PAGCOR AVP for Entertainment Jimmy Bondoc (4th from left) hands over noche buena gift packs to NCH patients during the corporation’s annual gift-giving event.

Christmas may be the happiest time of the year, especially for children. But for the young ones who are suffering from chronic and serious illnesses, the best Christmas gift that they can ever receive is the gift of good health.

On the third day of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)’s 2016 Pamaskong Handog program, the state-run gaming firm brought hope to 125 indigent patients of the National Children’s Hospital (NCH).

PAGCOR donated P2 million to the health institution to fund the surgery of children with congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal track and urogenital organs.

More than 100 patients and staff of the National Children's Hospital (NCH) are treated to an early christmas party during the third day of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation's (PAGCOR) Pamaskong Handog 2016. NCH also received P2 million financial aid for the surgical procedures of NCH patients with congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract and urogenital organs.


Singer-actress Jessa Zaragoza entertains patients and hospital staff during PAGCOR's Pamaskong Handog 2016 at the National Children’s Hospital.

“On behalf of our Medical Director Epifania Simbul, I would like to thank PAGCOR for being a great partner of NCH in terms of healthcare delivery to our patients especially the indigent ones. Our hospital caters to very poor Filipinos. What they earn is not really enough to cover the expenses if they get sick. This is where the generosity of PAGCOR comes in,” Creencia said.

To date, NCH has already received a total of P6.78 million from three PAGCOR Pamaskong Handog events. In 2012, NCH got P1.78 million funding for the improvement of the hospital’s hematology ward while in 2015, it received P3 million for the operation of indigent children with congenital heart diseases.

Among those who benefited from the PAGCOR-sponsored operations at the NCH was Arnulfo Alama's ten-year-old son John Paul who suffered from a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus or PDA wherein abnormal blood flow occurs between two of the major arteries connected to the heart.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Assistant Vice President for Community Relations Arnell Ignacio (2nd from left) distributes noche buena gift packs to the scholars and staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog event at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on December 10, 2016. Also in photo are AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Salvador Melchor Mison, Jr. (middle) and AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO) General Manager Dwight Steven Dulnoan (right).


Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Assistant Vice President for Community Relations Arnell Ignacio (left) turns over the P2 million financial grant to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff Salvador Melchor Mison, Jr. (middle) and AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO) General Manager Dwight Steven Dulnoan (right) during the fourth day of PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog 2016. The financial aid will benefit 1,833 AFP scholars nationwide.

John Paul was one of the patients with congenital heart disease who underwent a successful heart operation recently. The funding for his operation came from PAGCOR’s P3 million financial support for NCH in 2015.

Alama, who supports his family by collecting and selling garbage together with his wife Mary Anne said that with their measly income, such immediate surgical procedure for John Paul will not be possible without the aid of institutions like PAGCOR. "Parang nabunutan po ako ng tinik sa dibdib. Naluha po ako sa sobrang tuwa. Laking himala po eto. Pinaka-masayang Pasko po etong dumating sa buhay ko," he said.

Apart from this year’s P2 million cash donation, PAGCOR also treated more than 100 NCH patients and hospital staff to a Christmas party held at the NCH Multi-purpose Hall in Quezon City.  They also received special Christmas gift packs containing noche buena items. The beneficiaries were likewise entertained by singer-actress Jessa Zaragoza together with PAGCOR homegrown talents and the PAGCOR Voice Symphony.

PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Entertainment Jimmy Bondoc, who graced the gift-giving event at NCH was thankful that he was able to celebrate with the hospital’s indigent patients this Christmas season. "Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataong makatulong kami sa inyo. Always seek first the kingdom of God. Iyon po ang nagpapalakas sa akin. God bless everybody and Merry Christmas," he greeted.

Meanwhile, on the fourth day of 2016 Pamaskong Handog, PAGCOR brought yuletide cheer to the scholars of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO).

PAGCOR’s P2 million donation to AFPEBSO will benefit 1,833 scholars who are composed mainly of dependents of military personnel who were either incapacitated or killed in action.

Asarif Arabani, a third year Information Technology student of STI Malate, Manila is grateful for PAGCOR’s generosity. When his father was killed in battle in Mindanao in 2005, Arabani and his mom have since then relied on the AFP educational program to finish his education with the hope of better opportunities in the future.

"Maraming salamat po dahil nakasama kami sa mga mabibigyan ng maagang pamasko  ng PAGCOR.  Sana po marami pa kayong matulungan at nawa'y bigyan pa kayo ng lakas upang mapag-patuloy niyo ang pagtulong sa amin at sa iba pang nangangailangan. Maraming salamat po ,"  he said.

AFPEBSO General Manager Dwight Steven M. Dulnoan said the AFP educational program ensures that children of the country's heroes are in good hands. "We are here not just to send them to school but also to give them a brighter future. We've gone a long way through our partnerships with different institutions. We thank PAGCOR for being there for us, especially for our orphans. This means a lot to us," he said.

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