TWO Zumba dance instructors and a group called Zumba Mommies have banded together to form a group that aims to help orphaned girls.
Zin Cagayan de Oro Zumba instructor Denise Mariano said the idea first came to her and dance choreographer Eugene Masiba last year.
Together with the group of mommies, Mariano said they decided to launch a movement called “I dance and I give” for the benefit of the Home for Girls at Macanhan, Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.
Mariano said they hold an annual Zumba Fitness Party for a Cause to raise money for the girls’ orphanage. She said they have collected some P68,000 which they used to buy clothes, hygiene kits, food, and snacks for the girls.
Mariano said they have also tapped companies from the private sector as well as the Cagayan de Oro City local government as sponsors of the annual event.
“Kani na movement is voluntary. And voluntary pod ang imong pagdonate pasabot dili pugsanay. Ang amo sponsor is wala mi nagreach to them in big amounts. Small amount ra gyud (Giving for the cause is voluntary and we get only small amounts from our sponsors),” he said.
Mariano said one of their sponsors is Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.
He said former Pinoy Big Brother Housemate Steve Jumalon, a friend from college at Xavier University, helped they gather funds.
Other sponsors include Nature’s Spring, Del Monte, Candia Sign Ads Advertising, Virginia, Sagittarius, BestSeller Meat Shop, Merchandise, Solar Powernrg, Angeline Fashion and Accessories, Botoy’s Litson Manok – BBG – Liempo, CDO Top Selected Overruns, Smile Printing Services, SunStar CDO, Adish Dance Studio, Shape Motion Fitness, Fel Trucking, MSCF, OES, Marvila Beach Resort, JIMAR Contruction Supply, Xentro Hotel, Luzminda Lee, Anne Hernaez, Zin Janice Vamenta, Rechell Jumawid, Rose Chavez, Lucille Quiblat, Liza Abucejo, Evelyn Edulay, Pureza Candia, Jing Rebuta, Paul Ferrer, Gerlie Decenilla, Evelyn Rebuta, Juvy Maagad, and Timothy Cabasagan.
“Dako amoang pasalamat na nagtabang sila sa kani na orphanage (We are grateful to the sponsors for helping out),” Mariano said. Emie Chloie B. Mejala