Antipolo City – Every year, the indigenous tribe of Dumagat-Remontados celebrate Christmas up in the mountains, far from the hustle and bustle of the yuletide rush in the city.

But this year is different. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) treated them to a festive Christmas celebration – a rare event for hundreds of indigenous Dumagat-Remontados tribe.

The state-run gaming firm was the first agency that conducted a Christmas party for the Dumagats this year. Gift packs containing noche buena goodies were distributed to some 270 indigenous peoples. The natives also received seedling bags which they could use for their livelihood.

Tribal Chieftain Gerardo Doroteo said the festive Christmas celebration organized for them by PAGCOR is something that will leave an indelible mark in their hearts. “Malaking bagay sa aming mga katutubo ang mabigyan ng ganitong selebrasyon kasi kung magka-pera man kami galing sa pag-uuling, ipapambili na lamang iyon ng bigas. Ngayon, hindi na namin kailangang pag-hirapan pa itong mga regalo na natanggap namin dahil ibinigay na ito ng PAGCOR,” he jubilantly shared.

Doroteo added that seeing the happy faces of the other tribesmen also gave him so much joy. “Masaya akong makita ang aking mga kamag-anak at ka-tribu na mabigyan ng pamasko. Nagpapa-salamat din ako sa PAGCOR dahil sa dami ng indigenous people dito sa Rizal, kami ang napili,” Doroteo said.

The Dumagat Remontados is an indigenous group living in the mountains of Antipolo since 1901. They are composed of 250 households who rely on slash-and-burn farming or ‘kaingin’ and charcoal making. Many of them subsist on root crops since they maintain a nomadic lifestyle even up to now. Majority of them have never attended any formal schooling.

Apart from the early Christmas gifts, the Dumagats were also entertained by performances of 80’s icon Gino Padilla, PAGCOR homegrown talent Dash Camporaso and the PAGCOR Voice Symphony.

PAGCOR Director Lito Tanjuatco who graced the gift-giving event said he was happy to visit the Dumagats through PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog 2015. “Malapit po sa aking puso ang mga taga-Rizal dahil dito ipinanganak ang aking mga magulang. Kaya pinili ko po talagang puntahan ang gift-giving event para sa mga Dumagat,” he said.

During the event, Tanjuatco also underscored PAGCOR’s various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects such as the school building programand the production of school desk out of illegal logs confiscated by the government. “Naitatag po ang PAGCOR para mapangasiwaan ng maayos ang gaming industry sa bansa. Sa kinikita ng kumpanya, mahigit kalahati po rito napupunta sa kaban ng bayan. Liban pa po rito ang paglulunsad ng mga programa na nakaka-tulong sa maraming sector sa lipunan tulad ng school building project maging ang pagbibigay saya at regalo sa mga nangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR,” he said.

Apart from the Dumagat tribe, PAGCOR through its Casino Filipino (CF) Angeles branch also brought Christmas cheers to over a hundred Aeta families in Sitio Hadwan, Mabalacat City Pampanga. The agency distributed gift packs containing grocery items and slippers to the beneficiaries.

According to Tribal Chieftain Roy Tanglao of Sitio Hadwan, several of their villagers subsist on planting rootcrops, fruits and vegetables. “They used to plant rice but after Mt. Pinatubo erupted, they no longer had the means because all their carabaos died,” he said.

Some Aeta families have to do extreme physical labor just to earn P6,000 through farming and selling of their produce to nearby towns. “Para kumita kami, kailangan naming buhatin ang aming mga produkto na may 50 kilos ang bigat mula sa bundok pababa sa kapatagan. Kapag maulan, madulas ang daan at nahihirapan kaming bumaba,” Tanglao narrated.

This is the reason why Tanglao could not contain his joy when Aetas like him received a Christmas treat from PAGCOR. “Nagpapa-salamat po kami ng lubos sa PAGCOR. Mas maganda po sana kung gawin ninyo ito taun-taon. Lalo na po dito sa amin kasi napakahirap ang pagbaba ng kalakal mula dito sa amin.  Malaking bagay po ang tulong na binigay ng PAGCOR lalo na at pagkain ang ibinigay sa amin na talagang kailangan namin.  Tatanawin po namin itong utang na loob.  Salamat po,” he added.

CF Angeles Senior Branch Admin Manager Erlinda Yengko is also thankful that PAGCOR employees unselfishly shared their time with the less fortunate. “We are very happy that we’re able to share our blessings to the Aetas this Christmas. Many employees felt blessed not because they have more but because they still have the ability to share their time and resources to others. Our employees feel a sense of fulfillment by just participating in this activity.”

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