Pagcor spreads Yuletide cheer

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is once again spreading holiday cheer to thousands of less privileged Filipinos through its traditional Pamaskong Handog gift-giving project this year. Pagcor allocated P21 million for the project. 

The state-run agency’s 12 days of gift-giving will run from Nov. 27 to Dec. 17. It will benefit 10,000 less fortunate Filipinos under the care of 33 charitable institutions nationwide. 

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. said reaching out to the less privileged sectors of society has always been one of the core commitments of Pagcor as it is doing its share in building a better nation.

“The main objective of the Pamaskong Handog project is to give help to those who need it most. It is also a great opportunity for Pagcor to partake in spreading love to the neglected sectors of society during the Yuletide season,” he said. 

Pagcor’s assistant vice president for Corporate Communications Maricar Bautista, who graced the kick-off ceremony for this year’s gift-giving project, said the Pamaskong Handog is one of the state-owned gaming agency’s creative ways of giving back to society. “This event which started in December 2010 is one of Pagcor’s important Corporate Social Responsibility programs under its current management.” 

During the first day of its gift-giving project, close to 500 Special Education students of Pasay City Special Education Center housed in the P. Villanueva Elementary School in Pasay City were chosen as beneficiaries of the project. 

Composed of intellectually gifted children, children with disabilities such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing, speech, visual and physical impairment – the beneficiaries together with their teachers were treated by PAGCOR to a fun-filled Christmas party, receiving 500 Christmas gift packs. 

Marieta Garino, Master Teacher of the SPED program, is very appreciative of PAGCOR because their students were lucky to be chosen as beneficiaries of PAGCOR’s gift-giving project. 

“We are grateful to PAGCOR for choosing our students as recipients of this special Christmas treat. What I love about these children – napaka-genuine ng mga pagkatao nila. They have no pretentions and they express what they feel. Hence, seeing them truly happy is priceless,” said Garino who has been with the SPED center for 15 years now.

The PCSEC is also known as one of the two biggest special education institutions in Metro Manila with the most number of enrollees.

“Although our funding comes solely from the government, we are lucky to have special facilities and programs that cater to special children. These are not yet available to most SPED schools in the country that’s why we accommodate as much SPED enrollees as we can,” Garino shared.

Meanwhile, PCSEC Principal Lea Marcelo also thanked PAGCOR officials and employees who were present during the event. “Ang araw na ito ay magmamarka sa isipan ng aming  mga kabataan. Itong Pamaskong Handog ay isa sa mga paraan para maramdaman ng ating special students that they are very much welcome here and that we accept them. Ito ay makakatulong para ganahan silang mag-aral dahil nararamdaman nila na marami ang sumusuporta sa kanila.”

Aside from being the first recipient of the Christmas gift-giving activity this year, Marcelo also lauded PAGCOR for its relentless support to their school. “Nagpapa-salamat din kami sa PAGCOR dahil for two years, nag-benefit kami sa Feeding Program nila. Natulungan din nila kami through the Brigada Eskwela. They helped make the learning environment of our students more conducive for learning by participating in clean-up activities,” she added.

Department of Education’s (DepEd) Chief Education Program Supervisor Irene Tonel, who likewise graced the event, lauded PAGCOR for bringing Christmas cheers to SPED students and for its support to education. “We are very happy that PAGCOR is heavily investing in the education of Pasay’s youth. The agency built school buildings at the Jose Rizal Elementary School (JRES) and Pasay City East High School (PCEHS) which are a big help to us. The one at PCEHS will greatly help the institution in the implementation of its Senior High School under the K-12 Program,” she said.

Apart from the SPED students in PCSEC, PAGCOR will also reach out to indigent and homeless families; orphaned and abandoned children; underprivileged kids with congenital heart disease; children with mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities; the elderly; the disabled and physically handicapped; cultural minorities; abused and disadvantaged women; barangay health workers; disaster volunteers and street sweepers.