‘Race for Life’

In this race, all who reach the finish line are winners.

One sunny Sunday of November, the pretty belles of the House of Representatives trooped to the races, not just to watch their favorite racehorses but mainly to rally to the cause of streetchildren.

The members of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI) led by Gina de Venecia together with the Manila Jockey Club officers led by lawyer Felipe Reyno Jr., and their special guest Speaker Joe de Venecia gathered at the luxurious San Lazaro Centers Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite to watch the races and raise funds for the Regional Center for Children.

The event was called Race for Life 2 and it specifically raised funds to furnish the three Regional Centers for Children that have been built by the CSFI in three pilot areas: Dagupan City, Tarlac City and Solana, Cagayan. The CSFI eventually hopes to build regional centers for children in the rest of the 15 regions of the Philippines.

"Race for Life 2 is a race where everybody wins, but the biggest winners are the abandoned children in our country’s barrios and most remote villages, who weathered the nightmares of living in the streets for many years. It is a race to lift children up from where they are, to give them a taste of family, a glimpse of home, and to give them hope for a better and brighter future," said Mrs. de Venecia.

The highlight of the event was the Speaker’s Cup and the Congressional Spouses Cup. Also seen enjoying the races were Yollie Reyno, Nikki Teodoro, Maile Roces, Olga Dangwa, Jhet Torcelino van Ruyven, Belle Roquiero, Margie Duavit, Chit Baculio and Maridee Chanyungco.

Speaker de Venecia was joined by Don Antonio Floirendo Sr., Henry Khan, Rep. Jun Baculio and Rep. Jun Rodriguez.

This was the CSFI’s second venture with the Manila Jockey Club. In 2002, they joined hands in sponsoring the first Race for Life that raised funds for The Haven for Children in Metro Manila. Today, The Haven for Children stands proud in Muntinlupa City as a bastion of hope for the thousands of streetchildren in Metro Manila.

It was exactly three years ago when the CSFI turned its eyes to the tragic sector of the streetchildren – the orphans, the hungry, the drug-dependent. The CSFI’s mission is to rescue them from desperation and helplessness.

In January 2003, The Haven for Children opened its doors. It signalled a powerful new initiative to take these children – ages six to 12 – off the harsh streets of Metro Manila into its caring environment. "We rehabilitate them, restore their self-worth and heal the wounds that have been inflicted on their tender bodies and their innocent hearts. Our fervent wish is to heal their bodies and souls and put their lives back in the rhythms of society and offer them a better and brighter future," explained Mrs. de Venecia.

This complex of nine buildings located in Muntinlupa City offers a therapy center for emotional and physical rehabilitation, a special education center for parents, a multi-purpose covered court for recreation activities and a productivity center to teach them skills.

After the construction of the facilites, the CSFI immediately turns them over to the care of the DSWD.

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To most weight-watchers, the most challenging season of the year has begun!

Every Christmas, Ann Puno, the lovely wife of lawyer Rene Puno, is kept busy by the many orders for her delicious homemade cakes and party food items already packaged in impressive gift boxes, which she prepares herself in her Alabang home. For this holiday, Ann (who has kept her whistle-bait figure despite her delectable preoccupation) has prepared seven special cakes which are sure favorites: Pistachio Cake, Chocnut Cake, Prune Walnut Cake, Almond Coffee Cake, Kahlua Toffee Cake, Bailey’s Choco Walnut Cake and Vanilla Brandy Cake. All these fabulous cakes are made with fresh and imported ingredients that allow the recipient to appreciate the distinct flavors of roasted pistachio, Chocnut that brings back memories of our youth, a combination of fruity prune and nutty walnut, the rich taste of crunchy almond and coffee, the liquor pleasure of kahlua and toffee, the creamy taste of Bailey’s and the tangy taste of brandy and vanilla.

If you are giving a gift to someone who does not appreciate sweets, Ann offers bottled Quesong Puti in Herbs and Spices, and Dulong in Olive Oil, and party items such as Chicken Relleno and Callos. Ann also has Frozen Cookie Dough, which provides a family bonding experience in itself, as members of the family join in baking the luscious chocolate chunk cookies, following very simple baking instructions.

(You may reach Ann at 807-6431 or 807-2757).

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Assumption College San Lorenzo – Marie Eugenie Theater of The Assumption (METTA) stages an original musical about its mother foundress – Mother Marie Eugenie Milleret de Brou entitled 3,999.

3,999 will have performances tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. and Nov. 26 (Saturday) at 6:30 p.m. at the Mother Rose Auditorium, Assumption College San Lorenzo, Makati.

3,999 is about the number of letters that Marie Eugenie and Father Emmanuel D’ Alzon, her best friend and mentor, exchanged in a span of 39 years. In these letters, Marie Eugenie expressed her fears, desires, frustations and vision in establishing a new congregation for women’s education. 3,999 is a celebration of an extraordinary friendship between two spiritual visionaries, a story about love for God and true friends.

The musical will feature Assumption students (grade school, high school and college), faculty, staff and guest artists. The cast has 130 members.

Directed by Juilliard-trained Ana Valdes-Lim with original music composed by Von De Guzman, Pinky Valdes, lyrics by Carlos Aguilar and Pinky Valdes, and lighting design/technical direction by Gilbert Onida.

(For tickets and other details, please contact METTA at 817-0757 loc. 1160-63, telefax 894-2681, e-mail: [email protected])

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(You may e-mail me at [email protected])