PEP: GMA Kapuso Foundation revives 'Ogie & Regine's Celebrity Ukay-Ukay'

"Celebrity" and "charity" are two words that are far flung from each other, but always go so well together. This concept was proven by the GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) last April when they mounted the Ogie & Regine's Celebrity Ukay-Ukay at the World Trade Center. This month, the project—spearheaded by musical couple Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez—will be revived as an online auction through the Ebay Philippines website. Beginning July 15, Friday, personal items from different celebrities will be up for auction. Some items included are Chris Tiu's autographed jersey, a limited edition Andy Warhol design Seiko watch from John "Sweet" Lapus, and Dingdong Dantes's personalized denim jacket from Party Pilipinas. Kapamilya star Kris Aquino also donated some of her dresses for the auction. A red bustier gown she wore for the cover pictorial of the February 2011 issue of the Kris Aquino magazine will be sold also on July 15. Every ten days, the auction will be replenished with new items. The July 25 batch will include a Nicole Miller aubergine gown from Regine Velasquez, a Louis Vuitton bag from Tim Yap, and a gold-plated wrist watch from Pia Guanio. There are more items from their vault, says GMAKF executive director Henry Perez, such as clothes and other personal items from Kapuso stars like Jolina Magdangal and Kris Bernal. "Even paintings from [director] Louie Ignacio," added GMAKF executive vice president and COO Mel Tiangco, noting the wide variety of items they have for sale.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The average starting bid for the items can go as low as ten pesos for some small items like caps and tiny accessories. Regine Velasquez's monochromatic aubergine Nicole Miller gown starts bidding at Php 999. While Sharon Cuneta's pink Valentino Garavani leather sandals with rosette accents can be bought at Php 3,999, but only if you win highest bidder. According to Tiangco, the unexpected success of the first ukay-ukay inspired them to revive it to support the foundation's Kapuso School Development (KSD) project. She said that they want to be able to address the growing number of requests from communities seeking aid in rehabilitating their dilapidated schools. "[The first ukay-ukay earned] 2.7 million pesos," she says. "[That's equivalent to] three or four classrooms." Knowing that the project can generate a lot of money, the foundation has decided to make it a long-term fundraising activity dedicated for the KSD project. But there will still be a physical staging of the Ogie & Regine's Celebrity Ukay-Ukay according to Perez. The next ukay-ukay will be mounted at the Noel Bazaar at the PICC Forum this coming December and at the Heatwave Summer Bazaar in April 2012. -- Demai Sunio-Granali, PEP