The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation's (PAGCOR) "Pamaskong Handog 2010 - 12 Days of Christmas" project became the answered Christmas prayer for the special students and street children of Las Pinas City and Manila when they were chosen as beneficiaries of the special gift-giving project.

"To celebrate its 25th Anniversary, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has allocated P25 million for its “Pamaskong Handog 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of PAGCOR” gift-giving project this year. The project will touch the lives of more than 7,000 beneficiaries in 36 institutions nationwide.

“The annual gift-giving tradition of our corporation which we started last year will be longer, merrier and more bountiful this year,” announced PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr.

“Instead of PAGCOR spending lavishly for its silver anniversary, we opted to hold this bigger Pamaskong Handog project to share our blessings with the poor, the needy and neglected sectors of our society,” Naguiat said.

“This project, of course, is in line with President Benigno Simeon Aquno III’s “matuwid na daan” principle where the allocation of PAGCOR’s funds is done prudently and always for the greater good and the upliftment of the lives of our countrymen who are in dire need,” he added.

“Our employees are taking part in all these events. They will be doing volunteer work during the gift-giving events outside of their regular duty. Such acts of kindness and volunteerism are already innate among PAGCORians. They have been leading a life of service all these years,” the PAGCOR Chief said.

The Pamaskong Handog 2011 project will run for 25 days starting November 25 until December 19, and will benefit children and adult cancer patients, the blind and visually impaired, abused children and women, juvenile delinquents, the elderly, the handicapped, crippled children, the Aetas, wounded soldiers and policemen, street children and street families, and kids with physical deformities or disabilities.

Last year, PAGCOR held its gift-giving event for 12 days only. It will be longer this year to coincide with its 25th year as a gaming operator. “This year’s project is also different from how we did it last year in the sense that PAGCOR will also be holding gift-giving missions outside Metro Manila. We will hold Pamaskong Handog activities nationwide, specifically in areas where we are hosting PAGCOR casinos like Angeles, Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, Olongapo and Tagaytay.”

“This annual gift-giving activity is also part of our corporation’s mandate to reach out to the sectors in need. Ang hangad namin ay makapagbigay kami ng kasiyahan sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng Kapaskuhan,” Naguiat added.

PAGCOR will grant the “wish list” of the foundations and organizations it has chosen as beneficiaries of this year’s Pamaskong Handog project.

Naguiat said they want to ensure that the Christmas gift the beneficiaries will receive will have a direct impact on the sectors. “For example, the cancer-stricken children under the Project: Brave Kids Foundation will receive medication for their chemotherapy through the P1.5 million financial aid that we will be giving to them. These children will be treated at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, which has been a long standing partner of the Project: Brave Kids Foundation in providing the medical needs of their wards.”

“On the other hand, the beneficiaries of the Philippine Foundation for Breast Cancer, Inc. will benefit from the P1.1 million financial assistance they will get from PAGCOR. Said amount will be used to buy hospital equipment for the use of the beneficiaries, and the renovation of the center’s facilities at the East Avenue Medical Center,” Naguiat added.

The Philippine Army General Hospital and the Philippine National Police Hospital, both major Pamaskong Handog beneficiaries, will receive donations amounting to P4.5 million and P4 million, respectively. Said amounts will be used to procure hospital equipment and other medical requirements that will be used for the benefit of the country’s soldiers who got wounded in combat, the sick and retired policemen, and their dependents who are undergoing treatment in said government hospitals.

“We will also be giving a substantial financial aid to Operation Smile Philippines which will be used to pay for the reconstructive surgery of 100 children – all coming from poor families in different parts of the country – who are born with a cleft lip or cleft palate,” Naguiat said.

These beneficiaries are just some of the 36 institutions we will be supporting in our gift-giving project this year.

“The idea of our Pamaskong Handog project is to give help where it is most needed. While what we are giving this Christmas Season may not be enough to help everybody, we want PAGCOR to lead the way in helping the neglected sectors of our society,” Naguiat concluded.

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