A walk for knowledge

They came. They walked. They helped. And, they partied.

Last Oct. 10, at around 8 a.m., nearly 10,000 people assembled at the People Power Monument to take part in Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc.’s Lakad Mo, Pangarap Ko, a fun walk cum fundraising event which seeks to empower the youth through education.

Hoping to raise at least P2 million for the improvement of the quality of public education via the Knowledge Channel, Lopez Group of Companies top honcho Oscar Lopez led the pack in the almost three-kilometer walk from the People Power Monument to the ULTRA.

The event, which was supported by the member companies of the Lopez Group including ABS-CBN and Knowledge Channel’s sponsors and supporters, was graced by Department of Education (DepED) secretary Butch Abad and Vice President Noli de Castro.

The ABS-CBN delegation went in full force with its chairman and CEO Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III at the forefront. Also included in the delegation are the network’s executives like Charo Santos-Concio, executive vice president and head of the entertainment group, senior vice president for TV Production Cory Vidanes, among others.

Much to the delight of other partakers, Piolo Pascual, Hero Angeles, Sandara Park, Bea Alonzo and other ABS-CBN stars batted for quality education when they joined the fund-raiser.

After more or less an hour’s walk, the participants were treated to a formal program at the ULTRA. Rina Lopez- Bautista, the event’s lead organizer and president of KCFI, profusely thanked all those who joined the walkathon. She also informed everyone of the day’s accomplishments, including the enabling of 66 public schools to have access to the Knowledge Channel. In an earlier interview, she summoned everyone saying that, "education is everybody’s business; and it’s about time that Juan de la Cruz contributes his share to nation building by being pro-active in this endeavor."

In a study conducted, it was found out that, in fact, for every one-percent increase in the nation’s literacy rate, there is a corresponding three-percent decrease in the poverty rate. Oscar Lopez, in his privilege speech, emphasized the event organizers’ belief that, indeed, quality education is the key to the eradication of poverty in the country.

DepEd secretary Butch Abad eagerly thanked the Lopez Group for the invaluable support it has given to alleviate the education problem of the country and, even, acknowledged that, "the DepEd couldn’t do it alone." He also congratulated the people behind the project for the success of the fundraising event.

In his speech, Vice President Noli De Castro stressed on the importance of education in our country and the immense power that the television has. "Kung siguro may Knowledge Channel na noong nag-aaral ako sa Mindoro, mas quality education siguro ang nakuha ko," Kabayan added.

"Dahil sa Knowledge Channel naging favorite ko na ang Science," third-grader Michelle said in a taped interview shown. A proof that, indeed, Knowledge Channel is effective in its aim to provide additional reference materials for the Filipino students.

To close the mini-program, students from public schools serenaded all the guests and participants with their own version of a Barry Manillow original, One Voice. Indeed, a touching and fitting number to close the mini program.

Right after the ceremonies, the participants joined over 200 stars in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of ABS-CBN’s top-rating musical variety show, ASAP.

Last Sunday’s affair is, undeniably, a celebration and manifestation of the Filipino’s willingness to take an active role in nation building.