A civic-oriented project that started from a graduate school class requirement is taking shape to benefit pregnant women in crisis and abandoned babies in Iloilo.

The program, the Dalangpan Halfway Home, will be launched in a fund-raising dinner and fashion show at Amigo Terrace tomorrow, May 26, at 6:30 p.m.

Adrian Hort Duremdes Ramos, president and executive director of Dalangpan and a registered nurse, said the civic initiative was hatched in his Nursing Service Administration and Maternal and Child Nursing Classes in the masteral program at Central Philippine University.

"We came across the story of a shelter for abandoned babies and pregnant women in Manila. My classmates and I agreed that if we pool resources and efforts, perhaps, we can replicate it to benefit Iloilo residents," he said.

Dalangpan, he said, will be set up in Iloilo City and serve as a center for abandoned babies and pregnant women in crisis.

To help them realize their goal of raising seed money for Dalangpan, they solicited the help of Ilonggo fashion design icon Mandy Salcedo, who will showcase his creations at the dinner-launch which will charge P299 per guest.

Salcedo said he is happy to be part of a pioneering charitable event, saying "it is my way of helping the less fortunate as I always believe that sharing and helping others is a virtue which God wants us to pursue. This is an opportunity to give back the blessings that He has given us."

Supporting the Dalangpan pioneers is the Young Ilonggo Society, headed by Rex Carton.

Ramos, whose passion as a nurse is on the care of infant and mothers, said he feels "privileged to advocate the protection and sanctity of human life through the prevention of abortion and promote the protection of the needs and rights of pregnant women and women empowerment."

He added, "Being an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, we can help educate mothers through Dalangpan since they, with their children, also stand the high risk of being infected by the virus."/AVDC