Former MVP Enchong Dee, Lady Spikers lead La Salle fund drive

Past and present La Salle athletes team up to help vulnerable communities amid the pandemic

Three-time UAAP swimming Most Valuable Player Enchong Dee together with past and present La Salle women’s volleyball team stars helped raise P4 million that will feed 1,000 families from vulnerable communities for one month.

It took teamwork as all 17 campuses under De La Salle Philippines, Inc joined hands in producing and broadcasting a seven-hour fundraising program Kada-Uno Lasalyano that was streamed live on Facebook last weekend.

"Friends, we need 4,000 Filipinos to donate P1,000 each and we will be able to feed 1,000 homeless families for one month," said former De La Salle president Br Armin Luistro, FSC.

By the end of the show, La Salle accomplished its mission as a total of P 4,009,241.59 was raised.

The Lady Spikers – including past stars Michele Gumabao, Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes and Dawn Macandili and current members Tine Tiamzon, Aduke Ogunsanya, Jolina Dela Cruz, Michelle Cobb, Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, Ali Borabo, Fifi Sharma, Justine Jazareno, Juls Coronel, and Matet Espina – held an online meet-and-greet session.

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Dee, a swimming sensation who powered La Salle to the 2009 UAAP crown before becoming an actor, also took part in the program along with ex-Lady Batter Ria Atayde.

Lasallians from all generations had a hand in helping raise funds while paying tribute to the frontliners who have sacrificed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Gary Valenciano, Barbie Almalbis, and brothers Jett and Rafi Pangan joined the event as well. Also performing during the event were bands, music orgs, and dance groups from all DLSU campuses.

https://www.rappler.com/sports/university/uaap/dlsu/262312-former-mvp-enchong-dee-lady-spikers-lead-la-salle-fund-drive

Life after swimming: Enchong Dee motivated to keep fit

Former national swimmer Enchong Dee makes sure that he stays strong and healthy after a life of training 12 times a week

"We work out to eat," quipped former national swimmer and actor Enchong Dee.

After a life of training 12 times a week, it's no surprise that Dee would need to find other activities that will continue satisfying his swimmer's appetite without putting on excess weight.

But apart from weight management, Dee finds it more important to make sure that his body remains strong as he ages.

"It’s not for losing weight. I wanted to strengthen other parts of my body which I neglected before. Also, there’s a wrong perception that people go to the gym because they want abs. It’s for strengthening your core because there are just some things that don’t work as well as before when you’re old," said Dee in the Philippine Olympic Committee's (POC) webinar on family fitness on Saturday, May 30.

Before the lockdown, the Filipino actor has explored other sports such as triathlon and running as he donned the country's colors once again in the Osaka Marathon last December.

But with Metro Manila on community quarantine since March 15, Dee has been doing home workouts 6 times a week, which surprised him because he initially wasn't a fan of working out at home.

"It’s funny because I never was into home workouts only until this lockdown. I would see people checking on YouTube and aerobics workout on their screens," shared Dee.

"[But] I was shocked that whatever I feel in the gym, like the soreness, I feel it in a home workout which is good. And that’s the only way we can survive to adapt to all the changes around us. "

The Filipino actor also revealed that because of the other competitions he's been joining for different sports and with the advances in sports medicine and technology, he wishes that he could be a competitive swimmer again during this time.

"I wish we had more support, like a nutritionist and psychologist. I realized na dami kong natutunan [about being an athlete now] na pwede iapply sa swimming during that time (I realized that I learned so much about being an athlete now which I could've applied when I was swimming before.)," said Dee.

https://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/other-sports/262389-enchong-dee-motivated-to-keep-fit