Animo La Salle: Ogie Alcasid and Kundirana 2012 in Davao

“Animo La Salle! : Ogie Alcasid and Kundirana 2012 in Davao”

Sun.Star Davao, April 21, 2012

           

It was an exhilarating evening of world class entertainment by Kundirana 2012 and Mr. Ogie Alcasid as they performed in a highly successful benefit dinner-concert in support of the One La Salle Scholarship Endowment Fund campaign.

Held at the Marco Polo Davao grand ballroom, the concert was presented by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc., De La Salle Alumni Association-Davao Chapter and the La Salle Young Artists’ Foundation, Inc.

The Kundirana is a 40-year old music ministry composed of talented high school students from La Salle Greenhills in Manila. Through the years, it has evolved from a “regular school choir to a more socially aware singing group with a ministry of providing goodwill and joy to the less fortunate through the medium of music and the performing arts”.

         

Its powerhouse former members include Gary Valenciano, Randy Santiago, Dingdong Avanzado, Gian Magdangal, Juan Miguel Salvador, Rannie Raymundo, Mon Faustino and Louie Ocampo.

One of its most recognized and hailed members, Ogie Alcasid, who belonged to Kundirana Batch ’85, is an exemplary example of how Kundirana has made a positive influence in his life.  

After countless blessings reaped from his Kundirana stint, Ogie built a flourishing career as a singer, songwriter, composer, actor and comedian.  Nonetheless, the multi-awarded entertainer still never forgets to pay it forward. To this day, he is active in “charitable works using his talents to help institutions raise funds”.  This is what he and the Kundirana 2012 admirably did during their recent Davao concert. All waived their talent fees for a noble cause.

The One La Salle Scholarship Endowment fund campaign aims to sustain La Salle’s goal to raise Php1Billion to help fund Full Scholarship Equivalents (with free tuition, board and lodging, monthly stipend, among others), which will comprise 20% of the student population, in each of its 17 schools in the Philippines.

Through this initiative, underprivileged but deserving students will get the rare opportunity to avail of a Lasallian education. In addition, it is hoped that this percentage of scholars will pave the way for a contrasting social mix of students in the La Salle campuses.

The scholarship program will enable Filipinos, regardless of social class, to benefit from an education that will transform their lives and that of their families, “helping the country rise out of poverty and move towards national development”.

With the generous support of corporate sponsors, fellow alumni and guests, the DLSAA- Davao Chapter headed by President Milton Liu was able to achieve its target for the said fund campaign. The donation was turned over to Bro. Gus Boquer, FSC, chairman of the Philippine Lasallian Centennial; and Bro. Felipe Belleza, president of La Salle Greenhills during the benefit concert.

As if this was not good news enough, after the concert, a loyal Davao-based La Salle alumnus (who wants to remain anonymous) matched the DLSAA-Davao Chapter’s donation. As a result, the chapter will be able to support not only one, but two Dabawenyo scholars!

            

Truly, the Lasallian spirit is alive in Davao. 

Animo La Salle!

Very special thanks to Miguel Lisbona for sharing his photos.

Kudos to the project’s Organizing Committee for the major success of the dinner-benefit concert! It was an honor and a privilege working with you.

The committee was composed of the following: Jiggs Calixto (Chairman); Jason Huang (Vice Chair); Milton Liu (Finance); Willie Torres and Jingo Camomot (Marketing); Bong Cañete (Logistics); Debbie Uy and Jeffrey Ramirez (Souvenir Program); and Girlie Delgado and Janette Teves (Secretariat).

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visitwww.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.