Aussie firm gives noche buena packs to 110 Lapu families

THE Berdon family shared a pack of sliced bread and soft drinks for “noche buena” last Christmas.

Agapito Berdon, 48, said he had no money to buy spaghetti or hotdogs for his five children aged 10 to 25 because he was jobless and paralyzed.

A stroke last year left his unable to move his right arm. He could no longer drive a tricycle.

“Nalipay ko karon maka kaon na mig lami kay naay ni hatag namo (But I am happy this year that we were given food to prepare for noche buena,” he said.

Berdon was one of 110 recipients of gift packs from y Wellness and Lifestyles Australia which opened their Cebu office in Mandaue City in July.

Berdon slowly walked to a table to receive a green eco eco-friendly bag that contained ham, two kilos of rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, hotdogs and cheese.

“Lami kaayo among pasko karon (This is a good Christmas for my family),” he said.

Shaira Kaye Berame, a staff member, said the distribution of noche buena packs “is our company’s way of giving back to the community.”

Company managers visiting their Mandaue City office since it opened in July saw the poverty of the residents.

“During their visits, they would see the shanties below the (Mactan-Cebu) bridges so they decided to give food packs to selected families as a Christmas presents.

Berame said that company personnel in Australia contributed at least $10 each for Friday’s gift giving in barangay Calawisan.

They chose Calawisan because barangay officials immediately agreed to allow the free use of their gym for the activity.

Berame said they may may have more activities when their bosses again visit their Mandaue City office in January 2012.

Berdon said life has been very difficult for his family since he had his stroke more than a year ago.

He used to drive a tricycle route in barangay Calawisan in Lapu Lapu City, earning P400 daily.

“But that all came to an end when I had my stroke,” he said. /Correspondent Edison A. delos Angeles