The ABS-CBN Ball is a highly anticipated star-studded affair, but beyond
the glitz and the glamour, the Ball is a meaningful night that has
helped ABS-CBN Foundation to continue serving the Filipino people since
part of the proceeds from the Ball will support the Foundation’s
advocacies.
“Super malaking tulong. Ang laki ng donation galing sa stars and
attendees. ‘Yung pera na ‘yan we save it para magamit sa magandang
purpose,” ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Roberta Lopez-Feliciano
said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
As the ABS-CBN Ball returns after a four-year hiatus, this year’s
beneficiaries will include the following five core advocacies: disaster
risk reduction and response (Sagip Kapamilya), child welfare and
protection (Bantay Bata 163), education (Programa Genio), environmental
conservation (Bantay Kalikasan), and livelihood and social
entrepreneurship (Integrated Area Development).
Among those that the Foundation was able to help was Meg Montecarlo, a
typhoon Ondoy survivor and an ABS-CBN scholar under Bantay Bata’s
program in 2011.
According to Meg, when their home was swept away by the floods caused by
typhoon Ondoy, her hopes for a bright future were crushed as she and her
family were on survival mode. But when she became a scholar, she learned
how to dream big again.
“Dati po ang pangarap ko lang po noon ay maka-survive sa pang
araw-araw namin. Pero hindi ko pa po alam na mas malaki pa po ‘yung
maibibigay sa akin na tulong ng ABS-CBN Foundation at maisakatuparan ko
pa po ‘yung mga iba ko pa pong mga pangarap,” Meg, who is now a
college graduate, said in an interview.
Like in the past, a portion of the profit made from the ABS-CBN Ball
will be given to the Foundation. Pledges from celebrities and other
attendees will also be donated.
This year, the public will also be given the power to help those in need
while showing love for their favorite Kapamilya stars by voting online
for their picks for People’s Choice Stars of the Night, People’s
Choice Power Couple of the Ball, and Star Magic Fan Favorite. To vote,
fans may visit ktx.ph [2] and select the Kapamilya stars they want to
support (P100 = 100 votes. P200 = 250 votes). Pre-ball voting ends on
September 30, 9 pm.
Fans also have the option to cast their vote during the livestream on
September 30 from 6 pm to 9 pm via YouTube Super Chat on the ABS-CBN
Entertainment or Metro.Style YouTube channel. Fans may vote by typing
the category and the artist’s name in the comments section of the
livestream (P1 worth of Superchat = 1 vote).
Meanwhile, Lopez-Feliciano also stressed that the ABS-CBN Ball is a
reminder to everyone that despite the challenges, ABS-CBN will strive to
continue helping the Filipino people because public service is in their
DNA.
The ABS-CBN Ball 2023: Forever Grateful [3] is an event where the
company expresses its gratitude by giving back to the Foundation and
thanking all its stakeholders for their continued love and support.
Don’t miss the Ball’s red carpet livestream this September 30 (Saturday)
at 6 pm on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel, Metro.style’s
YouTube channel, Metro Channel, iWantTFC, and TFC. The red carpet
special will be hosted by Bianca Gonzalez-Intal and Edward Barber with
Gretchen Fullido as special correspondent. For more details about the
ABS-CBN Ball 2023, visit the official microsite at theball.abs-cbn.com
[4].