FRIENDS OF FORMER Red Lion John Vincent “JV” Gallego launched an online donation drive on July 19 to raise financial assistance for his bereaved family, drawing support from the Bedan community following his passing.
The initiative began after Kim Nicole Chua-Cuneta posted on her Facebook account, calling on fellow Bedans to extend support to Gallego’s family.
Chua-Cuneta, one of the organizers and a longtime friend of Gallego, shared that the initiative was organized by his close friends in coordination with Gallego’s family in an effort to ease their financial burden, particularly for his young daughter.
She recounted her friendship with Gallego, which started during their days at Chiang Kai Shek College (CKSC), further sharing how Gallego had already established a strong basketball reputation before transferring to San Beda. “Mananalo na ulit ang San Beda,” she recalled thinking after learning he would join the Red Lions.
She described Gallego as “kind, humble, and hardworking,” expressing that he remained grounded in the face of his success on the court. Beyond basketball, she said he became the family’s primary provider after his father’s passing, taking on multiple coaching jobs to support his loved ones while never seeking recognition for his efforts.
“He never complained or sought recognition. He simply worked hard and did what he had to do because his family meant everything to him,” she stated.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Chua-Cuneta mentioned that the family’s financial responsibilities extend beyond funeral expenses. She cited that Gallego’s wife is still recovering from the incident and continues to require medical care, while his younger sister, a fellow Bedan currently taking up Psychology, is pursuing her education, all while his child’s education is being secured for the future.
The donation drive quickly gained momentum as Bedans, former teammates, friends, and supporters shared the fundraiser and extended financial assistance. “The response has been overwhelming. It has been comforting to see so many people come together for JV and his family. I think it really shows the kind of person he was and how many lives he touched,” Chua-Cuneta said, describing her gratitude for the success of the initiative.
“From all of us who loved JV, thank you for honoring his memory in such a meaningful way,” she further expressed.
Chua-Cuneta, along with Gallego’s other friends, encouraged members of the Bedan community to continue supporting the family in hopes that the support doesn’t end after the funeral, emphasizing that their needs will persist in the months ahead.
“If anyone is in a position to help, whether through a donation or simply by sharing the fundraiser, it would mean so much,” she noted.
Donation channels intended to support Gallego’s family may be found in Chua-Cuneta’s post on a Bedan Facebook group called Tunay kang Bedista, along with the other posts of his friends across different social media platforms.