Celebrity host Willie Revillame has joined Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and other donors in pooling their resources to raise money for the purchase of vehicles for the bishops. Atty. Romulo Macalintal and former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza are leading the fundraising drive as a support for the seven bishops who were maligned over the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) donations controversy.
Willie Revillame donated P100,000 said lawyer Romulo Macalintal, And after donating cash, television host Willie Revillame is giving two new vehicles for the charity work of some Catholic dioceses. Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said that Revillame is donating one Foton 15-seater van and one Foton pick-up car.
“Revillame is making the donation to show his deep concern for the needs of our bishops,” Macalintal said. And according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Willie had been one of the “generous philanthropists” for the fundraising campaign.
The total donation has already reached P1.5 million as of July 21, nine days after the fund raising campaign was launched.
Last week, the four prelates from Mindanao and three Northern Luzon dioceses, returned the utility vehicles which they bought from PCSO donations in 2009 in the middle of the allegations that former Arroyo gave the cars in return of their political allegiance. The decision was made after the current PCSO administration told media that former President Gloria Arroyo distributed “luxury vehicles for personal use” of some bishops for political reasons. The prelates, however, clarified that what they got were not luxury cars but utility vehicles for Church-operated missions.
Aside Willie Revillame, other celebrities and organizations also donated for the fund-raising campaign. Senator Tito Sotto and Senator Bong Revilla together with his wife Lani Mercado donated P200,000 each, Senator Chiz Escudero donated 100,000, former Senator Ernie Maceda donated 10,000 pesos. Jojo Mitra, which is the eldest son of our former speaker Ramon Mitra donated 50,000 pesos and organization like Radyo Veritas and Manila Amado Bagatsing donated 100,000 pesos each.
MANILA, Philippines—It’s a done deal, for Dingdong Dantes at least. On “SOP” last Sunday, it was officially announced that Dantes would play the lead role of Cholo in the local version of the popular Koreanovela “Stairway to Heaven,” as reported in Rushes that same day.
