Bb. Pilipinas candidates with BPCI Chair Stella Araneta. Photo from Facebook

Updated @ 12:46 a.m., April 8, 2020

MAKATI CITY, Philippines — The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) hosted Facebook live chat sessions to rally the public in a drive to raise funds for those aversely affected by the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government to help arrest the spread of COVID-19.

For the drive called “Together We Heal,” in cooperation with the J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), Araneta City, and TicketNet, four live chat sessions on the popular social networking sites were held on April 3 and 4 with the reigning queens and the 40 official candidates to this year’s competition.

The ladies were able to raise over P60,000 from the fans and supporters who took part in their live chat sessions.

Miss Intercontinental semifinalist Emma Mary Tiglao led candidates 1 to 10 during the first session on April 3, while Miss Universe Semifinalist Gazini Ganados and Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International Aya Abesamis joined candidates 11 to 20 for the second session on the same day.

On April 4, Miss Globe second runner-up Leren Mae Bautista and Miss Supranational quarterfinalist Resham Saeed joined candidates 21 to 30 for the third session, while the last session had Miss International finalist Bea Patricia Magtanong with candidates 31 to 40.

The amount put the total donations collected to P163,800 as of this writing. The amount, BPCI said, may help provide food packs to about 300 indigent families.

Donations are still being accepted via bit.ly/AranetaDonationDrive online through the TicketNet platform.

Meanwhile, Bb. Pilipinas pageant’s official shoe designer and provider Jojo Bragais has launched his own donation drive to benefit the medical frontliners in Bicol.

Bragais called for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks, gloves, bottles of alcohol, and other essential supplies. He was able to send to the regional health units in several places in Albay.

Former Binibining Pilipinas queens have likewise launched their own initiatives in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Catriona Gray, who was crowned Miss Universe in 2018, raised around $20,000 (about P1 million) and has currently distributed assistance to close to 2,000 families in Smokey Mountain in Manila through her partnership with the Young Focus organization, which she has been helping even before winning her global beauty title.

“But we don’t need to stop there. Let’s continue to reach more families in this time of need. One 15 kg. bag of rice costs only $11 or P550. Any little bit of kindness is very much appreciated. All bank and donation information may be found at www.youngfocus.org.rice,” the Australian-Filipino beauty queen said on her official social media post.

Pia Wurtzbach. Photo from FacebookThree-time Bb. Pilipinas aspirant and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, meanwhile, called on her “Pianatics” (her fans) to help come up with 25,000 medical face masks for frontliners.

Donations may be coursed through her BDO Unibank account:

Account name: PIA WURTZBACH
Account number: 002060780353
Branch: BDO Market Market
Swift code: BNORPHMM

Donors may also send money via GCash: Pia Wurtzbach, 09274282087.

Those who will donate are requested to send their complete name, e-mail address, donation amount, mode of donation (BDO or GCash), and screenshot or proof of deposit to [email protected].

As of this writing, there have been 3,660 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with 73 recoveries and 163 deaths.