Ms Pilar Pilar (middle) with writer (left) and Madonna Salva

Interviewing a Philippine celebrity turned Missionary Evangelist was most interesting. And rewarding too!

When asked about the purpose of her visit downunder, she smiled warmly and, in the usual fashion of Ms Pilapil of many years ago, she was in her usual spirited self.

She’s here downunder on a mission, literally and figuratively.

She is on a mission work, speaking before various Christian Born Again Churches and Filipino Christian Fellowship through the invitation of Pastor Diego Tabaquero. She also met with other pastors like Rudy Yap and Pastor Frank.

How did she become a missionary?

She said that it was a calling she couldn’t turn away from. She got baptised as a born again Christian in 1995, and the following year she decided to commit her life to Christian works.

She underwent training for this role for two years and became member of ‘Jesus The Supreme King Christian Ministries’. In 1998, she founded the Pilar Pilar Foundation. The foundation built two churches and a school in Apas, Cebu City and in Baseco, Port Area, Manila.

Since then she has been reaching out to different churches and various socio economic levels of the community. Her mission is focused on the poor, abandoned and abused women and children.

When asked how she goes about with her daily missionary works, she was quick to reply that she has feeding programs for children, gift giving, medical and dental missions in remote places while evangelising, teaching, counselling, doing prayer intercessions, injecting biblical truths and above all letting the people discover and experience God’s faithfulness to change their lives.

Pilar Pilapil, the beauty queen and movie actress

She was born on October 12, 1950 in Lilo-an Cebu. She comes from a family of 10 children.

In 1967, she became Bb Pilipinas representing the Philippines in the Ms Universe Pageant of that year.

Her life as an actress for film, television and stage has spanned over 30 years. She has won two major best actress awards.

When asked if she is planning to leave the movie industry, she said, she is still doing acting roles in television and currently has a role in the TFC television series, Lobo and Betty La Fea. Indeed once an actress always will be!

Upon learning that she was very keen about social life here in Sydney, I took the opportunity to brief her about the Hot Mamaz who were also present to welcome her.

Other than the song rendition of Madonna, a special dance was dedicated to her by Ofelia Kasilag and Brian Babon. She could not help herself and started to dance herself.

She said that she will visit Sydney again and will attend the coming Hot Mamaz Winter Ball in August.

The Hot Mamaz present were Arlene Howe, Sheila Collantes, Michelle Vallejo, Angel Laney, Ofelia Kasilag and myself.

Her entourage included her husband of seven years, Pastor Leo Penas of Cebu, and her niece, Jenny Smith of St. Ives.

We look forward to your next visit, Ms Pilapil.

Hot Mamaz cast and crew in September 2007 launch

Australia’s Leukemia Foundation will benefit from the Hot Mamaz’s fund-raising event, “Dance for a Cause,” tonight.

The charity event, a dinner-dance affair, is to be staged at the Concord RSL Club in cooperation with the Philippine Community Council of NSW.

The dance program will comprise a mixture of public dancing of varying styles, from Latin American to swing, jive, ballroom, and new vogue, according Hot Mamaz president Arlene Howe.

”Halfway through the night, we will be showcasing roughly a 20 minute dance exhibition,” Ms Howe said.

Performing dance routines will be Violy and Brian (Rumba), Samantha and Josh (Jive), Shirley and Jerry (Samba), Vilma and Neale (Modern Medley), Liza and Michael (Cha Cha), Michelle and Elmer (Rumba).

The program will also feature a Hot Mamaz Sing-A-Long Dance presentation with Ms Howe, Sheila Collantes, Neria Soliman, Vi Bryant, Michelle Vallejo, Angel Laney, Bernadine Williams, Vilma Enriquez-Smith, Nonna Aguas and Luzette Saez.

The night will be capped by a raffle for lots of prizes.

”We will be celebrating and congratulating many families for the courage they have shown as their loved ones suffered from leukemia,” Ms Howe said.

”Our fund-raising event is to show that we, the Hot Mamaz, and the people who are supporting our cause on the night do care for those who are sad and in pain.

”Our objective is to show that we support each patient’s fight to live and be able to continuously raise more funds to help our nominated charities.”

By coincidence, Mothers’ Day is tomorrow, Sunday, 10 May.

”With the Hot Mamaz being all mothers, the timing comes perfect. Our celebration is a great occasion for the Hot Mamaz and the rest of the mothers to shine, celebrate, make a difference and bond with each other.”

Hot Mamaz is a Sydney-based, vibrant group of married and widowed women whose passion in life is fashion, friends, fun and fund-raising. Outside Hot Mamaz, the group members are professional models, choreographers, dancers, business executives, lawyers, writers, educators, and housewives.

Hot Mamaz launched in September last year with a fashion parade at St Marys.