Golf enthusiasts-cum-donors to a worthy cause will be glad to know that the Second Rafael M. Salas Cup will be held on August 7, which coincides with the late Mr. Salas’ birthday.

The event will be led by former President Fidel V. Ramos and will take place at the elegant Philippine Air Force Course in Pasay City.

Sponsor of this fund-raising event is the Forum for Family Planning and Development whose office is at the Bahay ng Alumni building at the University of the Philippines’ Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Forum president Benjamin de Leon explains that the money raised in the golf tournament will be used for the forum’ continuing advocacy on population management and reproductive health.

De Leon works as a volunteer for the forum with a paid staff of young women rights advocates.

It may be recalled that last year the Salas golf tournament was reported to have raised some P1 million with the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office as the principal sponsors.

Chairman Efraim Genuino’s PAGCOR provided P250,000 while the Sweepstakes office gave P100,000 and the rest handed out by other donors from the private sector and civil society who are admirers and advocates of the life and works of Mr. Salas.

The Bago, Negros Occidental-born Rafael Salas was a product of the University of the Philippines where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science, magna cum laude, and a law degree, cum laude. He then attended Harvard’s School of Public Administration where he got a master’s degree, grades with distinction.

Mr. Salas became the first Executive Secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos where he distinguished himself in various areas of public service, highlighted by his handling of the national rice-sufficiency program as action officer from 1967-1969.

He directed the Rice and Corn Production Coordinating Council and succeeded in transforming the Philippines to new status as a rice-exporter, an event that occurred after 81 years as a rice-importing country.

In 1969 he resigned from what was then called “Little President” position in Malacañang and moved on to New York where be became the first executive director of the United Nations Population Fund.

Under his direction, the fund grew to be the biggest multilateral source of financing for population activities in 180 countries, which achievement resulted in his promotion to the rank of United Nations undersecretary-general.

Mr. Salas had what his peers called hands-on aptitude of matching persons to the task and inspiring the commitment of men and women to achieve far and beyond their accustomed limitations.

This includes extraordinary young men and women – campus leaders, college editors and writers – who became known as the “Salas Boys.”

Regarding the golf tournament, Forum president Ben de Leon will entertain queries, especially from participants-donors: E-mail: forum4fp@gmail.com.

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)