AROUND 4,000 children from Cebu City’s 80 barangays will celebrate Christmas early as generosity pours in from private donors and the city government for the 12th Pasko sa Uptown 2022.
Cebu City Progressive Uptown Movement (CCPUM) Inc. president Cresilito Nieves said that more than 200 private companies have donated for the children’s Christmas party at the Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022.
The children will be receiving “bundles of joy” containing canned goods, rice, and spaghetti packs, among others.
Nieves said organizers have also prepared games and entertainment for the children.
He said beneficiaries of this program are children from poor families.
Gender and Development focal persons in every barangays were given the tasks to identify the beneficiaries to ensure that they are truly deserving to be part of the program, said Nieves.
Members of the CCPUM also conducted house-to-house visitations and personally invited children belonging to underprivileged families.
According to Nieves, there are children who cannot attend on Dec. 10 at the CCSC, especially those living in the hinterlands, so the CCPUM will schedule different dates for them and will have the program held at their respective barangays.
The organization was founded under the leadership of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama when he was still vice mayor in 2007 to help address the problem of mendicancy, vandalism and other issues concerning street children in the city’s uptown area, said CCPUP project director Veronica Isma.
Isma added that the Pasko sa Uptown should already have been on its 15th year but no celebration was held for three years when Rama was defeated in the 2016 election.
Nieves said that this year’s Pasko sa Uptown was also able to invite more private companies to donate and partner for the charity event.
Aside from the private sector, Nieves said the City has also allocated funds and logistical support for the success of the activity.