Biggest gift-giving event in Metro. 60,000 families receive Christmas goodies in Mandaluyong

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos today led the traditional distribution of 60,000 buckets of goodies to his constituents as a concrete expression of the Christmas spirit that is giving and to give more meaning to the yuletide celebration.

Dubbed as “Pamaskong Handog”, the annual gift-giving event which started in 1998, aims to lighten up particularly the poor and save them from worries and hopelessness during the season.

“We have been doing this “Pamaskong Handog” for two decades now in the belief that everybody deserves to have something on their table. In Mandaluyong, we care much about the welfare of the people, particularly the poor. A little happiness through this gift-giving activity should be reason enough for us to work for it,” Abalos stressed.

The Christmas package consisting of basic commodities was distributed by the city mayor  starting at 7 a.m. to the residents. Anticipating the long queue of people, special lanes have also been assigned for senior citizens, people with disabilities and pregnant women, while the city government  detailed enough personnel to man the operation.

Abalos said  that Christmastime  in the city  begins as early as November, wherein the city Hall has been turned into a major attraction with the lighting of giant Christmas tree, setting up of more than 300 booths selling premiums items and give away. There is also a nightly variety show presented by city hall employees, the police personnel, students and other civilian enforcers. Yuletide celebration in the city will end on January 3, 2012.