MANILA, Philippines - Club Bulakeño celebrated its 21st anniversary ball at the Grand Ballroom of Sofitel Philippine Plaza recently. Themed “Balik Tanaw,” the ball gathered Bulakeños and friends to raise funds for scholarship grants to students in Bulacan, for its 50 units of Gawad Kalinga houses in Angat, Bulacan, and for outreach projects in Bulacan towns. In the last typhoons, the Club’s outreach projects were in Marilao, Hagonoy, Baliuag, and Malolos. “Ama ng Bulacan” Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. and Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco were the moving forces behind the Club’s charitable activities.
The evening began with an invocation gracefully interpreted by dancers of the Philippine Ballet Theatre. A special dance presentation by Club Bulakeño officers and guests, La Bella Filipina, followed, led by presidents Jun and Sol Tan-Gatue and founding chairman Genaro Reyes and Lydia Reyes.
A two-hectare land in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan was donated by Marietta Guanzon-Holmgren for the club’s additional Gawad Kalinga housing project. Stephanie Bernice Enriquez Borlongan, Club Muse for 2009 escorted by Jose Mari Ian Montinola Lou, was crowned by Congresswoman Cynthia Villar and Congressman Roman Romulo with Senator Manny Villar witnessing the ceremonies.
Among the distinguished Bulakeños present were Imelda Romualdez Marcos, Mayor Alfredo Lim, Dr. Elenita Binay with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Mayor Marides C. Fernando with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Remy Macalincag of Metrobank with Vic Macalincag and Judy Araneta Roxas whose husband, the late Gerry Roxas is from the De Leon family of San Miguel.