Through the initiative of Ice Ayson, Project Head of P&A for a Cause (PAUSE), P&A Davao was tapped to help promote civic and social awareness among its staff, who whole-heartedly dedicated portions of their hard-earned salary to an indeed worthy cause.

Committed to aiding the less fortunate youth in their pursuit of learning and education, PAUSE teamed up with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (Mindanao Regional Operations) to organize the Education Through My Charitable Contribution (E=MC2) Program, a fund-raising campaign for schoolchildren in depressed areas in Mindanao.

Thanks to P&Aers' generosity, 357 underprivileged students from the Meta Elementary School of the Datu Unsay district in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) became the first beneficiaries of PAUSE under its Education and Youth Formation campaign. In coordination with PBSP, P15,000 worth of textbooks were donated to these grade-schoolers in the hopes of somehow elevating their educational state.

PAUSE Davao representatives Ramil Nañola and yours truly, together with PBSP volunteers, distributed the textbooks last January 19. We were warmly greeted with a program prepared by the school’s administrators, faculty members and pupils.

Reeling from the wake of the typhoon that ravaged their town, most families from Calapan, Mindoro, spent Christmas Day camped out in various evacuation centers. At present, at least six barangays in Calapan are still submerged in floodwater.

In behalf of the residents of Calapan, P&A for a Cause (PAUSE) is rolling out Oplan: CALAPAN to bring aid to the typhoon and floodwater victims. PAUSE will be accepting donations (in addition to staff members' monthly contributions) until 5 p.m. on January 4, Wednesday.

You may give your cash donations to Ice Ayson or Melay Lawas. Donations in kind (e.g., canned goods, clothes, basic necessities) will be accepted at the following areas:

Group Area Coordinators
AGA/AGB/BRS 20th Floor Reception Ice Ayson and Melay Lawas
Other P&A Makati Units HR or Accounting Tin Solis and Roger Noveda
(Staff members of P&A Cebu and Davao may leave their donations with Phoebe Uno and Recel Cachuela, respectively.)

For inquiries on how else to help, please call Ice Ayson (ext. 224), Melay Lawas (219), Tin Solis (728), Phoebe Uno (Cebu) or Recel Cachuela (Davao).

Let us remember that there is always time to P&AUSE...

After a grueling busy season and, for some, a well-deserved respite in breathtaking Boracay, 18 P&A staff, alumni and friends flocked to the function hall of Our Lady of Fatima Chapel on Zapanta Street, Manila, last June 4 for another well-attended P&A for a Cause (PAUSE) activity dubbed "Serbisyo Medikal," a circumcision mission. PAUSE offered manpower assistance and sponsored medical-related items.

With a few days before the start of school, 61 adolescent males braved the circumcision procedures performed by doctors and volunteers from the Philippine General Hospital and the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity of the UP College of Medicine. Barangay and church organization's officials likewise extended all-out assistance. The young boys (and a few grown-up men!) wore confused faces of nervousness and panic as they awaited their turn in the service room. After coming out red-faced from the room, the boys were ushered to the table where a group of PAUSE volunteers gave instructions and dispensed antibiotics.

Donning surgical masks and gloves, Leah Biton, Apple Manzano, Cops Coprado, Leah Lontok, Marivi Corpuz, Bubbles Tomas and Jouie Leonido served like a real team of medical practitioners in ensuring that all medical instruments went through the sterilization process.

The medical mission would not have been a success if not for everyone's contributions and the support of those who attended the activity. We hope to see you again in future PAUSE projects!