City to host Christmas party for 2,900 poor kids

CEBU, Philippines - At least 2,900 less-fortunate children from 49 urban barangays in Cebu City will celebrate the Yuletide season today with “full of surprises.”

Cebu City-Progressive Uptown Movement organized a Christmas party for the children at the military’s Central Command Headquarters in Barangay Lahug, where they will be given gifts, souvenir items, and reading materials, among others.

CC-PUM program coordinator Veronica Jimenez said the 49 barangays will each be sending 55 “poorest of the poor” children from “depressed sitios” to attend the annual celebration.

“This is our way to give back to the community especially to our children an experience of a merry Christmas, which they don’t experience,” she said.

A mass will be held at 7 a.m. today at St. Jude Chapel in CentCom.

Jimenez said this year’s activity will give the children a different experience as they will be presenting their respective jingles and a contest on tent decorations will be held.

In the past years, Jimenez said, the kids were only entertained by clowns, parlor games and a film showing.

Belinda Navasquez, secretary to the mayor, said the program under the Office of the Mayor, in collaboration with about 100 stakeholders, provides an avenue for children to “bring back their trust and confidence to the government and private sectors.”

“This year of the poor, our Christmas is mainly for the kids para hatagan sila og pasidungog by contributing a little to the kids like a party.  We are responsible to make their Christmas meaningful and a merry one,” she said.

Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, said “we live only once and celebrate Christmas once a year, so let’s make this year a joyous one to our underprivileged children.”

CC-PUM sees the activity as a way to envision its goal of being the voice of the uptown business sector and give assistance wherever possible. — Kristine B. Quintas/NSA (FREEMAN)