The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) acted as Santa Claus to the beneficiaries of the Servants of Charity as the agency turned over P700,000 worth of physical therapy apparatus to the institution on the 14th day of “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012”.

Tet Naguiat, wife of PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, led the gift-giving activity at the institution. She was joined by Mrs. Marides Almendras, wife of Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, and Mrs. Margie Mercado. “Natutuwa ako na makasama dito sa Pamaskong Handog project ng PAGCOR. Sana ay napasaya ang mga beneficiaries ng Servants of Charity ng PAGCOR sa araw na ito. On behalf of my husband and the PAGCOR Board of Directors, binabati ko ang lahat ng Merry Christmas,” Mrs. Naguiat said.

According to Mrs. Naguiat, the gift-giving project “is PAGCOR’s way of reaching out to the needy especially during this Christmas season. Yun naman ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko, ang magtulungan at mag-share ng blessings sa kapwa natin.”

The brand new medical equipment donated by PAGCOR to the “Servants of Charity” included a Chattanooga 2776 Intellect Mobile, Ultrasound Machine, Electrical Muscle Stimulator, Cervical and Lumbar Traction Set, Traction Table, Thera-brand Exercise Ball, Whitehall T-6 Stationary Thermalator and Therabath PRO Paraffin Bath.

According to “Servants of Charity” Program Director Fr. Eduardo Cerbito, the equipment will be used at the institution’s Physical Therapy Room. “We have a rehabilitation center for PWDs and we really need help from institutions like PAGCOR dahil kulang na kulang talaga ang aming kagamitan,” he said.

Fr. Dong was grateful that through the donations of PAGCOR, the “Servants of Charity” will be able to reach out to more underprivileged persons with disabilities (PWDs) and special children who cannot afford costly rehabilitation and therapy sessions. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa PAGCOR sa Pamaskong Handog na binigay para sa mga special kids at persons with disabilities. Yung mga tulong na ibinigay, most especially yung equipment ay napakalaking bagay dahil mas magiging maganda pa ang aming paglilingkod sa mga kapatid nating may kapansanan,” Fr. Dong expressed.

Apart from the medical equipment, PAGCOR also gave noche buena packs to 100 beneficiaries and 25 support staff of the institution.

Thirty-five year old Patrick Halili, one of the beneficiaries, felt equally elated with the Yuletide gifts he received from PAGCOR. “Servants of Charity” has been his home since 1996. Although wheelchair-bound due to polio and the fact that he also has mental disability, Patrick remains optimistic that through the help of institutions like PAGCOR, PWDs and special children could still reach their dream. In fact, he is a perfect example. Patrick has been the president of Servants of Charity since 1997 and will be graduating as chef under TESDA’s Alternative Learning System next year.

“Yung iba akala nila dahil ganito ang kalagayan namin useless na kami, kaya ako ay nagpapasalamat ng marami dahil pinaramdam sa amin ng PAGCOR na mahalaga kami. Ako po ay nagagalak at sana ay marami pa kayong matulungan na katulad ko. Maraming salamat po,” Patrick said.

PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog for the “Servants of Charity” was made more colorful with the performances from the PAGCOR Voice Symphony, Pinoy Dream Academy finalist Hansen Nichols, actress-host Dianne Medina and Miss Casino Filipino 2012 Marie Loraine de Guzman.

“Servants of Charity” is an institution founded in 1989 which caters to the needs of indigent individuals and people with various disabilities. It has sister organizations in India and United States. It also runs the Guanella Center, a school for hundreds of underprivileged people that offers development and rehabilitation programs, physical and occupational therapy, medical and legal aid, job placement assistant and special catechesis.

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