.
[I raised] approximately P1.5 million in a 10-day online auction of art and design which I founded and curated. This is the Auction for Action. I plan to organize another auction next year. My goal is P3 million; this can be realized with the support of world-renowned artists and designers like Kenneth Cobonpue, Ramon Orlina and many more.
[I also] raised funds and awareness about Severe Acute Malnutrition in Maguindanao. Only P600 per month can save the lives of many children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
[For] Hero Foundation, [I help] raise funds.
How can a noncelebrity help make the world a better place?
You don’t have to be a celebrity to make a difference. Start at home—with children. Teach and encourage kindness. It will lead to a life of understanding, generosity and eventually “world peace.” Seriously. Also be involved in your own community, your own neighborhood. Care about your sidewalk and public spaces. Make your own community a better place. Charity really does start at home.
For more information on Unicef, check out unicef.org/philippines
For more information on the Hero Foundation, check out herofoundationinc.com
MARC NELSON
This hunky guy has a big heart—he is the national ambassador for the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature and is also active with World Vision, Hand On Manila, and Oxfam.
How did you end up supporting your chosen charities?
I’ve always been concerned about the environment so when WWF approached us, I was quick to agree. I’ve always been a big fan of their environmental and community work not just in the Philippines but around the world. With World Vision, it started with me sponsoring two kids from one of their booths and [it] snowballed from there.
What do you do for them?
For WWF I am an active donor, but more importantly [I] try to help create more awareness about what WWF does here in the Philippines. Rovilson Fernandez (fellow ambassador) and I are also active with the WWF education programs in schools, etc., which is always fun. I’m amazed how much the kids remember after our environmental education programs!
For World Vision I help drum up support and sponsors for them, as well as sponsoring 11 kids at the moment. I add two more every Christmas so will be up to 13 sponsored children [this] month.
How can a noncelebrity help make the world a better place?
I think a noncelebrity can do a lot. I am in a position to hopefully inspire more people to get involved, but it’s really down to the individuals to donate to good causes, or instead of money, maybe donate their expertise or time to volunteering in worthwhile projects. If everyone tries to help just once a month, I think we could make an enormous difference in this country. The new WWF campaign is called Just One Thing. Meaning we want everyone to commit to just one thing that can help the environment. Whether it be using reusable shopping bags, carpooling, recycling, changing lights to CFLs or LEDs etc., just find your one thing and stick to it. Once it’s second nature, then move onto another “thing”. It makes it easier for the regular person to commit, and we want them to commit for the long term. If everyone can do that, imagine the changes!
For more information on the World Wide Fund for Nature, check out wwf.org.ph.
For more information on World Vision, check out worldvision.org.ph
