October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to celebrate the triumph of empowered women and take part in the international effort to spread awareness about breast cancer, The Waterfront Insular Davao Hotel together with the Rotary Club of Downtown Davao recently held a benefit fashion show featuring the success stories of women who battled the disease and survived it.
Last October 20, 2017, the show, titled ‘The Pink Runway’ featured ten model survivors and four mother-and-daughter duos each had their turn in the spotlight. A pink soiree of cocktails, music and fashion, the event was hosted by Mutya-turned-lawyer Resci Rizada and featured a flamingo styled setup by Wendell Gartes of Floral Pink Designs as well as performances by Music Authority and the Sining Tala Dance Company. All proceeds raised will be used to provide mammograms and diagnostic screenings for women in communities who cannot afford them.
“We do these events to raise fund to somehow help women who are suffering from breast cancer,” said Waterfront Insular Hotel manager Brian Lasala.
The fashion show started with professional models dressed proudly in pink evening wear from the collections of notable Davao designers, Christopher Ledesma and Richie Uy Delos Santos. This was followed by proud cancer survivor-models Amelia Dizon, Julie Ann Sasin, Sallie Manongdo, Elizabeth Balan, Judith Urbano, Agnes Luna, Rosita Lapiz, Josie Ortiz and Cecilia Saavedra. The grand ballroom of the Waterfront was filled with smiles as survivor-moms took to the catwalk with their young daughters walking beside them.
For the finale, Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin walked the runway escorted by celebrity Diether Ocampo. It was only last year when the hotel launched ‘Pink Matters’, an annual, month-long campaign to raise awareness on breast cancer. It can be remember that last year the hotel also launching their signature pink promotion when they staged ‘The Pink Party with Miss Earth 2016’ and hosted 84 candidates to the pageantry, including Espin who was then Miss Earth – Ecuador.
“This is just one of the many links in this pink advocacy in doing our part in fighting cancer” said Angelita M. Ang Rotary Club of Downtown Davao president, “For the cancer survivors, you are living proof that scarred people are truly beautiful.”
Event sponsors include the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, D.M.I. Medical Inc. (MX3), APM Group, Davao PENDA Inc., Bell and Pedre Skincare, TKS Builders and Supplies, Tanduay Distillers Inc., Imperial Appliance Plaza and El Bonita Coordination Services.
