PAGCOR holds Yuletide party for Manila elders, workers on 6th day of its Pamaskong Handog event
Thu | 12.19.2019 | 02:20 PM
Celebrity guest performer Pilita Corrales gamely sang and danced with some elderly women.
Former street child-turned day care worker Anthony Pregonero happily receives a Christmas gift pack from Casino Filipino Malate Senior Branch Administrative Manager Sheila Verzosa.
PAGCOR officers and volunteers pose for a photo opportunity with some representatives from the City Government of Manila and the beneficiaries.DAYCARE worker Anthony Pregonero had gone through so much in life that merely seeing the smile on the face of his mother whenever he puts food on her table during Christmas Eve gives him immense joy.
“Bata pa lang ako, kapag dumarating ang Christmas, wala talaga kaming celebration. Mabigyan ko lang ng pang-noche buena ang nanay ko, masayang-masaya na ako dahil may handa siya sa Pasko,” said the 35-year-old Pregonero, who was once a street child and worked as a carwash boy to earn a meager income for his education.
On December 11, 2019, along with several fellow daycare and job order workers and senior citizens of Manila, he received an unexpected Yuletide treat from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) during the sixth day of the agency’s annual gift-giving program dubbed Pamaskong Handog at the Tondo Sports Complex.
During the event, Pregonero and the other beneficiaries were each given a Christmas gift pack containing assorted grocery items. They also enjoyed free food and relaxing musical entertainment from celebrity guest performer Pilita Corrales and the PAGCOR Voice Symphony.
“Nakakatuwa at nakakataba ng puso na hindi nakakalimutan ng PAGCOR ang mga katulad namin sa tuwing dumarating ang araw ng Kapaskuhan,” Pregonero said, as he expressed his longtime wish for his mother to have a decent shelter since the old woman lives under the Nagtahan Bridge.
The event was witnessed by Manila Social Welfare Department Officer-In-Charge Ma. Asuncion Fugoso, who thanked PAGCOR for giving their beneficiaries a festive Yuletide treat.
“Ang PAGCOR po ay napakahalagang ka-partner ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Mapalad po kaming mapili na regaluhan ng isang malaking institusyon tulad nito,” she said.
Also present during the program were PAGCOR volunteers and officers led by Casino Filipino Malate Senior Branch Administrative Manager Sheila Verzosa.