Abalos gives gifts to 60,000 poor families

To spread a little Christmas cheer, Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. distributed yesterday at least 60,000 buckets of groceries to poor residents.

“For two decades now, we have been doing this traditional ‘Pamaskong Handog’ to reach out to our people. I believe that everybody deserves to have something on their table,” Abalos said.

Despite the global economic slowdown, Abalos stressed that such gift-giving tradition should find a better reason to exist if only to give the poor people a needed respite from worries, despair and sadness.

“In Mandaluyong, we care much about the welfare of the people, specially the poor. A little happiness to brighten up their days should be a hundred reasons for us to work for it,” he said.

The poor residents started lining up at the city hall compound before dawn yesterday. Abalos started giving out groceries at around 7 a.m.

“Poverty should not stand in the way to make the people feel the Yuletide spirit,” he said.   – Non Alquitran