SAN SIMON - Around 2,000 marginalized residents from barangays Concepcion and San Jose in this town received on Monday their early Christmas presents from the local government.
Mayor Leonora Wong played the role of Santa Claus as she led the distribution of grocery packs, appliances and cash gifts to senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) solo parents, farmers, fisherfolk and purok coordinators and leaders at the covered courts of the two barangays.
Anchored with the theme “Serbisyung Balen at Lugud Memalen,” Wong said that the program is the local government’s way of reaching out and sharing the Christmas cheer to the needy sector of society, especially those in the remote barangay of Concepcion.
“Ang barangay Concepcion ay napakalayo mula sa munisipyo. Ang mga tao dito, imbes ipamasahe nila sa tricycle papunta sa munisipyo, ginagamit na lang nila sa mas importanteng bagay kaya mgayon, kami na ang lumapit sa kanila dala itong mga regalong pamasko,” she said.
Wong added that the program is just the first of the series of gift-giving activities prepared by the local government directed to all sectors of society, embodying her administration’s motto ‘Abe-abe, sawup-sawup. Alang malalakwan.”
Wong said in her speech that the daily struggles and life experience that she shares with her fellow PWDs and urged them to continue to live a meaningful life despite the challenges of life.
“Sa December 23, magse-celebrate ako ng first birthday ko as PWD. Katulad ng iba sa inyo, hindi rin ako halos makatayo at makalakad, naka wheel chair lang ako o madalas ay nakahiga sa kama. Pero pinipilit kong tumayo at tuparin ang trabaho ko na paglingkuran kayo dahil inilagay niyo ako dito. Ang wish ko para sa inyo, sana mahanap niyo din ‘yung inspirasyon na binibigay ninyo at ng pamilya ko sa akin para ienjoy ang buhay natin,” she said.
Sixty-seven-year-old polio victim Gregorio Mendoza, who was one of the beneficiaries of Monday’s program, extended his deep gratitude to Wong and the municipal staff for remembering the needy sector and their families this Christmas season.
“Napaka-importante sa amin na may isang tao sa ngalan ni Mayor Wong na lumilingap, tumutulong at nakakaalala sa amin (It’s very important for me to know that Mayor Wong is there to help and remembers us),” he said.
The local government’s caravan is also set to meet the marginalized sector of the ten remaining barangays before Christmas Day.
Wong said that more than 10,000 residents will be given early Christmas gifts under the said program which she spearheads annually.