Celebrity doodles: Food for tote

MANILA, Philippines - For pound-for-pound boxing champ Manny Pacquiao who takes on Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez III the third time around, it’s in the bag! Fact is, the fighting congressman is on the bag — the Pambansang Kamao (National Fist) traced his hands on a canvas for the celebrity doodle project of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. (CSFI).

 Coming home from yet another successful fight and still savoring the sweet taste of victory, Manny had just checked in at the New World Hotel when the indefatigable congressional ladies cornered him and asked him for a doodle on the spot. Needless to say, Manny beat them to the draw — or should we say, the drawing. Wife Jinkee Pacquiao took her cue from Manny and sketched her hands, too. Of course, Mommy D would not be outdrawn — she drew a boxing glove!

Two ladies and a mission: Kristine Singson-Meehan and Paula Locsin-Bondoc of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. show off Shamcey Supsup’s drawing of houses and model two other eco tote bags. Photos by WALTER BOLLOZOS

The Pacquiaos’ bags, along with other celebrity bags, are up for grabs in the CSFI’s Celebrity Doodle Auction, which began last Oct. 28 and will end on Dec. 7, when the winners for each bid will be announced.

Shamcey Supsup, third runner-up in this year’s Miss Universe pageant and an architecture graduate of the University of the Philippines, drew something close to her heart: houses.

So far, she’s got the highest bid — P3,000. Trailing her is Manny Pacquiao with P1,000.

Starting bid is P500 with increments of P100.

“One bidder liked Shamcey’s work so much that he wanted to have it framed, instead of made into a bag,” says Paula Locsin-Bondoc, executive director of CSFI.

If Shamcey drew houses, Vice President Jejomar Binay drew the imposing Coconut Palace with the words “Welcome to the Office of the Vice President.”

Six-time world champ Paeng Nepomuceno drew a bowling pin and the Philippine flag shaped into a ball. Now, that should get us all bowled over.

Gloria Romero and Lorna Tolentino were once spotted at a party together. Right then and there, they were asked to do a doodle for the CSFI. Gloria drew her famous profile, with a tobacco dangling from her mouth, sending smoke signals. Of course, the oldies fondly remember Gloria playing the tobacco-chomping Ilocana in the 1950s’ movie Manang Biday. For her part, Lorna drew her lips with a mole on top and a heart with a string attached to her signature.

Not only do they always put their best foot — and football — forward, the Philippine Azkals also have their hearts in the right place. Gathered in one room one fine day, members of Team Azkals sat down to do their homework, er, celebrity doodles. And they came up with heartwarming winners!

Gary Estrada drew a baseball and a bat with the words “Baseball 23” in three minutes flat. Once upon a time, Gary played baseball and 23 was the number on his proud jersey.

 Jinggoy Estrada traced his dad’s famous (or is it infamous?) cartoon. Jinggoy really seriously spent time on his work.

Dawn Zulueta gave two lovely artworks. Suddenly, it dawns on you that this actress-turned-politician’s wife is a good artist, too.

Aga Muhlach drew his favorite cartoon character Garfield who loves to eat and hates Mondays. Cool cat, huh? Of course, we mean Aga! Ever-blooming wife Charlene Gonzales drew a solitary gumamela.

Juliana Gomez, daughter of actor Richard Gomez and Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, is pretty cool, too. She drew a cone of ice cream on one side of her bag and a humongous lollipop on the other.

Actually, the ladies approached Goma for his doodle, but Richard, who’s the treasurer of CSFI, gave the homework to his daughter. Wise dad, don’t you think?

Pinoy musician Ely Buendia, who suffered a heart attack a few years ago, drew a heart rate monitor — you can almost hear it beeping with its throbbing crests and troughs.

Representative Cynthia Villar tells us something about her advocacy in her clean and green drawing: Saving a river, securing livelihoods.

Speaker of the House of   Representatives Sonny Belmonte lets his work speak for itself. We think that the girl sketch is that of his beloved daughter, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte Alimurung.

Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas takes us for a ride — literally speaking — with his drawings of a boat, a plane, and a train on one side of the canvas. On the other side is a jeepney with the words that “jeepney setters” are probably most familiar with: Katas ng Saudi. On the other hand, his wife Korina Sanchez’s drawing is about peace, love, and hope. Looks like Korina has become somewhat domesticated.

Senator Chiz Escudero made an abstract drawing we can’t quite figure out. Oh, well, just smile and say, “Chiz!”

Because as Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile says, “Gusto ko happy ka!!”

“For the Congressional Spouses Foundation’s fund-raising activity this year, we decided to do a doodle, and later on we decided to turn it into an eco tote bag because it’s like a go green compaign as well,” shares Kristine Singson-Meehan. “And since it’s an original artwork by a celebrity, we decided we should do an auction.”

“Aside from politicians and showbiz personalities, we also tapped sports celebrities like the Azkals — Phil Younghusband, James Younghusband, Angel Guirado, and Roel Gener, among others,” says Paula. “Their works just came in so nobody has bidded for them.”

Paula gives us the mechanics: “They were each given a tote, inside which were the cloth, crayons, and instructions on what’s a doodle and samples of doodles.”

What’s a doodle? “It’s a sketch, an art, something that would represent something for the person,” replies Paula.

Generous sponsor of the eco tote bags is Zarah Juan of Greenleaf Ecobags.

 Proceeds from the auction will go into providing college funds to 100 scholars nationwide and assistance to provinces affected by calamities. “We’re sending 100 women to college as part of our women empowerment thrust,” says Kristine. “The first batch will be in June next year.”

So far, the CSFI has collected 45 works, “but we’ll continue updating on Facebook,” says Paula. “For more info, e-mail csfi_congress@yahoo.com; Facebook: Csfi Fifteenth Congress.”

You can say that this is a well tote-out project. And everybody has been very toteful!