(Ed's note: Article is based on reports from Manila-based Baby Ferraren-Ampil and Butch Lagdameo. Photos are courtesy of Cesar de Larrazabal and Perry Aragon, also from Manila. Please click on the thumbnails for better viewing!)

NorCal Alum Has Successful Fun(d)raiser in Manila

Nov. 5, 2009 -- Fundraising is one thing but having a ball doing it is another. That's what exactly happened at the De La Salle Alumni Association-sponsored "Culinary Adventures" staged last Tuesday Nov. 3 at the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Manila. The event was organized by DLSAA  Chapters and Clubs Vice-President Portia Santos (DLSU Com'81) and featured her batchmate and San Francisco-based Jerms Estrada. Jerms is an American Personal and Private Chef Association-certified personal chef and culinary instructor as well as banker and avid photographer, among others.

The event was organized to raise money for the One La Salle Scholarship Fund, which is a grand initiative by the Christian Brothers Philippine District to attain 20% scholarship level among the total student population in each of the seventeen De La Salle campus throughout the Philippines. As of presstime, Portia estimated the event raised PHP50,000 from corporate and individual sponsors -- not bad for an event that was just put together in three short weeks!

The event was attended no less by DLS Brs. Armin Luistro FSC and Bernie Oca FSC, DLSAA President/Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, respectively. Jerms' friends from his DLS benchboys days, among them, DLSAA President Henry Atayde, DLSAA Executive Director Benjie Uichico and Butch Lagdameo (who emceed the program), attended the event to support both the balikbayan chef and the scholarship fund. Jerm's rapport and lively interaction with the crowd -- no doubt influenced by years of friendship as well as the generous wine servings --  made for a fun-filled event.