PAGCOR brings early Christmas joy to hundreds of relocated families in Pampanga
Saturday | December 1, 2012 | 05:00 PM
ON ITS third day of 'Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012', the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) brought cheers to hundreds of homeless families who were relocated at the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Tabun Village and the Madapdap Resettlement in the province of Pampanga.
Casino Filipino Angeles General Manager Alexander Ozaeta (center) hands over a gift pack to Remy Garcia (3rd from right), one of the residents of the Gawad Kalinga Tabun Village in Pampanga during PAGCOR’s Christmas gift-giving activity in Pampanga. Also in photo are other officials of Casino Filipino Angeles and GK Tabun, as well as former Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Hansen Nicols (2nd from right). PAGCOR’s ongoing nationwide “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012” project will benefit more than 8,600 beneficiaries in 41 institutions nationwide.
One hundred two (102) relocated families at the GK Tabun Village and 110 residents of the Madapdap Resettlement received Christmas gift packs containing various grocery items from PAGCOR.
As part of the gift-giving’s “bayanihan” component, PAGCOR employees and workers repainted and refurbished the multi-purpose hall, installed a water line and constructed a gate for GK Tabun Village. The agency also repaired the ceiling and constructed dividers for the Sibol Kindergarten classroom inside the GK Tabun Village.
Aside from the renovation of the Village’s multi-purpose hall and Sibol classroom, PAGCOR also gave GK Tabun 50 monoblock chairs, monoblock tables, wooden bookshelves, assorted common colds medicines, a BP apparatus, a computer set with a printer, wall fans, stand fans, 92 gas tanks with improvised stoves, and 25 kilos of rice per family.
Spearheading the gift-giving activities at the GK Tabun Village and Madapdap Resettlement are officials of PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino Angeles branch led by General Manager Alexander Ozaeta. This year’s Pamaskong Handog, according to Ozaeta, is unique because PAGCOR employees are given the chance to practice the Filipino “bayanihan” tradition in helping the less fortunate.
“Taon taon ay pumipili ang PAGCOR at ang aming branch ng mga institusyon na may adhikaing tumulong sa mahihirap at itaas ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga kabataan. Ngayong taon, bukod sa pamimigay ng Pamaskong Handog ay tinulungan namin na pagandahin ang mga facilities ng aming mga beneficiary-institutions,” Ozaeta said.
Casino Filipino Angeles General Manager Alexander Ozaeta (2nd from left) and other PAGCOR officers led the ribbon cutting ceremony of the newly constructed gate at the Gawad Kalinga (GK)Tabun Village. The state-owned gaming firm, in line with its ongoing “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012” project fulfilled the Christmas wish of the residents of GK Tabun to have a new gate for their village. Also in photo are Raymond David, GK Tabun Area Head (3rd from left) and Rod Macasaet, GK Project Coordinator (left).
He stressed that the efforts of PAGCOR to reach out to the needy makes Christmas a more meaningful event for the employees of the state-owned gaming firm. “It allows us to share our blessings with the needy. Yon naman ang tunay na kahulugan ng Pasko, ang makapagbahagi sa mga kapuspalad.”
GK Tabun Village has been providing shelter for homeless and impoverished families since June 2005. GK Tabun Project Coordinator Rod Macasaet said the families in the village used to be settlers on private properties and are among the ‘poorest of the poor’. “Karamihan sa kanila noon, walang bahay, walang kakayahan magpagawa ng bahay at walang tiyak na hanapbuhay,” he said.
Macasaet commended organizations like PAGCOR for partnering with GK in aiding the needy. “Malaki ang tulong ng PAGCOR sa maintenance ng mga structures natin dito, lalo ng yung Sibol school at mga houses dito. We consider PAGCOR now not just as a benefactor, but a partner,” he added.
“Sa PAGCOR, maraming maraming salamat sa mga grasyang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa mga kapatid natin dito sa Gawad Kalinga. Napakalaking tulong nito sa kanila. Yung aming eskwelahan at multi-purpose hall na naluluma na ay napaganda na sa pamamagitan ng PAGCOR,” Macasaet expressed.
Another Pamaskong Handog beneficiary of the agency was the Women’s league of Madapdap, an organization of women residents of Madapdap Resettlement, a government housing area in Mabalacat.
According to Association President Arlene Lascano, poverty has taught the residents of Madapdap Resettlement to work together in making the community’s life better. “Karamihan ng kabataan sa amin namumulat ng maaga sa paghahanap-buhay at sa hirap ng buhay. Kaya lahat kami dito tulong-tulong at sama-sama palagi para mas maging maayos ang buhay ng mga kabataang susunod sa amin,” Lascano, explained.
She added that their goal is to mold and educate their children well so they can have a better future. Lascano added that they are now more inspired to work for their community with the support of PAGCOR.
“Dapat yung magbibigay sa atin, bigyan natin sila ng magandang rason sa pagtulong nila sa atin. Dapat kahit papaano makita nila na karapat-dapat tayo sa tulong na ibibigay nila. Sa pagkakataon na ‘to mas maging masaya ang Pasko nila,” she added.
Apart from GK Tabun Village and Madapdap Resettlement, PAGCOR will also reach out to the residents of Sama Dilaut, a group of Badjaos who settled in Pampanga as well as the street children under the care of Bahay Bata Center in Angeles City.