Christmas became brighter and sweeter for 77-year-old Editha Virina, who was chosen as a recipient of a brand new house and lot from Lumina Homes in the “12 Days of Christmas” gift-giving tradition of ABS-CBN morning program Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).
With her win, Editha, who still works as a laundry woman to support her son and grandchildren, gets to fulfill her wish of having a home she can call her own, six decades after leaving her hometown in Visayas.
“It has been my lifelong dream for us to own a piece of land where we can build a house. We are always worried that the owner of the land where we live now will drive us away once they need to use the lot. Now, we have our own,” Editha shared in Tagalog.
The new homeowner narrated that she left for Manila when she was just 13 years old to find opportunities to improve her way of life. Ever since, she lost contact with her family and was moving from one job to another before finally settling in Nagcarlan, Laguna. There she lives in a hut with her grandchildren and her son—their father, who could no longer work after suffering partial blindness.
With a new house and lot, Editha is looking forward to creating new memories and a more comfortable life with her family.
One of her grandchildren, Jha-Jha, said that they no longer have to worry whenever there is a typhoon.
“Whenever there is a typhoon that is comming, we transfer to another place because one hit of a wave can destroy the hut. Now I no longer have to worry because we have a home that is safe to live in,” she said.
The house and lot from Lumina Homes is the 12th and final gift given away by UKG for this year’s edition of “12 Days of Christmas.” It is a tradition that started ten years ago with the objective of bringing joy and cheer to members of the society that are often overlooked.
Before Editha, UKG also gave out different kinds of gifts such as a small party, home gallery items, appliances like washing machines and microwave ovens, clothes, noche buena packages, and cash, to different sectors in society each of the 12 days leading to Christmas. Recipients included traffic enforcers of the MMDA, mailmen of Philpost, AFP enlisted personnel, working children, teachers, tricycle drivers, laundry women, among many others.
The biggest gift, however, is Editha’s new home, a 22-square meter Aimee rowhouse unit which features a living area, dining and kitchen, toilet and bath, and provisions for bedroom and service area. Editha and her family will enjoy living in the house and the community, which is accessible to major thoroughfares, transport hubs, schools, hospitals, and business and leisure centers. It also has complete amenities like a community hall, basketball court, mini gardens and playgrounds, and commercial areas.
Watch Umagang Kay Ganda with hosts Anthony Taberna, Jorge Carino, Amy Perez, Winnie Cordero, Ariel Ureta, and Gretchen Ho from Monday to Friday, 4:55 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD. Watch it online via iwant.ph or skyondemand.com.ph.