Celso shares X’mas joys to indigent folks
As part of his traditional Christmas love drive, Mayor Celso Lobregat spreads cheers to little children at the Red Cross grounds Wednesday morning. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
In keeping with the Christmas tradition, Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday shared the joys of the Yuletide season with almost 1,000 indigent residents and their children as he regaled them with assorted goods and apples at the Red Cross grounds in Pettit Barracks, this city.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo said the indigent beneficiaries, mostly mothers and children, had been screened by his office from as far as barangay Ayala in the west coast down to the city proper including those residing within the seven-kilometer radius of the city.
Bearing pink cards issued by the CSWDO, the indigent beneficiaries converged at the Red Cross grounds as early as 8 a.m. and bust to cheers as Mayor Lobregat arrived together with Councilors Rudy Lim, Rey Candido, Jimmy Cabato and Joe-fel delas Peñas. Also with the group were Executive Assistant Percival Ramos and businesswoman Mayra Paz Valderrosa Abubakar.
Amid the scorching sun, the beneficiaries queued to receive from the mayor their gift packs consisting of rice, noodles and canned goods with apples and calendars each. From among the crowd of almost 1,000 beneficiaries, no one left empty handed.
From the Red Cross, Lobregat and party rushed to the Puericulture Center’s kindergarten school grounds downtown for yet another gift-giving sortie, this time with selected clients and children of the Center from barangay Zone 2.
It was an annual activity of the Puericulture Center’s Board of Directors headed by City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos, who, together with other officers and barangay officials, assisted in the distribution of gift packs. Joining them was Councilor Gerky Valesco.
On Tuesday, Lobregat motored to Mangusu in the east coast to grace the 22nd Anniversary of the King Jesus Christian Fellowship Church. The activity was capped by distribution of goodies and calendars to Church members and children.
The mayor was accompanied by Councilors Cesar Iturralde, Nonong Guingona, Candido, Eddie Saavedra and Lim, together with Executive Assistants Ller Natividad, Percival Ramos, Michael Alavar and VP Elago.
Last Sunday, Lobregat and his entourage treated the wards of the different orphanage centers and Home for the Elderly to a Christmas party and gift-giving, a tradition he started for his birthday (April 26) and Christmas since he joined politics with his mother, the late Mayor Maria Clara L. Lobregat. (Vic Larato)