Florida-based nonprofit group Move On Philippines International, Inc. is organizing a dinner dance at the Bethelite Conference Center in Jacksonville, Florida, on March 1, 2008.

Dubbed “Kasila,” the event is meant to raise funds to support education in marginalized areas in the Philippines.

The Maguindanaoan term for chili pepper, “kasila” describes the piquant burning feeling of life’s experiences for many children in the poor areas of the country, many of whom go to school hungry, walk to and from school for several miles on foot, and do not have adequate books and learning materials.

Attendees will also be hearing from guest speakers EJ Matela and Arvin Chua of the Davao-based Mindanao Land Foundation. A local partner of Move On Philippines, Minland has projects to secure land tenure, scale up shelter delivery, and empower urban poor women in conflict-ridden areas in Mindanao.

Tickets to the dinner dance are at US$35 and may be purchased online or through phone reservations.

Incorporated in Florida in 2005, Move On Philippines partners with Filipino expats to launch programs in the Philippines that address high illiteracy and drop-out rates, improve learning of math, science, and the English language particularly at the grade-school level, and focus on special problems in conflict-ridden areas.

Purchase tickets to Kasila here.

For ticket reservations, call +1 904 318 0825 or e-mail info@moveonphil.org.

Kasila (a dinner dance and fundraiser)
March 1, 2008, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Bethelite Conference Center
5865 Arlington Expressway
Jackson, Florida, USA