Dondon Hontiveros launches own foundation

CEBU, Philippines — One of Cebu’s finest basketball of all times and now Cebu City Councilor Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros along with his son, Ice, and other alumni of Don Bosco Technological Center have joined forces to form a foundation especially dedicated to provide technical and vocational scholarship grants initially to the youngsters of Cebu City.

DH25 Foundation was formally launched to the media at Hukad, One Mango Avenue yesterday with the aim of delivering hope to the less fortunate ones.

They decided to launch it, seven days before Christmas and symbolic of a new hope that the young less fortunate ones will have in the new year aside from avoiding making an issue of this as part of a campaign strategy for the 2025 elections.

DH25, as most of Hontiveros fans already knew, stands for his name and the jersey number 25 he had been wearing in some of his teams in the professional league before.

Hontiveros even before becoming a city councilor and a vice mayor have already been involved in charitable activities in the past as part of giving back to all his blessings, but he believes they can do more that finally, 25 years since being part of the Cebu Gems, the team that pummeled him to stardom, the foundation had finally been realized.

Hontiveros as the founder of the foundation is also joined by fellow Bosconians, Carcar City Councilor Vincent Raymund Escobindo as the foundation’s president, Cris Fernandez (vice president), Joseph Rajah Nunez (corporate secretary), Vincent Ian Brigoli (treasurer), Carlos Pio Zafra and Hontiveros’ son, Isiah Miguel Blanco, as board members.

“The reason nga ako silang giduol kay we share the same vision,” said Hontiveros.

With the establishment of a foundation, the magnificent seven believes that their fellow Bosconians, friends and the private entities and individuals will be assured that their donations will not be put to waste.

Hontiveros believes that everyone can help even without holding a position in the government.

Hontiveros explained that they have chosen to focus on the tech-voc program not only being from Don Bosco, but after seeing the initial employability rate of the city scholars as well as providing opportunities to youngsters who cannot pass as a scholar of the Cebu City government.

For the first year of operation, the foundation is targeting to have 25 scholars per batch. For 2024, they are looking into five batches.

The first batch will be enrolled in machining at Don Bosco-Pasil by February 2024 after the finalization of its Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration.

With this, the officers of the newly-formed foundation are looking at having its first 25 beneficiaries at DB-Pasil’s surrounding barangays including from Pasil, Ermita, Suba, and Sawang.

Those who wish to help may now contact 09620416442 or via dh25foundation@gmail.

With this, the DH25 Foundation hopes to help the poorest of the poor have better lives.

Aside from the scholarship program itself, the officers of the said foundation are also looking at finding employment for them after. —/GMR (FREEMAN)