OPERATION DAMAYAN: CHRISTMAS STARS OF HOPE AND CHEER
MANILA, DECEMBER 27, 2010 (STARweek) By Cheeko Ruiz and Sheila Crisostomo - (Photo is loading... 50 underpriveleged kids from Metro Manila receive goodie baskets filled with grocery items, toys and cash from employees of Star Group of Publications. Photo by Joey Flores) Continuing to fulfill its mission of providing help to those in need, Operation Damayan, the socio-humanitarian arm of The Philippine STAR, conducted several projects in the run-up to the birth of Jesus Christ and to round up a busy year of service to community.
Volunteers and STAR officers led by president and CEO Miguel Belmonte lit the Christmas tree in the lobby of The STAR building in Port Area on Nov. 27, signifying the Light of the season that will guide the group in all its endeavors for the coming year.
The following week, Operation Damayan held a bingo bonanza on Dec. 3 at the Betty Go-Belmonte Hall, which was not only filled with fun and laughter but also big prizes, including a Honda TMX 155 motorcycle for the jackpot blackout won by Pilipino Star Printing's Emmanuel Espanilla.
Damayan volunteer Julie Barnachea said several lucky bingo participants also received prizes even if they did not win in the games, including a 21" colored TV, baskets of groceries worth P1500 each, electric fans, jackets with sling bags, sacks of rice and a pressure cooker.
Proceeds of the activity that was attended by more than a thousand people, including STAR employees and their families and friends, were used for the "Mano po Ninong, Mano po Ninang" project held at the lobby of the STAR office last Dec. 10.
(Photo) Students of Asuncion Consunji Elementary School in Bataan at Operation Damayan's feeding program.
"This is a yearly project of Operation Damayan where loot bags overflowing with food for noche buena, toys, clothes, candies and even cash are given to select underprivileged children. All these come from proceeds of the bingo project, that's why STAR employees eagerly join the bingo. In addition, many employees play ninong and ninang to these kids with special gifts," said STARweek's Alpha Tolentino, a long-time Damayan volunteer.
Around 50 poor kids, mostly children of pedicab drivers from different areas such as Tondo, Divisoria, Del Pan, Navotas and Cogeo, were invited to the Christmas party, an afternoon of fun, games and food, complete with clowns and giveaways.
One of the kids, Christina Escalada of Navotas, said the party thrown for them by The STAR has certainly made their Christmas special. "It's not everyday that we are treated to a party such as this," she said in Filipino.
Eduardo Yumang, 31, a vendor near SM Recto who accompanied his nieces to the party, said the joy he saw in the faces of his kin is something that money can never buy. What makes it more special is the fact that Eduardo has Bell's palsy, the temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. But he is the one taking care of his four nieces, with around P100 to P200 he earns each day selling t-shirts.
Erlinda Lopez, also a visitor at the party, came with her two grandchildren. Her daughter is in the National Mental Hospital so she is left to take care of her apos, whom she supports by doing odd jobs. Erlinda said her apos were truly excited to go to the party, since they seldom go to parties.
Operation Damayan's last major project for the year was the feeding program conducted last Dec. 16 at the Asuncion Consunji Elementary School in Imelda, Samal, Bataan. The school has 196 elementary students and 20 kindergarten pupils. It is situated far from the town proper and is surrounded by farmlands.
School principal Norma Guinto wrote to Operation Damayan to ask for assistance to feed the students, who had been found to be generally malnourished. Norma said that farming is the main source of livelihood of most of their students' parents, while others try to earn from the dumpsite of a paper factory not too far from the school.
"As much as we want to help our students, we don't have budget for a feeding program," she said. "So I decided to seek the help of The STAR for the nourishment of these students."
Damayan did more than fulfill her wish, as the group also treated the whole school to a sumptuous lunch, turning the feeding program into a "family day" with parents and even some barangay officials present.
Among the 25 student-beneficiaries of the feeding project was Eliza (not her real name), who is now in Grade 4 but is often mistaken for a Grade 1 student because of her thin and short frame.
(Photo) Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte hands over a Honda TMX 155 to bingo winner Emmanuel Espanilla and his wife (left).
"This is our first time to bond like this. I've been in the school for one year and I noticed that parents are not so involved in the affairs of their children," Norma said.
She admitted that in the past, it was so hard to make parents attend school meetings because they think that additional fees will be collected from them.
Damayan also organized some parlor games during the feeding program, to the delight of the students, especially since their parents were also allowed to participate.
It took only two mothers in the first round to break the palayok full of candies and coins, while the pot for the fathers was hit only in the second round.
There was much laughter and cheers in the school compound during the egg relay and the "bring me" game, where children and adults gamely tried to outdo the others in fulfilling the games' tasks.
To show the school's appreciation, a kindergarten student serenaded the volunteers with her favorite song while others performed a spirited hip-hop dance number.
Damayan also donated ingredients for spaghetti, pancit and champorado, enough to feed the 25 malnourished students for two meals a day for the next three months. The students were also given their own sets of utensils.
Norma is hopeful that the feeding program can jumpstart more partnership projects between the school and the parents. "I hope that this 'family day' will lead to more joint projects for us here. Whatever we can do for our students is limited. Parents and teachers have different roles to play to ensure a good future for the children. And we are fortunate to have organizations like Operation Damayan to help us," Norma says.
For the tired but happy Damayan volunteers, it was a fitting end to another fulfilling year.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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