MANILA, Philippines–At the age of 17, Mario Tusay should have been in college pursuing a career of his choice.
Pagcor brings cheer to the beneficiaries of Pangarap Foundation, Inc. during the third day of the state-run gaming firm's Pamaskong Handog Project. In photo are Pagcor President and COO Jorge Sarmiento (5th from left) , Assistant Vice President for Community Relations and Services Henry Reyes (4th from left), Ms. Casino Filipino 2011 1st runner-up Glennifer Perido (center), Pangarap Foundation's Executive Director Bro. Francis Tanega (7th from left), Officer-in-Charge of Casino Filipino HeritageArthur Malatag (8th from left) and the wards of the Foundation.
But because of poverty, Mario, a vegetable vendor of Tondo, Manila, has been left behind, trying to finish his last year in grade school. Thanks to the Pangarap Shelter for Street Children.
Pangarap Shelter has been providing comfort and refuge for troubled boys from the streets since 1989. It implements educational and livelihood assistance, as well as counselling and therapy programs to aid in the rehabilitation and reintegration of their wards back to society.
Through its educational assistance program, Mario is now in Grade 6 pursuing his dream of becoming a ship captain someday.
“Kaya po ako nagpunta dito para makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Pangarap ko po maging kapitan ng barko. Kapag naging kapitan po ako, mas mabilis ko pong matutulungan ang pamilya ko (The reason I went here is to finish schooling. I want to be a ship captain because if I become one, I can help my family),” he said.
Someday, Mario also dreams of putting up an institution like the Pangarap Shelter.
“Gusto ko rin po makapagpatayo ng center kagaya ng Pangarap. Para po makatulong sa ibang bata na tulad po namin. Kasama po sila sa mga pangarap ko (I like to set up a center like this so I can help kids like me. This is part of my dreams),” he shared.
Like Mario, 13-year-old Jessie is also currently in grade school. He was brought by his parents to Pangarap Shelter to get a good education. His family lives in Tondo and his parents eke out a living by selling clothes in Divisoria.
“Wala po kasing pampaaral ang mga magulang ko sa akin, kaya dinala nila ako sa Pangarap Shelter. Para daw po makapag-aral ako at para po makahanap ng disenteng trabaho balang araw ng makaahon din kami sa kahirapan (My parents could not afford to send me to school so they brought me to Pangarap Shelter. This way I can find a decent job in the future and help my family),” Jessie said.
Now in Grade 2 in a public elementary school in Pasay, Jessie dreams of becoming an engineer someday.
Mario and Jessie are just among the 92 boys now under the care of the Pangarap Shelter.
The institution was the third beneficiary of this year’s Christmas gift-giving project of the Philippine Amusement and Games Corporation (Pagcor)dubbed as the “Pamaskong Handog ng Pagcor 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of Pagcor.”
The Pamaskong Handog ng Pagcor is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project of the state-run gaming firm which aims to help the most marginalized sectors of society. It started its 25 days of gift-giving last November 25 and will end on December 19.
Pagcor president and chief operating officer Jorge Sarmiento, who graced the gift-giving event at the Pangarap Foundation over the weekend, said this year’s project was bigger in scope in terms of the budget allocation, number of institutions and beneficiaries that have been chosen to become
part of the various gift-giving events nationwide.
“Pagcor is spending P25 million for the implementation of our Pamaskong Handog project. We will have more than 7,000 beneficiaries from 30 charitable institutions in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Pampanga, Tagaytay, Olongapo, Bulacan and Rizal,” Sarmiento said.
“Pagcor goes beyond its revenue-generation efforts for the government. We also contribute to nation building through our CSR programs. At dahil Christmas ngayon, we have to share our blessings. When you build a nation hindi mo dapat nakakalimutan yung mga tunay na nangangailangan,” he further said.
Pagcor gave special Christmas gift packs containing grocery items and toiletries to the wards and support staff of Pangarap Foundation.
It also granted the center’s Christmas wish list for one 42” LED TV, one 24 cu. ft. refrigerator, two video cameras, one computer set with printer, one component system, two karaokes, and two DVD players, which will all be used by the beneficiaries of the foundation who live in the center.
Bro. Francisco Tanega, executive director of the Pangarap Shelter, was overwhelmed by Pagcor’s generosity.
“We always say that those who help the needy are not just doing charity work – they are also making a very wise social investment. By helping and taking care of these poor children, we can be assured of having a progressive society in the future,” Tanega said.