by Jasper Marie O. Rucat
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–A total of 700 identified residents of Cagayan de Oro City, including senior citizens, single parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), received Christmas boxes in celebration of the yuletide season through a gift giving program of one of the big malls in the city.
SM City Foundation Inc., through SM CDO Downtown Premier and SM CDO City Uptown, held the gift-giving events in their respective malls.
Lovelle A. See, manager of the SM CDO Downtown Premier Mall, says events like this are part of SMFI’s efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos through programs in health and wellness, education, sustainable agriculture, and disaster relief.
She said that this holiday season, SMFI, in collaboration with SM Supermalls, wants to spread joy, especially to those individuals who need more help and assistance.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Roy Raagas, the city administrator, shared that they are happy with the gift-giving of SM Foundation Inc.
“SM is a corporate citizen, isa sa mga responsive, aktibo, kay gawas nga sila nagatabang sa atong dakbayan, in terms of improving our economic situation, daghan ang natagaan og trabaho, usab sila dako ang contribution sa revenue sa City Government sa Cagayan de Oro,” he said.
(SM is a corporate citizen, one of the responsive and active ones, because aside from helping the city in terms of improving our economic situation, so many have been given jobs, and they have also contributed a lot of revenue for the city government of Cagayan de Oro)
Gracia Cajegas, a person with disability, said they felt the spirit of Christmas through the activity.
“Dako kaayo akong pasalamt, kay isa mi sa gitagaan sa SM, mga PWDs especially sa blind. Na-feel gyud namo ang Christmas kay naa gyud gipanghatag sa amoa,” she said.
(I am grateful because we are one of the recipients of SM, the PWDs, especially the blind. We really feel the spirit of Christmas because there are gifts for us)
Further, Bernadette Flores, SM CDO City Uptown manager, shares that this is a small token of appreciation for the support they have received from the city.
Flores adds that they have also met all of the local government unit’s requirements for being PWD friendly. (JMOR/PIA-10)
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