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Gatchalian plays Santa in Christmas gift-giving program for elders

VALENZUELA CITY, Philippines – Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian greets senior citizens during their annual Pamaskong Handog Para Kay Lolo at Lola, a gift giving event, 5 days before Christmas Day on 20 December 2014. (Photo by George Calvelo)

A former mayor of Valenzuela City has brought holiday cheer to over 36,000 senior citizens in Valenzuela City as he contributed in the annual Christmas gift-giving program that was held just a few days before the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian joined his brothers – incumbent Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian and Alay Buhay party-list Rep. Wes Gatchalian – in giving Christmas gifts to senior citizens during “Pamaskong Handog Para Kay Lolo at Lola.”

 

The annual Christmas gift-giving program to the members of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs or OSCA, which was held from December 19 to 22 in 28 different locations in the city this year, began when the Congressman Gatchalian was still serving as mayor in 2011.

 

In a the session of Christmas gift-giving at Barangay Palasan, Gatchalian expressed hope that the bags containing grocery items would ensure that every senior citizen in Valenzuela City will be able to celebrate Christmas with food on their tables.

 

“Bagamat maliit lamang ang ating handog sa ating mga lolo’t lola, nasisiguro naman nito na mayroon silang ihahanda sa noche buena at ‘di sila magugutom sa bisperas ng pasko,” Gatchalian explained.

 

OSCA Director Federacion “Fe” Villalona, 77, thanked Gatchalian for fullfilling her wish to provide enough food for her and children this Christmas.

 

Villalona hopes the local government of Valenzuela City will continue to come up with programs that are beneficial to the well-being and health of senior citizens.

 

“Hirap ako sa pagtatrabaho at minsan ‘di pa iyon kaya para makakain kami. Natupad na ang isa sa mga aking hiling ngayong pasko–ang magkaroon kami ng pagkain sa hapag at mabusog ang aking mga apo sa noche buena,” Villalona said.

 

“Tangi ko nalang sigurong mahihiling pa ay magpatuloy pa ang mga programang ganito sa ating lungsod para lalo pang guminhawa ang buhay ng aking buhay pati na ang aking mga anak at apo,” she added.

 

Meanwhile, Leonora De la Cruz, 76, also commended Gatchalian’s efforts in personally handing over the gifts to his constituents in Valenzuela City.

 

De la Cruz also asserted that it is Gatchalian who totally overhauled Valenzuela City from its lowly state to its current glory with his simultaneous reforms and programs all-year round.

 

“Iba talaga si Cong. Win dahil siya talaga ang nagaabot ng mga regalo sa aming mahihirap. Talagang mahal niya kaming mga tiga-Valenzuela,” De la Cruz said.

 

“Sa kanyang pamamalahala, nakita ko na nagbago talaga ang ating lungsod. Kahit wala namang selebrasyon ay marami din siyang proyektong ipinatutupad. Kaya sana naman tuparin ng panginoon ang kanyang kahilingan ngayong darating na kapaskuhan,” she hoped. (Tim Alcantara)