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Filipino fiesta to boost 10,000-classroom drive

ABU DHABI - In a bid to help build 10,000 classrooms in their home country by 2004, the Filipino staff of Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi is organising "Fiesta Crowne Plaza", which will be held today at the hotel's Al Majlis Ballroom.

According to Arnesa T. Arbolado, the hotel's executive secretary and the event's conceptualiser, that support from the international community has been pouring in since the organisers launched the campaign, with companies and individuals having confirmed sponsorships to boost the event's success, and personalities of different nationalities having been picked to serve on the judging panel for the different contests.

Philippine Labour Attache Annabella Oliveros will also grace the occasion, with the Department of Labour and Employment spearheading the project, that is being called "Classroom, Galing as Mamamayang Filipino Abroad" or C-GMA (Classroom, From Overseas Filipinos).

Ms Arbolado said the hotel's Filipino employees have organised committees to manage the activity headed by Health Club Manager Vic Artienda. She said that the fiesta was an annual celebration of the faithful, observed in cities, municipalities and barrios throughout the Philippines.

She added that the management team has also thrown its full support behind its staff, by providing the venue, equipment, prizes, and its newly arrived resident band - Free Souls. DJ Fadi Mansour will also play music for the expected international mix of attendees.

She said that tickets could be obtained from all members of the community, with doors slated to open at 8pm, while the contests for the Vocalist of the Year, the Ballroom Dance King and Queen would start at 3 pm.

She added that the C-GMA Project, spearheaded by the Philippine Department of Labour and Employment was enlisting contributions from Overseas Filipino Workers to build 10,000 classrooms, which would fund the cost of labour, materials and incidental expenses.

The donations will be deposited in a trust account of the labour department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Education.

She noted that "priority" public schools would be jointly identified by the contributors and the education department, and pointed out that around 44,000 public elementary and secondary schools were in critical shortage of classrooms.

The classrooms are to be built between June 2003 and June 2004, at an estimated cost of $4,000 or 200,000 Philippine Pesos per classroom.

She noted that the OFW's will not bear the task alone, as foreign employers, chambers of commerce and industry, recruitment agency associations, as well as civic-minded organisations and individuals are also contributing to the cause.

In addition to the fiesta, a grand raffle draw on November 7, and a "Bowling For A Cause" activity organised by the Abu Dhabi Bowling Club have also been scheduled for the C-GMA Project.