Over 1,000 youth rally against hunger putting the Philippines in the list of countries doing the “Famine” Campaign.
Thousands sport their Folded & Hung 12-Hour Famine shirts in support of the cause to feed a hungry child.
World Vision’s global Famine campaign for the youth to stop hunger has been on for decades in countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia, to name a few.
In the Philippines, Famine participants sacrificed eating solid food for 12 hours beginning at 9am and breaking of the fast celebration at 9pm in the Flying V Arena on November 6, 2010.
The “Famine” aims to promote awareness among the youth to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Video presentations were featured to present the realities of hunger in the country. “Every 7 seconds, one hungry child dies. Four million Filipino families live on less than P42 pesos a day.” Most of the participants were students which were from big, exclusive schools.
“We felt the pain of what others are going through. Because of this, I would want to do something about it. We also had the giving of donations and child sponsorship, to name a few of the things that we have done and could do to help. Learning and applying. That’s how we can make a difference.”shares one of the students who endured not eating for hours.
Another comments, “Now I know how it's like to be hungry for a day or weeks! It's time for us to realize the extent of hunger and poverty and how it affects the poor families. Let's DO SOMETHING!”
As the battle cry of the campaign suggests, “Eat Nothing Do Something” the participants, celebrity guests, and corporate sponsors were moved to help the hungry through giving. A target of 1.2M pesos was to be raised during the 12 hours.
History was made as Famine exceeded the target goal raising 1.35 million pesos through registration, individual cash donations and pledges, and corporate sponsorships. Among the generous donations came from Ms. Kris Aquino and Bounty Fresh passed through Ms. Lea Salonga.
The Broadway star encouraged the youth, “With all of you being here, you are raising awareness about hunger. The more you do this the more the world gets to realize that there is a problem!”
Other corporate groups who faithfully supported the cause were Folded & Hung for the stylish Famine shirts, Pepsi for Tropicana & Lipton Iced Tea, Maynilad Water, Shoreline and Smart-C (Liwayway Mftg.) for free refreshments during the fast, Goldilocks, Binalot, and Oishi Ridges (Liwayway Mftg.) for providing food after the 12-hour fast, Cornerstone for the awesome talents, Bates 141 for radio and online spots, Samsung for the phones during the event and the LCD TVs for the countdown clock, Belo Essentials, Johnson and Johnson and Listerine for the giveaways. Airspeed International Corporation for transporting participants to and from the venue. Metal-Lite Illuminazione Mktg., The Events Factory’s showmanship and production support.
Keeping the crowd excited was DJ Jordan who emceed the whole program along with Lia, Joaqui, Kat and the enthusiastic Famine Patrollers; Marco, Thea and King.
Over a thousand individuals, groups and sponsors pitching their voices to stop hunger, more children will be able to eat. Without the help of all the thousands who volunteered, cheered, the historic feat would not have been possible. Thank you!
