BACOLOD CITY?Christmas is the time to love.

This was the message of 100 children singing their hearts out at Calvary Chapel in Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, on Sunday morning.

The children are among the 165 residents of the Calvary Chapel Home for orphaned, abused and disabled children. The home is run by American Pastor Joe Rosmarino and his wife Billie.

With smiles on their faces, they sang, danced and played musical instruments as they told the story of Christ?s birth in Bethlehem before the residents of Barangays 40, Felisa and Handumanan, as well as friends of the home.

In the afternoon, they also shared their message of love at the barangay hall before other residents.

While the children will surely get gifts under the tree on Christmas Day, ?we don?t want them to forget that Christmas is about Jesus and His love,? the pastor?s wife said.

She recalled how, as a child, her father would tell her that when he counted his blessings, he wasn?t counting how many houses or cars he owned. He was grateful for having been gifted by God with a child.

?We want our children at the home to know that they are the most important people to us and they are very much loved,? she said.

Through the years, the Calvary Chapel Home has cared for some 400 children, some of whom have grown up to become nurses, teachers and social workers working in the Philippines and abroad.

?While the home is doing so many wonderful miracles for these children, we cannot close our eyes to the reality of its day-to-day needs,? said Kalipay Negrense Foundation president Anna Balcells.

The foundation is helping raise funds to keep the Calvary Chapel Home going.

With so many children to feed and care for, there are times when the Rosmarinos don?t have enough funds to make it until the end of the month, Balcells said.

?If only we could get more people to commit to giving even a small amount every month for the home?it would make a big difference for so many children. My prayer, this Christmas, is that more people will help the home, not just this one time, but in a more permanent way,? she said.

Those interested in helping may e-mail kalipaynegrensefoundation@yahoo.com.