Paying it forward with Sari-Sari Stars

Pay It Forward is a 2000 film about a young boy attempting to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance. Based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the moral of the story was anchored on the quote: “When someone does you a big favor, don’t pay it back... PAY IT FORWARD.”

I like watching movies and I can say that Pay It Forward is one of the few movies that have left an impact on me to this day. Now that Christmas is approaching and the spirit of giving is upon us, the same undercurrent perhaps describes what TV5 Network has embarked on together with BuyandSell.PH — Sari-Sari Stars, an online charity sale to benefit Tulong Kapatid’s disaster preparedness and response programs.

Tulong Kapatid is the consolidated humanitarian service program of the MVP Group of Companies’ PLDT, Smart, TV5 and its Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Smart-PLDT Foundation, Maynilad, Philex Mining, NLEX, Makati Medical Foundation and OneMeralco Foundation. As I have written previously, Tulong Kapatid was out there in full force when our country was hit hard by disasters — be it the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck Bohol, the devastation of Supertyphoon Yolanda, the flooding brought about by the Habagat monsoons, among others.

In effect, Sari-Sari Stars on BuyandSellPH.com features a line-up of celebrities and high-profile personalities who have pledged some of their most valued personal items and services in a special online sale for the benefit of Tulong Kapatid. Sari-Sari Stars can be accessed via www.BuyandSellPH.com.

TV5 chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) sounded the clarion call for Sari-Sari Stars by calling out among MVP Group employees and personnel, and the general public to donate items, services or their talent to be posted in the online sale on BuyandSellPH.com. As an added treat, Sari-Sari Stars buyers can join the on-ground event on Dec. 5 at the Meralco grounds in Pasig City. On top of enjoying the annual Christmas tree-lighting and joining the Sari-Sari Stars auction for some big-ticket items, event participants will be part of a festive Food and Music Festival wherein they will also get to meet and greet their favorite TV5 talents.

MVP started the ball rolling by donating some of his choice personal items, and he has also announced that he would give donors the opportunity to take his rare super luxury Bentley Mulsanne for a five-minute spin around the Meralco grounds during the event date for a donation for only P1,000.

Donations have been pouring in, including those from the Tulfo brothers of TV5’s top-rated T3 Enforced. Ben Tulfo is donating his medium-sized, khaki-colored chaleco (vest) that he wore on the show’s Live Drug Operations with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and it is up for grabs at BuyandSellPH for only P1,500. Raffy Tulfo is donating three pre-loved branded jackets worn during his popular public affairs radio show Wanted sa Radyo on Radyo5 92.3 NewsFM. Erwin Tulfo is pledging a stylish brown regular work coat that he wears in T3 Enforced as well as a large black Dickies jacket with a TV5 logo that he wore in his other public affairs program on TV5, Tutok Tulfo.

Sports5 head and former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes is donating his precious white polo with red and blue stripes and the Philippine flag on the chest area, which he wore when the Gilas squad played against Croatia at the FIBA World Cup in Spain, the very first game of the Philippines at the world basketball stage after 40 years. Former Philippine national men’s basketball team captain Jimmy Alapag is auctioning off his signed, game-worn Gilas Pilipinas jersey. TV5 executives Wilma Galvante and Luchi Cruz-Valdes have both given evening gowns and a Macintosh, respectively. Even TV5 president and CEO Noel Lorenzana is pledging his suits to the cause.

Other celebrities who have pledged personal items include comedian Empoy Marquez, whose donated items include a caricature portrait of himself as his TV5 superhero character Kapitan Awesome; Martin Escudero who is pledging a folding chair that he uses during tapings; Radyo5 host Alex Tinsay who is donating his regular work coat; and Aksyon Tonight anchor Ed Lingao who is pledging a laptop he used during his field reportage assignments in Jolo, Sulu.

For a comprehensive listing of pre-loved merchandise, autographed goods and even surprise services volunteered by showbiz personalities and a number of high-profile corporate executives, visit Sari-Sari Stars on BuyandSellPH.com. I myself will be donating an evening bag as my own way of sharing and acknowledging the good work that Tulong Kapatid has been doing for our brethren in their times of great need.