500 residents gets Christmas gift from SBMA

Subic Bay Freeport: Some 500 residents from poor families in Olongapo City were given a Christmas treat by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority under the agency’s annual “Pamaskong Handog” project.

The project is spearheaded by the office of the SBMA chairman and administrator which aims to bring smile and the spirit of Christmas to less fortunate residents, especially children in the area.

“This is only a simple way of returning part of the blessings that the SBMA and the Freeport community have received this year,” said SBMA administrator Armand Arreza.

“We’d like to make some of the poorest members of the community feel that we are here for them, that somebody also loves and cares for them, and would like to share the spirit of Christmas with them,” he added.

At the remote Aeta community of Mampweng in barangay New Cabalan, Olongapo City, 61 students from the local grade school were among those who enjoyed a Christmas party sponsored by the SBMA this year.

(GROUP HUG: Schoolchildren at the Aeta village of Mampweng in Olongapo City hug their favorite mascot during an early Christmas party sponsored by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Photo courtesy of the Media Productions of SBMA)

“Masaya po ang party namin, kasi po lahat kami ay nagsaya, nabusog at may regalo pang naiuwi,” said Paulo Jugatan, a grade 1 pupil.

The gifts given to Mampweng schoolchildren came from the SBMA unit of the Couples of Christ Handmaids of the Lord. Olongapo City councilor Ellen Dabu also sent some gifts for Mampweng.

The Mampweng community is populated by about 150 Aeta families whose main livelihood is subsistence farming, selling bananas and other crops.

The SBMA Christmas outreach project also benefited more than 400 children and adults who received their Christmas gifts at the San Roque chapel in Subic’s central business district.

The distribution of gifts was led by Mrs. Pat Arreza, wife of the SBMA administrator, and Ms. Rose Baldeo, head of the Global Terminals and Development Inc., a Subic investor.