Ranking military and police officials, along with officers from various law enforcement agencies, have joined forces for a shooting competition to additional fund for the educational stipends to orphans of soldiers who died in the line of duty.
The shoot-for-a-cause project, hosted by the FPJ Panday Bayanihan, raised P100,000 which will be donated to the Hero Foundation, a non-government organization which has been assisting military orphans.
The FPJ Panday Bayanihan hosts the FPJ shoot for a cause to support the financial needs of military orphans at the shooting range of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. From Left to right: General Roberto Ancan of OSAA, Major General Victor Bayani (ret) head of Hero Foundation Inc., FPJ Panday Bayanihan Chairman Brian Poe-Llamanzares, and Senator Bato Dela Rosa.
The financial support helps keep orphans in school as it covers much needed requirements such as school supplies, transportation, meals and even a portion of their tuition fee.
The shooting competition, which was held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to honor the Philippines action movie icon Fernando Poe, Jr., was attended by 165 participants joining the invitational shooting competition coming from the different branches of the armed forces and security sector: Army, Scout Rangers, Navy, Marines, Airforce, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, NBI, Office of the Sargent-at-arms (OSAA).
Among the participants were retired major general Victor Bayani, head of the Hero Foundation Inc.; Brigadier General Isagani Criste, Regiment Commander, First Scout Ranger Regiment; retired general Roberto Ancan of OSAA, Lt. Col. Marc Yambing, of the Philippine Airfoce, and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Brian Poe-Llamanzares, who also attended the program, said the project was something that his grandfather would have been proud of: “It fills my heart with joy to see all the shooters here today showing their support for the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
He said the the advocacy really resonated with his family with his mother Senator Grace Poe having been an orphan herself.
He explained that had it not been for the generosity of his grandparents, FPJ and Susan Roces, there may not have been a Senator Grace Poe.