The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) shared the joy of Christmas with 300 indigent kids and mothers under the care of La Proteccion dela Infancia on the 21st day of the state-gaming firm’s “Pamaskong Handog 2011: 25 days of Christmas, 25 years of PAGCOR” nationwide gift-giving project.

The beneficiaries were treated to a morning of fun, food, gifts and entertainment during the Christmas party organized by PAGCOR on December 15. Apart from the gift packs of personal items and groceries distributed to the beneficiaries, PAGCOR also granted the institution’s wish list such as split-type air-conditioning system, DVD player, electric fans, ceiling fans, 32” LCD TV, industrial fan, a complete sound system, 20 powdered canned milk (2,500 grams each), 10 sacks of rice, P50,000 worth of grocery items and one set of multi-media projector with screen.

La Proteccion dela Infancia, an organization which seeks to address the needs of mothers and their children under six years old and campaigns to fight infant mortality, became the 28th institution that benefited from the P25-million “Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR” this year.

PAGCOR President and COO Jorge Sarmiento who led the gift-giving event said the state-run gaming firm is glad to have shared its blessings once again to the beneficiaries of La Proteccion. “Araw-araw for 25 days ay namimigay tayo ng regalo at ibinibigay ang wish list ng mga institusyon na pinupuntahan natin. Ito ang ika-21 na araw natin at kami sa PAGCOR ay masayang-masaya dahil nabigyan natin ng kasiyahan ang ating mga kapatid dito sa La Proteccion.,” Sarmiento said.

Founded in 1907, La Proteccion dela Infancia, Inc. is the first citizen-led organization in Asia that addressed the problem of infant mortality caused by malnutrition during the Filipino-American war. Now on its 104th year, the institution continues to serve the needs of malnourished children. Poor families go to the foundation once a month to avail of free milk, medical and nutritional counseling.

According to La Proteccion dela Infancia Secretary Anna Leah de Leon, the foundation sustains its feeding programs, provision of milk and free medical check-up for poor children and their mothers through the help of private companies, students from some universities and volunteer medical practitioners.

“We rely on the goodness of other people. Nakakahiya man humingi ng tulong, pero kung hindi namin gagawin yon, magsasara kami. We are very glad that PAGCOR included us in its annual gift-giving project because the gifts that our institution received will be very beneficial to the children and mothers under our care,” de Leon said.

She added that La Proteccion and its board members’ primary role is to ensure that they help the neglected and those who are in dire need. “We don’t want to see them go around begging. That is too hard especially if a mother has many children.”

“Dito sa La Proteccion gusto namin yung walang naiiwanan, walang nalilimutan sa ating mga kababayan. We thank PAGCOR for seeing our work as worthy of help and we appreciate it very much because we see ourselves as conduit for the goodness of other people,” she added.

Meantime, 29-year old siomai and siopao vendor Salvacion Almilla shared that La Proteccion dela Infancia has been a huge help in lessening her daily burden. “Mula noong naging beneficiary ako noong 2009, mas naiiraos na ng pamilya ko ang araw-araw. Malaking kabawasan na sa budget dahil hindi ko na kailangan bumili ng gatas para sa mga anak ko. May mga times na ipapatawag kami at bibigyan ng bigas o kaya mga damit,” she said.

Almilla added that when special occasions like Christmas comes, she still relies on the help that the institution could extend to them. “Dahil na rin sa hirap ng buhay at sa kakarampot na kinikita ko sa pagtitinda, kahit Pasko isinasandal pa rin namin dito.”

She is likewise thankful that La Proteccion became one of the beneficiaries of PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog project because the gifts they received brought sheer happiness to her family and to other beneficiaries especially this Christmas season. “Nagpapasalamat ako dahil binigyang pansin ng PAGCOR ang mga taong katulad namin lalung-lalo na ngayong panahon ng kapaskuhan. Salamat po at Maligayang Pasko,” she said.

Go back