Juvenile delinquents in Iloilo and Pasay receive Christmas gifts from PAGCOR
Saturday | December 8, 2012 | 5:00 PM
On the 9th day of its “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog 2012”, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) made Christmas merrier and special for the juvenile delinquents under the care of “Dalayunan… A Home for Boys” in Iloilo City and “Pasay Youth Home” in Pasay City.
Casino Filipino Heritage Acting Branch Manager Raymundo de Guzman (left) and Pasay Youth Home center head Potchoy Sahirol (2nd from left) led the ribbon-cutting of the newly refurbished building of the Pasay Youth Home in Pasay City. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) renovated the center in line with the agency’s ongoing “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012” project. Also in photo are Casino Filipino Heritage Senior Administrative Head Ana Marie Velasco (2nd from right) and Miss Casino Filipino 2012 Marie Loraine De Guzman (right).
The two institutions serve as temporary shelter to youth in conflict with the law by providing them with an alternative venue, adequate facilities and support services for learning while preparing them for reintegration to society.
Dalayunan Social Welfare Officer Rosa Mmae Aquit said children in conflict with the law are usually victims of poverty with low educational attainment. Some of them also come from dysfunctional families.
“Yun talaga ang root cause kaya nakakapag-commit sila ng offense. That is why here in Dalayunan, we let them exercise the rights of the children and make them feel that they are important. Here, we treat them as victims which is why we provide them services and programs like spiritual enhancement, skills training and basic needs,” Aquit said.
Aquit added they are grateful that PAGCOR chose Dalayunan as one of the beneficiaries of its Pamaskong Handog this year because it made a significant impact to the youth under their care. “Dito sa Dalayunan, nagkakaroon din naman ng Christmas party. Pero ngayong taon naging kakaiba kasi nag-celebrate sila with gifts from PAGCOR,” she stressed.
Casino Filipino Heritage officers and employees led by Senior Administrative Head Ana Marie Velasco (center) conducted a gift-giving activity for the juvenile delinquents of Pasay City during PAGCOR’s 9th day of Pamaskong Handog 2012. Apart from the Christmas gift packs distributed to the beneficiaries and support staff of the Pasay Youth Home, PAGCOR also renovated the center’s facilities and fulfilled its Christmas wish list.
“Yung ibang tao iniisip nila, hindi dapat tulungan yung mga kabataan na nag-commit ng mali. Kasi masama daw sila. But PAGCOR made them happy this year at ipinaramdam na may mga tao pa rin na tumutulong sa kanila at naniniwala na maaari silang magbago,” Aquit added.
Apart from the Christmas gift packs given to the beneficiaries and support staff, PAGCOR provided Dalayunan with ceiling fans, a computer set with printer, DVD player, digital camera, mini-component with microphone, pillows and pillow cases, blankets, double foams, bed sheets and dozens of spoon and fork.
Meanwhile, Pasay Youth Home received a cabinet, two computer units with printers and two industrial fans from PAGCOR. The agency also repainted the rooms and repaired the broken windows of the center. Their 50 beneficiaries were also handed Christmas gift packs.
The officers and employees of PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino Heritage branch delivered the Christmas presents to Pasay Youth Home. Leading the team was Satellite Operations Manager Raymundo de Guzman who said “it is our pleasure to share our blessings with these children. Ang PAGCOR at kaming mga empleyado ay laging handang dumamay sa mga may pangangailangan. That has always been our mission for the past 26 years.”
Employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) dressed in Santa Claus costume distributed gift packs to the wards of Pasay Youth Home in Pasay City. The rehabilitation center for juvenile delinquents was chosen as one of the beneficiaries of “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012”. The project is reaching out to more than 8,600 less fortunate Filipinos in 41 institutions nationwide.
The 9th day of PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog project also benefited two other institutions in Iloilo – the Social Laboratory Center and the Iloilo Crisis Center.
Social Laboratory is a center that caters to children three years old and above and out-of-school youths with disability. Their beneficiaries received from PAGCOR 60 assorted coloring books, 30 monoblock chairs, bookshelf, vestibular ball, coloring materials, bicycle with balancers, milk, blocks puzzle and other school materials to be used by the special children while they study and undergo therapy.
PAGCOR meantime gave the Iloilo Crisis Center a washing machine, digital camera, ceiling fans, a computer set with printer, emergency lights, single foams, bed sheets, pillows and pillow cases for the use of their beneficiaries.
Social Laboratory Project Implementer Deonalyn Magarse said PAGCOR’s gifts would greatly help her students who are mostly from impoverished families and who cannot afford to study or undergo therapy in specialized schools for children with disabilities.
Being under the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), both the Social Laboratory and Iloilo Crisis Center rely on the funding of the local government and donations coming from benevolent benefactors. “Mabigat sa pakiramdam na wala kang sponsor. Kaya nga I am very grateful that PAGCOR chose us as recipient this year. Wish granted ito sa amin. Talagang pinagkaloob ng Panginoon na mabigyan ng kasiyahan ang mga bata this Christmas. Thank you and God bless to PAGCOR for your continued support to our children,” Magarse said.