Eric C. Hugo golf tourney to be held April 22

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina--Avid golfers in the North Carolina area are invited to attend the 7th Annual Eric C. Hugo Memorial Gold Tournament at the Divide Golf Club at Matthews area at noon of April 22. 

The invite was sent via email from Bert Rodriguez, past president of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) to Cip Onia, FACC 1st Vice-President.

According to the event website, the golf tournament was founded by friends of Eric C. Hugo who passed away on July 2010. A month after his untimely demise, Hugo's friends each played a round of golf using his golf irons and driver in his honor. 

Thus was born the annual memorial golf tournament whose current edition is spearheaded by Bert Rodriguez of Charlotte, North Carolina. The event is held every spring.

Hugo was a high school alumnus of De La Salle University in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines and was a generous donor to the school together with his class of 1967. 

With his passing, Hugo's family and friends wanted to continue his generosity towards the school by donating the proceeds of the tournament to qualified but underprivileged young men and women so they can finish their education at a Christian high school under the De La Salle brothers. 

The selected students work during the day and attend class at night. “The cost for attending school in the Philippines is great, and we would just like to help them worry less about the expenses incurred with school since the monies they work for are earmarked for daily needs already,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriquez said they were able to provide educational assistance to indigent and deserving youth in the Philippines through the tournament. The donation amount in dollars is coursed through De La Salle University in Lipa, Batangas province for scholarships under the Eric C. Hugo Friends And Family Endowment Fund. 

Those interested to donate through the event can do so at their website www.golfwitheric.com.