EMA CUP’20 IS A GO!

May 31, 2025 Opinion

The Rotary Club of Downtown Session headed by President Ryan Gumaya and the St. Theresa of Avila Foundation will launch the annual EMA-CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT’20th Edition on June 7, 2025 at the Pinewood Golf Club. It is a one-day fun tournament of RCDS Charter President & former Congressman and Baguio City Councilor, Atty. Edgar M. Avila for the benefit of the various projects of the RCDS & theFoundation. During his first term as Congressman, , the EMA CUP was conceptualized to help fund the maintenance of the newly constructed PFVR Youth Center at Upper Session Road, Baguio City. The PFVR was a sports center, recreational hall, an everlasting legacy then Cong Ed wanted to leave for the people of Baguio where he was born and raised.

It now stands as a symbol for his belief in serving from the heart. The 1st EMA CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT was held on February 16, 1997 at the Camp John Hay Gold Course for the benefit of the PFVR and ACTION INC., a Baguio Based Communication Group. Four
Ambulances were acquired through PCSO distributed to BGH (2), Rotary (1) and Action Inc. (1) together with a Emergency/ Tow-Truck for Action Inc. It was participated in by at least 200 golfers including the late President Fidel V. Ramos, First Lady Amelita Ramos and
Baguio City and Benguet top officials. The cup then became an annual sports event attracted various personalities including then President Gloria Arroyo, House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jojo Binay, Sen. Bong Revilla and the Senator Bong Bong Marcos and other
VIPs’.

Now on its 20th Edition, EMA-CUP would benefit of the various projects of the Rotary Club of Downtown Session headed by President Ryan Gumaya and the St. Theresa of Avila Foundation. The expected player-participants registered so far come all the way from Laguna, Manila and of course the Baguio-Benguet Area. The activity would augment the funding of their present and forthcoming medical missions, feeding programs, scholarship programs, and other worthy projects which they have been undertaking for the past years. School toilets, water system in Itogon, medical missions in Kibungan and Benguet, blood letting, wheelchair -giving, collegescholars and at one point was able to raise almost P5 Million pesos which were given to BGHMC for dialysis patients.

Although times are hard, Ema Cup lives because of the continuing support of our friends, partners and supporters who believe in the worthy case, the ‘credo’ being “Serving from the heart!” The Tournament Director is our RCDS PP Dr. William Occidental and the Event
Chairperson, Chair of the Raffle Committee, Rotarian Kristine Joy Tabara. Assisting them are Past Presidents Kat Gumaya, Incoming President Pam Carino, PP Kelwyn Tan and all members of the club. A 2025 Toyota Vios 1.3 awaits the lucky winner of the Grand Raffle with additional prizes including A brand new Mastiff 125 cc Motorcycle. 3 days 2 nights stay at Fairways & Bluewater, Boracay
(exclusive of airfare); Two Airline Tickets to Hongkong, via Hongkong Express (exclusive of Hotel Accomodation) & ten consolation prizes to be held during the Awarding Ceremonies at the Newtown Plaza Hotel in the afternoon on the same day. Tickets for the tournament inclusive of Raffle Ticket shall be P 5,000. 00.for golfers For non-players, Raffle Tickets are on sale for P1,000.00 per ticket. We would like to thank in advance our

DIAMOND SPONSORS:

FERNANDO S. TIONG, PAUL LALWANI of LAFAYETTE LUXURY RESORT HOTEL, PARKWAY MEDICAL CENTER AND
RESIDENCES and MEGAPINES REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT INC.

Our GOLD SPONSORS:

PYESTA DINER by ATTY. MICHAEL FRED LI GO; BIR RD DIR.DOUGLAS A. RUFINO; EMIR PYLOS ISLAND RESORT by FRANZ RUZZELL PABLO.

Our HOLE SPONSORS:

DR. SHERRY ONG-CUNANAN & FORTUNE HONG KONG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, PARAGON HOTEL, THE GOLDEN PINE HOTEL; METRO BANK, BAGUIO, AREA HEAD MS. NONETTE DG SILVA & SESSION ROAD BRANCH HEAD JEFFREY SESE;
METROBAGUIO LIONS CLUB President RAY OLARTE; NEWTOWN HOTEL; BAGUIO MASONIC, Lodge No. 67; PINES ESTATE GAMING CORPORATION, BAGUIO CITY by RAFFY A. LAJARA; ATTY. NICASIO ALIPING; FIRST LA UNION LEISURE ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION, San Fernando, La Union, by MR.DANILO H. AVECILLA, Chairman of the Board/
President and MR. NELSON A. CORPUS, Vice President; BAGUIO APACHES by CHIEF KARL GABAEN; BAGUIO WATER DISTRICT by GM BUDS ROYECA; BENGUET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (BENECO) by GM MEL LICOBEN; PRESIDENT RYAN GUMAYA AND RCDS PAST PRESIDENT KATRINA VICTORIA QUINDARA-GUMAYA. PUERTO SAN JUAN through owner EMMANUEL NOEL SEVILLA CLEMENTE ; STANDARD INSURANCE by ROTARY DISTRICT GOVERNOR ARIEL JERSEY.

Our DONORS ANDPATRONS :

CHINABANK by Branch Head DEL GARCIA;MUSAR MUSIC CORPORATION & CEO BERNADETTE AREVALO-AVILA;HONDA INC. & BEN TAN;ONE LOYALTY LENDING , Baguio City & RALPH YAMBAO; JOEL ALIPING of San Francisco Bay Area; SPECIAL MENTION: GOOD GOVERNANCE TEAM of MAYOR BENJIE MAGALONG; BANK OF COMMERCE. MEDIA PARTNERS: RNG LUZON with RHEN DE GUZMAN & LEO MERCADO; AMIANAN BALITA with Publisher/Editor THOM PICAÑA and BIG SOUND FM 95.9. On a personal note I am thanking profusely all of you for believing in me and this project, difficult as it was.

This would cap all the hard work we have done in the past 20 tournaments and while I am writing ‘finis’, to the series, it is my hope and that of my family, that in the next years or generations, it will come back to be a vehicle to serve! Without all of you, this blessing will not happen and from the bottom of my heart. Dios ti agngina amin kanyo. Sigh!