Inspiring support for Yolanda victims

LOS ANGELES – Nike hosted a farewell dinner for the media invited to attend the Kobe 9 Elite shoe launch here last Wednesday night. There were about 70 media practitioners who came for the unveiling with Kobe Bryant, Nike CEO Mark Parker and Nike creative director and vice president for Innovation Eric Avar at the Geffen Contemporary of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Of the 70, only 14 were from outside North America and they were all from Asia – seven from China, two from Hong Kong, three from Taiwan and two from the Philippines (broadcaster and Slam Magazine editor Mico Halili and myself).  Of the 56, one was a creative designer from England based in Mexico and two were from Toronto. The Canadians were accompanied by Nike Toronto communications director Claire Rankine whose mother Erlinda de la Vega is a nurse from Abra.

Claire was born in Boston and studied at the University of Toronto.  Before joining Nike six months ago, she was employed by Microsoft. She played some basketball in high school but never seriously. In Toronto, she plays squash with her two kids. Claire was actively involved in Fil-Am affairs as a student and performed in a rondalla conducted by New York-based composer Michael Dadap.

The farewell dinner was held at the Church Key Restaurant on West Hollywood. The place was exquisite with two fireplaces, a bar and a large seating area. Nike booked nearly half the place for the visiting media. The treat was a mix of modern American cuisine and non-Chinese dimsum like snapper or tuna. A waitress dressed in a Pan American uniform went around wheeling a cart with cocktail concoctions. The menu was quite unique. After a series of dimsums, the main course of chicken curry arrived. Dessert was made up of doughnuts, milk shake and pear tart pie.

Last Sunday, the Church Key opened its doors for a charity dinner benefiting the National Alliance For Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) relief effort to aid Typhoon Yolanda victims. The restaurant is usually closed on Sundays but made an exception for the fund-raiser. A waitress said there are no Filipinos employed at Church Key, making the relief effort even more commendable.

Chefs and mixologists from several Los Angeles restaurants got together for the food and cocktail event at 5 to 9 p.m. The affair was called #LALoves PI. Long-time US residents who are Filipinos often refer to the Motherland as PI or Philippine Islands, a reference made by GIs during World War II.

The benefit raised funds for Yolanda victims with all proceeds directed to Gawad Kalinga. Among the Los Angeles chefs who went to the get-together were Eric Greenspan of the Foundry, Kris Morningstar of Rays + Stark Bar, Ray Garcia of Fig, Anthony Carron (800 Degrees, Top Rank), Steven Fretz (The Church Key), Steve Samson (Sotto), Perry Cheung (Phorage), Sally Camacho (The Jonathan Club), Kevin Luzande (Acabar) and mixologists Devon Espinosa (The Church Key), Nick Meyer (Bestia, Syria) and Joey Bernardo (Harvard and Stone).

Tickets were priced at $100 excluding service fees for general admission tickets. This entitled the holder to an all-inclusive dinner, cocktail reception and silent auction. VIP tickets went for $150 and service fees with a private champagne reception from 5-6 p.m., exclusive dish tastings and a gift bag of treats courtesy of Sherry Yard of Helms Bakery. NAFCON said Gawad Kalinga will convert the cash into relief foods for the Yolanda victims. Participating restaurants, brands, purveyors and volunteer groups donated all ingredients, gifts and staff for the event.

The outpouring of support and sympathy for the typhoon victims was inspiring. During the Nike dinner, a waitress from New York expressed her concern when she found out Mico and I are Filipinos. Mico and I arrived here from Manila last Tuesday night, attended the Kobe 9 Elite shoe launch and interviewed Bryant and Avar the next day and left back for home Thursday night. We arrived in Manila last Saturday morning. The PAL crew that brought us to LA also took us back to Manila.

In our interview with Bryant, he was emphatic in showing concern for the typhoon victims. It was a genuine expression of love for the Filipino people and we thank everyone for the encouraging message of hope.

During the shoe launch, Parker explained that the use of Flyknit technology has changed the game of manufacturing. With the use of single fibers knitted together instead of traditional fabrics, the process reduces waste by an average of 80 percent in running shoes and 50 percent in basketball shoes. According to Nike, the technology is part of the company’s move towards a “closed-loop” business model that reduces waste by reusing, recycling or composting all materials.

The ground-breaking technology gained for Nike recognition as the most innovative company of 2013. Nike’s profits grew by 57 percent the year before so there is reason for Parker to be proud of the footwear and sports apparel outfit’s performance. Parker, 57, joined Nike as a footwear designer in 1979 and rose to division vice president, corporate vice president, general manager, vice president for global footwear and co-president before his elevation to CEO in 2006. Two years ago, his total compensation reportedly amounted to $11 million.

A source said Bryant rides a four-seater red helicopter from his Newport Beach home to land in a hangar near the Los Angeles airport then rides a car to report for practice at the Lakers facility in El Segundo. For home games, Bryant uses a bigger helicopter (he owns two) which touches down on the rooftop of a downtown building and makes his way to the Staples Center in a limo. After the games, his wife Vanessa joins him in the drive back to Newport Beach. One of Bryant’s three Los Angeles homes is rumored to be up for sale.