TF Foundation treats indigent kids to day of fun, games

Santa Claus came early to 48 indigent children as The FREEMAN Foundation yesterday morning held its last special project for this year called "Adopt-An-Angel" at the Family Park in barangay Talamban and treated the children to a day full of fun and games.

With the theme "We are made for service! A day with the indigent children," the event was participated in by children, ages six to 10 years old, who came all the way from Minglanilla and the cities of Cebu, Talisay, and Mandaue.

Each of the foundation's 16 volunteers took three indigent children and assembled at The FREEMAN administration building early morning yesterday. The children were given T-shirts complete with The Freeman Foundation logo and red shorts, and were taken to the Family Park.

Games such as sack race, coin relay, trip to Jerusalem, tug of war, among others made the day for the children and the foundation volunteers who were grouped into four teams.

Three of the participating children have physical deformities.

10-year-old Jodan Cabuenas, who has deformed right and left arms, and who has no left leg, just stayed on his chair during the program. He just smiled and cheered while watching the games.

"Bisan di ko makaapil sa ilang mga duwa, nalipay naman lang pud ko nagtan-aw sa ilaha," said Cabuenas, a grade four student from Lagtang Elementary School.

John Carlo Lastimado, a nine-year-old resident of Talisay City, joined in every activity the foundation conducted. "Apil gyud ko uy kay makaki-at pa man ko," said Lastimado, whose left foot is deformed.

Another participant, Jacqueline Barbadillo, 8, of Lipata, Minglanilla, has a mass on her left eye that hinders her sight. With a meager family income, Barbadillo doubts whether she could undergo operation soon.

"Mananahi man akong mama unya wala na pud mi papa. Uyon man kong ma-operahan pero wala lang mi kwarta," Barbadillo said.

But Dr. Remedios Bacasmas, the foundation administrator, said the foundation is willing take charge of Barbadillo's operation.

The foundation's solid base of donors and sponsors has been its lifeblood. It could not have functioned this well or could not have preserved lives if it weren't for the charitable readers of The FREEMAN.

The children's enjoyable moment was made possible through the efforts of Philippine Star Group of Companies chief executive officer and president Miguel G. Belmonte, University of the Visayas assistant vice president Joselito Gullas, Sulpicio Lines Inc., Chillens Chicharon, Graphic Star, Jollibee, Red Ribbon, Gaisano Main, Jaja Chiongbian and Merridian Estate. - Garry B. Lao