More than 300 beneficiaries and staff of Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation, Inc. received early christmas treat during PAGCOR's gift-giving activity in San Andres Bukid, Manila on December 15, 2016.

On the eighth day of its 2016 Pamaskong Handog, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) hosted a festive Christmas celebration for the children under the care of Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation, Inc. (Kaibigan).

Some 320 children as well as the foundation’s staff received noche buena gift packs during the PAGCOR-organized Christmas party held in San Andres Sports Complex in Manila on December 15, 2016.

Kaibigan Director Susan Biteng, who graced the gift-giving activity, expressed her gratitude to PAGCOR for bringing joy to their foundation’s beneficiaries and staff this Christmas season.

"Para sa pamilyang mahirap, ang noche buena ay paghihirapan pa talaga. Ilang ipon din ‘yan o kung walang naipon, wala ding noche buena. So importante itong regalo ng PAGCOR dahil pinakita ninyo na hindi lang kami ang concerned sa kanila.  You also sent a message that there are people like you who care about them,” she said.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Corporate Communications Carmelita V. Valdez (left) distributes noche buena gift packs to Kaibigan Ermita Outreach Foundation, Inc. beneficiaries during the eighth day of PAGCOR's Pamaskong Handog 2016.

A social worker by profession, Biteng knows too well how other people’s concern for others can help change someone else’s fate. A Kaibigan scholar since high school up to college, Biteng could not have reached her dreams if she had not been helped by Kaibigan.

Because of this, she has devoted her life to helping others as well by helping the foundation provide more and better opportunities to less fortunate families in Manila.

Established in 1986, Kaibigan started as a small group that provides outreach programs like counseling and health services to poor children – especially those begging in the streets, selling flowers and cigarettes as well as those engaged in prostitution in Ermita, Manila.

From its humble beginnings, Kaibigan has recognized the need to provide long-term solutions that involve families and their communities.  Aside from scholarship grants to poor children, it also offers non-academic services such as classes on visual arts, performing arts, sports and livelihood trainings to empower the children and their parents.

Alia (not her real name) is one of the Kaibigan scholars who received a Christmas noche buena  pack from PAGCOR during the agency’s gift-giving activity. The grade ten student at Mariano Marcos Memorial High School lives with her grandmother who serves as Alia’s guardian.

According to Alia, the Christmas gift pack that she and her friends in Kaibigan received will help make their Christmas celebration merrier as most of them could not afford to splurge on a holiday feast.

Meanwhile, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Community Relations Arnell Ignacio who attended the Pamaskong Handog in Kaibigan, lauded the foundation for its remarkable advocacies. "We commend you for helping these children, their families and their communities. At sa mga bata, pakinggan ninyo ang sinasabi ng inyong puso. Sundin ninyo ang inyong mga pangarap anuman ang hadlang na dumating sa inyong buhay,” he said.

Casino Filipino (CF) Tagaytay Branch Manager Michael DJ. Bailey (17th from right) distributes noche buena gift packs to the boys under the care of St. Anthony’s Boys Village during the during the Pamaskong Handog event hosted by the branch on December 14, 2016. Two more institutions – the San Jose Balay Alima Foundation, Inc., and Cavite Center for Mental Health were also beneficiaries of the branch’s gift-giving activity.

A day before the event at Kaibigan, PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino branch in Tagaytay organized a gift-giving activity for the wards of selected institutions in Tagaytay and Cavite including the St. Anthony’s Boys Village, San Jose Balay Alima Foundation, Inc., and Cavite Center for Mental Health.

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