MANILA, Philippines - When it comes to showing love for and devotion to their province, Bulakenos are unrivaled. The flagship Club Bulakeño — made up of leading citizens from the province and others with close ties binding them to it — is a social body whose overall mission is to provide help and support to the people of Bulacan.
Since its inception over two decades ago, Club Bulakeño — founded by Engineer Genaro “Gene” Reyes and his wife Lydia — has made the ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza the home base for its annual fund-raising ball. And as each year’s event proves, the hotel has perfected the art of adding native Bulacan touches to the ballroom and converting it into a home away from home for this unfailingly sparkling annual event which takes place today, November 26.
A highlight of this year’s event is the graceful appearance of Nicole and Camille Tantoco, lovely twin daughters of Rustan Supercenters, Inc. president Donnie and Crickette Tantoco, who have been chosen as muses of Club Bulakeño’s 23rd anniversary ball.
The charming twins belong to the third generation of the Tantoco clan from Malolos, Bulacan. Their great-grandfather is Ambassador Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr., an illustrious Bulakeño who has been given the distinguished title “Ama ng Bulacan” by the club.
As always, taking pride of place at the event will be the rigodon dance sequence expertly executed by selected pairs of dancers in crisp and entertaining style, under the watchful eye of renowned choreographer Bujing Danao.
Club Bulakeño has continuously served the needs of Bulakeños through various outreach projects, livelihood programs, and scholarship grants. There are the Club Bulakeño scholars at the Punlaan School for Food and Beverage Service, a full-time program in culinary arts, dining room service, bartending, housekeeping, computer, work values and personality development, and English skills.
This course is focused on the increasing demands of the tourism industry for competent and personable service personnel here and abroad. It is a dollar earner for graduates projected to work in the many locations of international hotels where Filipinos are known to excel.
The annual ball has provided the financial wherewithal to undertake many projects in the province. These include two infant incubators to the Bulacan Provincial Hospital, together with a donation of a 250 KVA generator from club adviser Ambassador Tantoco to ensure uninterrupted power.
Furthermore, the Malolos Elementary School building with three classrooms has been remodeled with the club’s help, with one of the rooms devoted to the education of disabled children. The school library was also renovated and modernized, and then stacked up with books.
The club also embarked on its most illustrious project — the construction of a Club Bulakeno Foundation Multi-Purpose Center to serve as the base from which the club’s socio-civic programs will be managed and conducted. The land for the center was donated by Club Bulakeño founders Engineer Gene and Lydia Reyes of Bocaue, Bulacan.
Another charitable effort is a partnership with Gawad Kalinga for the Club Bulakeno-GK Village in Barangay Encanto, in the town of Angat. This project is aimed at giving decent housing to around 50 indigent families in Bulacan.
Construction of the houses in clusters of five houses has already begun. This will continue until the eventual completion of all 50 houses. When completed, Club Bulakeño members hope this will be a lasting legacy, and a worthy gift to their beloved province.
After being treated to the unfailingly wonderful four-course dinner prepared by the expert chefs of Sofitel and served by its excellent staff, guests can work off the calories to the music of two show bands.