By Michael Wright
PHOTOS: Gary Haywood
The annual Masquerade Ball organised by the Emergency Relief Fund for Philippines (ERFFP) was held on Saturday March 24th at Ferarro Receptions. The night was a very memorable one with guests dressed in their finest masquerade costumes enjoying a fantastic night of dancing, fun and laughter, all whilst raising money for less our privileged kababayans in the Philippines.
The emcee for the event was Chris Centeno, assisted by the President of the ERFFP, Roy Carbungco, and Charlie Yao. The competition for Best Male and Female Dancers was judged by Midel Santos Stokes, Juliet Mañalac Orquia, Rose Simonsen and Ana Liza Kavanagh. Best Female Dancer was won by Liz Honey, and Best Male Dancer was won by Mike Honey.
The competition for “best costume” was judged by Sista Club, with Best Female costume won by Sally Field, and Best Male Costume won by Hayden Farrelly.
Every cent of money raised for the event goes directly to run the ERFFP projects in the Philippines.
Current projects of the ERFFP include Indigenous Aid Programs for the Aeta people of Pampanga and the Agta and Dumagat peoples of Isabela; Malnourished Children Assistance programs; Literacy Programs supplying books and school supplies to 15 remote schools, Water Pump Programs providing clean safe drinking water to various remote communities, Annual Christmas Gift Giving for orphaned and abandoned children; Supply of Rescue equipment, generators, chain saws, ambulance and rescue boats to various communities to help them cope in times of typhoon or other natural disasters; Health Programs and Medical Missions to various remote communities; and supply of Fogging machine for malaria and dengue fever control programs in affected areas.
The ERFFP also carries out many relief programs, supplying food and basic goods to affected people throughout the Philippines, whenever there is a major natural disaster such as a typhoon or flood. The most recent ERFFP relief program was targeted to those affected by the 2018 Mayon Volcano eruption.
The officers of the ERFFP would like to thank all our sponsors, donors, the various associations and members of the public who supported us and who help make this night a truly enjoyable, and most importantly a very successful one.
ERFFP would also like to thank our partners “on the ground” in the Philippines, who help us carry out our work – Rotary Club of San Juan West, Rotary Club of Edsa-Ortigas, Operation Help for Peace, Maribel Sison, Pampanga Coastal Emergency Task Force (PCER), Philippine Army 48th Infantry Brigade, and Naval Forces of Philippines.
The ERFFP officers are President Roy Carbungco, Vice President Judy Wright, Secretary Michael Wright, Treasurer Gina Belvis, PRO Bernadette Miranda, Rey Isletta, Directors- Charlie & Martina Yao, Lani McLennan, Lydia John, Elsa & Steve Reed, Corazon Carbungco, Yollie Truz, Dan Carbungco, Lelibeth Delfin, Rosenni Vella.
