The ABS-CBN Ball is a highly anticipated star-studded affair, but beyond the glitz and the glamour, the Ball is a meaningful night that has helped ABS-CBN Foundation to continue serving the Filipino people since part of the proceeds from the Ball will support the Foundation’s advocacies.

“Super malaking tulong. Ang laki ng donation galing sa stars and attendees. ‘Yung pera na ‘yan we save it para magamit sa magandang purpose,” ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Roberta Lopez-Feliciano said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

As the ABS-CBN Ball returns after a four-year hiatus, this year’s beneficiaries will include the following five core advocacies:  disaster risk reduction and response (Sagip Kapamilya), child welfare and protection (Bantay Bata 163), education (Programa Genio), environmental conservation (Bantay Kalikasan), and livelihood and social entrepreneurship (Integrated Area Development).

Among those that the Foundation was able to help was Meg Montecarlo, a typhoon Ondoy survivor and an ABS-CBN scholar under Bantay Bata’s program in 2011.

According to Meg, when their home was swept away by the floods caused by typhoon Ondoy, her hopes for a bright future were crushed as she and her family were on survival mode. But when she became a scholar, she learned how to dream big again.

“Dati po ang pangarap ko lang po noon ay maka-survive sa pang araw-araw namin. Pero hindi ko pa po alam na mas malaki pa po ‘yung maibibigay sa akin na tulong ng ABS-CBN Foundation at maisakatuparan ko pa po ‘yung mga iba ko pa pong mga pangarap,” Meg, who is now a college graduate, said in an interview.

Like in the past, a portion of the profit made from the ABS-CBN Ball will be given to the Foundation. Pledges from celebrities and other attendees will also be donated.

This year, the public will also be given the power to help those in need while showing love for their favorite Kapamilya stars by voting online for their picks for People’s Choice Stars of the Night, People’s Choice Power Couple of the Ball, and Star Magic Fan Favorite. To vote, fans may visit ktx.ph and select the Kapamilya stars they want to support (P100 = 100 votes. P200 = 250 votes). Pre-ball voting ends on September 30, 9 pm. 

Fans also have the option to cast their vote during the livestream on September 30 from 6 pm to 9 pm via YouTube Super Chat on the ABS-CBN Entertainment or Metro.Style YouTube channel. Fans may vote by typing the category and the artist’s name in the comments section of the livestream (P1 worth of Superchat = 1 vote).

Meanwhile, Lopez-Feliciano also stressed that the ABS-CBN Ball is a reminder to everyone that despite the challenges, ABS-CBN will strive to continue helping the Filipino people because public service is in their DNA. 

The ABS-CBN Ball 2023: Forever Grateful is an event where the company expresses its gratitude by giving back to the Foundation and thanking all its stakeholders for their continued love and support. Don’t miss the Ball’s red carpet livestream this September 30 (Saturday) at 6 pm on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel, Metro.style’s YouTube channel, Metro Channel, iWantTFC, and TFC. The red carpet special will be hosted by Bianca Gonzalez-Intal and Edward Barber with Gretchen Fullido as special correspondent. For more details about the ABS-CBN Ball 2023, visit the official microsite at theball.abs-cbn.com.