‘TIS the season to be jolly as they say, and SunStar Cagayan de Oro came in to bring happiness and blessings to children from low-income families of the city.
With ‘Christmas Wish Upon SunStar’ as its theme, SunStar CDO visited Balay Canossa in Hayes Street, Cogon last Saturday, December 16, as part of its annual sharing of blessings.
"Let’s give them a little happiness, after all Christmas is for children," Jack Biantan, SunStar CDO general manager, said.
As someone who used to work for 4 years in Don Bosco Boys Home in Liloan, Cebu, Biantan, a man fond of children and a father of one child, started the annual event in 2015.
Biantan said in the past two years, SunStar CDO has spent time with children of Boys Town, a city-run orphanage in Barangay Lumbia.
This year, Christmas was shared with the street kids in Balay Canossa, a street and community-based establishment which caters to the needs of the children who came from the streets and dysfunctional families.
"I always tell the SunStar staff to make them realize that although we are poor, there are people who are poorer and less privilege than us. So we should be thankful and we should share whatever blessings we have," Biantan said.
The program started around 10 a.m. with Biantan, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, and the staff of SunStar CDO sang Christmas songs and carols to the children of Balay Canossa. Afterwards, the children were given food and drinks while some took pictures, selfies and groufies.
Unexpectedly, the children also prepared dance performances to their visitors, who, some gladly joined in the dance.
Although Christmas is a season for children, it is also a season to those who are child at heart as SunStar CDO also prepared a party exclusive to its employees and correspondents.
A day of sharing and a night full of food, dancing, singing and laughter, that’s how SunStar CDO celebrates the season of happiness.