The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation celebrated its 9th day of “Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of PAGCOR” gift-giving project in the province of Pampanga, with 546 Aetas and 167 abandoned elderly, women and children as beneficiaries.

The nationwide gift-giving project – which started November 25 and culminates on December 19 - is the state-owned gaming firm’s way of sharing its blessings to the needy on its 25th year. The project covers more than 7,000 beneficiaries and 36 charitable institutions nationwide. The beneficiaries belong to the most neglected sectors of society, including cultural minorities.

Aetas knocking on cars’ windows begging for alms or singing Christmas carols in exchange for coins had been a familiar sight on urban streets when Christmas season comes. These cultural minorities leave the mountains and walk for miles to get to the city in the hope of getting money or donations of food and clothing from passersby.

43-year-old Tereseta Pan recalls having done this once in her life but she eventually realized it is better to earn a living by planting crops instead of begging on the streets. “Sinubukan kong sumama sa mga kapwa ko katutubo na manghingi sa Angeles City. Noong mga panahon na yun pinagbubuntis ko ang panganay ko at wala akong mapagkakakitaan. Pero naisip ko may iba pang paraan para mabuhay. Kaya hindi ko na ginawa ulit yon.”

Through the efforts of concerned organizations like Gawad Kalinga (GK) whose advocacy is to concretely and permanently improve the quality of life of the poorest of the poor Filipinos by providing land, homes and food to the neglected sectors of society, members of cultural minorities like Teresita need not have to go to the city to beg.

Teresita and her family are some of the Aetas housed by Gawad Kalinga in the 49 dwelling units GK constructed at the Clark Development Corporation – Answering Cry of the Poor (CDC-ANCOP) Canada GK Village in Sitio Target, Sapang Bato, Angeles City. The site, which was funded by ANCOP – Canada, GK’s official international fundraising arm, is now home to 180 indigenous families.

“Sitio Target is a sub-zone of GK Village which is highly suitable for residential purposes, farming and eco-tourism. The Kulots here plant crops, sell puso ng saging, papayas or handmade bracelets to earn a living. We don’t allow them to beg,” said Jess Gonzales, GK Sitio Target Project Director.

He added that apart from providing secured homes for the cultural minorities, GK also conducts feeding programs and seminars on values formation, and also helps them find stable employment in nearby localities.

“The Aetas here also get help from external sources. Our partners in Clark hire them as gardeners or helpers which provide them additional income. Some work as cook, waiter and helper in Puning Hotspring, a spa house near the GK Village, which is visited mostly by foreign tourists,” Gonzales shared.

“During special occasions like Christmas, the Aetas also benefit from various groups that conduct Christmas parties here and give them a little something. Malaking bagay ang iniaabot na tulong sa mga kulot na narito dahil hindi naman sila palaging nabibiyayaan,” Gonzales shared.

PAGCOR became the first institution this year to make Christmas merrier and more meaningful for the Aetas of GK Canada Village. The Aetas were handed special gift bags and noche buena packs. The gift-giving event was graced by PAGCOR officials and GK officers.

“Nagpapasalamat ako ng marami sa PAGCOR, dahil kahit malayo kami ay napuntahan kami dito at nabigyan ng regalo ang mga kulot. Sana po, bukod sa gift-giving at suporta sa GK sa pagpapagawa ng mga paaralan, masuportahan din sana ng PAGCOR ang pagibibigay kabuhayan sa mga taga-GK Canada Village,” Gonzales said.

PAGCOR recently partnered with Gawad Kalinga and the Department of Education (DedED) for the construction of 100 learning centers at the Mariano L. Adriano Elementary School in Barangay Encanto, Angat, Bulacan. PAGCOR committed a funding support of P65 million for the project while GK will handle the construction of the learning centers. The amount is part of PAGCOR’s P1 billion budget for the construction of 1,000 classrooms nationwide under its “Matuwid na Daan sa Silid-Aralan” project with DepED.

Meanwhile, the 9th day of PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog 2011 project benefited the wards of four more institutions in Pampanga - the Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth, Bahay Pag-Ibig House of Prayer, Duyan ni Maria, and Indu Ning Maayap Usuk (Mother of Good Counsel).

PAGCOR held a Christmas party at the grounds of Bahay Pag-ibig in Angeles City for the 167 handicapped, mentally challenged individuals, orphaned, abandoned children and adults, and abused girls. They were given gift packs of grocery items and toiletries.

PAGCOR also fulfilled the institutions’ wish list of 40 sacks of rice, two 32” LCD TVs, two water dispensers, two double burners, three electric fans, nine ceiling fans, one refrigerator, seven fire extinguishers, two emergency lights, diapers and P40,000 worth of grocery items.

Sister Alessandra Casas, Founder of Duyan ni Maria, said this is the first time in the 23 years of their institution that their wards had a Christmas party together with the wards of the other institutions. “Ipinagdiriwang namin ang Pasko na kami lang ng mga bata o kaya kasama ang ibang mga foundation for children. Kakaiba ang handog na ito ng PAGCOR sa amin kasi nagkasama-sama kami.”

She also thanked PAGCOR for sharing blessings to the children of Duyan ni Maria. “Sobra ang aking kasiyahan at lubus-lubos ang aking pasasalamat. Alam ko na every employee ng PAGCOR ay nagsikap para makapagpasaya ng mga taong nangangailangan. Katulad dito sa amin, marami kaming alagang bata na walang magulang, kaya napakalaking bagay ang ginawa nilang pagpapasaya at pagbibigay ng regalo.”

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