Christmas with Carcar angels

Cebu - “Ang kapobre wala magpasabot nga dili na lang gyod ta kahatag sa atong isig kaingon,” says Rev. Fr. Ver Pedrano to those who attended the 3 p.m. Mass offered in thanksgiving for the success of the “Christmas with Carcar Angels” project.

“Tan-aw nako dili man tanan niatiman sa mga bata kwartahan pero nigahin sila sa unsa mang gamay nilang regalo ug sa ilang panahon. They were able to show that because Christmas is for the children, the gift of sharing is its very essence. Nga bisan unsa kagamay pwedeng bahinon kun naa sa atong kasingkasing ang willingness nga mohatag,” he added.

Fr. Ver, parish priest of the San Isidro Labrador in the mountain barangay of Calidngan, Carcar City along with Lunas Primary School teachers Valeriana Ochia, Jane Francis Lauglaug, and Hilaria Sato escorted 100 children - 38 from sitio Lunas of barangay Calidngan, the others from barangays Kandingan, Tupas, Valencia, Sto. Rosario, Liburon, Balungag, and Buenavista – to the Cebu Parklane International Hotel, over the weekend, for the fourth year of the said project.

The project got overwhelming support from the Ting family – Colin and Alan and their wives and kids – and the management of Parklane. Also, sustenance is nurtured by Ms. Anna Ng, former business development officer, who welcomed the project to the said hotel in 2006.

To recall, a tie-up between the Foundation and Mr. Alan Ting – vice president for sales and marketing, gave way for the selling of Christmas lanterns meant to raise more funds for the project. The lanterns bore names of donors and were put up at the hotel’s 13-foot Christmas tree at the lobby.

“We have come to fall in love with the concept that’s why bisag si Anna is not working with us anymore we are committed to sustaining the cause. So hangtod naay kusog ang Core Group for the project, rest assured naa pod ang Parklane,” says a beaming Alan who allowed Colin’s daughters Caitlin and Chantal and their cousin Bernette to distribute loot bags to the kids during the awarding of prizes for parlor games.

“Christmas with Carcar Angels” treated kids – ages 7 to 11 years old – to a fun day. Arman Polon, executive sous chef of Parklane who has witnessed in the last three years the holding of the project there, prepared a smorgasbord of dishes the children feasted on – from chicken lollies to spaghetti with bolognese, to cocktail sausage with marshmallow – after their breakfast of cereals, milk, doughnuts, and sandwich.

It was learned that it was the first time for some of the kids, who came onboard two mini-buses, to have traveled to Cebu City. Genevie Ameron, 7, was only eager to mingle with the other kids after the party was over. “Nauwaw man ko kay karon pa man ko kaari. Di man mi kaila tanan. Karon ra mi nagkakita,” she said.

It was a good thing the other kids were already exposed to forms of entertainment in school during their play day. Christine Balorio, Rhea Sacot, Elbert Enad, and Cynthia Capuno offered a rendition of classic Christmas carols like “Bitoon sa Langit” and “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit”, while Angelica Catana and Dexter Ryan Lauglaug swayed to the beat of the Advent season.

Siblings Elbert and Gear Enad; Niko and Gay Satuita; Eric and Cynthia Capuno; Francis and Kevin Smith Cananga; Carlo and Joemar Sismar; Gino and Dennis Combestra; Paul Vincent, Ghia, and Vanessa Ganudira; Kim John and Dexter Ryan Lauglaug; Angelica and Arjohn Rafana; and Jerry and Jeffrey Catong received presents from the Ting family. Kara Aquino, daughter of Ms. Jaybee Aquino of the Marketing and Communications Department, joined the Ting kids in distributing goodies.

In Carcar, parents of the 100 children-recipients received basic goods contained in pails from Foundation administrator, Dr. Remy Bacasmas and The FREEMAN general manager Melandro “Sir Bhoy” Mendoza.

It was learned from Melchora Alidon, 62, grandmother to John Kenneth Alidon, 10 that the latter is still in Grade 1. “Buwag man god ni iyang mama ug papa, Ma’m nya masakiton pa gyod ni siya. Pasalamat gyod ko nga gipili mi ninyo nga tagaag Pinaskohan kay dako na kaayo ning tabang,” Nanay Chora said.

As for the planned community organizing, Nanay Chora introduced her niece Emmy who she said could train parents to become productive. “Matabangan lang ta gyod mis kagamhanan sa basket-weaving, Ma’m. Manawagan ko ni Ma’m Gwen (Garcia) nga tabangan mis materyales ug samples para makastart mig basket industry dinhi kay maka-train man ni’s Emmy,” Nanay Chora added.

Emmy said they could make use of cogon grass, uway and palm fronds for the so-called “lampakanay” industry.

Meanwhile, Sally Satuita, mother to Niko and Gay, called on Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to extend help not only to the Grade 1 pupils but to all the students through the rehabilitation of the dilapidated Lunas Primary School. “Hapit na gyod mahugno Ma’m, kuyawan gani mi. Nagmantinir lang gyod mi ana nga eskuylahan nga 1930s pa gyod na,” she said.

As for Rosalieta Enad, she hopes that her children Elbert and Gear would be able to get new pairs of uniform next year. “Mag-uling ra gyod among pangita diri, Ma’m. Akong bana way klarong work. Kun swertehon naay mag-construct, pero kun wa, agwanta’g panguling,” she shared.

San Isidro Labrador Parish was chosen because of Fr. Ver whom the Core Group met in our previous project in Pinamungajan (Balik Eskwela in Tangub last July). Fr. Ver with the help of the three teachers picked the indigent kids whose parents survived through marginal farming.

“Mao sad nay nakalisod sa mga tawo diri. They have to be educated on the value of tilling the soil. Kay laliman kag moadto pag tiyangge to buy agbati. Mao gyod nay gisigehan nakog wali. Motaas na lang akong wali to keep on reminding them nga pagnaog nila, naa ang yuta. They could be self-sufficient if they only realize how good things can come out of the soil,” Fr. Ver said.

Aside from our donors and sponsors, The Foundation also received tremendous help from Ms. Jaybee Aquino, Ms. Lyza Margaret Roa, Mr. Ervin Limpag, and Ms. Pia Mercado of the MarComm Department with Food and Beverage manager, Mr. Ian Dale Tan who helped wait and busy during the feeding of the children. Ms. Ng made it a point to grace the activity she introduced in Parklane.

Cebu Parklane International Hotel, through its Drinks of the Month, has renewed its commitment to share part of the proceeds to the Foundation to sustain the endeavor in order to reach out to another batch of kids in 2009. — Maria Eleanor E. Valeros, Core Group volunteer (THE FREEMAN)