Thousands of Cebu’s handicapped and Orthopedic Hospital patients get Christmas gifts from PAGCOR
Wednesday | December 12, 2012 | 1:30 PM
Christmas arrived early for 2,000 persons with disabilities (PWDs) living in Mandaue City, Cebu and 250 poor patients confined at the Philippine Orthopedic Center after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) fulfilled their Yuletide wish.
Presidential sister Viel Aquino-Dee joined PAGCOR’s gift-giving activity for the 250 patients of the Philippine Orthopedic Center. The government hospital was chosen as one of the 13th day beneficiaries of the ongoing “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012”. PAGCOR constructed a healing garden for the health facility where patients can pray and breathe fresh air to help them recover faster.
The government hospital in Quezon City and the Federation for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities in Mandaue City, Inc. (FWPDMCI) became the 13th day beneficiaries of the state-owned gaming firm’s ongoing “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012” on December 12, 2012.
The patients of Philippine Orthopedic Center will be able to breathe fresh air, pray and recover faster after PAGCOR helped them construct a 300-square meter healing garden at the hospital grounds. The Corporation spent close to P1.2 million for its Pamaskong Handog event in said government health facility. PAGCOR also turned over 50 wheelchairs and six industrial fans to the hospital. Christmas gift packs were also distributed to hundreds of patients and hospital staff during the PAGCOR-hosted Christmas party held at the newly constructed healing garden.
Presidential sister Viel Aquino-Dee, COMELEC Commissioner Grace Padaca and PAGCOR Director Jose Tanjuatco joined the gift-giving event at the Orthopedic Hospital. “Malaki ang pasalamat natin sa PAGCOR sa pagbibigay ng tulong. Itong garden ay hindi lang para sa physical na healing. Yung mga may sakit, mga nagbabantay sa may sakit, mayroon na silang lugar ngayon dito kung saan maaari silang magmuni-muni at magdasal kung ano man ang plano ng Panginoon,” Viel noted.
Meanwhile, Padaca expressed her gratitude to PAGCOR for helping persons with disability like her. “Na-appreciate ko ng husto ang lahat ng pagtulong na ginagawa ng PAGCOR sa sector ng may kapansanan. Maraming salamat na sa dinami-dami ng beneficiaries ng PAGCOR mula sa iba’t-ibang hanay ng lipunan, isa po ang sector ng may kapansanan sa binibigyan nyo ng pagpapahalaga. Sana po ay ipagpatuloy nyo yan para lalong maging matagumpay ang kanilang pakikibaka sa buhay,” she said.
The 300 square meter healing garden at the Philippine Orthopedic Center overflowed with guests and beneficiaries of the 13th day of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012” event on December 12, 2012. PAGCOR spent half a million pesos for the construction of the healing garden where patients and health workers of the Philippine Orthopedic Center can pray, meditate and breathe fresh air.
National Orthopedic Center Chaplain Father Arnold Abelardo is also thankful that PAGCOR helped them build the healing garden. “Taos puso akong nagpapasalamat sa PAGCOR dahil sa pagpili sa Orthopedic Center bilang recipient ng Pamaskong Handog. Marami ang makikinabang sa healing garden, mula sa mga pasyente na laging nasa loob ng kwarto hanggang sa mga health workers na kailangan ding mag-unwind, magrelax o magdasal.”
The Philippine Orthopedic is a 700-bed capacity hospital that caters mostly to indigent patients from various provinces afflicted with bone diseases, fractures and orthopedic conditions. It is also the major referral center for spinal injuries in the country.
Meanwhile, PAGCOR provided FWPDMCI with silkscreen materials and assorted t-shirts for their t-shirt printing livelihood project for their handicapped members. The federation’s 2,000 members were also given noche buena gift packs. PAGCOR allocated over P500,000 for its Pamaskong Handog event for Mandaue City’s persons with disabilities.
FWPDMCI Michael Allan Pielago was overjoyed with the gifts they received, saying PAGCOR not only brought them joy but also gave them an opportunity to further improve the welfare of disabled individuals. “Higit sa kaligayahang hatid ng mga biyayang natanggap namin mula sa PAGCOR, ang katuparan ng aming kahilingan para sa mga kagamitang pangkabuhayan ay makakatulong nang napakalaki sa pagsisikap naming maging produktibong miyembro ng lipunan ang iba pang mga may kapansanang tulad namin,” Pielago explained.
Casino Filipino Cebu’s Parkmall Satellite Casino Operations Manager Renato Osmena, Jr. and Logistics and General Services Department head Leah Lao led the turnover of the Christmas gift packs to the beneficiaries of FWPDMCI. Both Osmena and Lao believe that reaching out to physically-challenged individuals this Christmas season was a very enriching experience as they were able to provide something that will help uplift the lives of persons with disabilities. “We know that the aid we extended these people will go a long way in opening more income opportunities for them,” Osmena said.