CEBU, Philippines - In celebration of the yuletide season, police officers in Central Visayas together with the members of the media from the Defense Press Corps distributed gifts to the patients of the pediatric ward at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center yesterday.
Apart from the gifts, media practitioners and more than 20 policemen, who are alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy, also serenaded the 120 patients with Christmas carols.
Provincial Intelligence Branch chief Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra, who heads the PNPA alumni - police officials, said it has been their tradition to hold the activity they dubbed as the Pamaskong Handog even when they were stills cadets in PNPA way back.
“We are sharing the blessings nga nadawat sa Ginoo for the whole year round. Christmas is the time of giving and mao ni ang right time nga atong i-share sa kabatan-onan,” he said.
Albotra said they chose the patients of the VSMMC pediatric ward as this year’s beneficiaries seeing the children’s need for attention and affection.
According to Albotra, the Pamaskong Handog does not only aim to entertain the children but also give hope to their parents who are looking after them in the hospital.
Cebu City Police Office deputy chief for administration, Superintendent Arnel Banzon echoed the sentiments of Albotra, saying that Christmas time is intended to make children happy especially those who are less fortunate.
Banzon said the last time they organized the same activity was four years ago. They have also conducted a feeding program for the street children in Barangay Tejero before.
Julieta Gonzaga from Bairan, Naga City expressed gratitude to the policemen and the media for paying them a visit and treating them for Christmas. She said it was her first time to receive a gift from both personalities.
Gonzaga’s 10-year-old son was admitted to VSMMC because he is suffering from a kidney problem.
Gregoria Silbano was also emotional after hearing the Christmas carols and after receiving her share of the gifts.
Silbano, who hails from Badian, Cebu, has a nine-year-old son who cannot stand on his own for almost a week now and is still staying in the hospital.
What she only wished for Christmas was for her child to be discharged from the hospital and be cured of his condition. She added that she wanted her family complete to celebrate Christmas in their home.
“Nagpasalamat pud mi ninyo kay nakahuna-huna gyud mo namo diri,” Silbano said. (FREEMAN)