Saudi Fashion Photo Shoot for a Cause

When I found out recently that Saudi Arabia based- Jane Ampoloquio of Tagbilaran City had facilitated the turnover of cash donations & goods for the families that had been affected by the October 15 2013 earthquake that struck Bohol, I got elated with the news and my mind suddenly went back to year 2003 when I first met Ms. Ampoloquio.

We were organizing a big fashion gala as one of the TBTK 2003 highlights and I had picked Jane from the casting call for the fashion event. Although she was practically a newbie in modeling, she had the willowy and svelte figure, height and the beauty that was perfect for modeling. 

She was still raw but had a lot of potential and was a fast learner when it came to posing and gliding on the runway

After that fashion show, our paths never crossed again perhaps, because I was so engrossed in the academe and she had become a registered nurse.

It had to take an earthquake for our paths to connect once again through B.R.I.D.G.E.S were we both volunteer

According to web designer & photographer Chrismael Caldo, the donations were through the collective efforts of a Saudi Arabia- based group of models and photographers that includes our very own Jane Ampoloquio.

Jane Ampoloquio worked tirelessly to help gather these artists in the arts & fashion world for a photo shoot that generated cash donations and relief goods

Lest people forget, there are still scores of families that are still reeling from the devastating after effects of the earthquake that struck Bohol four months back. Their plight has been eclipsed by Super Typhoon Yolanda that ravaged most parts of Eastern Visayas

To Jane Ampoloquio and to everyone involved in the fundraiser, hats off to you!

PHOTOSHOOT FOR A CAUSE     :  (BOHOL EARTHQUAKE)

PARTICIPANTS                                : PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM SAUDI

LOCATION                                       : AMERAYAH PRIVATE FARM RIYADH K.S.A.

ORGANIZERS                                   : RIYADH CREATIVE ARTISTS

DONORS:   

LAGUNA LAKERS CARGO FORWARDERS, PINOY SINING K.S.A. , DANTE LAYOSA , NORMAN CUNANAN, RODEL MINDA, JAM C. NAVA ,ZHARIYA SILVESTRE CAMID & A LOT MORE!

THRU THE EFFORT OF MS. JANE AMPOLOQUIO (REGISTERED NURSE)

(MEMBER OF B.R.I.D.G.E.S.)

 

THANKS TO DENNIS SACO & THE REST OF B.R.I.D.G.E.S. FOR FACILITATING THE DISTRIBUTION     

Piso Para Sa Leyte, Samar Ug Sugbo

From Anna Maris Igpit's FB Timeline:

As our team was going around to help our fellow Boholanos, I was moved by how the people want to help our brothers and sisters in Cebu and Leyte who were victims of typhoon Yolanda.  

As much as we want to focus our efforts here in Bohol, I can't simply ignore their good intentions to contribute. 

This pushed Oplan Bangon Bohol together with B.R.I.D.G.E.S., to come up with "Piso Para sa Leyte ug Sugbo". 

Today, Anna Maris and I sought and were granted an audience with Monsignor Jeffrey Malanog who is at the helm of Diocese of Tagbilaran while Monsignor Leonardo Medroso attends to an important matter abroad.

With the help and support of the Diocese, we will be spreading our team in all parishes under the diocese in Bohol where you can drop a peso to help. 

Anna Maris further said:

If you are willing to give more, we would be very glad to accept it.  

We will also be spreading out in public markets and going around each town.  

This is a one day event only and will happen this Nov. 17, 2013. 

We would be very glad if you can help us spread the word. 

More details to come soon! 

"For our brothers and sisters in Leyte, Samar & Cebu; 

Since you were there during our darkest hours,  

it's our turn now to give back..."  

A Bohol- Based Volunteer Group That Calls Itself B.R.I.D.G.E.S.

Photographer Dennis Saco

Right after a pre- nuptial photo and video shoot that we did for Borgy and Glenda, ace Boholano photographer Dennis Saco organized a ragtag team of volunteers as a response to the call to help fellow Boholanos who have been hit the hardest by a 7.2 killer quake that struck our province last October 15.

The province is still trying to regain its lost footing and hope to rise again and rebuild the badly hit areas particularly in the northwestern area of the province

Dennis never had the slightest inkling that the group would become one of the teams that would get the attention of donors especially when the group started posting in Facebook and Twitter. 

Next came the national and international press like BBC, New York Times, Bloomberg, Time Magazine, ABC CBC News. 

The media were particularly interested to buy the rights to a two minute video that captured the devastation in Dauis minutes after the quake struck

Loon's famous coral steps
Photo Credit: Chrismael Caldo

Maribojoc's Punta Cruz Tower was not spared from the tremorsPhoto Credit: Chrismael Caldo

Tent cities have sprouted in many areas of the provincePhoto Credit: Chrismael Caldo

The response to the call for volunteers has been overwhelming too especially from the youth & student sector and from young professionals like nurses. 

We also have colleagues in the Bohol wedding suppliers sector and scores of Boholano photographers who have extended assistance

The next logical step right after a semblance of order had been established was to have an official name for the group for identity & transparency purposes. 

Potential donors and volunteers have been asking for the name of the group and we couldn’t come up with a name because of other pressing concerns

Anyway, I’m very proud to inform everyone that the private sector based- volunteer group that was organized by Dennis Saco has been aptly named B.R.I.D.G.E.S.  

The acronym B.R.I.D.G.E.S  stands for Bohol Relief Initiatives & Developmental Group Entities

During our brainstorming, we agreed that the word Bridge best describes us for we are the conduit, the channel or the bridges between the private sector of donors & the victims/ affected families

The use of the word Initiatives is perfect also because the group after all was the result of the organizer’s initiative and creativity

We also agreed to use the word Entities because the group is composed of different volunteers/ members who come from various backgrounds yet bound by the same goal: to help Bohol in its relief, rehabilitation & recovery efforts

Please visit my Facebook page as well as that of Dennis Saco so you will be updated with the donations, donors and the scope of services extended already

Finally, a name for our volunteer group

Here's the link to the FB Page of BRIDGES

 B.R.I.D.G.E.S

Thanks also to Youthlead Phil for initiating and arranging the first coordination meeting of the private sector- based relief goods organizations in Bohol.

Here are some photos taken during the meeting

 

2006 Bb Pilipinas World  & 2005 Miss Bohol Anna Maris Igpit shares her experiences

Linton Jake Lim Gregorio raises a valid point during the coordination meeting 

Of course our appreciation to the various relief organizations that joined and expressed solidarity. God bless!

Here’s the message from John Maraguinot who spearheaded the initial meeting last Monday at the San Antonio de Padua Parish Church 

“It's heartwarming and, at the same time, entertaining to sit down and listen to fellow relief workers share about their experiences in the field and the challenges they encountered while doing their various relief activities.  

The mapping activity, though a simple one, conveyed to us all a powerful message - collaboration and coordination.  

I think its high time that our colleagues in the private relief organizations sit down and come up with solid recommendations to strengthen collaboration to make sure that we leave no communities behind.  

We need to do this for Bohol.

And here is the photo from Chrismael Caldo that captures the optimism and resilience of Bohol and its people

Smiles in the midst of adversity

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended