Car show raises almost P1M in scholarships for 20 students

MANILA, Philippines — An array of luxurious sports cars with the piercing sound of their engines revving up caught the attention of Sunday morning strollers near the Wildflour Café and Bakery at the corner of 4th Avenue and 26th Street in Bonifacio Global City.

The cars were part of the second “Sports Cars for a Cause,” an exhibition of cars owned by members of the Burgos Circle Car Club and the Manila Sports Car Club.

They were not just showing off but raising funds for the scholarships of some of the students enrolled in the automotive servicing course at the Sisters of Mary School.

Sister Liliveth Gustillo, the school principal, told INQUIRER.net that the event would give students an opportunity to get a good education.

Noting dependence of the school on donations, she said: “This event is a good chance for us to encourage those people who wanted to help us even in just small things for us to give more and better education for these students.”

She said the proceeds from the event would go to the training of the automotive servicing students.

Besides the prospect of getting scholarships, the sight of sports cars up close thrilled the students.

“Sobrang saya ko po talaga dahil nakita ko po yung, ngayon lang po ako nakakita ng mga ganito kaagandang sasakyan sa buong buhay ko,” Niño Antonio, a Grade 12 student, told INQUIRER.net. “Ngayon nabigyan po ako ng opportunity na makita itong magagandang sasakyan na hindi ko po inaasahan sa buong buhay ko.”

[I’m so happy because it’s my first time to see such beautiful cars in my whole life. It’s only now that I have the opportunity to see these beautiful cars, which I never expected to see in my whole life.]

Charlie Rufino, president of The Net Group real estate firm who spearheaded the charity event, said the students would get a chance to meet with car company representatives.

“We want to support indigent kids studying there in the school and we think it’s going to be a great event to bring the automotive companies to also meet the graduates of this school,” he said. “So we have to introduce them so that maybe they can get a good job also with the car companies when they finish their schooling.”

Some of the students also got take the ride of a lifetime in some of those almost 40 lavish cars.

Rufino, who talked to some of the students before that, said: “They’re looking forward to their special ride around Bonifacio [Global City]. They’re gonna learn about the history of very special cars like Lotuses, Ferraris, Porches. So I think they’re gonna be very thrilled to have that.”

Roniel Caliwara, another student, said: “I’m excited because later on we will have a drive here in Global City, and I think it will inspire me to be an auto mechanic someday.”

John Juarren Almadrigo, another student, got to ride a BMW, after which he said: “Sa unang sakay ko po siyempre kabado, kasi di ko po alam yung magiging experience sa pagsakay. Pero nung nakasakay na po kami, enjoy kahit na mainit yung panahon, tapos medyo traffic.”

[It’s my first ride so I was nervous at first because I had no idea what the experience would be like. But when we were already in the car, I enjoyed it, even if the weather was hot and there was a bit of traffic.]

Cervin Salvador Callos, a Grade 10 student who rode a Lamborghini, said of the car owners: “Sobrang ang bait po nila. Binibigyan po nila ng opportunity yung mga bata na makasakay sa gantong uri ng mga kotse na pambihira lang makikita dito sa Pilipinas.”

[They were so nice. They gave us kids the opportunity to ride these kinds of cars that you rarely see here in the Philippines.]

The event — which ran from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. — was able to raise almost P1 million, enough to give 20 scholarships of P46,000 for each student. The amount would go to the student’s food allowance, clothing, medical and dental services, shelter, and quality education for a year. /atm

Porsche 959 PHOTO by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net

2 MG MGAs (Photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

From left: Porsche Cayman, Ferrari F430, and Porsche 959 (Photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

1950s MG Roadster (Photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)