ABOUT 4,000 underprivileged children from Cebu City’s 80 barangays will benefit from the City’s annual gift-giving activity this Christmas season.
The 4,000 children will serve as beneficiaries for this year’s “Pasko sa Uptown,” which is now celebrating its 11th year.
During a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros said this year’s Pasko sa Uptown will focus on choosing 50 children per barangay who will serve as beneficiaries for their annual gift-giving activity.
Hontiveros said despite knowing about the program only when he became a politician, he believes the program can truly send a message to the public about giving back to the less fortunate.
“I do not have much to say, but I am very grateful to the private sector as well for reaching out and sponsoring this project because through your generosity, this might not have been possible. It is through love that we get to do good things to others that cannot be repaid. I encourage everyone to reach out to others and offer help to those in need. That way, you are giving them hope and love,” Hontiveros said.
Pasko sa Uptown was started by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in 2007 when he was still vice mayor of the city.
The yearly program aims to give a total of 4,000 underprivileged children from the 80 barangays in Cebu City a chance to celebrate Christmas with their families through the distribution of “bundles of joy” or gifts courtesy of the City.
Children aged seven to 11 are the designated beneficiaries of this project.
Creslito Nieves, president and chairman of the Cebu City Progressive Uptown Movement, said the City has allocated about P2 million for this year’s activity.
“The P2 million is budgeted into bundles of joy, t-shirts, snacks, food, toys and prizes. There is also a contest held per barangay,” said Nieves.
The distribution of the bundles of joy will take place between Dec. 14 and 21