Monday, September 24, 2007
Lakad crowd enough to raise at least P1M
By Rene H. Martel
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
IN what organizers estimated to be the biggest turnout in years, 200,000 woke up early yesterday and trooped to the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) to join this year’s Alay Lakad.
With a donation of P5 each from those who showed up, the Alay Lakad Foundation stands to get P1 million, and P1.2 million more as the Cebu City Government’s counterpart donation of P6 for each participant.
Proceeds of the annual charity walk will help finance the scholarships of 66 students and skills training of 86 out-of-school youths (OSYs).
As part of the activity’s attractions, hip-hop bands and belly dancers performed before the crowd that overflowed from the bleachers to the CCSC grounds.
In the “cheerdance” competitions, Inayawan Night High School roared its way to the top of the heap in the high school category.
And while four others tumbled, UC soared in the college category with a flawless performance to bag the top purse of P10,000 plus trophy, which Inayawan also received.
Abellana National School, meanwhile, made up for its second place finish in the high school contest by annexing the liveliest and biggest delegation awards.
Students of the Department of Education’s San Nicolas District were adjudged the most colorful.
In lockstep
Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the Alay Lakad showed “that we are one city working together… and walking together we stick as one.”
“The Alay Lakad is a living testimony that we can go far if more people will walk even for a short distance,” said Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa, committee on social services chairman.
Alay Lakad 2007 chairperson Kenneth Casquejo said the foundation is still accepting applications for the scholarship and skills training programs.
“They can coordinate with their local barangay halls through the (City) Department of Social Welfare Services representatives there,” he said.
Casquejo said that the OSYs in the foundation’s skills training program are from Barangays Lahug and Ermita.
They study refrigeration, dress-making, automotive, welding, and pipe-fitting, he said.
He said the crowd reached around 200,000, which was bigger compared to last year’s estimated 160,000 participants.
Aside from corporate sponsors, Casquejo thanked the Kiwanis Club International, Lions International, Rotary Club International, Rotary Club of Banilad Metro, and the Junior Chamber International for their assistance.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 24, 2007 issue)
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