Popular hairdresser and philanthropist Ricky Reyes wished on his birthday for more blessings not for himself but for others.
In the previous years, Mother Ricky celebrated his natal day not with a big fabulous party replete with all the trimmings a person of his stature would throw, but with his ‘children’ at Childhaus. This year was no different as he spent another birthday with those who matter in his life.
Founded in 2003, Childhaus provides temporary shelter to cancer patients while undergoing treatment in various government hospitals nationwide.
A simple surprise program was prepared by his staff for him and the children of Childhaus which started with a mass followed by various numbers from the kids themselves and celebrities who came to greet him personally and performed to everyone’s delight.
Singer and actor Lance Raymundo, 1:43 boys, the Queens of our Beautiful Planet contestants all did numbers dedicated to the birthday celebrant and the residents of Childhaus. Pinoy Big Brother alumni Yohan and EJ Falcon greeted Ricky who is known as Mother Ricky to his friends. They presented all the residents of Childhaus with gifts.
Perhaps the best gift Reyes received for his birthday was from his friends and generous donors for the patients residing in Childhaus.
Lilong and Judy Chua gave a five-foot image of the Miraculous Medal for Childhaus. Steve Balatbat provided the food and Annie and Ramon Santos donated another kiddie ride for the residents.The most touching gift that Mother Ricky received for his birthday this year came also from Lilong and Judy Chua. The couple promised a patient for the six chemo sessions left for the treatment. They also would also finance for his prosthetic left leg to help him walk normally. Apart from those gifts, the couple also donated four wheelchairs to the institution.
Brig. General Vic Castro, his wife Noemi and family donated sacks of rice, goodies and personal hygiene kits while Rey Go who had donated the three isolation rooms inside the institution and provides monthly ration of sacks of rice and biscuits also gave a hefty amount. Anita Del Rosario also gave a check.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Mother Ricky said in his touching message, “My birthday will not be complete without you mga anak (my children). I will continue to ask, even beg for help and support from friends for you.”
Mother Ricky also visited Meritxell Children’s Foundation and had another celebration with the kids there. Asked why he has a soft spot for children, he replied, “We adults are just caretakers of the world. And following Dr. Jose Rizal’s vision that children are our future, I take it upon me to seek out whatever means to do so.”
His love, passion and self-service for the unfortunate make Reyes the mother of all mothers.
★★★★★
The power of X with Caltex™ and ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’
Do you desire more power for your car? Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex Lubricants, Havoline® and Delo®, launched the Power of X promotion with its first partnership with Twentieth Century Fox for the latest installment of the most-anticipated blockbuster movie X-Men: Apocalypse.
You can experience the Power of X with Havoline® and Delo® when you go to any Caltex service station or Caltex Lubricants workshops. Caltex customers and fans of the film will receive X-Men T-shirts with every purchase of participating Havoline® and Delo® products, plus a chance to win X-Men premium items in the fortnightly draws, and a 150cc Yamaha motorbike in the grand draw.
“At Caltex, our customers are the cornerstone of our business. Every bottle of Caltex Havoline and Delo engine oil is imbued with the power to protect their engines and deliver optimized performance. To help our customers ‘Enjoy the Journey’ even more, we’ve tailored exclusive offers and activities to make every journey with Caltex an exciting one,” says Joseph Bronfman, CPI area business manager for Lubricants, Philippines and Vietnam.
Every Havoline® and Delo® promotion gift box comes with a free X-Men T-shirt and a raffle coupon for a chance to win exclusive X-Men: Apocalypse premiums in the fortnightly draw.
Up for grabs are oneMagneto Helmet and 20 T-Shirts on the May 9 draw, one Magneto Helmet and 20 Wash Bags on the May 23 draw, and one Magneto Helmet and 20 Hoodies on the June 3 draw.
Customers also stand a chance to walk away with a brand new 150cc Yamaha motorbike in the grand draw on June 15.
The promotion gift boxes are available at selected Caltex stations and Caltex Lubricants workshop nationwide until June 12, or while stocks last.
For more information on the ‘Release the Power of X’ promotion, visit www.calteXmen.com.
★★★★★
Pagadian City-born actor is IFFM best actor in New York
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—A native of this coastal city, also known as the “Little Hongkong” of the Philippines due to its physical similarity to the Crown Colony, is this year’s best actor winner at the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) in New York, USA.
The awardee is Alberto C. Paran, 42, whose talent and skills in acting and producing short films were recognized early this year .
Paran, a 1991 graduate of Saint Columban College, is now based in Cebu City. His alma mater him recently, more specifically by batch mates, honored him during a press conference where tarpaulin with the words, “Welcome Alberto Paran: Pagadian’s pride!” was hanging in the background.
The teary-eyed best actor said, “I feel great to return to my hometown after 25 years and given this heart-warming welcome and inspiring press conference. I did not experience this in Cebu” even as he noted that his “acting success story was earlier published in all major national dailies.”
Paran related that he met in 2014 an American best actor during the Quezon City Film Festival and he introduced him to the IFFM.
“We submitted my Julie and when the film director reviewed it, he cried right then and there and our entry was approved,” Paran said, explaining that Julie “is a story of a gay construction worker trying to hide his sexual orientation to support his single parent.”
”I’m very grateful to be the first Filipino film actor-producer to receive the Best Actor Award in the IFFM,” Paran said, adding that at first he didn’t quite believe the news that he was chosen as IFFM’s best actor in its short film category, but when I received the official invitation letter from IFFM inviting me to go to New York, to receive the award, I quickly flew to New York.”
He said that in the short film category, his co-nominee was well-known American actor Eric Roberts, the director of actress Julia Roberts. “It was the USA , the world’s most progressive nation, against little Philippines which our country ultimately won.” – A. Perez Rimando, correspondent