MANILA, Philippines — Every year, women in Metro Manila gather together to put on their glamorous gowns to raise funds for a cause that’s near and dear to them.
This year has been unforeseen, to say the least, and with COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness and funds for those gravely affected by the two “Big Cs.”
Angola Consul and Best Dressed Women of the Philippines chairperson Helen Ong says, “This year, for the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved, we have decided that a gala event would be inappropriate, which left us with the challenge of how we would continue to raise funds for our cancer patients, who have never needed us more. After much thought, we came to the conclusion that it was time to raise funds, not through the festivities of our yearly annual fashion show, but rather the publication of a timeless coffee-table book.”
Since 2004, the Philippines’ longest-running charity fashion show has continued its advocacy of raising funds to assist the Philippine Cancer Society, with its programs that help underprivileged Filipinos who are fighting cancer.
“For the last 16 years, the society has been extremely grateful to the BDWP for continuously providing the much-needed funding support for most of our programs that affect the stricken sector of our nation,” said PCS chair Antonio Ma. J. Guerrero.
The collective efforts to launch its first-ever coffee-table book has garnered hundreds of thousands in a short time, ensuring that the committee is able to continue giving back and doing what they can in order to shed light, awareness, and assistance to this important cause.
Funds will go directly to the Philippine Cancer Society, which will use it to help sustain their numerous programs, as well as implement new ones to help save the lives of millions of cancer patients, particularly during these trying times.
Each year the major highlight of the fundraising initiative is the annual staging of the selected Best Dressed Women of the Philippines. The final candidates all exemplify true elegance, sophistication, and style that lead with a compassionate, giving heart.
The 2020 Luminary Philanthropy of the Philippines for the second year in a row is none other than Alice Eduardo. This year’s Most Influential Man in the Philippines is Ambassador Francis Chua.
The 2020 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines (in no particular order) are as follows: Mache Ackermann, Cecille Asprec, Rosemarie Custodio Basa, Risa Caldoza, Marilyne De Mesa, Kaydee Velasco, Pauline Laping, Eisa Mercado,Janice Misa, Malou Monteverde, Melanie Omar, Shirley Sobremote, Beging Soriano, Chuchi Serrano Villar, Prescy Yulo and Sheila Lobien.
Stay tuned for the virtual launch of the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines coffee-table book on Dec. 14 via Facebook Live.