Bantay Bata from Marie Laderta

DANCE FOR THE CHILDREN:
Bantay Bata Dinner Dance & Fundraiser (Friday, August 6th)

Mark your calendars everyone and get your tickets if you haven't already gotten them!
It's that time of the year again when Jesse and Buffy Gonzales, the family band who plays at the Hale Koa, hosts the Bantay Bata dinner dance fundraiser at the Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom, on Friday, August 6th! Tickets are $55 each.

The Bantay Bata Hawaii Chapter is comprised of Jesse and Buffy Gonzales, Paz and Raffy Ignacio, and Nita Rozmeski. Although Paul (Bunny) & I are not members, for the past 4 years, because of its worthy cause, we have volunteered to help our friends Buffy and Jesse with this fundraiser.

Once again, as in the past, the August 6th dinner dance at Pacific Beach promises to be an evening of fellowship and dancing, an opportunity to contribute to the protection and welfare of those children in the Philippines who need help the most!

There will be dance exhibitions, general dancing and dinner. Doors will open at 6pm, with the dinner and program to begin at 7pm. Tickets may be purchased from any of the following people:
Buffy Gonzales: 284-2395
Paz Ignacio: 428-3308
Marie Laderta: 222-3721

And now a little history of "Bantay Bata" in case you're wondering what the heck it means. I am told by my most reliable experts in the Filipino language that the words "Bantay Bata" literally means "Child Watch" or the guarding or watching over of children. These words cover it all!

Bantay Bata is one of the most recognized child protection and welfare organization that provides comprehensive and integrated programs for the benefit of the needy children in the Philippines. Its mission is to "create and provide a safe, nurturing and loving environment where children can develop and realize their full potential." (Quoting from their website).

The Bantay Bata program began in 1997 on Valentine's Day as a "gift of love" to the Filipino children. What originally began as a hotline and rescue operation has over the years evolved into a holistic system of therapy, care and preventive programs. The programs give emphasis to such family services as training and advocacy against child abuse, rehabilitation of families in crisis, and includes educational scholarships, community outreach, medical & dental missions.

So come join us on August 6th as we Dance for the love of the Children!

Aloha,
Marie & Paul Laderta

"A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and
a time to dance," ~ Ecclesiastes 3:4