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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PCSO foregoes extravagant Christmas party, distributes gift packs to patients, Aetas

PCSO foregoes extravagant Christmas party, distributes gift packs to patients, Aetas

Published Dec 24, 2019 12:00 am
By Jel Santos Putting first the interest of those in dire need of help, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) did not hold an extravagant Christmas party this year. Photo from PCSO/ MANILA BULLETIN Photo from PCSO/ MANILA BULLETIN Instead, PCSO personnel and employees had a simple Christmas party at their respective offices in Mandaluyong City. PCSO General Manager Royina Marzan-Garma said they opted to just have a simple party so that they can focus the money they saved to help those in need. “This is my first year as PCSO general manager. I and the PCSO Board of directors decided to not have a lavish PCSO party, and just use the money to help our kababayans in dire need of help,” she said. “Christmas is a time for giving. It is a time for sharing our blessings to others,” she added. Garma and other officials have been going to hospitals to give gifts to patients, and also to extend help to those recently devastated by calamities. Days before Christmas, Garma, along with other agency officials, went to Davao del Sur to distribute grocery packs to 100 cancer patients, mostly children, at Southern Philippines Medical Center. “We gave the children grocery packs and toys. We want them to feel that they are not alone in their battle---that PCSO is here no matter what,” Garma said. Then, she gave grocery packs to 200 residents affected by the recent earthquakes that hit Davao del Sur. Garma also went to Floridablanca in Pampanga to hand grocery packs to around 800 Aeta families. To recall, PCSO was criticized for its “lavish” Christmas party held at a five-star hotel in 2017, spending around P6 million. The general manager that time was Alexander Balutan.
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