Over a thousand youth support the fight against hunger

International star and World Vision Ambassador Lea Salonga encouraged the Filipino youth to join hands in the fight against hunger during World Vision’s “12-Hour Famine”.
Halfway through the day of fasting, the world-class singer encouraged more than a thousand participants, “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!”

^{“You are an inspiring generation!” -UN-FAO Ambassador for Goodwill Lea Salonga to over a thousand participants at World Vision’s 12-Hour Famine event.}

As a symbolic expression of concern for the world’s hungry, Salonga led the hopes and
dreams activity where all were to write their wishes and prayers for the hungry children
across the world on a piece of paper. The paper was then folded into an airplane and
simultaneously flown throughout the arena to signify their compassion for the millions going hungry.

Over a thousand joined in the activity composed of mostly high school and university students, writing their prayers for others on their paper airplanes.

^{Setting the example. The Broadway star wrote out her own wishes for the hungry of the world while budding star Tippy dos Santos serenaded the audience.}

One of the participants penned, “I wish that all children will receive all they need to live.”

Another scribbled a prayer, “Dear God, please help those hungry children. They don’t deserve this kind of suffering every day. Please help them.”

One expressing hope, “I wish that all children in our country and the whole world would be able to eat food. I hope that leaders in different countries would be able to help the children and set aside their personal wants and prioritize their people. I also hope and wish that everyone will unite as one to stop hunger and make a difference.”

Surprising participants, Lea climbed the bleachers and joined the crowd as they flew their planes that carried their wishes. On the count of three, over a thousand colorful paper planes filled the Flying V Arena with the crowd cheering on for a better world without hunger.

^{A thousand dreams take flight as the crowd with Ms. Lea Salonga counted to three, thousands of colorful paper airplanes filled the Flying V arena.}

Ms. Salonga, who was also recently nominated as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), shares “This is going to be a generation of givers and doers. This is the generation that will most undoubtedly change what happens with our country. This is the generation of idealists and activists and people that have the best interest of this country at heart, and in mind. It’s inspiring to someone like me to see that there are so many young people who are taking up the call to help people that are much more needy. It’s amazing and awe inspiring.”

Building a generation of young people who are socially aware and willing to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate is the call of the 12-Hour Famine.

Other celebrities present shared their hopes of having no child go hungry were Karen Davila, Chris Tiu and the Smart Gilas team, Nikki Gil, Sam Conception, newly appointed World Vision Ambassador for children Tippy dos Santos, Christalle Belo-Henares, Ruffa Gutierrez, Jan Marini, Dindong Dantes, Gab Valenciano, Krissy & Ericka, Miriam Quiambao and many more.

Also, Bounty Fresh through Ms. Lea Salonga donated P100, 000 to World Vision. With this generous donation and other pledges from individuals and concerned groups, the funds raised that day reached Php1.35M, exceeding the target of Php1.2M.