Marriott cancels Christmas tree lighting to help school

In light of the recent 7.2- magnitude earthquake and supertyphoon Yolanda which had left the Philippines in a state of calamity, Cebu City Marriott Hotel (CCMH) cancelled its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony last Nov. 28 and instead launched the Spirit to Serve the Community project entitled, “I Believe.”

The project was held in Taba-ao Elementary School in Tabogon town, northern Cebu where supertyphoon Yolanda brought widespread destruction to this rural community.

“I Believe” focuses on helping school children rise from the ruins of the typhoon, bringing light and hope to their Christmas.

“The Marriott’s Spirit to serve at Tabogon was heartwarming and very fulfilling. To see the faces of the children as we arrived was overwhelming,” said CCMH general manager Patrick Carroll.

Seventy-four of the hotel’s brilliant hosts traveled 2.5 hours to Tabogon, with cleaning materials, relief goods, packed meals, toys, gifts and Christmas decorations. The program included classroom clean-up, children’s games, feeding and distribution of Christmas shoeboxes.

CCMH Director of Human Resources Bobot Codoy said, “Typhoon Yolanda did not only deprive these kids of their homes, but also their future. We are lucky that we were not badly hit, and it is our responsibility to help them cope with the trauma so they can move on. Our Spirit to Serve activity is in lieu of our lighting ceremony that officially symbolizes the start of Christmas in the hotel.”

After an eventful day, “I Believe” was capped off with a ceremonial hanging of the Christmas lantern in each classroom.

Ongoing projects for Taba-ao Elementary School include repainting, rebuilding, beautifying and installation of roofing is set to be completed by January 2014.