PASAY CITY, Philippines — A sit-down dinner featuring a fashion show of Binibining Pilipinas aspirants was able to raise over P2 million for charity, one of the organizers revealed.
At the event organized with the support of Frontrow Cares, the charity arm of the business venture Frontrow of actor RS Francisco, a table for 10 guests cost around P150,000 for benefactors.
“Considering all the expenses for the venue, the logistics, supplies and other requirements, it’s safe to say that we have P2 million set aside for the charity organizations,” Miss Universe Philippines Creative Director Jonas Gaffud told the Inquirer on the sidelines of “The Universe Gives Back” charity fashion gala held at the Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom in Pasay City on Tuesday evening.
The fashion show aims to help raise funds for LoveYourself Inc. and Young Focus.
LoveYourself is an HIV/AIDS awareness and support group that tapped 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach to help promote HIV/AIDS education among the Filipino youth. The beauty queen is also an ambassador for UNAIDS.
Young Focus, meanwhile, is the charity organization that 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray has been supporting even before she bagged the Binibining Pilipinas title. The group aims to help children in depressed communities in Tondo, Manila through education.
“Thank you for your generosity. This event would not have been possible without you,” Francisco told the audience.
The two global beauty queens graced the event and even shared the runway with the 40 candidates of the 2019 Binibining Pilipinas pageant who paraded in gowns made by designers Albert Andrada, Ito Curata, Rhett Eala, Avel Bacudio, Michael Leyva, Martin Bautista, Jot Losa, and Cherry Veric.
Wurtzbach, Andrada, and Richelle Singson-Michael head the Miss Universe Philippines group which organized the affair in cooperation with the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI).
Gray returned to the country from New York, where she is based for the duration of her reign, earlier this week to relinquish her national crown to her successor who will be proclaimed at the 2019 Binibining Pilipinas coronation night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on June 9.
Karen Gallman, the first Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Intercontinental, as well as Miss International first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Supranational finalist Jehza Mae Huelar, Miss Globe semifinalist Michelle Gumabao, and Miss Grand International participant Eva Patalinjug will also crown their respective Binibining Pilipinas successors. (Editor: Eden Estopace)