EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Kenneth could hardly imagine life outside the Manila Boys Town Complex in Parang, Marikina City.

Having spent his growing up years inside the 23-hectare residential care facility owned and operated by the city government of Manila, Kenneth dreads the day when he and younger sister Yana finally leave the institution that not only provided them shelter but gave them love, care and protection.

Kenneth was only seven years old when they were brought to the Manila Boys Town Complex by a Good Samaritan after being found abandoned outside a hotel in Manila.

“Parang ayaw ko na pong dumating yung araw na yun na kailangan na naming lumabas dito kasi hindi po namin alam kung anong kapalaran ang naghihintay sa amin sa labas,” he shared.

It is for this reason that for years, Kenneth never really enjoyed the advent of Christmas since it serves as a reminder of his nearing departure from the facility. Male and female wards of Manila Boys Town are allowed to live in the facility only until they finish high school.

However all of Kenneth’s anxieties swiftly disappeared when the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) gave him and more than 500 beneficiaries and support staff of the Manila Boys Town Complex an early Christmas party, complete with Christmas presents.

The Manila Boys Town was chosen as the 12th day beneficiary of the “Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of PAGCOR” nationwide gift-giving project which began on November 25 and ends on December 19. The project covers more than 7,000 beneficiaries under the care of 36 charitable institutions in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Tagaytay, Olongapo, Pampanga, Rizal and Bulacan.

Kenneth and his fellow wards received Christmas goodies of assorted grocery items and toiletries from PAGCOR. “Ngayon ko lang po nakitang ganito kasaya dito sa amin. Masayang-masaya po ako at ang mga kasamahan ko dahil sa mga regalong natanggap namin mula sa PAGCOR,” Kenneth enthused.

Apart from bringing Yuletide cheers to the wards of Manila Boys Town, PAGCOR also granted the institution’s wish list for 14 ceiling fans, three electric fans, two microphones, one chest freezer, one washing machine, one exhaust fan, one karaoke machine, one DVD player, and assorted grocery items.

Manila Boys Town Officer-in-Charge Florentina Porras said the Christmas gifts from PAGCOR will greatly aid in their effort to carry out the best possible service to all their wards. “We can’t thank PAGCOR enough for these gifts. We really need all the help we can get to better serve our wards, so we take it as a great blessing that the agency took notice of our needs.”

The Manila Boys Town Complex was established in 1949 and started as a residential care center for Manila’s underserved male children who are eight to 16 years old. It later opened its doors to female juveniles and elderly people as the demand for more institutions that will cater to the needs of these individuals increased.

Popular media personality and talk show host Boy Abunda graced the gift-giving event and challenged the young beneficiaries of the institution to be their best in everything that they do to be successful in their lives.

“Ako ay mula sa pamilyang walang-wala pero proud ako na galing ako sa hirap. Mensahe ko sa mga kabataan ng Boys Town, magdasal at patuloy na mangarap upang kayo ay maging matagumpay sa buhay,” Abunda said.

Also present during the program were PAGCOR officers led by Assistant VP for Community Relations and Services Henry Reyes, Assistant VP for Entertainment Bong Quintana, and Assistant VP for Accounting Vidal Cabigon, Jr.; Miss Casino Filipino 2011 1st runner-up Glennifer Perido, actress-comediene Giselle Sanchez and Manila City Administrator Jesus Marzan.

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