Dr. Loi turns over MARE leadership to daughter Jackie
This morning at the San Andres Stadium in San Andres, Manila, former Sen./Dr. Loi Ejercito will relinquish the leadership of MARE Foundation to her daughter Jackie Ejercito who is marking her 50th birthday today, eve of the birthday of Mama Mary (Sept. 8) which is celebrated with fiestas in three places in Samar (Las Navas, Northern Samar; Calbayog City, Western Samar; and Borongan City, Eastern Samar).
“What a memorable birthday gift,” Jackie told movie writers at last week’s presscon. “My mom was one of the founding members of MARE and she sat as chairwoman for 20 years. Her record with other MARE officers and members is hard to match but I and the new group will try our best.”
Jackie’s sister-in-law Precy Vitug- Ejercito is among the new officers as vice chairman — “It’s my first time with MARE and I’m ready for the task ahead,” said Precy, wife of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada — also including Corina PonceEnrile Yenko (treasurer), Edward Lavin, Mar. Rowena Ejercito, Gabriel Ma. Lopez, Maria Cristina Tantoco Morada, Willin Chan, Evelyn Carballo and Benita Tanyag.
MARE Foundation was established in 1996 (with the vision to help improve the quality of life of underprivileged Filipinos) by then Vice President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada with his wife, former Sen. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito-Estrada. After more than 20 years of implementing its pro-poor programs, it has helped thousands of men and women, seniors and youth through its free medical, surgical and dental missions, medical assistance program,
feeding programs, livelihood projects, scholarships and relief assistance to families who are victims of floods, fire and other calamities including conflict situations.
The foundation also encourages families to raise varieties of nutritious vegetables to promote urban farming as a mode of livelihood program. One good example is found in Baseco (Tondo, Manila) in selected school grounds. MARE is also there where calamities like fires strike poor communities to give assistance like food, medicines, personal belongings and even construction materials. MARE has successfully networked with various hospitals, NGOs and the private sector to support its activies.
“I hope I could duplicate my mom’s TLC (Tender Loving Care) which comes naturally to her because she’s a doctor,” said Jackie. “As I said, she’s a tough act to follow.” Upcoming singer-composer born and raised in Japan Given the right break and the right push, Jennifer Burn can make a name for herself back home. Born to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother, Marian Omiro (her real name) impressed movie writers during a pocket presscon where she gave samples of three songs — English, Japanese and Tagalog — accompanying herself with a guitar. Her voice has a Japanese kind of caress…soothing, lullabyish and generally easy listening, reminiscent of the musical style of such Japanese artists as Ted Ito and the late Tadao Hayashi.
Marian/Jennifer (her professional surname was inspired by Audrey Hepburn) so loved singing that she would entertain passers-by at train stations in Japan.
“I didn’t do it for money,” said Marian who finished a course in Wedding Planning, “I just wanted people to listen to my songs.”
She was discovered by former starlet Victoria Ozawa (screen name: Vicki Varga), married to a Japanese businessman. The couple owns and manages the Victoria Projects Co. LTD and JP Construction.
“She will do an album of her own 10 compositions under Vehnee Saturno,” announced Vicki.
2 beauties meet in NYC
Kapamilya beauty queens Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015, and Charo Santos-Concio (Miss Green Revolution and Baron Travel Girl) briefly met at the backstage during the ASAP staging at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, last Saturday. I asked Charo if Maalaala
Mo Kaya might feature Pia’s life story.
“Why not?” she replied. “Pia’s life is very interesting and many lessons can be learned from her story.”
Liza Soberano can portray the young Pia if ever, with Pia playing herself. Pia was so elated when
ASAP gave her an advance birthday (she’ll turn 27 on Sept. 24) tribute complete with a cake. Again, she dedicated the Miss Universe crown to all the Filipinos. Thousands of Filipinos gathered at the Barclays Center coming from all over the US. ASAP in NYC taped two weeks worth of shows with Pia in both episodes. She also mentioned that her birthday wish is that the Philippines hosting the Miss Universe Pageant in January will have an official announcement from the Miss Universe Organization (MUO).