BRAFE GOLF: Raising funds to send underprivileged and deserving youth to college

BRAFE GOLF is an annual fundraising event that benefits the Foundation for Sharing LaSallian Education (FSLE) which provides scholarships to financially handicapped but intellectually qualified students at De La Salle University Lipa.

In 1998, FSLE extended its scholarship assistance to topranking students from barangay high schools (national high schools) in the province of Batangas. It has since been providing free tuition and fees so that qualified candidates can earn a university degree from De La Salle University Lipa.

BRAFE GOLF is held in memory of Br. Rafael ”Brafe” S. Donato FSC who, with his high school classmates, established and actively promoted FSLE. It is staged every first Monday of October by friends, classmates, students and family of Br. Rafael.

For the past 10 years, golfing enthusiasts have been getting together to enjoy a friendly round of golf while rallying behind a common cause. Aside from individual participants, corporate sponsors have also extended valuable support that has made BRAFE GOLF a long-running, successful endeavor.

All proceeds earned in each tournament go directly to FSLE.

As of school year 2014- 2015, FSLE has a total of 95 alumni. Of the 95 FSLE scholars who have graduated since 2003 and who are all now gainfully employed, 12 were BRAFE GOLF beneficiaries. And of the 31 current scholars, 17 are BRAFE GOLF beneficiaries. Leading up to the 10th edition, BRAFE GOLF has donated more than P6 million to the FSLE.

According to Albert M. G. Garcia, BRAFE GOLF is one of the largest non- club sponsored tournaments in the country — another testament to its success.

Mr. Garcia heads an all- La Sallian core group that provides voluntary time and effort in organizing and staging BRAFE GOLF year after year. Others include Ting Yupangco, George Elazegui, Edmond Datuin, Roy Peña, Ben Jacinto, Bong Africa, Albert V. De Los Santos, and Gene Garcia ( passed away early last year) Each year, when BRAFE GOLF is staged and we manage to raise funds, we feel accomplished that we are able to again educate more deserving scholars who otherwise would not be able to afford a proper education.

When our scholars graduate top of their class as Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude, and pass the CPA Exams and garner 6th place over 13,000 accounting graduates, these motivate us to keep Golfing for Education, reveals Mr. Garcia. Dubbed as “Golfing for Education,” BRAFE GOLF has done exactly this for the last ten years and counting.

On Oct. 3, when it tees off at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite, to get BRAFE 11 GOLF underway, participants will again turn to their love for the sport in a concerted effort to help provide a brighter future with better opportunities to more young people.

For those who would like to take part in this laudable cause and make a difference, contact the BRAFE GOLF Secretariat at (02) 524-6549, 354-2207 to 09, or 0928-322-4217, look for Marites Santos. For more information, visit www.brafegolf.com and the BRAFE GOLF facebook page. BRAFE 11 GOLF will be played on the Aoki, Faldo and Norman courses of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club. Shotgun tee off is at 8 a.m. Registration starts at 6 a.m.