HOLIDAY cheer came early for about 200 children and parents of Purok ERH-Gawad Kalinga Village in Barangay Sum-ag Bacolod City as Sun.Star Bacolod and Rotary Club of Bacolod-East (RCBE) brought gifts for them last Wednesday.
Sun.Star Bacolod, in celebration of its week-long 7th anniversary this week, partnered with the RCBE to bring wider smiles to these children and parents.
Children received toys, while parents received grocery packs and clothes.
RCBE has made Purok ERH as its adopted community for its outreach programs.
Sun.Star Bacolod was represented by its president and publisher Jaime Golez, editor-in-chief Nanette Guadalquiver, and its editorial staff.
RCBE was led by its president Dr. Benjamin Souribio, along with his wife, Dr. Jenny Souribio, immediate past president Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, immediate past president Atty. Joy Barbasa, past president Judge Ramon Delaliarte, president-elect Elsie Jolingan.
The group was warmly welcomed by purok president Oscar Buenavista and Kapitbahay Homeowners Association officers Veronica Tilos, Christy Pamaybay and Veronica de Jesus.
Golez said, "We did this in the spirit of Christmas. We want you to be happy… The spirit of Christmas is giving and sharing your blessings. We are thankful for being a part of this gift-giving."
Golez added that the three Rotary Exchange students namely, Louis Dreano, Emmanuel Pestalozzi, and Lisiane Descloux from Switzerland and France, have seen how Bacolodnons live. “They are nice visitors to our country and they have seen how we live and I hope they will bring back to their respective places good memories of our place,” he added.
Souribio said, "We are grateful for this opportunity to share our blessings to you. We also would like to thank Sun.Star for being our partner in his endeavor."
For her part, Verdeflor said, "We are here to share our love of Christmas. We should be thankful that we have our savior Lord Jesus Christ for being our huge Christmas gift. His special love should also be shared to one another."