THE Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) recently handed over a check amounting to P1,069,566.90 to the Senate Spouses Foundation (SSFI) as a result of its charity races at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Park in Carmona, Cavite in December last year.
The check was received by SSFI President, Mrs. Lourdes de la Llana-Pimentel, mother of Senate President Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III, at the Senate Office recently, on behalf of the SSFI, for its various socio-civic projects.
“This shows that the Philracom is one with the various branches of government and related organizations when it comes to noteworthy causes,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. “It’s the Philracom’s own humble contribution to the programs of the Senate Spouses Foundation Incorporated. We know this will go a long way.”
The partnership between Philracom and SSFI is now on its second year.
The Philracom held five charity races last Dec. 20 for the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. and another five for the Office of the President’s Rehabilitation of the City of Marawi, netting total of P2,097,834.60 in the process.
Gracing the races on behalf of the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. was Neil Llamanzares, husband of Senator Grace Poe, and Josephine Llorca, from the office of Senator JV Ejercito.
Llamanzares and Llorca also led the simple awards rites of the Philracom-MJCI Charity Trophy Race 4, attended by Philracom Chairman Sanchez, Commissioners Bienvenido Niles, Jose Santillan, Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino and MJCI Racing Manager Jose Ramon Magboo.
The 10 charity races were all conducted in accordance with the Philracom’s Rating-Based Handicapping System, which is a result of the commission’s affiliation with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, whose mission is to promote good regulation and best practices on international matters pertaining to the sport.
The undertaking at the San Lazaro Park was the fourth special charity race held by the Philracom for Marawi this year. The first three were held at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Park in Carmona, Cavite (Aug. 13), the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park (Aug. 20) and the Manila Metro Turf in Malvar, Batangas (Aug. 27).