BUHAY Party List received overwhelming support from key religious and civic groups in a dinner it hosted for 700 guests at the grand ballroom of the Rizal Park Hotel in Manila. Usually accommodating 1,500 people, the Rizal Park Hotel’s ballroom was opened to seat 50% of capacity to comply with IATF standards, at Alert Level 2.

In the launch event, Buhay Party List welcomed the support of Missionary Families of Christ, a Catholic lay organization that has chapters worldwide. Bro. Frank Padilla, MFC’s servant general, met with Deputy Speaker and Congressman Lito Atienza, who founded Buhay Party List and is its current representative in Congress.

Also in attendance was the Live Christ Share Christ (LCSC) Movement, headed by Bro. Narcing Eguia, the Catholic movement’s National Coordinator. LCSC is involved in Parish-based programs and campus-based programs which is led by the Live Pure Movement which has pastored hundreds of thousands of youth in the Philippines and other countries.

Leaders and members from various Rotary Club chapters were also at the event to give support to Buhay Party List first nominee, Von Valdepeñas, a prominent Rotarian. Also in attendance were Friends of Divine Mercy servant leader, Rene Tumang and their community leaders, Goodwill Industries President Jun Bermas and Secretary General Al Bermas and representatives of the PWD sector, representatives of the Laguna De Bay FARMC with its Vice President Francisco Carandang, and representatives from the General Parents and Teachers Association (GTPA), who all expressed support for Buhay Party List.

Also in attendance were the Buhay Party List Board Members, Jason Ong of CDO Foodshpere, Jaeger Tanco of STI schools and Edric Mendoza of CCF and spouse of Joy Tanchi-Mendoza. They are all staunch supporters of Buhay’s advocacies on being pro-life and pro-family.

Leaders from various organizations came to support first nominee Valdepeñas from Rotary Club, JCI, and from the Ateneo alumni. Valdepeñas is an alumni from Harvard and Ateneo De Manila, a prominent member of JCI and Rotary, a former laguna councilor, and has been engaged in non-profit endeavors for many years.

Friends and supporters of second nominee Mark Brian Paz were on the guest list. Paz is a prominent young businessman and philanthropist. His advocacies on supporting employee rights and benefits plus his philanthropic endeavors are aligned with Buhay.

Third nominee Xavy Padilla, an active leader of MFC and LCSC, was supported by his family and friends from the Catholic lay community. He is a staunch advocate of pro-life causes. He is also a Board Member of the Sanggunuang LAIKO ng Pilipinas which includes groups such as Ligaya ng Panginoon, Couples for Christ, Catholic Womens League, Lord’s Flock and representatives from Archdiocesan and Diocesan Councils of the Laity. All together in promoting the advocacy of faith, family and life.

Von Valdepeñas is a businessman, politician and a service-oriented volunteer, who aims to balance his time in the pursuit of social entrepreneurship. Von’s turn to charity focus, was mainly influenced by Ateneo. Moreover, the influence of his father in law Deputy Speaker fromer Mayor of Manila Lito Atienza, who is a fierce fighter for the prolife, pro-Catholic movement, has served to sustain and inspire Von to remain steadfast and true to his principles.

As such it is not surprising that he manages his companies with compassion, avoiding the mistakes and pitfalls that far too often leads to capitalism inequality. With humility, as well as the right guidance from stint as councilor in laguna..his socio-civic organizations such as JCI, he is president of Rotary Aseana, Director Buhay Partylist, Von has forged his company culture leaning towards charity.

Valdepeñas is currently the owner of V1 Corporation, a company which operates in industries such as real estate, transportation, construction and trading. He also spends his time supporting campaigns that helped saved the environment, devoting hours to other Non Government organization, whose efforts are focused on increased job creation. He has demonstrated selflessness through his devotion in helping the public at large through his numerous collaborations with his wife’ Chi Atienza Valdepenas’ orphanage: Home for the Angels, which works closely with street children, the LA dance troupe and senior citizen P.O.

In addition, he helped attend rallies against legislation that run anathema to his prolife stance such as the death penalty, and extrajudicial killings. Some of his personal programs in Laguna, his home province include anti-drug campaigns, sports programs, job fairs and trainings and seminars for the youth.

In 2019 he has accepted yet another undertaking: to work full time as President of Goodwill Philippines, championing the cause of the PWDs. He is humbled and honored to be chosen to take on such an important responsibility. He has selflessly agreed to do so with no salary, nor deriving any benefit from the organization. Armed with just his fellow member volunteers, and the generosity of its magnanimous donors Von has now taken on the mission of making Goodwill’s vision of a PWD inclusive Philippines a reality. This year Von valdepenas was voted 1st Nominee for Buhay Partylist