Donations went long, long way

First prize winner Fundador Soriano sent in only one entry to our Christmas Contest and hit the jackpot. Soriano, 76, topped the list of 20 winners picked to receive a bundle of prizes raised from donors, benefactors, sponsors and friends of The Philippine Star’s sports section.

Here’s what Soriano took home in his prize package: P50,000 cash, two AirAsia plane tickets to any domestic destination, TCL 29-inch TV, Balenciaga watch with matching leather wallet, a pair of autographed Manny Pacquiao boxing gloves and boxing shorts, autographed Pacquiao cap, Meralco cap, Smart tote bag from The Leather Collection, Shell Ferrari mug, Meralco coffee kettle, Petron polo shirt, Alaska T-shirt, NBA poster sticker, San Miguel Beer jacket, Shell car charger, Metro Pacific bag, Shell umbrella, Shell Ferrari jacket, Gilas Pilipinas jacket, Shell water bottle, Kia FIFA 2014 World Cup soccer ball, The Best Center T-shirt, Rain Or Shine T-shirt, Kia cap, Ever Bilena Naturals revitalizing soap, Cussons baby cream, baby oil, baby shampoo, baby powder and baby bath liquid soap, autographed Alaska basketball, Alaska E-Cow stuffed doll, Hapee gift pack (towel, toothbrush, toothpaste), Purefoods gift bag of canned goods, Readers Digest and PBA Annual.

Soriano took a chance with just one entry. He joined one of our previous contests two years ago and didn’t win. This was his second participation. Soriano said his favorite columns are those written by Ricky Lo and Boy Abunda in The Star and “A Sporting Chance.” “If you watch someone on TV and read his articles, it’s like you know each other, like you’ve been friends,” he said.

Soriano has nine children and eight grandchildren. A widower, he has remarried. His wife Mary Ann, 55, is a member of Zonta Las Piñas and used to run a convenience store which was eventually shut down due to slow business.

“At present, I’m writing a book about my experience as a producer, director and writer of ‘Kahapon Lamang,’ Eddie Ilarde’s radio show on ABS-CBN dzXL,” he said. “It was the most popular radio drama from 1965 to 1969 with a rating of 65 percent.” Now retired, Soriano also churns out political and showbiz columns for tabloids. His favorite teams are Talk ‘N’ Text and Purefoods with Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag and Mark Barroca his favorite players.

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Second prize winner Josephine Ramos, 41, is a schoolteacher from Silang, Cavite. She sent in 22 entries. Ramos joined her first Star contest. She has two children, one a criminology freshman and the other, a Grade 5 student. Her favorite team is Barangay Ginebra. Third prize winner Roel Abe, 44, works at the BPI Navotas Northbay branch and is with the Servant of the Living God under the Jesus Is Lord Church of Tanza and Navotas. His favorite team is Crispa and Atoy Co his favorite player. Fourth prize winner Dalton Chiong, 27, supports Rain Or Shine and is a law graduate. He was a seminarian for nine years and has been a Star reader since high school. Fifth prize winner Augusto Mendoza, 66, cheers for Kia and is a retired employee. Sixth prize winner Tony Gioketo, 42, is the administrative officer of the Gapan District Hospital in charge of the facility’s day-to-day operations. He is married to a school directress Alma Mercy with two children Gabriel, a Grade 8 student, and Precious, a Grade 10 student. “I was a college professor before I joined the government service this year,” he said. “I was a candidate for city councilor of Cabanatuan in 2010 but didn’t make it.” Gioketo sent his lone entry via LBC. His favorite team is Barangay Ginebra and still idolizes former players Robert Jaworski, Rudy Distrito, Leo Isaac, Chito and Joey Loyzaga, Dondon Ampalayo, Dante Gonzalgo, Rey Cuenco, Peter Aguilar and Romy Mamaril.

