COVID-19 ‘heroes’ get boost from foundation staging local pageants

MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation Inc. Executive Director Mitzie Go-Gil/FACEBOOK PHOTO

MAKATI CITY, Philippines—The MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation Inc. had already presented its candidates for the 2020 Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines pageant, and was supposed to stage the coronation ceremonies on April 3.

But the escalation of the COVID-19 cases in the metropolis compelled the organization to postpone the beauty contest, and instead focus on helping those who are adversely affected by the “enhanced community quarantine” imposed by the national government on the whole island of Luzon.

On its official Facebook page, the foundation launched the “Let’s Donate and Help COVID-19 Frontliners” campaign, a “fundraising project for the benefit of our hero frontliners.”

The project, announced on March 24, seeks to raise funds for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), N95 masks, surgical gloves, face shields, alcohol (70 percent), soap, coffee, tea, bread, biscuits, and canned goods.

As of the time of writing, the foundation was able to distribute bags of goods to those manning the checkpoints in Metro Manila.

The foundation prepared bags containing some goods for those manning the checkpoints around the metropolis./MMG QUEEN OF HEARTS FOUNDATION PHOTO

“For now we were able to distribute 100 bags to different checkpoints,” MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation Inc. Executive Director Mitzie Go-Gil told the Inquirer in an interview via Facebook Messenger.

“Each bag contains water, soft drinks, juices, biscuits, coffee, and hand soap,” she added.

Those who wish to donate may deposit to the foundation’s current account with BDO:

· Account name: MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation Inc.

· Account number: 0100-8800-8044

Donors may also donate via Paypal:

· E-mail: [email protected]

· Paypal account: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/mmgqueenofhearts

“The next batch of donations will be sent to the frontliners at the Philippine National Police General Hospital,” Go-Gil said.

She also asked Filipinos to “pray and stay at home.”

The foundation mounts national beauty pageants which selects the Philippines’ representatives to various international competitions for single ladies and married women.

Go-Gil herself was an international beauty titlist, being crowned Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism in 2018 in Singapore.