ANCOP Walk 2010

Eight of 9 ANCOP Areas have completed their walk for the poor ! 

Victoria and Vancouver, August 21, 2010 and August 14, 2010 respectively.

Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Edmonton had theirs on August 21, 2010.

Montreal walked August 28, 2010. 

Toronto had theirs on August 29, 2010. 

The last area, Fort McMurray will have theirs on September 11, 2010. 

All areas experienced good weather and good turnout based on initial reports and pictures.  Figures are currently being compiled and stories of friendship and camaraderie are being formed for publishing at news time. 

In Toronto, there were 800 official Ancop Walk Toronto participants but the crowd swelled to 2,000 including those with the Mabuhay Parade, a sister event from PIDC (one of the partners of Ancop Canada), visitors, performers and Sunday strollers at the Nathan Philip Square, from Queen St to Wellesley and back to the Square.  

The onlookers oogled and marveled at the messages on placards that showed the purpose of the walk as enunciated by the various organizations that participated.  The floats of PIDC led the long almost 3 km walk under a blistering sun, tempered only by a gentle breeze that slightly cooled the walkers. 

The Sinulog group played and performed as they walked the walk, with scintillating beats that brought smiles from the onlookers who received flyers about the walk.  Even the police had their pictures taken with some of the performers and were giving thumbs up to the walkers.  

The walk was preceded with an hour long program where participants from the different groups like CLARIZ, PIDC, BLD, YFC  and CFC gave cultural and musical presentations that delighted the crowd who seeked shelter along the buildings and the sparse trees and away from the blistering sun.  The afternoon was very warm,  30 C and the blue and cloudless sky was reflected in the sorrounding buildings of the Square, giving the feeling of a beautiful and hazy, lazy summer day reflection.   Temi Pangilinan (Prez - AICI) welcomed the crowd and Rosemer Enverga (AFCM), Pam Castillo (TFC-ABS CBN), Bernie Consul (BLD) threw in their happy and joyful thoughts of the occassion.    

There were plenty of raffle prizes after the walk and the early finishers were treated with free ensaymada, courtesy of Bistro Filipino.  Earlier before the walk, free giveaways from the Amante family, TFC-ABS CBN and New Wave Travel were given to the first 300 participants who came to register.        

It was a funfilled afternoon of friendship and camaraderie.  Who would think that fundraising for the poor doing a walk is such fun and merriment ?  It looks forward to a promise of happy walking for the poor in 2011. 

Next time ... the other area stories.