MANILA — Not a few fans were left wondering where Angel Locsin was on Saturday night, as fellow stars of the Kapamilya network descended on the red carpet of the highly anticipated ABS-CBN Ball.

The star of “The General’s Daughter” was a notable absence from the annual gathering of stars, which aims to raise funds this year for the Bantay Edukasyon program of Bantay Bata 163.

On Instagram on Saturday, as the ball program was in progress, Locsin shared her take on contributing to the cause of event.

“I salute my friends at the ABS-CBN Ball who are doing their share to promote awareness on children’s rights and to help the beneficiaries of Bantay Bata 163 get the education that everyone deserves,” Locsin wrote.

“As for me, I decided to do my share in a way that I could probably be more of use. I think it would be better for me to donate directly to Bantay Bata the amount that I’m supposed to spend in the ball. It’s not much, but will help make a difference to someone else’s life,” she added.

Locsin then called on her followers to donate to Bantay Bata 163, “to help a child have a bright future.”

Jing Castañeda, program director of the ABS-CBN Foundation arm, has described Bantay Edukasyon as “one of the four pillars of Bantay 163.”

“It aims to improve the quality of life of children who are abused, neglected, exploited, and disadvantaged, through increased access to education and empowerment of their families,” she said.

Susan Afan, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation, meanwhile, credited the annual event not only for its monetary help, but the mileage it gives its message about children’s welfare.

“The ball’s revenue that it gives to us, and the awareness that it gives to people really support the advocacy of not forgetting those who need us the most, and that’s the children,” she said in an interview prior to the ball.

Since the late Gina Lopez founded Bantay Bata 163, it has responded or acted upon some 400,000 calls to its hotline, rescued 1,800 children from abuse, brought medical care to 77,000 children, and provided over 6,400 scholarship grants.