Many people consider longevity as a blessing. But for many abandoned and neglected elderly who have reached their golden years without a family or relatives who will take care of them, growing old can be a lonely journey.

To show its support to the abandoned and aging sector of the society, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) spread Christmas cheers to the senior citizens who are under the care of the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases (GRACES) in Quezon City during the fifth day of the state-run gaming agency’s Pamaskong Handog 2015.

PAGCOR hosted a Christmas party for some 180 elderly housed at GRACES’ residential facility on December 4, 2015. A noche buena gift pack containing Christmas goodies like ham, cheese, pasta, cookies and other grocery items were given away to the delight of the senior citizens. Apart from the gift packs, PAGCOR also donated assorted grocery items, bedsheets and 20 wheelchairs to the institution.

The Christmas party was made more festive with the performances of The Voice Season 2 Grand Finalist Bradley Holmes, PAGCOR’s in-house artist Eboy Quizol and the PAGCOR Voice Symphony.

PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications and Services Department Maricar Bautista who spearheaded the gift-giving event said the Pamaskong Handog Project which started in 2010 is one of PAGCOR’s  ways of giving back to the society.  “We want to spread happiness and share the blessings that we received with all of you this Christmas season. We hope that with our Christmas presents and program prepared especially for this occasion, you will all have a joyful and meaningful celebration of the yuletide season this year,” Bautista said in her welcome remarks.

Natividad Canlas, Assistant Regional Director for Administration of DSWD-NCR expressed her gratitude to PAGCOR for choosing their institution as one of the recipients of Pamaskong Handog 2015. “Hindi mumunti ang kaligayahan na binigay ninyo sa amin ngayon. Tuwang-tuwa ang ating mga lolo at lola dahil nabigyan ninyo sila ng regalo. The heart of Christmas is Jesus and during this season, we are reminded that we are here for a reason. We thank you PAGCOR for your big heart, especially for reaching out to our elderly clients this Christmas. We hope to have more future collaborations with you,” she said.

Lolo Pedro (not his real name) was moved to tears when PAGCOR started giving away Christmas presents to them. He will be spending his second Christmas in GRACES this year.

“Ayoko sana i-celebrate ang Pasko dahil hindi ko naman kasama ang pamilya ko pero salamat pa rin sa inyo dahil dinalaw ninyo kami at pinasaya,” he emotionally said.

Formerly known as Golden Acres under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), GRACES was established on September 25, 2012 as a referral center and temporary shelter for abandoned, lost, unattached and neglected elderly.

GRACES Quezon City, which is one of the 13 center-based and residential facilities of DSWD, has 229 residents. The center receives P25 million annual funding from the DSWD for its annual operations including expenses for medicines, food, burial, staff salary, supplies, utilities, maintenance, among others.

According to Rowela Hizon, Officer-in-Charge of GRACES Quezon City, ideally their facility should accommodate their wards for only six months while they are being referred to other care facilities or reunited with their families.

“Unfortunately, many of our residents do not have families to go home to. Yung iba naman talagang hindi na kayang buhayin ng mga pamilya o anak nila dahil hindi na kayang tustusan yung maintenance medications at iba pang pangangailangan. Because of financial difficulties, we cannot force their families to take them back. Kaya minsan, hindi nagma-materialize yung reintegration with the families. May iba ngang mga kamag-anak na nagsa-sign pa talaga ng waiver na ina-abandon na nila yung relative nila,” Hizon explained.

But there were also stories of hope. “Recently for instance, we have reunited one elderly with her son in Marikina. He has been looking for his mother for several weeks already. With the help of our partner agencies and local government units he found her here,” Hizon narrated.

While many elderly under the care of GRACES are still physically able, there are 21 of them who are completely bed-ridden. “They need more attention and care because they only depend on our house parents for their daily needs – such as feeding and personal hygiene,” Hizon explained.

According to Hizon, events like PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog is something that they all look forward to. “We are grateful that PAGCOR chose us as one of its project beneficiaries. Marami kasi sa kanila ay naghahanap ng atensyon at pagmamahal. This year, na-experience ng ating mga lolo at lola ang kakaibang Christmas celebration dahil sainyo,” she said.

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