Waray Initiative Network (aka WIN) did not only live to its acronym in accomplishing two things in the course of its three-year existence as a nonprofit.
The third musical extravaganza called Halad Offering at the Barnsdall Gallery Theater in Hollywood last July 23 was a literal winner on two fronts.
First, it provided a venue for the organization to pursue its effort of continuously educating others on the beauty and depth of the Philippine heritage and culture and second, the event enabled volunteerism to show its finer moments with the members’ and benefactors contributing their musical and artistic skills for a worthwhile project that will touch and impact the lives of their fellowmen thousands of miles away.
Heeding the Call: Close to a hundred benefactors heeded the call to make the project of Waraynon Intiative Network of sending a medical-dental mission in Tacloban City a reality with their sponsorships. Cerritos-based Amore Culinary Innovations, a kitchen-ware outlet operated by Pia and Noel Laput (extreme left, right) shown with their friends from the media and the professional circles was one of the benefactors of the outreach project next year.
The proceed from this selfless fundraising event, another “big feather in the cap of WIN as an organization, will benefit thousands their kababayan in Tacloban City as a team of medics and volunteers engage in a medical-surgical and dental mission in July 2017.
After three years of being ravaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) the victims are slowly rising up and rebuilding like the proverbial Phoenix which rose up from the ashes.
Thanks to their steely determination to recover and the untiring commitment of their more blessed kin on this side of the world whose hearts remain in helping mode and do not allow the donor fatigue syndrome to contaminate them.
This year’s Halad is a package of gratitude for those who continue with their benevolent attitude and an inspiration for the association to embark on more ambitious undertaking of extended altruism.
“Halad’s” Cast of Volunteers: A collection of volunteers contributed their time, artistry, labor and hearts contributed to make the close to three-hour Halad (Offering) Concert at the Barnsdall Gallery Theater in Los Angeles a channel of love for the 2017 medical-surgico-dental mission in Typhoon Yolanda-ravaged Tacloban City.
As the organizers become “channels of love” that have made them clear winners already, they become more empowered to go about their advocacies of helping the less fortunate with more passion and commitment and inject more meaning in the operative word “give”.
In her remarks in the concert program, Dr. Tess Agner stated. “This year’s Halad Concert (offering) is a gesture of such desire to say “thank you” for supporters’ benevolence emphasizing that “ the challenges of these trying times are easier confronted and when working as a team”.
This is plain and simple “bayanihan” spirit in operation with the Filipino-Americans in this side of the world “responding as one and working as a team to help their beleaguered kababayan in confronting their challenges even with thousands of miles separating them.”
Close to a hundred benefactors and sponsors came forward to make the event one that will be remembered and talked about for a long time.
The officers of the three-year old WIN generously contributed their time and effort in making the event worth a repeat and included Lori B. Vergara, Chairman; Dr. Tess Agner, President; Judith Ponferrada, Secretary; Peter Caludac, Treasurer and Tanny Sano, Raul Kempis and Michael Omega, Members.
Auxilliaries: Tanny Sano, VP Finance; Giggs Ibarrola, Asst. VP Finance;
Dulce Caludac, VP Support Services and Membership; Cecille Omega, Asst. VP Support and Membership; Lidu Sano, VP for Events; Iday Laure; Asst. VP Events; Raul Kempis, VP Marketing; Lynna Kempis, Asst. VP Marketing and Maxinne Vergara, VP Networking and Project Implementation.