CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION — For its 15th anniversary, the La Union Vibrant Women Inc. (LUVWI) threw its first ever charity ball to raise funds for a proposed “hope sanctuary” aimed at providing refuge for women and their children who are experiencing violence and oppression.

 

Held at the Agora Events Center of Thunderbird Resort in the City of San Fernando on Feb. 23, a week ahead of the International Women’s Month in March, the LUVWI Charity Ball gathered its stakeholders, pillars, chapter members, and even provincial officials and donors to further promote the organization’s mission and vision of empowering women in the province.

 

LUVWI Chair Vini Nola Ortega, wife of La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega and incumbent ABONO party-list representative, told the Inquirer that the organization was able to raise P5 million from private companies based in the province.

 

“That is just the initial amount. We are expecting more donations to come in after the ball,” she said.

 

The ball featured the 2020 Mutia Ti La Union pageant’s “creative agricultural costume” competition, where the 20 delegates showcased the agricultural resources of the province’s 19 towns and one component city.

 

All candidates also displayed the creations of fashion designer Anthony Ramirez using abel, the woven heritage fabric in the region. International models joined the local lasses in presenting the clothes, which were also auctioned off to raise additional funds for LUVWI.

 

The governor also shared the runway with the candidates and the professional models, parading his suit tailored by Ramirez using abel.

 

The organization’s chair said the sanctuary will be erected on a lot donated by the provincial government. A significant amount from the initial fund raised will be used to erect a perimeter fence to protect the property.

 

“As of the moment, we have not yet finalized what the structure will look like, and how big it will be. It will depend on how much money we will still raise,” Ortega explained.

 

The ball also honored LUVWI’s founding chair, former San Fernando Mayor Mary Jane Ortega, as well as founder Geraldine Ortega.

 

Since its establishment in 2005, LUVWi has grown 40,000 strong and spread across the province. It has conducted seminars on women’s health and adolescent health, provided lectures on disease prevention, offered training for out-of-school youth, launched livelihood training programs, and hosted feeding programs.