Boy Abunda makes surprise visit to USC

CEBU, Philippines - TV Host Boy Abunda made a surprise visit to the University of San Carlos - Talamban Campus last February 18 to meet some of the members of USC’s TINGOG Carolinian Party. Many of those whom he met at the Engineering Building Lobby were candidates for the upcoming Supreme Student Council (SSC) Elections set this March 5, 2010.

Conferred as an Honorary Member of TINGOG in 2007, Boy Abunda has since been actively involved and committed in supporting the main thrusts of TINGOG as a campus political party and as an organization: Leadership Training, Student Empowerment, Civic Engagement. 

“You should be proud of your legacy, your pedigree. TINGOG has produced countless outstanding leaders, achievers, individuals who have become movers and shakers in society, those known to have their integrity intact,” Abunda stressed to the candidates.

Former National Youth Commissioner and current MTRCB Board Member and “Bottomliner” in ABS-CBN’s The Bottomline, Mike Acebedo Lopez (himself a TINGOG alumnus), said the Party is very proud and pleased with the commitment TINGOG’s Honorary Members have displayed in making sure they lend their influence in pushing for worthwhile advocacies, consistent with TINGOG’s agenda and mission. Other TINGOG Carolinian Honorary Members are Piolo Pascual, Raki Vega, and Bianca Gonzalez.

“Piolo Pascual is promoting environmental awareness as a Haribon Ambassador; Bianca Gonzalez is now one of UNICEF’s ambassadors, encouraging the protection of children’s welfare and wellbeing, while Cebuana singer and Halad 2010 awardee, Raki Vega, has actively participated in TINGOG’s ‘I am a Hope Warrior’ Nationwide Caravan, joining us in different schools to promote hope among the youth, and urging students to reach for their dreams and to never compromise their ideals, their principles in doing so,” Lopez stressed.

He also shrugged off criticism from the other campus parties that TINGOG was using celebrity power for the upcoming SSC elections.

“We’re very proud of our network as a party, it’s very extensive, and any organization will not hesitate to use its own network if it means boosting the morale of its members and effectively realizing its main objective. Is it wrong to use celebrity power to inspire? To encourage? To empower? Certainly not. That’s when celebrity is put to good use...”

“In fact, TINGOG is very happy and pleased because our Honorary Celebrity Members have become much like our student members and alumni, our core, in that they have become effective agents of change, engaging the issues and living socially-relevant lives,” he ended.