During the event, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr. presented the P1.5 million donation of the state-run gaming firm to “Project: Brave Kids” through its Executive Director Paul Perez. The donation will be used to cover the cost of medicines for chemotherapy, blood component transfusion and other supportive therapy specifically antibiotics for indigent cancer-stricken patients of the foundation.

VP Binay lauded PAGCOR for the financial assistance it gave to the foundation that will ensure the continuing treatment of the foundation’s beneficiaries, as well as the concerted efforts of Project: Brave Kids and the Philippine Children Medical Center’s (PCMC) in helping alleviate the plight of children coming from poor families.

“The help of PAGCOR to these kids comes at a very opportune time especially since we are celebrating Christmas. Malaking tulong ang ibinibigay ng PAGCOR sa ating mga kababayan at hangad ko na mas marami pa silang matulungan. PAGCOR has been a great help to our government in terms of building the nation and improving the lives of our countrymen. I am glad that the agency is embarking on more meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects under the management of Chairman Naguiat,” the Vice President said.

Aside from Vice President Binay, also present to witness the symbolic turnover of PAGCOR’s donation to “Project: Brave Kids” were SSS President and CEO Emilio de Quiros and Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) Executive Director Julius Lecciones.

According to Naguiat, PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog project this year coincides with the state-owned gaming agency’s 25th year. “Sa halip na magkaroon kami ng malaking party, nagdesisyon kami na gamitin na lang ang P25 million budget ng ahensya para makatulong sa mga nangangailangan.”

Naguiat added that PAGCOR was able to set aside a substantial budget for the project because of its cost-saving measures which are in line with the campaign of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Vice President Binay to adhere to the “tuwid na landas” principle in governance. “Dahil sa tamang paggastos, ang PAGCOR ay mayroong malaking savings na nailalaan para sa mga CSR projects tulad nitong aming taunang Pamaskong Handog.”

The PAGCOR Chief added that the help the agency is extending to “Project: Brave Kids” will not be the last. “Sa ilalim ng direksyon ng ating Presidente at Bise Presidente, ang PAGCOR ay nakikipag-usap ngayon sa Philhealth at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan upang pag-aralan ang pagtatayo ng isang pondo mula sa income ng PAGCOR na maaaring gamitin para sa mga expenses ng catastrophic illnesses ng ating mga kapuspalad na mga kababayan.”

Meantime Perez shared that in November 2005, he and his wife Sigrid brought their then 3-year old son Seve to PCMC for an inthrathecal procedure as part of their son’s protocol to fight leukemia. “We regularly go to a private hospital but for some stroke of heaven perhaps, our doctor recommended us to have that procedure in PCMC. That single visit jolted us, for we saw with our very eyes the difficulty of fighting cancer in a government hospital.”

That realization inspired the Perezes and some friends to establish “Project: Brave Kids” and to partner with PCMC in helping assist children with cancer and their families.

Perez thanked PAGCOR for choosing their foundation and their wards to become part of its Pamaskong Handog 2011 project. “When the PAGCOR team visited us some months back, we never expected anything for we know there are so many other deserving organizations and causes that need help. It was great news for us to be chosen. The help PAGCOR extended to us today will go a long way. Maraming Salamat po! Sa Project: Brave Kids, bawat tulong ay mahalaga.”

He also thanked SSS for providing the free use of its auditorium for the PAGCOR Christmas gift-giving event. “This was the first time in the foundation’s six years that our wards were able to hold their Christmas party in an air-conditioned venue.”

Among the “Project: Brave Kids” wards that will benefit from PAGCOR’s P1.5 million donation is five-year old Katrice Aluit who was diagnosed with leukemia last year. She will continue to get free chemotherapy medicines from PCMC and “Project: Brave Kids” through the financial aid given by PAGCOR to the foundation.

Her 33-year-old mother, Catherine – a housewife – is thankful for all the help they are being given. “Wala po akong trabaho. Ang asawa ko naman po ay janitor lang. Napakalaking tulong ang Project: Brave Kids kasi sa aming ordinaryong mamamayan, napakalaking katipiran ang pagbibigay nila ng Chemotherapy medicines. Kapag may consultation ka at kailangan mo ng gamot, nakahanda na. Hindi mo na kailangang gumastos at mag-antay.”

“Masaya po kami sa tulong na bigay ng PAGCOR ngayon. Hindi po maliit na halaga ang P1.5 million. Magiging mas maligaya po ang Pasko namin ngayon dahil alam naming hindi mapapabayaan ang pagpapagamot sa mga anak namin,” Catherine said.

Now on its fourth day, the Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of PAGCOR gift-giving project began on November 25 and ends on December 19. More than 7,000 beneficiaries under the care of 36 charitable institutions nationwide are being benefited by the project.

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