We raised P147,500 in cash and gave P80,000 to our top three contest winners (Soriano P50,000, Ramos P20,000, Abe, P10,000), P50,000 to SAGIP (Saklolo At Gabay Ng Ina’t Pamilya Foundation of Muntinlupa) and P17,500 to Samboy Lim.

Our complete list of donors and donations: Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia P50,000, Ever Bilena chairman Dioceldo Sy P20,000, 20 boxes of Cussons baby cream, baby oil, baby powder, baby liquid soap and baby shampoo, 10 boxes of Ever Bilena Naturals soap, Globalport team owner Mikee Romero P15,000 and two AirAsia plane tickets, the Herma Group CEO Hermie Esguerra P15,000, ALA Group CEO Tony Aldeguer P12,500, NLEX president/CEO Ramoncito Fernandez P10,000, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. P10,000, The Philippine Star president/CEO Miguel Belmonte P10,000, Games and Amusements Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon P5,000, Planet Sports president Anton Gonzalez P10,000 Planet Sports gift certificates, Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado P5,000 SM gift certificates, Alaska team manager Dickie Bachmann 20 Alaska basketballs, 20 E-Cow stuffed dolls, 20 Alaska T-shirts, Columbian Autocar Corp. president Ginia Domingo 20 Kia Hanes T-shirts, 20 Kia eco-bags, 20 Kia caps and 20 Kia FIFA 2014 World Cup limited edition soccer balls, PBA commissioner Chito Salud 20 PBA T-shirts, 5 PBA Molten basketballs, 20 PBA Annuals.

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Sonia Trading managing director Anil Buxani 4 Gosen badminton sets, 6 Molten Azkals soccer balls, 6 Molten basketballs, Emerald Headway 24 back issues of Readers Digest, Shell Philippines Petroleum Corp. vice president Bobby Kanapi 5 car chargers, 10 T-shirts, 5 PBA water bottles, 3 Ferrari jackets, 5 Ferrari polo shirts, 5 golf umbrellas, 5 Ferrari mugs, 1 Manel’s overnight bag, 2 Balenciaga watches with matching wallets, The MVP Group 10 Metro Pacific overnight bags with attachable computer cases, 3 Meralco coffee kettles, 2 desk fans, 5 Meralco caps, 2 tote bags, 2 foldable bags, 7 Gilas Pilipinas jackets, 3 Metro Pacific backpacks, 2 water bottles, Nestle 10 Milo umbrellas, 10 Milo jackets, 10 Milo basketballs, San Miguel Corp. 20 gift packs of canned goods, cheese, cream, Larc and Asset 20 NBA poster stickers, San Miguel Beer team governor Robert Non 5 San Miguel Beer jackets, 8 Petron T-shirts, 5 Petron polo shirts, Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua 16 Antonov luggage accessory bags, 6 water bottles, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios 5 Molten basketballs, 5 SBP umbrellas.

Lamoiyan Corp. CEO Dr. Cecilio Pedro 20 Hapee gift packs of towel, toothbrush and toothpaste, Rain Or Shine team governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon TCL 29-inch TV, 24 T-shirts, 12 umbrellas, Manny Pacquiao Group 2 pairs of boxing gloves, three pairs of boxing shorts, four caps, The Best Center founder/CEO Nic Jorge 20 T-shirts, 20 basketballs, Coca-Cola vice president Atty. Adel Tamano 10 cases of Coca Cola regular (330 ml), Purefoods team manager Alvin Patrimonio 20 San Mig Coffee Grand Slam T-shirts and coach Eric Altamirano T-shirts and basketballs.

To our donors, sponsors, benefactors and friends, thank you for your generosity. Your donations went a long, long way to bring goodwill and cheer. To our 20 winners, congratulations. And to the thousands who sent in entries, thanks for participating and we promise more contests for you to win in the coming year. Special thanks to my daughter Cristina for meeting and distributing the prizes to the winners, executive assistant Babes Angat for managing the contest and her son Ikoy for his help.