Give A Life Charity Foundation benefits from Coca Cola’s

“Calories for a Cause”

By Apocalypes P. Alsaybar

Despite incessant rain and amidst breezy cold weather, still, more than 150 people gathered together in Rasac Court, Bambang Manila last 29 September 2007, for an early morning exercise, ready to sweat and burn their calories down, all for a good cause: “to donate their calories to charities.”

This event was entitled “Calories for a Cause” hosted by Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., in partnership with Give A Life Charity Foundation. Students from ACSAT Manila, members of the Industrial Pharmaceutical Association of the Philippines, and some of the local residents, along with their family members, joined the two-hour exercise led by fitness instructors from Fitness First.

The event started at 7:00 o’clock in the morning. Participants registered their names and their weights were measured. Free T-shirts and water were given. Paolo Paraiso of “HALIKA Mag-Healthy Lifestyle Na!” a health and lifestyle morning program to be aired on October 06, 2007, 9:00 o’clock in the morning covered and hosted the event. Other celebrities like Ella V. and Councilor Yul Servo of second district of Manila were also present.

For two hours, flying kicks, jives and punches filled the whole court as the participants actively performed the exercises and danced with upbeat and groovy music to lose as many calories they could, since for each calorie they lose, a peso is donated to Give A Life Charity Foundation.

Give A Life Charity Foundation helps sick, dying, and under-privileged children in our country. The foundation provides them with medicines and necessary medical equipments to ensure their recovery. It has been the second time that Give A Life was chosen by Coca Cola to be the recipient for the proceeds of “Calories for a Cause.”

At the end of the event, a total of almost 39 thousand pesos was earned. Ms. Cait Arboleda of Coca Cola Bottlers committed to Ms. Melanie T. Ilisan, representative from Give A Life, to personally award the cheque to the foundation. Ms. Ilisan, extends its gratitude to Coca Cola, and encouraged its avid customers to support the company in their various social corporate responsibilities.

Picture Highlights:

Ms. Cait Arboleda (2^nd from right) from Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., Inc. with Ms. Melanie Ilisan (2^nd from left),

Announces the total calories lost after the routines, which peaks to 39,000 calories and equals to 39,000 pesos. All proceeds of the event will be donated to pediatric cancer patients through Give A Life Charity Foundation.

Joining her on stage is Mr. Paolo Paraiso (rightmost), one of the hosts of the event.

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Celebrities like Ella V. and actor-politician Yul Servo also showed their support for the event.

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Although tired and exhausted from the one and a half hour of exercise, the Sta. Ana kids with their mom, Susan Sta. Ana (IPAP President), are all smiles in front of the camera. 

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Senior citizens from Bambang, Manila never fail to miss the event too.

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Students from ACSAT also offer their pledge for cancer patients in participating Calories for A Cause.

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QTV 11’s new show and advocacy HALIKA, which stands for Mag-Healthy and Active Lifestyle Tayo covers the whole event. The show is aired every Saturday, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

_APA