DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                               Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-084-05                                                                                                                                                                             11 February 2005

FILIPINO MOVIE STARS’ BASKETBALL SHOWDOWN IN  BRUNEI  RAISES FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS

11 February 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Brunei reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Filipino movie stars Aga Muhlach, Cesar Montano, Christopher de Leon, Tirso Cruz III, Ian Veneracion, Jestoni Alarcon, Bayani Agbayani, Rommel Montano, Edgar Mortiz and Johnny Delgado participated in a charity basketball tournament in Bandar Seri Begawan organized by the Filipino community for the benefit of the victims of the recent tsunami disasters.

The movie actors comprised the Filipino All Star team that played with two Filipino selection teams and the Brunei National Team  in the Filipino all Stars Basketball Challenge 2005 held on 05 to 06 February 2005 at the Indoor Stadium. The team was coached and managed by actors Edgar Mortiz and Johnny Delgado and businessman Dennis Villa Ignacio.

Ambassador Virginia Benavidez thanked the stars for unselfishly sharing their time and talent to be part of the Filipino community’s fund-raising efforts. ”Getting these movie stars to come together for an activity outside the Philippines is unprecedented and would undoubtedly be much welcomed by the Filipino community, boost the image of the Philippines and demonstrate the compassionate spirit of the Filipino people in Brunei,” she said during the dinner hosted by the Embassy.

The stars reiterated their gratitude for the warm reception they received from the Filipino community in Brunei and the hospitality extended to them by the Embassy. They have also expressed enthusiasm and interest to return to Brunei during the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day in June.

The charity basketball tournament was organized by the Filipino  Basketball Club in Brunei and the Ace MVP Event Management Company in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy, to raise funds for the tsunami victims. The donation would be the Filipino  community’s contribution to the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund of Brunei’s Ministry of Culture and Sports. Various foreign communities represented in Brunei have pledged their support  and organized their respective fund raising activities. END
 

/jay