It was during our elementary years that I felt how it is to be discriminated. of course during that time I don’t know it is called as such. You see, we studied in a private school. And those times, private schools are not that affordable. it is considered only by those who are well off and we are not. The thing is, my mom believes that the only legacy she can give us is education, thus enrolling us in a school that promises to give nothing but the best. To say we were the poorest in that school is an understatement. The exact description would be “mga kawawa” and that’s what I heard from students older than us. They saw exchanging 5 Peso bill and looked on us with pity and disgust.

At my young age then, I questioned why my mom has to enroll us in this kind of school. The kids are not friendly and some of them are bully. Later in my life, I realized the value of good education. I was not topping on my classes but I was coping up. And if not for the good education that my mom has provided us, I wouldn’t be thinking this way.

Now that I am a mother, I also believe that the only legacy or pamana I can give to my kids is education. We work hard to pay for a good education. I know most parents believe it that way. But I know that not all parents can afford it. And we all know how sad our education system is. The saddest of it is the shortage of classrooms. There are those who held their classes under a tree, there are those who teach under the scorching heat of the sun.. and some even has to use rooms from a hospital in order to hold a class… these are one of the things that I learned from the recent event for GMA Kapuso Foundation’s online Celebrity Ukay-Ukay.

Henry Perez, GMA kapuso Executive Director, joined us while waiting for the program to start. He introduced to us what Kapuso Foundation is doing. Kapuso School Development project has build 255 classrooms. And last Friday, 3 classrooms, a whole school building, from a tenement area in Zambales was inaugurated. This project was part of the Ondoy Calamity fund where in they were able to build/ rehabilitate 89 classrooms.

“No person on his right mind would use all the money for the relief operation.” Mr. Henry Perez said as he try to explain to us why they spend the donations from Ondoy and Peping to building classrooms. He says that after Ondoy, donations are flowing and the amount are too much to spend on relief operations alone. “Long term rehab, the best investment is education.” was the answer. They went back to the places that were affected by the typhoons and build classrooms.

They can only use the money to rehabilitee the classroom destroyed by Ondoy and Pepeng. Kapuso Foundation is very careful in honoring the intention of the donor.. Ondoy donors can only be used to Ondoy affected people.. Ondoy fund cannot be used to help a cancer patient, Henry told us. But Luzon is not the only place that needs classroom. Request came from different parts of the Philippines.

“We are caught in a predicament, It’s either we wait for another calamity to strike so calamity funds will come so we can help and build again classroom.” says Henry. So they started a fund raising project. The thing is, even though they use the name Kapuso, the foundation is a different entity from the giant network, GMA 7. They operate on their own. The best thing is, the network has been their biggest supporter in every project they start. Henry says that from the top management down to the smallest employee are very supportive on their projects. So to raise money in order to build their target of 50 classrooms every year, they involve the network with their fund raising projects.

Their very first fund raising project is the Celebrity Ukay Ukay last April. Celebrities donated their clothes, their stuffs and this was sold at a bazar last summer. They were able to raise money that is enough to build 5 classrooms and Brgy San Jose in Camarines Sur will be the first beneficiary.

And to be able to gain more funds, they set up an online ukay ukay, together with the help of Ebay Philippines. Ogie and Regine’s Celebrity Ukay Ukay is hosted under Ebay Philippines. And when asked why they choose Ebay to be their partner, this is Miss Mel Tiangco, Executive Vice President and COO of the GMA Kapuso Foundation said, “Because we want to sell fast, Ebay is very easy to work with.”

Maja Pascual from Ebay Philippine answered how they will treat bidders who does not pay for the item, called joyous bidders. “We call them up to check their capability to buy the item.” Miss Pascual added that they also give a benefit of the doubt on why a bidder suddenly changed their minds.

Noemi Lumapas, head of IMC (Institution Marketing and Communications Department) presented to us the items that will be on auction this coming Friday. Chris Tui even graced the vent and gamely pose for the press with his jersey, one of the items that will be auctioned:

Here are some of the items that will be on OGIE&REGINE’s CELEBRITY UKAY- UKAY this coming July 15 (following photos comes from the Press Kit given to us):

Ogie Alcasid’s Karma Music Workstation in matte maroon. This was used by Ogie Alcasid in composing his songs such as Ikaw Sana..

Kris Aquino’s Fire Engine Red Bustier Gown.

John Lapuz’s Andy Warhol Seiko Watch

Dingdong Dantes’ Party Pilipinas personalized denim jacket given to him on his birthday.

Sharon Cuneta’s Valentino Rosette Sandals

I asked how many items and how long will it be on ebay. They said that as of Ebay’s rule, an item will be up for bidding for 10 days. The Celebrity Ukay Ukay will upload new batch every 10 days. The starting price are determined based on different factors such as the value of the product given that is already used and other factors.

I believe in the cause of this fundraising project, hence I will be posting the badge of the Celebrity Ukay Ukay in all my blogs. And I also want to encourage every one to help in spreading the word about this fund raising activity. I want to help and this is my way of being involved. and I leave to you this message that Miss Mel Tiangco told us:

What the kapuso wants to offer you is for your profession, for your hobby to be a medium of public service for our people. We assure you that every single centavo would go to the kapuso classroom project. Di ba ang sarap nun, ung enjoy ka na, nag ba blog ka na, pero alam mo deep in your heart nakaktulong ka pa sa kapwa mo? At ikaw ang nagiging daan ng pagmamahal ng kapwa mo sa kapwa nya. It is really the most fulfilling thing that can happen to professional likes us. Para ka maging instrument for God’s love and an instrument to a kapwa tao na nagmamahalan.

Me and my fellow PMC member Vix did not miss the chance to have some photo ops with Ms Mel Tiangco: