STAR’s #28StoriesOfGiving goes on exhibit

MANILA, Philippines - In line with its highly talked about 28th anniversary campaign, The Philippine STAR brings #28StoriesOfGiving closer to people through a series of mall exhibits.

Foregoing a glitzy celebration for a meaningful one, The Philippine STAR celebrated its 28th year as the country’s top herald of news and current information by launching #28StoriesOfGiving, a campaign that recognizes 28 ordinary individuals and groups that devote their lives to serving others. The stories ran on the front page and were also shared via The STAR’s online platforms from July 1 to 28, its actual anniversary date.

To elicit more support, The STAR gave value to the “hashtag” as it donated P5 for every social media post with “#28StoriesOfGiving” to its “give back” fund.

Moved by the positive feedback and heartwarming messages sent by its readers, The STAR decided to extend the campaign by mounting a series of mall exhibits.

The first leg of the #28StoriesOfGiving exhibit debuted to the public at the SM Mega Fashion Hall last July 30.

STAR president & CEO Miguel G. Belmonte and STAR SVP for sales and marketing Lucien Dy Tioco led the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by STAR columnist RJ Ledesma.

The exhibit was also attended by some of the beneficiaries of the campaign, who came to thank The STAR for the campaign and what it meant for their respective efforts.

Kythe Foundation co-founder Maria Fatima Garcia-Lorenzo, for one, shared with the audience that potential donors came knocking after their story was published in The STAR.

In the case of facial cleft patient Ellen Magayon, a young girl whose mother was abused, Edward Collantes of Manila Doctors Hospital shared that kindhearted groups immediately offered to shoulder the series of operations required when they read her story in The STAR.

Teresa Villacote, the “modern-day Cinderella,” received countless offers of donations for her wish – a wheelchair for her crippled mother. Last July 31, she received a wheelchair donated by Greg Brown, a kindhearted STAR reader based in the US, who also promised to fulfill her wish to finish her schooling and hurdle the licensure exams for teachers.

“God has laid it on my heart to finish the help that she needs to complete her schooling. I will be paying her tuition and test expenses to get her certified as a teacher. The Philippines needs more young women like Teresa to become teachers, to prepare the youth for not only the hardships of life, but how they can overcome their circumstances through hard work, determination and perseverance. She is a prime example of what can happen when you never give up,” Brown shared with The STAR.

To read all 28 stories, log on to www.philstar.com/28StoriesofGiving.

After its run at SM Mega Fashion Hall, the #28StoriesOfGiving exhibit moves to SM The Block on Aug. 30.